"You're sitting with us, dear," Nancy said, handing Carter and his father their name cards.
"This is so stupid," Jack said under his breath. "I bet they don't last a year after their first child is born."
"Hush. You don't know that," Nancy said as they sat at their table.
Carter picked at his food and looked around. After everyone had eaten and dessert and coffee were being served, Brandy's father made a toast to the couple and thanked the Holbrooks for their hospitality.
"Is no one going to mention the outburst?" Grant muttered to Jack.
Carter slumped in his seat and tried not to yawn. The speeches went on and on. At first, it was funny to listen to people dance around the fact that Brandy wasn't that nice, but after a while, it was just uncomfortable.
When there was a pause in the program, Fernando stood up and reached for the microphone, swaying slightly.
"He looks as drunk as a skunk," Grant muttered to Carter.
"He's been pre-gaming," Carter whispered back.
"To my beautiful bride-to-be," Fernando began. "I love the fire and the passion you have!"
Brandy glared at him.
"You should see this woman in bed!" Fernando told the guests. Then he began to sing off-key.
From across the room, Allie gave Carter alook. He drained his wine for some liquid courage then stood up and wrested the microphone away from Fernando.
"You'll have to excuse my friend here," Carter said with the most winning smile he could muster. "He's a bit nervous about the big day!"
That elicited slight laughter, and Carter forged ahead.
"What Fernando meant to say is that he's very lucky to have found someone like Brandy. He doesn't complete her because she was already a fully formed individual, but he hopes that he makes her life a little more interesting, more fun, and more loving. Being around her compels him to be a better man, and from her he asks nothing in return, because she is already perfect."
Everyone applauded, and Carter concluded, "Even if he leaves his socks all over her apartment, which he is very sorry for."
Allie smiled at him softly as Fernando grabbed Carter and kissed him on both cheeks.
Lifting his glass, Fernando announced, "A toast to friends and family!"
63
Allie
Allie had no idea she would be so stressed about a wedding. Brandy was making the pressure a hundred times worse with her constant yelling. As Allie waited for her turn with the hair stylist, Brandy was leaving yet another angry voicemail for the wedding planner.
"She's not coming back," Allie finally snapped at Brandy. "We already know what needs to happen. Liz and I will make sure the wedding goes smoothly."
"You'd better," Brandy said coldly. "This is my wedding. I want it to be perfect."
"I just can't believe we all have to wear matching bridesmaids' dresses," Kate complained to Allie as she stood up from the stylist's chair and looked at herself in the mirror. "Ginny's wedding was so much more tasteful."
Allie hadn't been at Ginny's wedding, but she believed that anything would be better than Brandy's wedding.
When all the bridesmaids had their makeup done and their hair styled, it was finally Brandy's turn. The bride-to-be watched in the mirror, visibly annoyed, as the stylist fixed her hair.
"No!" Brandy yelled at the hairdresser. "I want volume! Let me do it. I can't believe I'm paying you. This is terrible. I already told you exactly what I want, and I expect to get what I want."
The bridesmaids all hovered around as Brandy fixed her own hair and then applied her own makeup.
"I am so sorry," Allie said to the hairdresser.
