“Shhh,” Madison said, glancing around to make sure her parents weren’t within earshot. Perhaps it wasn’t a conventional wedding, but the only people who knew that besides George were her friends . . . and Cash.
When she’d told him, he’d gaped at her. The two sat outside on the stoop of his trailer as the sunset gave off a purple glow. The sky was eerie and calm at the same time, which wasn’t too different from how Madison felt as she broke the news about marrying George. “I’m actually in shock,” he said, looking as though he was trying to process the information. Madison felt the same way.
“I just thought you should hear it from me first,” she said, nervously shaking her knees.
“Is this what you want?” He looked at her, his eyes lowering.
She thought about it for a second. Sure, it wasn’t exactly what she had in mind when she first started hanging around George. Claire and Laura had married their “one true loves” and didn’t seem any better off for it. At least she knew that George would never hurt her. And besides, their marriage would practically be a business arrangement.
She twirled her hair as she locked eyes with Cash, wondering what he was really thinking. Was he plotting to win her back? She fantasized about him grabbing her hand and begging her to ditch George and run away with her. They’d find another way to help her parents with the mortgage and the medical bills and they’d finally be together for real, a true couple. But she knew deep down none of those things would happen. She had been fantasizing about that for years, just like she did with those lottery tickets she and Allen scratched off—addicted to the fantasy and hope of winning, but always disappointed in the end.
“Is it what you want?” he asked again, digging his Chucks into the dirt.
She looked off into the sunset and nodded her head slowly. She had finally won the lottery—it just wasn’t the prize she was originally hoping for.
“Oh, my baby!” Madison’s mom cried now as she poked her head in the bathroom door, bringing Madison back to the moment. “You look beautiful.” The tears were already starting to flow and the ceremony hadn’t even started yet. It was going to be a long day for Connie Blanchette.
“Thanks, Mama,” Madison said, greeting her mom with a very careful cheek kiss so as not to mess up the makeup Claire had just spent an hour applying.
“K, yer all done,” Claire said with one final curl. “Let’s get the dress on.” She peeked out the tiny bathroom window at the backyard of George’s lake house. “Guests are already startin’ to come.”
Madison walked over to the dress that was hanging on the back of the bedroom door. The sunshine from the large windows was shining directly on it, although nothing was sparkling, because, well, it was Madison after all. She slipped on the dress, and Claire placed the floral wreath they made that morning on her head. For the first time all day, Claire smiled.
“You really do look beautiful,” she said, hugging Madison.
“She’s ready,” Connie called out into the hallway, and Madison’s dad appeared in the doorway.
“Aw, Daddy,” Madison said, running over to Allen. He was wearing his only suit—the one he had worn to nine funerals in his lifetime. “At least this baby gets to attend something happy,” Madison joked, smoothing his lapel.
He laughed. And then something happened that Madison never thought would: he broke down and sobbed.
“I’m just so . . .” He trailed off, smiled, and handed her a small wooden box.
“What’s this?” she asked, holding it in her hand.
“I heard that you were supposed to have something blue,” he said, wiping the tears away.
She opened it. A silver bracelet with a large beautiful blue charm sat in the box. “Oh, Daddy,” she said as she held it up and looked it over. “It’s perfect!”
“Do you recognize it?” he asked, looking proud of himself.
Upon closer inspection, Madison realized what it was: the blue fishing lure they had used on their epic fishing trip where the catfish tugged her dad into the water. “Oh my gosh.” Her eyes began watering. “How did you do this?”
“Hold it in!” Claire yelled, running to get some tissues. “Don’t you dare mess up your makeup!”
“Your mama’s friend Mrs. Ashley helped me,” Allen said. “I gave her the lure, and she turned it into a charm for me.”
Madison handed it to him to clasp onto her wrist. “It’s my favorite thing ever,” she said, her heart overflowing. “Thank you.” She kissed her dad and then her mom. “I love you both more than anything.”
“The feeling’s mutual, m’dear,” Allen said, taking her by the hands. “We’re both so proud of you, and we know that George is a good man. He’s gonna take good care of you long after we’re gone.” He paused as his eyes filled with tears once more.
All of them were now crying, even Claire, who was clutching the box of tissues to her chest.
“Well, we should get out there,” Connie said, looking at her watch. “It’s time!”
The four of them walked out into the backyard where forty guests and George waited eagerly for the bride. The solo violinist played a moody melody that gave Madison chills. Claire walked first down the path in between the white wooden chairs that were lined up in a row. Madison, flanked by her parents on either side, gracefully followed.
George and Charlie stood at the end of the path, greeting her with a beaming smile and a wagging tail, respectively. As she stood under the floral arch with her groom, she paused to think about her friends, all so unhappy in their own relationships. She couldn’t help but feel like her marriage was going to be different—after all, it was love that ruined everything. She and George didn’t have to deal with that; they’d just be good friends, sharing a life. She took a deep breath as Gavin began officiating the ceremony.
Madison swallowed and pushed her hair behind her ears. She and George looked at each other, smiling.
“You ready for this?” he whispered.
“Yes,” she said with a grin and was surprised to realize she meant it.
? ? ?
“TODAY WAS ONE of the best days of my life,” George said as the two lounged on the large comfy sofa in their PJs that evening. Most girls would wear white lacy lingerie on their wedding night, but Madison had a different way: navy blue sweatpants and an old Toulouse High T-shirt that had a bleach stain and some holes in it.
“Yeah, it was pretty awesome,” she said. “I’ve never gotten so many gifts in my life!” Granted, they were mostly useless things like crystal candlesticks and a melon-baller, but she knew she’d have fun exchanging them for better stuff . . . or for some cold, hard cash.
“Well, I’m gonna go to bed, bride,” George said, looking at the clock. It was already midnight. “It’s been a long day.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty tired, too,” Madison said, letting out a loud yawn.
“So, we never talked about this, but I guess you’ll want your own room,” he said awkwardly.