I was a bit worried when she met John as I saw her become what I thought was too comfortable with her new lifestyle. But over the past week, she’s reassured me. And now, I’m nothing but happy for her.
“And now,” the minister says, turning to John, “John, do you take Mary Jo to be your wife, to love and honor, to cherish and protect, in good times and bad, as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” John says, sliding Mom’s ring on her finger, and my heart catches in my throat. We’re at the ultimate moment, and I can barely breathe.
The minister turns to Mom. “And do you, Mary Jo, take John to be your husband, to have and to hold, to love and cherish through sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” Mom replies, sliding the ring onto John’s finger.
“The veil, please,” the minister says, and John lifts Mom’s veil. The world doubles, then trebles for a moment before I realize that I’m crying, and I hurriedly wipe at my eyes. I have to see this clearly. “You may kiss the bride.”
John and Mom kiss, and as they step back, I glance at Oliver. He’s beaming, and a thought runs through my head.
If only . . . if only.
“Let the party begin!”
Leave it to Roxy to kick the reception off right. She bursts through the doors of the reception hall already thrusting her hands up in the air, ready to turn the reception into her own personal rave if she has to.
I can’t help it, I’m caught up in her enthusiasm—everyone is—and pretty soon, I’m laughing and joking along with everyone else.
“Well, hello, there!” Brad yells as he crosses the floor. Of all the guests at the wedding or the reception, he’s easily the loudest, both in the way he talks and in the way he’s dressed. Then again, anyone wearing a bright lilac suit and pink bowtie to a wedding is going to stand out. “I was hoping to see you!”
“I think he’s talking to you,” Roxy laughs, poking Oliver, who’s just returned with some wine from the open bar. I take a sip and it’s good wine, that’s for sure. “I mean, I’m pretty sure I’m hot as hell right now. But I know he doesn’t have eyes for me.”
Oliver hands me my drink, chuckling. “Hello, Brad. Enjoy the wedding?”
Brad grabs the wine from Oliver’s hand before tossing it back, grinning. “Honey, I’m just looking forward to the day I get to be up there. I’m gonna be one sexy bitch!”
“I bet you are,” I retort, laughing. “You got the lucky guy all picked out yet?”
“Hmmm . . .” Brad says melodramatically as he looks around the room before rolling his eyes back to Oliver. “The best is already taken.”
I blush, but Oliver handles it with a smirk and a laugh. I think he realizes Brad’s just messing with him. Or at least I hope he is.
“Mind if I show your woman what she’s missing?” Brad asks, grabbing my wrist. “Come on, Mindy, let me show you what you’re going to be missing.”
I hand Oliver my wine, and he gives me a smile and a toast as Brad and I head out to the floor. Mom and John aren’t here yet, so the floor is still mostly empty. I’m shocked when Look Back At Me comes on, but Grandma doesn’t look upset as Trina and Killer Mike drop some of the raunchiest twerk anthems of all time.
“Come on, now, work it!” Brad says as he starts, and there’s no way in hell I can pass it up. I start dancing right next to him, dropping it as low as I can in my party dress.
I pop my hips from side to side as Brad tries to keep up. By the time the four and half minutes are up, my legs are burning but I’m laughing my ass off, Brad’s antics and dancing leaving me breathless. When the song ends and the DJ takes back over, we make our way off the floor, and just in time. The DJ starts some jazzy music, and the doors open for John and Mom to make their grand entrance.
“Well, that was good timing.” Roxy giggles as she hands me a glass. “By the way, Oliver’s eyes never left your ass the entire time you were out there.”
I don’t really have a reply, and when Oliver sits down, I try my best to keep up with everything. But I can’t—my attention keeps getting pulled back to Oliver, and I see him giving me looks too. Is that longing I see in his eyes? But if it is, why can’t he just say this isn’t over when we leave?
Up front, it’s time for the toasts, and after a hilarious one from Grandma, it’s my turn. I make my way to the front of the room where the mic is set up, trying to remember what I worked up this morning when I had a few minutes. I clear my throat, and look out at the crowd, at the cousins and second cousins and John’s family with all their kids, and my mind goes blank. “Ahh . . .”
There’s a nervous titter in the crowd and then silence, and I’m about to break down when Oliver stands up. “I know I’ve only known Mary Jo and John a week,” he says, making his way to the front of the room and putting his arm around my shoulder. His blue eyes find mine, and I feel both strength and longing flood my heart. Oliver smiles and gives me a kiss on the cheek before continuing. “I know that’s not a long time to get to know someone, but I don’t need a week. I don’t even need another minute to know that John is one of the luckiest men in the whole damn world.
“Some of you are probably thinking I’m saying this because I want a better wedding gift when Mindy and I tie the knot,” he says, earning a few laughs. “And I’ll admit, the thought did cross my mind. John, I happen to think that Monaco is a great place to take a honeymoon, don’t you?”
His joke earns more laughs, and even I have to smile, putting an arm around Oliver’s waist and holding him tight. He hugs me, then continues. “But seriously, I know that you’re a lucky man, because so am I. Because any woman who was able to raise two daughters as wonderful, as beautiful, and as special as Mindy and Roxy . . . that’s a woman you want to have by your side for the rest of your life. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, they say. Well, the reverse is true. To the luckiest man in the room and to his lovely bride. May your lives be filled with happiness and joy.”
There are tears in Mom’s eyes as Oliver raises his glass, and as we make our way back to our seat, I give his hand a squeeze. “Thank you.”
“I meant it,” he says quietly, giving me that same heart aching look. The toasts continue, with Roxy going last, dedicating her singing instead of a normal toast. As Mom and John dance on the floor to Roxy’s version of Wonderful Tonight, I can’t help but feel my throat grow tight for what feels like the thousandth time today. Oliver sounds moved, too. “They’re going to have a good life.”
“I hope so,” I whisper, choked up. I look at Oliver and reach over, taking his hand. “Will you dance with me, next song?”
He nods, taking my hand in his, and as Roxy finishes up, we stand and go to the floor. I’m hoping for something faster, something that won’t tear my heart out anymore, but Roxy sees us, and we’re trapped as she starts up. A Thousand Years.
“Just dance,” Oliver says quietly, sensing what I’m thinking. He pulls me into his arms, and I let myself move, losing myself in his eyes as we dance. I’m scared, I’m hurting, but I let myself go, putting my arms around his neck and dancing with him. Christina Perri’s lyrics might be a total lie. I haven’t even known Oliver for a thousand hours, let alone a thousand years . . . but the heart’s the same.
And I’ll give him a thousand more, if he’ll have me. I’m just too scared to tell him, to tell him that as I look at him here on the dance floor, I want the lie to be real. That he’s better than the fictional Harold I created as a lie. That I want him, that I need him. That I love him.
“Oliver . . .” I say, trying to form the words, but before I do, there’s a tap on my shoulder, and I see Mom giving me a smile.