I gave her a look. “Okay. Well, you’re fussing with your shirt, and kind of sweating. You have nothing to be nervous about. I promise.” I whispered.
I knew she heard me because her hand left mine. I looked down at it and frowned. “What?”
She wiped her hands on her shorts and cleared her throat. “It’s just a little hot and this shirt, I don’t like the material, I don’t know what it is. I should’ve worn a shirt or something underneath, just in case. I’m fine. I promise. Shall we?” she motioned for the beach and I nodded, taking her hand and letting her lead the way.
When we finally made it to the beach, I motioned to the set up on the right side of us. It was blocking the perfect view of the sunset, but it was so gorgeous, I couldn’t have been mad.
“Oh, how gorgeous is that? It reminds me of Drea and Blair’s set up. I love a small and intimate wedding! And having Bali as their destination? Ugh, so romantic! I wonder who’s getting married. Maybe we can ask around and see if we can crash it? I’d love to see it.”
We stopped walking and she turned to face me. “I’m sure we can. It’s happening tonight.”
“What? How do you know that?”
She shrugged, turning away from me and pointing down the beach, toward one of the other resorts. A line of people were coming towards us, and when I recognized all of their faces, my knees almost gave out. “Lucky guess.”
“What? What is happening?” I asked, so confused. My voice was barely there and the line of people were becoming blurs of moving objects.
“Are we late? I was told to be here at seven exactly, but it doesn’t look like the brides are here yet. Oh, there they are.”
I turned back around when I heard Drea’s voice leading the line of my friends. Blair by her side. Kaia and Daisy behind her.Fallon, Mackenzie, and little baby Niko, the almost one-year-old sleeping on Mackenzie’s chest.
In the past year, Daisy and Kaia had recently gotten married. They had a beautiful ceremony at an Inn in Fairview, the same one Drea and Blair went to on their honeymoon. Fallon had given birth to Niko Bennett. And I thought I was getting engaged, but perhaps I was actually wrong. I still had no clue what was going on.
“Don’t forget about me, Mija. I know I’m old, but I’m still kicking!” Vera’s abuela was the last one in the group.
“Abuela? What are you doing here?”
“You think I’d miss my granddaughter's wedding? I’ve been putting off death for this day. I wouldn’t miss it for anything!”
I turned back to Vera. “Wedding? What is she talking about? What’s going on?”
“Did no one tell you you’re getting married today?” I frowned. My mom?
I turned around to see my parents walking toward me. My parents? They were here? In Bali? Everyone was here.
“Wait, where’s your brothers, and the rest of your family?”
As if my question summoned them. I saw them all coming up behind us. I couldn’t stop the tears coming down my face and I couldn’t find any words to say. I couldn’t wrap my head around what was happening.
Vera still hadn’t said anything, but without even a hug or explanation, everyone took a seat in front of what I assumed now, was my alter? Blair stood at the front and motioned for me and Vera to approach her.
On shaky legs, I took Vera’s hand and stood in front of Blair. “What’s going on?” I asked for what seemed like the billionth time.
Blair looked at Vera and nodded for her to speak. Finally! She cleared her throat and took both of my hands, which happenedto be shaking and sweaty and so gross. I hadn’t been able to stop the tears since I’d seen Blair and the rest of my friends and my parents!
“Cara. From the moment I saw you in that red dress and masquerade mask, I knew there was something missing in my life. I knew I’d spend the rest of my life regretting it if I didn’t talk to you. That night wasn’t supposed to be what it turned into. It was just supposed to be one night to get my family off my back. Yet it brought me here. One year later, to you. Before you, I’d never known what peace felt like. With you, I’ve never not known what peace feels like. After you, I don’t want to know what anything feels like.”
I looked out to everyone sitting down looking at us. All our family and friends were there, witnessing whatever was happening. I still felt like I was dreaming. My parents were there! How’d she manage that?
We’d gotten a lot closer since they finally moved back to Seattle. We tried to get together once a week, for dinner, or lunch. Just anything to keep our relationship strong.
When I introduced them to Vera, they loved her. They kept telling me not to let her go, and that she was good for me. I never knew what they meant by that, until I was standing up there listening to her speech in front of everyone we knew and loved.
“I’ve known since day one that I wanted to marry you. The question is, have you caught up yet?”
I chuckled. “That’s how you’re asking me to marry you?” I tried to sound cocky, but the tears pouring from my eyes told a different story.
“Cara. Thanks to the lovely state of Washington, the wonders of the internet, and $39.99 plus tax, I have officially been ordained. So if you get married here today, it will be legal and binding and forever. But no pressure.” Blair had the softest smile on her lips.
