Over the next couple of months Jack and I began to see each other more and more often. Maybe it was just my imagination, but I thought Tina and Annie started thinking that maybe we were more than just friends. Still, they didn’t say anything about it.
I had other things to think about too. My mom’s wedding with John Alcott was coming up, and I was pretty excited about it. I didn’t get to see him very often, but every time I did John was just the nicest person to me, and I was glad that my mom was finally marrying someone that was going to be good to her. I just knew he would be.
As for her diabetes, my mom was managing it just fine. She was a little bit pale sometimes (which I had originally chalked up to the winter here in London), and had taken to wearing long sleeves a lot of the time, which she said was from the new sun sensitivity she was feeling since her diagnosis.
It was pretty handy, living in the same house as the person I was falling in love with. And that was really the truth of it. I tried to resist it for as long as I could, but I was falling in love with Jack.
I’d never tell him, of course. While I was so happy that the stream of girls coming into his room at night had stopped and was now replaced with only me, a part of me thought that if I told him I’d push him away for good.
After all, our relationship was still pretty taboo.
Still, when the day of the wedding arrived, that was the last thing on my mind. Well, one of the last things on my mind. I woke up early, and joined my mom and the other bridesmaids – Karen, her best friend from New York who was flown over for the wedding, Amy (ugh) and Sally. Amy had changed her hair, she had a real Posh Spice look going on now, still obviously dyed blonde.
I tried to ignore her snide remarks and just focus on the shampoo being massaged into my scalp as we got our hair done, then went back to the estate to get ready.
The ceremony was going to take place at Christ Church Cathedral, in Oxford. It was huge, definitely big enough to accommodate the over three hundred guests that had been invited. Afterwards, the reception was going to be at the estate. Luckily it was a gorgeous sunny day, and all the work that had been done in the backyard to accommodate everyone was going to pay off.
I went to my room and slipped into my gorgeous purple dress. I had to hand it to my mom, she knew how to pick a dress that flattered my curves. I admired myself in the mirror, giggling before making my way to my mom’s room, where the makeup lady was ready and waiting to get started in the enormous bathroom suite.
For three hours we all got ready. I could tell my mom was nervous. Of course, she’d never show it. But I knew. I went and got my mom a glass of champagne, and she looked at me thankfully.
“You’re the best daughter I could have ever asked for, you know?” she told me.
“Thanks, mom,” I replied. “You’re going to be fine.”
“I know. I’m just nervous. I haven’t done this in a while.”
“Mom, your last wedding was three years ago.”
“I know. But this is the first time I’ve gotten married where I’ve really felt that I could be with this man ‘till death do us part.”
“That’s sweet, mom.”
We were interrupted by the wedding planner who walked into the room suddenly, clapping her hands.
“Alright ladies, we have to be in the car to go to the Church in five minutes. Mary, I have your bouquet right here. For the rest of you, your flowers are in the main hall.”
She herded us like sheep and we made our way down, the photographer who had been hanging around us and snapping pictures following as well.
The limo waiting for us outside was extravagant. We all fit so easily inside of it, I was surprised it was small enough to legally be allowed on the road.
As we got closer to the church, the other bridesmaids began congratulating my mom. We got out of the limo and were ushered into the Church’s waiting area. Sneaking over to one of the windows, I had a look at the crowd waiting in the church, waiting for my mom to walk down the aisle.
Suddenly, my heart stopped. Sitting in the back row, in a suit and tie, something I’d never seen him wear, was Jack. I’d thought he wasn’t coming to the wedding.
Before I had a chance to think about it any more, the wedding planner came in and told us they were ready.
Since we were in England, the Bridesmaids were to enter after the bride. Lining us up, the wedding planner waited until the organ began playing Pachabel’s Cannon, then the large doors leading to the main church opened, and my mother walked forward.