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CATHIA
CAMI & VAUGHAN’S WEDDING REHEARSAL
Cami stands at the head of the table with Vaughan, thanking all of our friends and family for being here tonight to celebrate their upcoming nuptials. The large room overlooks the grassy field of the Wranglers baseball team. The team our friend Luca Amato owns. He insisted we use it instead of a restaurant that we originally planned to use to host their dinner. Theweconsists of her bridesmaids -Vivian, CeCe and myself– as well as the groomsmen –Hayes, Phoenix and Bishop– who offered to help. Everyone wanted to be sure that they got what they deserved, which is the best.
After spending twelve years apart, both going through some pretty tragic losses, they were able to find their way back together. They were always meant to be, and it was important to us that they knew we supported their rekindled love.
“Oo! Can I say something?” Dagen, Vaughan’s daughter from his previous marriage, jumps from her seat with her hand raised high.
“Of course, sweetheart. C’mere.” Cami motions for Dagen to join her and Vaughan, and my soon-to-be niece hops over to them.
She comes to stand right in front of Cami and my sister places her hands on Dagen’s shoulders. The love in her eyes for this young lady is so apparent to everyone. You’d think that they were mother and daughter and not just so by marriage. The bond these two have formed is one of pure envy, and each of them is pretty lucky to have the other in their life.
“I just want to say that I’m really excited to have a new family. Abuelita Alma and Abuelo Juan, and now Uncle Dre and Auntie Cat…I’m just really lucky.” She sniffles and I do the same.
And when I see Cami start crying and wrap her arms around Dagen, I lose it with the rest of the guests. I swipe away at the tear falling from the corner of my eye and sigh. As happy as I am that my sister will get her happily ever after with the boy who she first gave her heart to, I can’t help but be a little sad. I thought by now I’d at least have a man in my life. But all I have is a string of horrible ex-boyfriends that had no ambitions and zero sense of how to treat a woman they were dating.
I guess I can’t really find my Prince Charming sitting at home or being the “third wheel” with my friends as they have all coupled up. Well, everyone except Bishop and Hayes. But I’m sure they have plenty of women waiting in the wings.
Cami and Dagen loosen their hold on each other and smiles grace their faces. “Oh I forgot,” Dagen adds. “Aunt Viv and Aunt CeCe and Uncle Nix and Zio Luca. They’re my new family, too.”
And the crying starts all over. Viv and CeCe cry happy tears and while Luca and Phoenix don’t let actual tears fall, we can all tell how touched they are.
Everyone holds their glasses up in a toast and soft music begins playing over the speakers as people go about conversing with other guests. Mama and Daddy laugh with Cami’s soon-to-be in-laws, Maxine and Jim, and the men all begin talking about logistics of tomorrow’s ceremony. All but Hayes. He looks equally as bummed out as me. Maybe it’s just the emotion of the event that has everyone a little out of sorts.
I throw my glass of champagne back only to realize it’s empty…again. I should probably stop drinking but I am in no mood for facing reality. I stand and walk over to the bar set up in the corner –courtesy of Luca– and smile at the bartender.
“Another champagne, young lady?” The bartender asks.
“I’d love another, but I wouldn’t consider myself a young lady.” I hand over my glass and he sets it on the counter behind to retrieve a fresh glass.
“Oh gorgeous. I’m an old man, so anyone under the age of thirty is young.” I look him over and take in all his features.
He has dark hair with just a hint of grey at the sides and faint creases at his eyes. The kind you get from too much laughing and smiling. He has a sexy scruff that covers his jaw and beneath his uniform, he looks to be pretty fit. He’s the pure definition of a zaddy, if you ask me.
“Old man? You must be in your late thirties, at most.”
He laughs a glorious sound and throws his head back. “Late thirties ten years ago, maybe.” My jaw drops because I can’t imagine this man being close to fifty. “I just turned forty-eight years old.”
“Well then, you are aging like fine wine.” I give him another once over, gandering at what could be a one night of fun. “I wonder if you taste as good as wine.”
He hands me my glass of champagne and I take a small sip, giving him my best sexy look. He cracks a smile and looks somewhat embarrassed.
“I guess you would have to talk to my wife to know if that’s true, but I don’t think she’d take too kindly to it.”
Welp. There goes my night.
“Sorry. I think the alcohol is getting to my head. Thank you.” I lift my glass and pull out a ten dollar bill from my purse, then drop it in his tip jar.
I’m mortified and just want to run and hide until the night is over or I die of humiliation. I spin around and smack right into a hard body.
“Woah darlin’. You okay?” Champagne splashes on my soft pink dress, probably ruining it, and Hayes grips my arms.
“Oh geez. I’m sorry.” I notice the liquid has also spilled on his shirt and immediately work to soak it up with my…hand?
“It’s okay. It’s just a shirt. Are you feelin’ alright, Cat?” He leans over me, putting his chest right in front of my nose, and grabs a few napkins from the bar.
