Page 194 of The Wedding

“You think so?” They had a lull in guests, although plenty made their way toward them. I think I legit shook a prince’s hand.Prince of Liechtenstein? Somewhere?“I’ve always wanted to look refined.”

Etta leaned in closer, breath hot on the ear. “I can’t wait to take it down for you later.”

Jamie couldn’t help but giggle. “And this dress?”

“I’ll be delicate, I promise.”

“I’m sure you will be.”

Nothing pleased Jamie more than to sit at the table and finally take her weight off her aching feet.I am so ready for Hawaii. They were leaving the next day, and it couldn’t come soon enough at this point. Even though her dress was still tight around her waist, she ordered the most carb-infested, dairy-laden thing she could find on the menu and started drinking Italian wine with it.Can’t wait to spill it all over my dress.Luckily, that didn’t happen.

It wouldn’t be a wedding reception without speeches, and that’s what the newlyweds were treated to as they enjoyed their meal. Etta’s friend from Yale went first, admitting that he didn’t know Jamie very well, but that any woman who managed to tie down Etta Coleman was a special one, indeed. Everyone did their best not to look at Adele, who sat on the other side of Etta, wearing the original dress she was slated to wear that day before her last-minute change into a suit. She had another drink before anyone else.

When it was her turn to give a speech, Adele stood up, cleared her throat… and promptly tried to pass the mic to someone else.

“No, you don’t.” Jamie slapped her hand in front of Etta to get Adele’s attention.

“Well, what is there to say?” Adele said, the flux in her voice betraying her anxiety. “Etta and I go a long way back. Some of you even know thatwe used to date while we were at Yale. People were really surprised when we went into business together… and I’m sure they’re even more shocked to see me standing here now.”

She said all of this in Jamie’s direction, as if to declare,“See? I know what you think.”

“I haven’t known Jamie for very long, either, but I’ve come to know a bright young woman who knows exactly what she wants and what obstacles may stand in her way. That’s a compliment, truly. She is also incredibly tenacious, because anyone who has ever dated Etta knows what a broody handful she can be.”

“Hey, now…”

“Shush.”

Nobody had a lot to say about actually knowing Jamie until they got to her parents – who offered to give another fertility demonstration, but were quickly removed from the open floor – and the few friends she had. Monique was asked to say a few things, and the core of her speech was, “Etta needs a woman like her, and she needs a woman like Etta. Trust me, I’m a professional matchmaker. I know these things.”

By the time the speeches ended, Jamie had finished her food and let it sit.There’s still the cake!A lovely monster sitting pretty on a table along the far side of the wall. There were so many flowers on it that most people thought Jamie chose it… but in reality, Etta insisted on more flowers. Jamie had married one of the biggest softies in the world, and nobody but her knew it.

Just in case she needed to burn some calories, the live jazz band began playing, and Etta extended a hand to her new wife.

“You know how this goes,” she said, pretending to be so put out by having to dance with her. “Nobody else is allowed to dance until we get it on out there… and these people are dying to get down and funky.”

This was not a crowd that would do the Macarena, theFunky Chicken, or even a damn Conga Line, but they would all turn their heads when the new wives first took to the floor and slow-danced to a jazz rendition of Savage Garden’s “I Knew I Loved You.” Etta had rolled her eyes when Jamie announced the choice weeks back, but now Etta’s eyes were focused on hers. They went from holding a respectable pose to Jamie sinking against her chest in about two seconds.Screw propriety!It was her wedding day, and Jamie wanted to be cute with her wife.My wife!What a wild idea!

The floor slowly filled up with other couples. Jamie didn’t pay them any mind. She looked up, into Etta’s eyes, smiling at the way she looked at her. It wasn’t until her father barreled through a few minutes later, demanding a dance with his daughter while Luna sashayed away with Etta, that Jamie considered the world beyond them.

Her dress didn’t let her do a lot of dancing, but Jamie was content to relax and watch her wedding unfold. Many people came by to privately congratulate her, including a teary Francesca Blake, who declared her, “As beautiful as my daughter on her wedding day.” She then extended an invitation to Jamie to attend a garden party when she returned from her honeymoon, and asked if the newly minted Mrs. Coleman had any plans to host her first soiree before August.

They cut the cake, foregoing smearing icing on each other’s faces to instead feed each other a piece. It was while they ate at the banquet table that a frantic June appeared, asking, “Have either one of you seen my dates? I think they might be brawling out back!”

“What?”

“What?”

“Shit,” June hissed. “Do not tell Monique, okay? Happy wedding!” She hurried off, cursing as she ran to the backyard of the small, rented manor.

Both Etta and Jamie watched after her. “I am so telling Monique,” Etta said.

“Definitely.”

They barely had time to share a smile of mischief before Eve marched up to the banquet table… and went straight for Natasha.

“You’re killing me,” she hissed across the table, making the poor girl lean back in her seat with a startled squeal. “What are we even arguing about? I so didnotflirt with that boring-ass girl… on purpose. I swear!”

“Brother,” Jamie mumbled, turning back toward Etta. “Should you or I stop this drama right now? I don’t want it at our wedding. Apparently, there’s a fist fight going on, anyway.” More than one security person raced out the back door.