Page 106 of Fathers of the Bride

“I’m sure there will be plenty,” I said.

“But exactly—”

“Shrimp,” Miles said. “There will be fresh caught Alaskan pink shrimp, all right?”

Martha looked a tad frightened. For some reason people always looked frightened when Miles’s voice rose an octave or two.

He continued, “Anyway, the ceremony is set to begin at one o’clock. I’d like to start as close to one as possible. As soon as Kelly is ready, the maid of honor, Martha, will come out and tell me—”

Martha began to emphatically shake her head from side to side. “What is it now?” Miles asked.

“I have anxiety. When you give me a task, I get so worried about doing it wrong that inevitably I do it wrong.”

“This is very simple, Martha. When Kelly says, ‘I’m ready” you come and tell me that.”

“But what if she doesn’t say, ‘I’m ready’?”

“Then she’s not ready.”

“What if she says, ‘It’s time to start the wedding?’”

“Then it’s time to start the wedding.”

“But what if she says it and it’s not?”

“You know, Miles,” Pudge said. “Lissa and I will be in and out. As will the hairdresser and the makeup artist. Don’t worry about this. We’ll find someone to tell you Kelly is ready.”

He looked a bit panicked. The suggestion was a bit too loosey-goosey for him, but he went ahead and said, “Okay.”

I watched him take several deep breaths before continuing. “All right. Kelly and her half of the wedding party will be getting ready in her room. As soon she’s ready, she’ll come down to the dining room and wait until Pachelbel’s “Canon in C” begins. You’ll want to let at least ten bars go by before you come out of the house.”

He took a moment’s pause to let people absorb.

“Bridesmaids will be going down the aisle first. I’m sorry dear, what was your name?” He asked the girl standing behind Martha.

“Reed,” she said. Her hair was cut into a buzz cut she’d somewhat absurdly attached a pink bow to in the front. I had the feeling it was either an ironic joke or a political statement. I just couldn’t figure out which.

“Oh, yes, you work at Safe Haven with Kelly,” Miles said, recognizing her, which put her into context for me.

“You look different out of cargo shorts,” he added. She wore a rather classic men’s pin-striped suit, making me wonder what she’d be wearing at the wedding. “All right, then. Reed will come out first, followed by…”

“Megan,” a young woman said. “I’m Martha’s sister. The other cousin.”

“Great. Let Reed get about six feet in front of you and then come out of the house. Now, does everyone know how to walk down the aisle at a wedding?”

Several of the wedding party shook their heads. “It’s very simple, step-stop, step-stop. Martha, you’re next. Six feet. Then step-stop. Step-stop.”

“Shouldn’t it be eight feet?”

“Why?”

“Because I’m the maid of honor. There should be a moment of suspense.”

“No,” Miles said, flatly. He was losing all patience with her.

“We need to trust Miles,” I said. “He’s done this a lot more than the rest of us.”

I could see her glaring at me from inside the house. But then, she stepped out and stopped. Then she stepped again and stopped. It was awkward and stiff but at least she was doing it.