Page 191 of The Wedding

“The one I wore at my wedding, yes.” Monique pulled it out of the case and handed it to Jamie, who gasped. “I want you to have it.”

“I couldn’t!”

“You can, and you will. I insist.” When Jamie still wouldn’t take it, Monique got up to wrap the diamond choker around the bride’s throat. “Then you can give it to another woman like us on her wedding day.”

Jamie sat still as Monique latched the choker. The diamonds settled nicely on Jamie’s chest, and when she looked in the mirror, she was surprised to find that they did not clash with the rest of her look. Does this symbolize what I think it does?Jamie had rather hoped to leave the kink out of the wedding. Like Etta, she preferred that to be private.

This didn’t seem too bad, though, especially if it came from Monique.

“I only intended to wear this for my wedding, since I couldn’t very well wear my usual collars.” Monique sat back down, sighing. “Clashed too much, or was too garish for a bridal outfit. It was going to sit in a box forever. I figure this way… it will get some good use.”

“Thank you.”

“I like to think it’s pretty lucky. Helen and I have been very happy so far.”

“You two are a great couple.”

“So are you and Etta. Speaking of whom…” Monique paused for effect. “I came from her room, and I’m the only one who has noticed how nervous she is.”

“Nervous? Her?”

“Of course. She’s marrying the woman of her dreams. She’s in utter disbelief right now. She hides it well, but I can tell. You’re holding up better than she is.”

NowthatJamie didn’t believe. “Do you think she’ll know what this means?” Jamie touched the choker.

“She’s a perceptive woman. She’ll recognize it as the one I was wearing at my wedding.” They smiled at one another. “We’ll start a crazy, kinky trend. The papers will have a field day trying to figure out why so many women are getting married in the same choker. It’s a cult!”Jamie laughed, the dress tightening around her midsection.Ugh, thanks, Bonita. Why not throw a corset on her, too? Make sure she really couldn’t breathe.Now there’s something blue… my face.“Thank you so much. You’ve been a good friend to me.”

Monique returned to her usual reserved countenance. “No, Jamie, you’ve been a good friend. I couldn’t have ever asked for a better one. You and Etta were both there for me when I needed friends the most. You’re terrific people, and I’m proud to call you my friends.” She smiled again. “You’ll always be the first person I invite to my parties.”

“Well, there’s that.”

Monique looked around the bedroom, eyes lingering on the now mussed bedspread. “It’s been a while since I was last in here.”

Jamie wanted to ignore that, but decided to embrace it. “I’m still finding some of your old clothes in here. Unfortunately, they’re all too small forme.”

“Oh, dear…”

“Don’t worry. I’ve made sure they’ve been repurposed well.”

“Good! I had completely forgotten about them.” Monique rested her hands on her stomach. “You truly are wonderful, Jamie. Etta would be a total idiot to never marry you, because you’re absolutely perfect for her.”

“We’ve gathered that’s your opinion.”

“The woman did not take subtleties well. I eventually had to lean across the restaurant table and tell her to fucking marry you, so help me God.”

That took Jamie aback. “Did you really do that?”

Monique shrugged. “More or less.” She glanced at her watch. “Ah, I should let you finish getting ready.” In time, too, because the whole crew burst through the door, carrying Jamie’s tiara. “I’ll be in that front row with tears in my eyes.”

The next fifteen minutes were a total blur. Raul and Bonita fought over how to place Jamie’s tiara… farther up? Farther back? She eschewed a veil, choosing to have her sapphire barrette tucked behind her tiara and tiny sparkles threaded through her hair. She had worried this would take too long to do, but Bonita and Raul finally collaborated to get it done in record time.

“Oh my… is that my Jammy?”

Saul stood in the doorway, wearing a white linen shirt and loose khaki-colored trousers. It was the nicest Jamie would ever get her father to dress, and she was glad of it.I guess his pants sort of match the gold in my dress. Jamie was close to tears again when her father approached, here to take her hand to walk her down the aisle, so to speak.

“It is, Dad.”

“Wow.” He put his hands down, gobsmacked. Behind him, Luna rubbed his back and imparted her own smile upon Jamie. “I never thought I’d see the day you truly looked like a princess. Like in those fairy tales I usedto read to you.” He coughed, covering up his emotions. “Of course, now I realize what chauvinistic drivel those all were…”