swells. Fists unclench. People return
to their places. Still, as the organ
begins to play, anger looms louder.
Aunt Cora appears, beautiful despite
the worry stamped into her face.
Maureen and Trey give her hugs,
then allow Micah to usher them forward.
Grandfather takes Aunt Cora on his arm.
Liam follows his best man to the altar.
That is my cue. I turn to tell Bryce
I’ll see him after the ceremony, but
he is nowhere in sight. The wedding
march begins. No time to look for him
now. I play my maid of honor role
exactly as rehearsed. As the ceremony
progresses, I steal sideways glances
toward the guests, but cannot spy Bryce.
What did I expect? That he’d never
discover the truth? That the shadows
of my messed-up life would never
appear in the face of his sunshine?
Through the pounding surf in my ears,
a watery, You may now kiss the bride.
My eyes overflow. Tears of joy for Aunt
Cora. The usual kind of tears for me.
WEDDING RECEPTIONS
Are good for one thing specifically.
Liquor. Mostly champagne, usually,
but Liam’s parents kindly paid for
a hosted bar. Now I’m definitely not