Page 12 of This Time Around
12
Katie likedto arrive early for everything—especially today.She woke up extra early and made sure she had time to help Momma get ready and get dressed for the wedding.Then Mary and Katie helped each other with their zippers and last-minute touch-ups.
The wedding was at the church—the same church they grew up attending.Katie scanned the people sitting in the two pews in front and thought she recognized a couple of people she’d known from Sunday school.Momma sat in the middle, between the two sisters.Jim, Mary’s boyfriend, slid into the pew and sat next to her.As the hour neared and the church filled, Katie resisted the urge to turn around.
Laurie was a radiant bride, walking down the aisle on her father’s arm in the beautiful church adorned with flowers and bridal ribbons.Ryan, the proud groom, stood tall and straight as he waited for his bride.It was a lovely wedding that went off without a hitch.
Katie sighed happily, eyes moist.She felt a squeeze and saw her momma’s hand on her arm.She quickly glanced down at her lap, self-conscious of her single status, and then across the pew to where Mary sat with Jim.
Turning to Momma, Katie whispered, “I love you.”
The reception was being heldat Laurie’s favorite restaurant, where she and Ryan had first met.Ryan had been a year ahead of Laurie in school.She had seen him around, but they hadn’t actually spoken to each other.The day they met, Laurie had gone to the restaurant with her family for dinner.It was her birthday, and the family’s tradition was to eat out.
It was on a Saturday night, and the place was jam-packed.During the meal, Laurie had accidentally bumped her glass of cola and knocked it over, spilling the drink on the table and floor.She tried to catch the attention of the waitress, but she was busy taking orders from customers at another table.As Laurie bent down to wipe the liquid with her napkin, a pair of brown work shoes entered her line of vision—her first close-up of Ryan was his feet.As the story went, it was love at first sight, literally—as Laurie stood up and they bumped heads, then she locked eyes with the man in the busboy’s uniform.
That was then… and now the restaurant had closed off the entrance and put up a sign, “Private Party,” on the door for the afternoon reception.Inside, the place was decorated with streamers and strings of sparkling lights.The tables were covered in white tablecloths and pushed toward the sides, leaving a cleared center area for the dance floor.A large rectangular table was reserved for the bride, groom, and bridal party.Fresh flowers adorned each table as floral centerpieces.In a corner of the restaurant, there was a long table for the DJ.
Katie entered the reception, holding her mother’s arm and supporting her.Laurie had been understanding and supportive when she’d expressed her desire to accompany her mother and sister while upholding her agreement with Chase.She waved Mary off to look for a table.The room was crowded already as the festivities started, the sounds of talk and laughter and clinking glassware all around them.
“Here we are,” Mary said, taking Momma’s other arm and leading her toward a quieter area, a table at the side, and pointing to the empty chair beside Momma for Katie to sit.
Katie helped lower her mother in the chair before she sat down beside her.She laid eyes on the centerpiece, the bright, colorful flowers in the crystal vase tied with a bow and ribbon.
“Like it?”
She turned her face toward the masculine voice, staring at the man who’d just taken the seat next to her, and blinked—twice.Her mouth slacked open.It was unmistakably Chase, but as a fully grown man.Suave, impeccably groomed, and so handsome.She struggled to find her voice.“Chase…”