C42 Chapter 42

RICK

The day of our wedding has arrived. I survived Christine’s anger after the Viola incident. This is the day. Looking back it seems like it’s been really hard work and I’m looking forward to getting this over with.

I wonder if that’s how I should be feeling. Maybe not but then I guess most guys don’t have the incidents leading up to their wedding that I’ve had.

I’ve stayed away from Viola. I’m afraid that Christine will ask for my phone to see what messages I’ve been sending. If she finds that I’ve been in touch with Viola it won’t bode well for us. Christine’s told me that Viola’s been fired and I wonder where she is now. I wonder if she’s leaving Los Angeles again or if she’s going to bite the bullet and stay until she finds a new job. I wish her all the best.

I wake up on my own this morning as we agreed that Christine and I would spend the night apart. She has to get ready for the wedding in her dress and make-up as is custom. I’m glad that I have these few hours alone. I get dressed and head to the church early. I want to get this over with. I know getting there early isn’t going to make this go any quicker but I don’t want to be waiting at home alone until the time is more appropriate to leave.

Lewis is my best man and I’ve agreed to meet him at the church.

He arrives closer to the time of the ceremony and finds me pacing in the front of the church. I greet familiar faces as they arrive.

Lara is there checking the last few things. She seems strangely distant and I guess that she’s got a lot on her mind. She’s there alone and has left the children at home with her husband. She wishes me all the best and I can’t help but feel that it’s not sincere but more sympathetic.

I tell myself that I’m imagining things and that I’m just being nervous. I check that Lewis has got the rings and he pretends he hasn’t. He has me going before he finally smiles and admits he’s pulling my leg.

As I wait my eyes scan the room for Viola. In a way, I hoped she would be here but then I ask myself why I think she would be so stupid as to turn up here.

The time for the ceremony to start draws nearer and I realize that Christine is late. I begin to worry that she’s decided not to go through with the wedding.

As if sensing my worry, Lara approaches me and tells me Christine is on the way. I thank her and watch as she returns to her seat. I find it strange that she’s not sitting near the front of the church but almost at the back. It’s a minor detail and I forget about it as the organ begins to play.

Christine has arrived. I look to the back of the church and I see Christine enter. A friend of hers, Barry, who I’ve only met once is walking beside her. He’ll be doing the honor of giving her away. Christine looks beautiful in her white dress. It has a long train and two flower girls provided by Lara make sure it doesn’t get caught as she approaches.

Christine is wearing a veil and I struggle to see Christine’s face behind it but I think I can make out a smile. Then, as she approaches my eyes are drawn to the church doors behind her. They open and I see Viola enter. My eyes follow her and I see her take a seat near the back. Then, just before Christine reaches me, I see the door enter again and a man enters. I don’t know who he is and I think nothing of it. My gaze returns to Christine. She reaches the front of the church and hooks her arm through mine.

The organ music ends the minister begins the ceremony…

VIOLA

I stay out of sight until Christine has entered the church. I wait a few seconds more and then enter behind her. The church is full but I find some empty seats near the back. I see Rick looking backward. I think he might have seen me but I can’t be sure. Maybe he’s only looking at Christine.

Then, just before Christine reaches the front of the church a man enters, looks around, and spots the empty seats next to me. He comes over and sits next to me.

He’s big and well-built. I give him a cursory glance and smile as he sits beside me. He smiles back and then looks to the front of the church. He seems tense and focused as he looks to the front of the church.

I think he’s handsome and I wonder if the universe is sending me another opportunity. Maybe the universe has accepted that Rick and I are a lost cause and it’s decided to offer me another gift.

Grow up, my inner voice says sourly. You seem to think the universe only thinks of you.

I respond to my inner voice, we are in a bad mood aren’t we? Then I almost burst out laughing at the absurdity of talking to my inner voice. People around me glance at me to see what has made me laugh and I blush. I crush my laughter quickly. At least I’ve shut my inner voice up.

The ceremony goes according to plan and there’s not a hitch until the point where the minister says, “If there is any man or woman here today that knows of any reason why this couple should not be married, let them speak now or forever hold their peace.”

I feel my muscles tense as I ready myself to stand up. Should I do this? It’s now or never. I glance around quickly. I spotted Lara earlier and I notice her shift uncomfortably in her seat as if she wants to say something. She even throws a glance at me as if she wonders if I am going to stand up. When she sees me she seems surprised. I think it has to do with me but I’m wrong. I don’t know that she knows the man beside me…

As it happens, I don’t need to stand up and object. The man beside me stands even as I’m still looking at Lara. She suddenly looks horrified and it’s as if the blood rains from her face as she looks back to the front of the church.

As the man beside me gets up I think, bad time to go to the little men’s room buddy. But he doesn’t move after he gets up. Instead, he stands where he is and speaks.

“I do. I object.”

I think my heart is going to stop for a minute. Oh fuck, I think. I crane my neck to look up at this man and get a better look at him. Who is he?

I’ve never been in a church where this has happened. The church was silent enough before but now it’s so quiet you could hear the parking attendant fart two blocks away. If there was a parking attendant two blocks away.

The minister stops speaking and for a moment he looks like he’s about to have a heart attack. I don’t think he’s ever had this problem before.

People turn to look at the man but because he’s right next to me, I almost feel as if they’re looking right at me. I turn red with embarrassment although I have no reason to be embarrassed just yet.

I look around the room and I see Lara. She’s looking at me with raised eyebrows almost as if she expects me to do something or as if she thinks that I am responsible for this.

A thought hits me then. I can’t be blamed for ruining this wedding anymore. The guy beside me has already done that.

What have I got to lose?

I thought you’d never come to the party, my inner voice says as I throw caution to the wind and stand up. When I do, I think the people in the church must think we’re together.

“Actually, I… I… object too,” I say. I think I haven’t said it loud enough and I say it louder. “I object.”

The guy beside me looks at me curiously as if he’s thinking who the hell are you? I guess in the next instant he realizes I’m helping his cause and he smiles at me and then winks.

The surprises aren’t over though. I notice movement on the opposite side of the aisle and see that Lara is now standing as well. “I object too,” she says loudly.