The ceremony was beautiful. As we walked down the aisle every eye was on my mother, and she was radiant, as usual. When I got to the altar, standing to the left of my mother, I scanned the crowd. Most of the faces I didn’t recognize, but when my eyes found Jack at the back, his eyes found mine and he smiled at me. I was glad he was here.
Twenty minutes later, John Alcott kissed Mary Reeves, and she became Mary Alcott, in front of hundreds of witnesses.
The happy couple left the church, leaving with the photographer to take private photos for the two hours before the reception officially began. Of course, anyone who wanted to could come to the Alcott estate immediately and begin being served from the open bar or the thousands of dollars worth of little snacks available to hungry diners who didn’t want to wait for the late lunch/early dinner meal being served later.
The other bridesmaids and I, along with the groomsmen, followed in another limo not far behind the newly married couple to go get the official wedding photos taken.
After two hours my jaw was beginning to hurt from smiling so much. We’d gone to a gorgeous traditional English garden not far away, and there the photographer posed us, took photos, posed us again, and then some.
I kept myself sane by thinking about the amazing gourmet dinner my mom had decided on, I had sneaked a peek at the menu and knew that it was going to be nothing short of amazing.
Finally the photos ended and we were driven back to the Alcott estate. Amy made a single snide comment about how fat I would look in the photos, but I just ignored her, and Sally gave my hand a supportive squeeze. I couldn’t care less about John Alcott’s dumb sister; her words couldn’t bother me in the least.
As soon as I got to the reception area, I sought out Jack, and found him hanging out by one of the fountains, eating a mini quiche while watching the guests mingle.
“Hey, I didn’t think you were coming,” I told him as I sat down next to him, a glass of champagne in hand.
“Hey,” he answered, brightening up visibly as he saw me. “I wasn’t going to go. Then I figured that since the reception is going to be in my backyard anyway, I might as well go to the wedding too.”
“What did you think?”
“That your mom made a huge mistake.”
“What? Why?”
Jack just shook his head. “Nothing. It’s not my place. I might be wrong, anyway.”
“No, seriously, why do you think my mom messed up?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Seriously? We’re this close, and you can’t tell me?”
“Just forget I said anything, ok?” Jack snapped, getting up off the fountain and walking off.
“Hey, hold up,” I ordered, and he stopped.
“I know you have issues. But don’t take them out on me.”
“Fine. But I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
“Then tell me how good I look in this dress.”
Jack grinned.
“Not nearly as good as you’d look without it. But you do look stunning, Jules. I mean that.
“Thanks,” I muttered, and as good as the compliment sounded, there was suddenly a bit of a hole in my heart. I knew Jack had secrets, but this one could affect my mom. I wanted to know what the problem was.
“Listen. I know you don’t want to talk about this, but if it’s going to affect my mom, please, you have to let me know.”
Jack stared at me for a little while.
“I knew this was a mistake,” he muttered. “I shouldn’t have come here.”
With that he turned, and this time when he walked off I didn’t follow. Once again I felt that rage build up inside of me that only he could generate, that only he could make me feel.
What on earth was that man hiding?
Chapter Twenty
The dinner was just as amazing as it sounded on the menu. Sitting high up on my mom’s right hand side at the banquet table, I felt like a princess looking down on her peons. Which was a hilarious thought, since half the guest list were far closer to having actual princess status than I ever would. We were in the back garden, it was such a gorgeous afternoon that the tents that had been ordered weren’t put up. The sun warmed the skin as it began to sink slowly down into the sky, and it was obvious that the outdoor setting was the perfect choice for this wedding.
Cream and violet tablecloths covered the two dozen round tables holding the guests, centered by gorgeous bouquets of white and purple roses, while staff came rushing in from the house with the various parts of the meal. Other waiters and waitresses middle around, waiting for drink orders from guests. Women in fancy dresses and even fancier hats watched us, but more especially my mom and John as they began their married life together at the table at the front.
Lining the side of the garden were huge vases, at least three feet tall, filled with a variety of exotic looking flowers, purple and cream or white to continue with the color scheme for the rest of the wedding.