“Let’s not lynch the man yet,” Nathaniel said. “We haven’t heard the whole story and it is possible he’s actually having some sort of neurological episode.”
“Odds are he’s faking. I’ve had his number for years. It doesn’t surprise me at all he’s pulling something like this,” Kelly said.
“That may well be the case, but let’s wait until we know something more definitive.”
No one particularly looked as though they wanted to give the man the benefit of the doubt. For several long minutes we stood, silently watching the closed door and waiting not so patiently for it to open.
We all jumped forward when it cracked open and Jeff waved us inside.
“Dena called the senator’s housekeeper,” Jeff said. “Miss May has always held a special place in her heart for Dena.”
“Thank goodness for Miss May,” Dena said, and she looked so much calmer than she had a few minutes earlier. “I called her cell phone and made sure she wasn’t near Mom and Dad. She said Dad took some new medicine and he’s reacting badly to it, but they’ve called his doctor and he’s going to be fine.”
“Did your mom know it was only a side effect of the medication when she called you?” Julie asked.
“I don’t know,” Dena said. “And to be honest, I’m going to try and put it out of my mind.” She smiled up at Jeff. “I think I’ve spent enough time on Senator Jenkins for one day. I have more important things to do.”
“That you do, my Angel.” Jeff bent his head, as if he was going to kiss her, but Daniel pulled him away.
“None of that just yet. Wait until you’re pronounced man and wife,” Daniel said, and led Jeff toward the door.
“Ass,” Jeff said, but let himself be carried away. “I’ll remember this.”
When the men left, a calm peace settled over us. Dena was no longer stressed and she finally had the radiant look of someone about to marry her soul mate.
“It’s time, you guys,” Julie said, about fifteen minutes later.
We walked out alongside Dena with Sasha carrying her train. Because her father wouldn’t walk her down the aisle, there had been much debate about who she should walk with. All things considered, she finally decided to walk by herself.
“I walk down alone, give myself to Jeff, and we walk out together,” she’d said. “I like the symbolism of that.”
She looked stunning as she walked down the aisle. She’d chosen a strapless gown that gathered high above the waist. The fabric encircling her torso gave the appearance of a corset, and also served to showcase the pleated folds that draped gracefully down her tall frame.
With her hair pulled up and her long neck adorned by Jeff’s black-and-silver collar, she looked like a goddess. Or an angel, as her soon-to-be husband called her.
The man in question stood at the front of the church grinning bigger than I thought he could. His eyes were locked on her as she slowly made her way down the aisle. Their emotion was so vividly displayed in their expressions, my heart ached with joy and I brushed a stray tear from my cheek.
“I love you, Angel,” I saw him whisper.
I looked to my side and saw Nathaniel watching me. Like everyone else, I couldn’t go to a wedding without thinking back to my own. We had married in the winter, in a church about the same size as the one we were currently in. I was a fortunate woman to have my husband of so many years still look at me with a love and desire that had only grown since our wedding day.
As Dena and Jeff repeated their vows, I whispered in my heart my own back to Nathaniel.
“Do you take this man?”
Yes, yes, a million times, yes.“For richer, for poorer. In sickness and in health?”
Anyway, anytime, anyhow.
“To love and to cherish …”
With all that I am.
“Until death do you part?”
Until then and for whatever comes after.
Daniel came up to us at the reception. “You guys ready for the conference next weekend?”
“I can’t wait,” I said, before Nathaniel could say anything. “Listening to Nathaniel give his talk, seeing everyone again and the party after? Yes, I’m so ready.”
Daniel laughed, throwing his head back slightly. “I need to go get Julie over here and let your enthusiasm rub off on her. She’s a bit apprehensive.”
“Well, it’s her first one, right?” I asked. “And she’s never played outside the Partners group?”
“Both true,” he said.
I looked up at Nathaniel. “Do you mind if I go talk to Julie?” I had seen her earlier with Sasha and Kelly. Right now the three of them were talking with Dena.
“Go on, my lovely. I’ll be right here.”
I rose on my toes and kissed his cheek and then trotted over to the girls. I hugged Dena first.
“Congratulations, Mrs. Parks. You look beautiful.”
She positively glowed and happy tears filled her eyes. “Thanks, Abby. I feel like the happiest, luckiest, most fortunate woman in the world.”
“As you should,” I said with a smile, still remembering my own wedding day. “And I bet if we asked that handsome groom of yours, he’d say the same.”
She looked over to where Jeff was talking with Cole. He must have felt the weight of her stare, because he turned his head and looked our way. His eyes met his new wife’s and he mouthed, I love you. Dena blew him a kiss.
Cole, too, was full of smiles, though I did see his jaw tighten when he saw Sasha. I don’t think anyone else noticed it. Surely not Dena, who suddenly said, “Okay, I have to go touch him, make sure this is real. Half the time I feel like I’m living in a dream.”
She walked over to Jeff, who put his arms around her and drew her close for a kiss. He reached down and gently touched her belly. Dena nodded.
Beside me, Julie sighed. “They’re so happy. It gives me chills watching them.”
I smiled and nodded in agreement and we watched them for several minutes before I spoke again. “How do you feel about next weekend?”
“Half nervous. Half excited.” Julie turned from the newly-weds. “How was it when you first played in public?”
I thought back to my early days with Nathaniel. “When people knew what we were doing or when we were so sly they had no idea?”