But I felt like it was a bad omen.
First, we realized that, although I’d thought everyone was there, we were missing a key player: Zack. And I immediately grew angry. Typical. He might have finally been sober now, but he still couldn’t be reliable?
While we waited, the officiant began explaining what he would say and the order when certain things would happen. “Did you write your own vows?”
Jesus. My mother had said something offhand once—but I’d forgotten. In response, both Braden and I glanced at each other sheepishly. Braden said, “No. Is that a problem?”
“Not at all. Some couples like to write their own, but you don’t have to.”
Braden squeezed my hand, even as my blood pressure rose.
Zack appeared in the tent just then. “Sorry, guys. I got a flat tire outside of Buena Vista—and discovered my spare was also flat.” He held up his blackened hands to prove it.
“No worries, dude,” Braden said. “Everything okay now?”
“Yeah. I got them both fixed enough—but I’ll need to get new ones when we get back home.”
Braden said, “This is Zack, my best man.”
Nodding, the officiant held out his hand but Zack again held up his hands to show that shaking them might not be the best idea.
After the officiant caught Zack up, we went through all the motions of the ceremony. But, at one point, a violent wind rustled the tent, causing air to blow through the flaps that served as doors, reminding me that an outdoor wedding was definitely off the menu. But it took a while for the heaters to warm it back up, and the woman standing nearby, the owner of the venue, said they’d have the heaters on early so it would be warmer in the morning. “Besides,” she said, “when you get one hundred bodies in here, the temperature will naturally go up.”
And, of course, we’d be heading to the barn after the ceremony.
Then, after the officiant had us practice putting on the rings, the little ones started running all around the tent, under chairs and through the rows, screaming and giggling, no doubt tired of having to stand still. Worse, their parents kept yelling at them but they kept it up. When we finally got through the rehearsal, my nerves were shot.
Not long after, we were all driving back to the highway toward the restaurant—all twenty-ish of us. Although we invited the officiant to dine with us, he said his partner had a hot meal waiting for him back at home.
The restaurant already had two big long tables set up for our party, complete with filled water glasses and pitchers of water and iced tea placed at key spots. They also had rolls and butter on the table—and they were just waiting for us to arrive before bringing out the family-style bowls and platters that we would pass around the tables.
My mother—with very little input from Braden and me—had chosen fried chicken and roast beef as the main entrées. On the side were mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, and a green salad. Dessert would be a surprise. And they had outdone themselves. A banner on the wall behind the second table saidCongrats, Dani and Braden!
The owner greeted us as we walked in. After everyone was finally seated (with booster seats for the twins), she told us what was coming (as two servers began loading the tables with food). “There is water and iced tea, but please let me know if you’d prefer a soda. We have Coke products, so just say the word.”
Braden and I sat underneath the banner, with our immediate family at the table. To Braden’s side and wrapped around were his parents and sisters, while my mom sat next to me,her boyfriend at the end, and my grandparents directly across from us. Everyone else was at the other table. I was sad that Roxy was over there but glad that Zack was there as well—not to mention Braden’s cousin’s rambunctious, though adorable, children. My nerves were fraught, and, when the owner came to our table to ask if anyone wanted anything else to drink, I asked, “Do you happen to have any adult beverages?”
“I absolutely do—if you don’t mind paying extra.”
Of course. That made sense, and I nodded my head. “What do you have?” After she uttered a long list, I thought I wanted a few shots of tequila—but that wouldn’t look so good. I settled on a glass of white wine, thinking it would look more dignified, so long as no one noticed how I gulped it down.
Another reason it was good that Zack was at the other table.
Unfortunately, he, Cy, Roxy, and Dean were seated so that they faced us. Although there were two rows of bodies in between, we could look at them when we wanted to.
The food began getting passed around the table. Even though it smelled good, I wasn’t hungry at all. My nerves were eating away at my gut, churning and burning, and I thought I might throw up if I ate. Still, if I didn’t put anything on my plate, people would question it. So I took a chicken thigh, a small amount of salad, and dabbed tiny amounts of veggies and potatoes on. The rolls were the only thing that even sounded appealing, but I skipped the butter.
Just as I’d filled my plate, the owner arrived with my glass of wine. Over the noise of our group, she asked, “Can I get you anything else right now?”
Braden’s cousin waved her over. I noticed a couple come into the restaurant, and one of the other folks working there found them a seat at the table farthest from our noisy group. They didn’t seem that busy, and I figured it was due to thetime of year—too late to do winter activities but too early for summer fun.
Braden whispered in my ear. “You okay?”
“Yeah. It’s just…a lot.”
His eyes softened, full of love and adoration for me, and I was able to relax my tense shoulders for just a moment. “Is it too late to elope?”
I smiled. “I think so. Nice try.”
