Never Kiss A Stranger

Some of my anxiety fades when I see everything in place. The sun will be the perfect backdrop to this little outdoor wedding, creating smears of pinks and oranges across the sky. I walk down the aisle. How can Henry want an indoor wedding? Weddings that take place outside hold a certain type of enchantment. The warm air delicately breezing through the veil to give that stunning appeal to the bride. Blossoming flowers standing up straight to capture the sun’s rays for the best lighting on them.

“Think the weather will hold up?” I ask, moving to stand on the white wooden dais. I look up at the cloudless blue sky. “The news said a thirty percent chance of rain.”

“They say that every day.” Dennis rests a tan hand on the back of a chair. “It’s Florida. There’s always one thing you can count on...rain.”

“And me,” his wife, Marge says, walking up the aisle, holding a silver tray laden with bone-shaped dog cookies. “I made these. What do you think?”

“They’re great. Thank you.”

She smiles and slides them onto the green cloth covered table designated for gifts.

The corners of Dennis’ eyes wrinkle as he smiles at his wife. That’s the way I hope Henry looks at me. I try to envision Henry and I being retired like Marge and Dennis, gray-haired and taking a part-time job at the same place just to get out of the house—together. The vision never materializes. I can’t picture it. Why can’t I picture it? The only thing I can picture is me getting a job away from his chip eating.

I step from the dais. Marge and Dennis are marriage goals. The way he smooches her cheek when he passes by her in the back halls. The way she gets all giddy when he enters a room.

They’ve been married for more years than I’ve been alive, and it’s hard to believe they haven’t just met.

Poppi peeks her head out the door to call me over to check out their design. “It’s no trellis, but it should definitely work.”

I walk over to where the original roses now weave throughout three doggy gates. “This is perfect.”

Poppi breathes out a sigh of relief and we very slowly and carefully transport it over to the podium where Dennis will stand when the bride and groom make their grand entrance.

After it's in place on the altar, I have to admit, it looks pretty damn good. The next half hour is spent tying ribbons on doggy bags, filled with goods from the spa. When I have a free moment, I check my phone for messages.

The first is from my mother—

“Marsha is hiring a string quartet for her wedding. Sounds lovely. Are you still planning on a DJ? I did some checking and maybe you need an orchestra?”

I’ll get back to her later on that. Not.

The next message is from Henry—

“I’m on my way and I have a big surprise for you.”

I’ll be honest, I’m not a fan of surprises.

“Was that Henry?” Poppi asks. “Did you tell him about the kiss?”

“Shh. Of course, I did. It wasn’t like I cheated.” I whisper, like the very mention of the kiss could somehow travel through the phone and make it into Henry’s ears. “I haven’t even thought about it since it happened. Henry made me dinner last night and everything was...perfect.”

Poppi side-eyes me. “That’s a very long answer. Is it because you liked the kiss?”

“No, of course not,” I deny.

Poppi gets that disbelieving look in her eyes she always gets whenever I talk about how romantic Henry is.

Thankfully the interrogation ends because Darlene, mother of the bride, saunters down the aisle in a tight red dress finished off with classy stilettos and pearls. “It’s almost time,” she says, her bleached blonde hair waving in the breeze. “The beautiful bride is here.”

Georgia trails behind her, wearing a veil that was handmade to fit her ears.

“Adorable,” I tell her. I glance at the time on my phone. “The photographer should be here any minute.”

“Fun, right?” Poppi says to Darlene. “Why don’t we go inside and get Georgia ready.”

“She already looks amazing,” I bend over and give her a pat on the head. “Ace is a lucky dog.”

When I rise, over Darlene’s shoulder, I see what must be a mirage.

I blink.

It’s still there.

He’s still there.

The stranger that kissed me stands at the end of the aisle, staring straight at me.

FIVE

Ellis

Never trust your instincts...

I’ll be damned. There she is, looking prettier than ever in an olive-green strappy sundress with a white flower in her hair. Wow, it’s almost like one of those slo-mo things, where the girl stands there smiling and you realize yes, she’s the one I’ve been looking for.

Except, this girl isn’t smiling. And that’s getting way ahead of myself. I mean, we don’t even know each other.

Before I can cut off this internal monologue, and make an attempt to talk to her, she’s whisked away by two girls, and Henry finishes his phone call, and directs me into a row of chairs in the back. “Here is good,” he says.