“Yeah, he is. He asked if we cared if Audrey played the finger cymbals on one of the songs. I guess she told him that she always feels left out cause she’s not a musician, so he taught her how to play the fucking finger cymbals,” she said the last part giggling.
I started laughing. “God, I know it’s terrible to be mean ‘cause she’s so nice, but man, she is way, way too happy. She’s happy and nice to the point where I feel like an asshole just being around her.”
“Yeah, I’m sure she has flaws, everybody does,” Jenny said and then turned up the radio.
Once we got to the cottage we went straight to bed. The next morning Jenny’s mom showed up along with Karen, a friend of Jenny’s from high school. The four of us had the task of setting up the tables and chairs. The wedding was to start at three; we had our work cut out for us. Jenny wanted to be back in the cottage by noon so we would all have plenty of time to get ready. It was a beautiful morning; the pond glistened behind a rose-covered wrought-iron archway set up for the ceremony. Once the florist arrived, the setting really started to come alive with rose pedals lining the aisle and gorgeous centerpieces made of Casablanca lilies and pastel-colored flowers on each table. After sweating for hours, we took a little water break.
“Why aren’t Tyler and Will here doing this?” I asked.
“Tyler can’t see me today, duh, and I like being in control of this stuff anyway. I guess Will and Audrey are staying at a little bed and breakfast this weekend, making a mini-vacay out it, so I didn’t want to ask them.”
“How adorable.”
“Stop,” Jenny said, stretching the word out. Just then a truck came backing into the side yard. Jenny yelled at the driver, “I want it right there under that trellis! Thanks!”
Two men wheeled an old upright piano on to the back lift gate of the truck.
“You rented a piano?” I said with excitement.
“I couldn’t let my piano virtuoso BFF get overshadowed by finger-cymbal girl.”
I laughed. “Thank you, Jenny, but I didn’t prepare anything.”
“It’s just for fun after the ceremony. You and Will can mess around on it.” I smiled mischievously at her. “Musically, I mean. Get your head out of the gutter, Mia Pia, we got a wedding to put on,” she said as she pulled me toward the house.
Track 12: Prayer for Each Other
“You look incredible!” I said to Jenny as she stood in front of the mirror in her wedding dress. It was a simple ecru gown with long, straight lines. The thick straps hugged the outside of her shoulders, showing off her whole neckline. She wore her curly blond hair in an updo with a few stray strands hanging down. Her friend Karen and I had matching coral knee-length dresses that echoed the bodice of Jenny’s dress with thick off-the-shoulder straps. We both wore our hair in simple updos.
Jenny’s wedding colors were shades of coral, pink, tan, and burnt orange; it was very summer-cottage inspired and very romantic. There were roses everywhere and the cake was simply a tower of macaroons, each tier a different whimsical color. Guests were starting to arrive. Through the window I saw Jenny’s mom giving orders like a drill sergeant. I finally saw where Jenny got her spunk and assertiveness. The caterer was ready, the seats in front of the archway were filling up and I saw Will and Audrey seated off to the side of the aisle. Will was strumming the black Gibson and I could see a shimmer in Audrey’s hand from the finger cymbals. How cute, I thought sarcastically.
When I saw Tyler standing at the front of the aisle with Jenny’s little brother, I knew it was time.
“This is it, Jenny, you ready?”
“I was born ready.” Jenny was by far the calmest bride I had ever seen.
Karen went first and then I went, walking out of the cottage and down the aisle. I smiled as I walked slowly toward the archway. Will was seated at the front, off to the side, playing an acoustic version of “At Last,” accompanied by Audrey clanking the finger cymbals at all the wrong times. Clearly Audrey was musically challenged, but she looked cute in her pink chiffon dress and stiletto heels. When I reached the front, I noticed all the guests except for Will had turned to watch Jenny come down the aisle. He starting playing an original song I didn’t recognize and I figured it was Jenny and Tyler’s, but he was looking right at me while he played it. He winked and I smiled and then he finally turned toward the aisle. He always wanted to make sure I knew he was acknowledging me. I definitely noticed him, how could I miss him? He looked like the cover love child of GQ and Rolling Stone. He wore a gray suit with a white shirt and a thin black tie. His hair looked like he’d run his hands through it with a touch of gel and then I thought maybe Audrey had run her hands through it in their cozy room at the B&B. Ugh.