Autumn Getaway (Seasons of Love) (17 page)

“Fantastic idea,” Lydia enthused.

“Deep breath,” Donna ordered. Lydia did as she was told. “I really love the color of this dress,” Donna added. She reached out and touched the fabric of Lydia’s shoulder. “Oooh, silky. Love it.”

“I’m sorry, you two,” Lydia said. “From here on, only happy thoughts. And you both look beautiful, by the way.”

“Oh shut up,” Donna laughed. “I’m a big lady in a big black dress. How original.” She fidgeted with the draped cowl neckline of her fit-and-flare dress. “And this keeps bothering me. I don’t know how it’s supposed to be laying, I keep messing with it.”

“Well stop, because it’s fine, and you
do
look beautiful,” Kathryn said.

“Says you, the Greek goddess,” Donna retorted. Kathryn was draped in a navy Grecian-inspired gown with a crisscrossed bodice, a single shoulder strap over her left shoulder, and a full-length fluid skirt. It was loose, airy, and elegant in its simplicity. Kathryn looked almost regal.

“I do love your dress,” Lydia told Kathryn. “First class, lovey.” Kathryn smiled in return.

“Okay, great, we’re all stunning supermodels,” Donna said. “Let’s get seats before the bride comes down the aisle, alright?”

Lydia laughed as they approached the area where the ceremony would be. About two hundred white folding chairs had been set up, one hundred on either side of a long white fabric runner that led down the aisle. It led to an ivy and rose covered arch at the front, which overlooked the brilliant, blazing trees that lay just beyond it. Long draping pieces of white tulle lined either side, connected by white pillars and bouquets of white and peach roses every few rows. Pale peach and white rose petals were scattered along the path of the long runner.

“Oh, this is just beautiful,” Kathryn cooed.

“It really is,” Donna agreed. “It’s magnificent. Good for her.”

“Yeah.” Lydia smiled. She looked around. “Which is the bride’s side?”

“This side, ladies,” said a tuxedoed man, apparently an usher, who gestured to the right. He handed them light paper programs and led them halfway down the aisle to an empty row. They filed in quietly and took seats.

Lydia fidgeted with her dress, smoothing it out beneath her bottom to try to avoid wrinkling it. She noticed that Kathryn, as always, appeared composed and serene as she sat still, waiting quietly. She noticed that Donna, who sat between her and Kathryn, was craning her head and looking over curiously at the groom’s side of guests; she seemed to be searching for something.

“What are you looking for?” Lydia asked her quietly.

“Sam, of course,” Donna said. “I want to see his face when he sees you for the first time, sees how gorgeous you look.”

“Oh God,” Lydia muttered, shaking her head. “You need a hobby.”

“I have one now: helping you get out of your own way tonight.” Donna’s large dark eyes, sparkling with amusement, went back to Lydia’s face. “It’ll be a short lived hobby, but one that will be unbelievably entertaining in the short run, and unbelievably fulfilling in the long run.”

“You’re insane,” Lydia laughed, but squeezed Donna’s hand all the same. She was slightly embarrassed by Donna’s blatant tactics and blunt words, but touched by the genuine kindness of spirit behind them.

At precisely five o’clock, a hush fell over the crowd as music started to play. The DJ who was working the wedding reception had discreetly set up a sound system outside, and placed several small speakers around the area where the guests sat. The old Motown classic “You’re All I Need” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, came clearly through the air as Ryan appeared.

“Ah, there’s Ryan,” Lydia cooed to her friends. The groom, radiating pure joy and serenity, walked confidently down the aisle with a huge smile on his face.

“He looks so happy,” Kathryn sighed.

“Armani tux,” Donna noted. “Nice.”

“How the hell would you know that?” Lydia demanded.

“I know these things,” Donna assured her. Lydia rolled her eyes and grinned.

Melanie’s parents then appeared at the end of the runner and began their walk down the aisle.

“God, I’ve always loved this song,” Lydia whispered.

“Me too,” Donna agreed. “Pamela and Roger look good!”

“Yeah, I thought so too,” Lydia nodded.

Melanie’s parents kept their eyes ahead, got to the end of the long aisle, and were escorted to the end seats of the front row on the right. Ryan’s parents immediately made their way down the aisle, then were seated on the left.

“Wedding party?” Donna asked in a whisper.

“Just a Best Man and a Matron of Honor,” Lydia whispered back.

“Good for them,” Kathryn approved. “We’re too old for that stuff.”

“Good for
us
,” Donna quipped. “Makes the ceremony shorter.”

Lydia giggled and jokingly elbowed Donna in her side.

Alec—tuxedoed, attractive, exuding self-confidence—strode down the aisle with a woman on his arm that Lydia recognized as Joann, Melanie’s best friend since junior high school. Joann had gained some weight since the last time Lydia had seen her—
who of us hasn’t?
Lydia thought wryly—but looked beautiful in a simple sheath dress of deep violet. She had her left arm through Alec’s, and in her right hand, she held a small bouquet of white and lavender roses.

“Joann, right?” Donna asked in a whisper after they’d passed.

Lydia nodded. “And that’s Alec, Sam’s older brother, Ryan’s best friend.”

Donna gave Alec a quick study. “They look a little bit alike,” she said, watching Alec as he and Joann parted. Alec moved to the left, Joann to the right, and they stood by the arch to wait. “But Sam’s better looking.”

“I think so too,” Lydia admitted in a whisper.

“Shhh,” Kathryn scolded them with a teasing smile.

Just as the tempo of the song took off, the singers’ voices lifting jubilantly, Melanie appeared at the end of the aisle. She was resplendent in a simple, strapless princess dress of white satin. She was smiling from ear to ear, glowing from within. Clutching her bouquet of white and lavender roses, she practically floated down the aisle towards her groom.

“God, look at her,” Donna breathed. “She’s magnificent.”

“I’m going to cry,” Kathryn whispered, sniffing back tears.

Lydia felt an overwhelming gladness for her friend radiate throughout her core. Melanie had been through so much in her life; she richly deserved this moment of complete joy. Lydia felt tears sting her eyes too.

Melanie noticed her three college friends as she passed them, and winked. They all smiled back gloriously, their eyes shining.

At the end of the aisle, under the ivy and rose covered arch, Melanie took Ryan’s outstretched hand just as the festive, exuberant song was at its soaring crescendo. They smiled at each other as if they would burst from happiness. It was such an uplifting moment that Lydia got chills, and wrapped her arms around herself to rub away her goose bumps.

The ceremony was short but meaningful. When Ryan grasped his bride to kiss her, the assembled guests erupted into applause and raucous cheers.

After the small wedding party went back down the aisle, past the garden towards the main building, the guests began to stand, disperse, and follow.

“Melanie told me the cocktail hour would be held on that huge stone patio,” Lydia told her friends, gesturing towards it. “So that’s our next destination.”

“Let’s go party, then!” Donna smiled broadly, linking one arm through each of her friends’.

The wedding guests milled leisurely through the garden, along the lawn, up to the patio. The DJ had set up his equipment there too, and Frank Sinatra was swinging along through the speakers by the time guests made their way there. Waiters and waitresses were making rounds with silver trays that held tall flutes of champagne and various delicious looking hors d’oeuvres. There were all sorts of delicacies to sample: chicken kabobs, oyster shooters, goat cheese tarts, tempura shrimp, brie and pear wrapped up, miniature crab cakes; there were also long tables that offered a tremendous crudités, an expansive cheese display, a caviar table, a sushi bar, and a seafood bar on ice.

“Oh. My. God,” Donna said, looking at all the food presented. “Wow. I’m seriously impressed. And completely overwhelmed. Where do we start?”

“Who needs dinner?” Kathryn laughed. “I’m filling up on all of this stuff.”

“I always do that anyway,” Lydia admitted. “The cocktail hour food is almost always better than the main entrée.”

“Oh. Ohhh. Hold on to your hats,” Donna announced in a wicked tone. Her eyes had suddenly locked on the stone staircase that led up from the garden. A catlike grin spread onto her face. “Wow. Let the games begin.”

“What?” Lydia asked, confused.

Kathryn followed Donna’s gaze and smiled. “My oh my. Now
that
is a handsome man.”

Across the patio, Henry and Marcy Forrester had walked up the stairs side by side with Ryan’s parents, Bill and Maryann Selby. Right behind them were Paige and Alec, their three children, and Sam. Lydia turned to see who her friends were talking about just as Sam helped usher his young nephew onto the top step.

“He sure is easy on the eyes in that suit, isn’t he?” Donna commented in Lydia’s ear.

“Yes,” Lydia admitted quietly, taking in his appearance. Sam looked elegant and well-groomed in a tailored two buttoned black suit, with a pewter-colored shirt and matching tie beneath. The cut of the suit flattered his tall, lean frame. He was clean shaven for the first time, and although she'd found the scruff sexy, he seemed even more appealing now.

As if he felt someone watching him, Sam’s head lifted and he caught her looking him over. He smiled softly. Lydia watched as his dark eyes widened as they swept over her; his smile broadened, rapt, in obvious admiration of what he saw.

“Now
that’s
what I was waiting for,” Donna purred. “That was some onceover he just did on you. I believe he will now be putty in your hands, my dear.”

“Jesus, knock it off!” Lydia blushed, spearing her friend with a sharp look. Donna just smiled, unfazed, smug, and pleased.

“Good man, he’s not wasting a minute: he’s on his way over here,” Kathryn said. She looked at Lydia and asked, “Do you want us to get scarce?”

“No, that’s ridiculous,” Lydia said, suddenly feeling a bit strange. As her heart started to pound with heavier strokes, she realized she was slightly nervous, slightly eager, slightly excited—and it jarred her. She took a deep breath to steady herself. She hated feeling off balance, ever.

“Try to relax and enjoy tonight,” Kathryn whispered to her. “Can you do that?”

“With you two? Absolutely.” Lydia swallowed hard. “With him? I… don’t know. I think I just turned chicken.”

“Well, give it your best shot, babe,” Donna said in a low voice as Sam stopped in front of the three of them.

“Hi,” he said to all of them, though his eyes were glued to Lydia.

“Hello,” Donna replied, robust and grinning. “We were just going to hunt up some drinks. Will you keep Lydia company until we get back?”

Lydia snorted and quipped in a snide tone, “She’s very subtle, don’t you think?”

“I think she’s great,” Sam said, flashing a clearly grateful look at Donna.

“I’m liking you more with every minute, Sam,” Donna pronounced with a huge smile.

“Let’s go find those drinks, then,” Kathryn said, placing her arm through Donna’s. “We’ll be back in a bit,” she assured Lydia, not wanting her friend to feel abandoned. As cool as Lydia may have appeared to Sam, Kathryn knew Lydia well enough to know she was slightly disconcerted.

“Ladies.” Sam gave a quick nod and a grin. Donna and Kathryn walked away.

Lydia closed her eyes, shook her head, and released a short laugh. “I, uh… well. Why don’t we start again?” She took a breath, exhaled it, and smiled. “Hi, Sam.”

His smile was brilliant. “Hi, Lydia.” His gaze swept over her once more, this time slowly, in open, unmasked appreciation. He tried not to be lewd or obvious as his eyes caressed her lush, feminine curves, but he couldn't help himself. His eyes drank her in, feasted on her. “You look absolutely beautiful,” he murmured with reverence.

She smiled back softly, filled with quiet delight. “Thank you.”

“That color is stunning on you,” he added. “A good choice.”

“You look fairly gorgeous yourself,” she told him, trying to downplay in her head just how much she enjoyed looking at him. Dressed to the nines, she found him so handsome that she was a little breathless. She was thrown by how flustered he could make her feel, with just a short but obviously wanting look, like the way he was looking at her right then.

“Thanks,” he said. A waiter walked past them slowly enough for Sam to reach over and lift two glass flutes of champagne from his tray. He turned and held one out to Lydia with a gracious smile, and she accepted with a matching smile.

“To Ryan and Melanie,” she said, lifting her glass for a toast.

“Absolutely, to the happy couple,” he said, and lightly clinked the rim of his glass to hers. They sipped simultaneously.

“So how was the rest of your afternoon?” Sam asked. “Did you have fun catching up with your friends?”

“I did,” she nodded. “I really did. It was so good to spend time with them. And then we all went up and took mid-afternoon naps, like the sad little old ladies we’ve become.”

He laughed. “Naps are the best sometimes, are you kidding? Good for you. Now you’ll have the energy to hang out tonight. The reception, the after party… it’s going to be a fun, but long, night.”

A server walked by and offered them bite sized portions of mozzarella and tomato on sourdough. Sam and Lydia each took one from the silver tray.

“Can I ask you something?” Sam said.

Lydia nodded silently, not wanting to speak with her mouth full.

“Are you hungry? Like,
really
hungry? As in, please tell me you're not one of those women who picks at food in front of others and pretends she doesn't eat?” The corner of his mouth curved up. She adored that crooked grin. “Because I saw some sushi over there that looks amazing, and I want to dive in. Care to check it out with me?”