He laughed and then turned his attention to Tyler, who called out to us to join the rest of the wedding party. We still had a handful of pictures to take before leaving for the reception. The photos would forever mark my spot as the end-of-the-line bridesmaid, but I didn’t care. Not one bit. All that mattered now was celebrating the happily ever after of my sister and her new husband.
But, I admit, I was pondering the possibilities for a happily ever after of my own. Just as soon as we wrapped up the photoshoot.
The photographer had obviously done this a time or two. She corralled us into position after position, taking one photo after the next. I couldn’t help but notice that she angled Sienna to hide the DoubleD’s. Mostly, anyway. Oh well. We would laugh about them later. Maybe.
When the photo shoot ended, I rode with the other attendants to the River Oaks Country Club. Phillip’s father had rented limos for the whole wedding party and, despite my earlier reservations about feeling out of place in a hoity-toity world, I enjoyed the ride immensely.
“A girl could get used to this.” Cassie giggled as she leaned back against the seat. “Don’t you think?”
“I do.” Brianna opened a can of soda and poured it into a glass of ice. “They can chauffer me around any day.”
I glanced over at Sienna, who remained quiet, gazing out the window. Her silence threw me a little. “Didn’t you think the wedding was gorgeous, Sienna?”
“Hmm?” She looked away from the window. “What?”
“The wedding,” I repeated. “It was beautiful.”
She shrugged. “Yes. It was great. I’m sure even Phillip’s mother would agree. I know she’s given Crystal kind of a hard time.”
“Well, I thought it was great.” My heart flooded with emotion as I glanced from one bridesmaid to another. “I’ve loved every minute of getting to know you all better. I don’t want this to end.”
“Interesting.” Sienna turned back to the window. “Because I can’t wait for it to be over.”
“You don’t mean that. I think maybe you’re just sad and a little confused right now.”
She shrugged again and continued to stare out the window. When we arrived at the country club, we were all staring out the window.
I’d heard about the River Oaks Country Club for years but had never seen it for myself. Now, as the driver swung the door of the limo open and offered me his hand, I stepped into a whole new world. The gorgeous front doors were majestic in size. Gorgeous. I could barely breathe as I took it all in.
A man in a tuxedo greeted us, and we took a few cautious steps into the grand foyer. “Are you here for the Havenhurst reception?”
I nodded, unable to speak as I gazed upward at the massive chandeliers, in all of their crystallized beauty.
“This way, please.” He gestured down the hallway to our right and we walked as a group until we came to the reception hall. There simply were no words to describe its beauty.
“Wow.” Cassie’s eyes widened. “This is . . . wow.”
“Wow is right.” I stood completely dumbfounded by the place.
Off in the distance a band played country tunes, my sister’s favorite. The heavenly aroma of food emanated from the buffet table to our right. I pushed away the “sixty-five dollars a head” speech rolling around in my brain and made up my mind to relax and enjoy myself.
A few minutes later my parents arrived with Grandma Nellie close behind. As they were seated, she carried on and on about the beautiful room. “This place!” She gestured to the hall chandeliers, also dripping with crystals. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Me either. But I think Crystal is going to have the time of her life. This is perfect for her.”
“She deserves this.” My grandmother’s eyes flooded with tears. “You, too, precious girl. You deserve this, and so much more.”
“Aw, thank you, Grandma Nellie. Maybe someday.”
“Maybe someday . . . soon.” She nodded toward Derrick, who stood nearby, talking to one of the groomsmen. “Remember, sometimes the Lord—”
I put up my hand and laughed. “Don’t say it. Don’t say it.”
At that moment, the deejay announced the arrival of the bride and groom. The guests rose and greeted them with applause, and then the band began to play.
I stepped away from my family’s table as Crystal and Phillip took to the floor to share their first dance as husband and wife. In that moment, as I saw the two of them together, all concerns about my sister’s happiness faded away. Phillip couldn’t take his eyes off her, and she returned his gaze, a blissful expression on her face.
“They’re a perfect match.”
I turned when I heard Derrick’s voice and then nodded, a lump rising in my throat. I managed to speak above it as I said, “Yes, they are.”
Derrick slipped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. “I’m just waiting for all the designated dances to end so I can spin you around the dance floor.”
“Did I forget to mention that I’m a terrible dancer?”
“Sure you are.”
“No, really. I’m terrible.”
“You said you were terrible at baking, too, and you made some pretty amazing cookies.”
“Your mom made those.”
“Well, sometimes all it takes is someone leading the way.” He gave me a knowing look. “You can follow and learn the steps.”