C43 Chapter 43

VIOLA

The church is suddenly abuzz with people whispering and murmuring.

Rick and Christine have turned. Rick’s face is one of puzzlement. He has no idea who the guy beside me is. Then he sees me and he struggles to suppress a smile. I look at Christine. She has removed her veil and her face is bright red with embarrassment I think but when I stand and voice my objection, she practically turns purple despite her makeup. Her eyes narrow and she looks as if she’s about to launch through the air to where I am so she can claw me to death.

The minister’s voice stops her though. He calls for quiet and the noise in the church dies down.

“Who are you?” he asks the man next to me.

“Grady. Grady O’Connor,” he replies. The name means nothing to me but it seems to mean something to many of the guests as another murmur goes through them. “I’m in love with Christine and I believe she loves me too.”

The minister considers Grady and then looks at me. “And you? Who are you?”

I feel all eyes turn on me and for a moment I wish I could disappear into the floor. “Viola Holt. I believe that the groom is making a mistake. I speak from personal experience.”

Another murmur goes through the crowd. Grady looks at me and raises his eyebrows.

I roll my eyes, “Not that experience!” I whisper.

He merely nods and smiles.

The minister turns to Lara. “And you? Who are you? What is your interest?”

“I am Lara, Christine’s best friend. I support both Grady and Viola in their remarks and opinions.”

Christine loses her temper. “You fools! Idiot, Skank, Backstabber!” she cries naming each of us one by one.

The minister looks at her and Rick.

“I do not believe that we should continue this wedding until this has been resolved.”

The guests in the church begin to murmur loudly.

Christine pulls off her veil that has been resting on top of her head and drops the bunch of flowers she carried into the church and has been holding until now. Then she marches back up the aisle to the doors and stops at my row. She’s looking right at me.

“I thought I destroyed you when Eric ruined that wedding. Why won’t you just stay down?” she shouts. Before I can recover from her words, she exits, ignoring Grady and Lara. I can’t believe what she has just admitted. I’m shocked.

Grady immediately goes after Christine. Lara leaves her seat and steps into the aisle. She smiles at me and gives me a thumbs up. I smile back at her and then sit down as I try to digest what Christine has just revealed. It was her. She ruined the wedding that destroyed my business. I put my head in my hands and start to cry.

The guests stand and begin to move toward the church doors.

Lara raises her voice.

“Excuse me, everyone. I am the organizer for the wedding. Please forgive this setback. We understand that some of you have come far for the wedding and if you still wish to enjoy the dinner that awaits you at would have been the reception venue, please feel free to do so. Rick and Christine welcome you and wish for you to enjoy their hospitality.”

I’m aware of everyone as they file out of the church until there is mostly silence, except for the murmurs of a few stragglers.

I finally look up and see Rick waiting for me at the end of the row. He is smiling and he holds his hand out to me. I stand slowly, hesitantly, and move towards him. He takes my hand when I’m close enough and kisses it as I dry my tears.

“Thank you,” he says.

“You’re welcome,” I say. “But I don’t think you should thank me. It’s Grady who you should be thanking.”

“I guess,” Rick says. “I don’t know where he’s gone.”

We step out of the church. Grady and Christine and even Lara are gone.

“What are you going to do?” I ask.

“Well, I think I should get to the reception venue. There are guests and they should be treated with courtesy. Are you coming?”

“I think Lara needs some help,” I say. He takes my hand and leads me to the wedding car. We get in and he tells the driver to head to the reception venue.

I can’t stop thinking about what Christine said but I do my best to push it away. Now is not the time to dwell on it.

VIOLA

I need a wedding whisperer. I haven’t used one since the story about using a wedding whisperer blew up and destroyed my business the first time around.

The bride has cold feet and I don’t know what to do.

Even worse, I am the bride. I am the one with cold feet.

Rick, the man of my dreams is waiting to marry me but I’m afraid.

I know he hasn’t dated seriously and I wonder if he knows what he’s getting into. He’s only dated me seriously aside from Christine if his time with Christine could even be considered as serious dating.

Before that, he was a hit-and-run man. I know why. He told me why and I can understand it. I also know that he’s moved on from that. He has changed for the better and he has ultimately chosen me over Christine. After everything came to light about her who wouldn’t have chosen someone else?

But being nasty is not going to solve my problem now.

Will he stick with me or will he get bored and run away?

There’s a knock at the door and a voice says, “Can I come in?”

I recognize the voice. It’s Ashley. My wedding whisperer.

“Yes,” I say.

Ashley enters and closes the door behind her. I stand and hug her. I haven’t seen her in forever and I’m glad she accepted my wedding invitation.

“It’s good to see you,” she says.

“Likewise,” I say.

She wastes no time. “You know why I’m here?”

I nod.

“Look, you of all people know about love. You’ve arranged so many beautiful weddings for couples before. You deserve the same. And this is your day. Think of all the times that the universe has pushed you and Rick together. There’s a reason for that. It’s because you’re made for each other. I’ve been listening to people all day and they all say it. You deserve each other. If ever there was a perfect couple, it’s you two. People have been saying you deserve a day like the ones you create for others. You have no idea how many of your past clients have sent you wishes for today. We’ve got a whole video of clients wishing you well and all the best. They all say it’s the best thing you could do.”

I sigh and look at my hands. “What if I screw it up?”

Ashley laughs. “You? Screw it up? You couldn’t screw up a screw up if you tried. You’re so dedicated to all that you do and the way you feel about love, I know there’s no way you’re going to fail. Any marriage is hard work but you can do it. And you’ll have one of the best damn marriages ever. And that’s all you’ll ever have to show anyone after today instead of using a wedding whisperer.”

Ashley makes me feel much better and I smile at last.

I think of everything that Rick and I have been through. I think of how many times I pushed him away only to find myself pushed to him again. There has to be something in that. This is what I want. I know it is. And I know what Ashley is saying makes sense.

At last, I nod. “You’re right. I deserve this. I deserve Rick and I deserve happiness.”

“Damn right you do,” Ashley says.

“Let me go get married,” I say as she puts her arm around me and we leave the room for the wedding car.

You go, girl! My inner voice speaks up at last. It’s been surprisingly silent all day.

Damn right, I think.

I get in the car and feel the excitement return.

I can’t wait to say ‘I do’.