Then she swept Addie to the balcony where a photographer was waiting. The bridal party pictures followed, and then dinner was served. Kaelee kept watching Greta so often that Addie’s mother patted her hand and whispered, “I’ve learned a lot about planning these things, so if you need help when your time comes, you call me.”
Kaelee opened her mouth, but no words came.
“Toni said you were without family. Did I misstep?” Addie’s mother, whose name Kaelee still didn’t know, widened her eyes. “Oh no! I’m sorry. Do you want to go to the balcony and talk?”
“She means get high,” Addie said as she overheard them. Then she looked at her mother. “I thought we agreed. No pot until after the dance.”
“Fine. After the mother-daughter dance.” Addie’s mom dabbed her eyes and whispered, “You’d think my only child would appreciate my willingness to support another woman falling prey to the patriarchal—”
“Lesbian.” Kaelee pointed at herself.
“She’s definitely never fallen to patriarchal lies, Marlene,” Toni added. “Our Kaelee is a staunch advocate for equality.”
“Oh, well, that’s good!” Marlene smiled at them each in turn. “Do you see, Lenny? Girl power all around!”
“Shall we take a walk?” Addie’s father, Lenny, asked. “See the view?”
The two walked away, and Addie laughed. “She’ll be high in a minute, but I didn’t expect her to last through the whole ceremony, to be fair. I expected objections and a lecture on The Man midway through.”
“I bribed her,” Toni said lightly.
Addie giggled. “I do love you, wife of mine.”
“I know,” Toni preened. “Want to escape and show me how much while dinner is served?”
“I’ll cover for you,” Kaelee offered, marveling at how odd andlovely this was. The families here were the precise opposite of the uptight mess that Kaelee had once thought was normal.
After the meal and the cake and the bridal toasts and the bridal dance, Kaelee walked over to Greta’s table and extended a hand to her date. “My official duties are done.”
“Oh? Are we leaving, then?” Greta accepted her hand and allowed Kaelee to pull her into her arms.
“No. I want to dance with you.”
“Just me?”
Kaelee kissed her temple. “Only you. I mean, the brides may order their wedding party to dance but…” The image of trying to dance with Toni, when they would both undoubtedly try to lead, or Addie, which would irritate Toni, made Kaelee laugh. “I somehow doubt that Toni will want to dance with anyone else, and I doubly doubt that she wants Addie doing that either.”
“So you’re stuck with me,” Greta teased.
“Oh, the horror! The most beautiful woman in the room in my arms? However shall I cope?” Kaelee looked back at the table where Greta had been seated with several familiar faces, including Kaelee’s publicist, Charlie. “I’m stealing her now.”
A giggling Greta clung to Kaelee’s arm. “I shouldn’t have had the champagne.”
“Tipsy?”
“No. Just really relaxed.” Greta looked up at Kaelee. “Rumba?”
Kaelee led her to the floor and briefly wondered if she’d recall all the steps from their lesson. “I can lead you in a waltz if that’s easier.”
“Both. Rumba then waltz.” Greta took her position, and Kaelee forgot to be nervous about everyone who could be watching them. None of it mattered. All she could think about was the beautiful woman in her arms.
I want this. Always.
Even after Greta was no longer in her arms to dance, as theywalked around seeming very obviously a couple, Kaelee realized that no onecaredthey were here together, not the people in the department, not the people from Hollywood, or from New York. They were just another couple at a wedding.
This feels more natural than I thought possible,Kaelee mused as they chatted and danced and eventually said their goodbyes.
Afterward, when they grabbed their bags and caught the train to New York, Kaelee thought about the possible future, abouthavinga future. It wasn’t a thought she’d allowed herself to have often over the years, somehow always expecting her past to catch up with her. Now that it had, she felt like she had stood up and said,No. I’m not running. I’m not giving up or changing.
