Following her to the bedroom, I learned why she needed the shirt. There couldn't be any chance of messing up her hair.
Now, I can't keep my eyes off of her. She's absolutely stunning in her blue dress and high heels. The dress is swishier and girlier than what she wears at work. With each new discovery, I’m like a kid at Easter finding another egg. There are so many sides to her that I never realized existed.
As we sit, our legs touch and music fills the air.
"That's my Aunt Laura," she whispers as Jimmy walks a nice-looking woman down the aisle.
"Is she Judy's sister?" I realize I never figured out the connection.
"No, Uncle Albert is Dad's brother."
We do a better job of whispering than the rest of her family as she points out different people. One by one the bridesmaids come down the aisle. The last one is Sheila. I quickly gaze at Jimmy, suddenly curious about his expression. My chest expands as I see his eyes directed toward his wife. How did I suddenly become involved in Kimbra’s family drama? I’m not sure, but for reasons I can’t explain, I also care about them.
All at once, the volume of the music increases, the wedding march begins, and the entire congregation stands.
Scarlett is lovely, totally dressed in white. The memory of my suggestion to offer her and Kurt the use of my plane makes me smile. As she nears, the scene before me fades and I have a vision of Kimbra dressed in a wedding gown. The image catches me off guard as I blink it away.
It's true that I don't want this thing—deal or seized opportunity—to end after Monday, yet marriage is not in my plans. I'll never again entertain that notion. It's obvious that Scarlett and Kurt are madly in love. It really does radiate from their smiles, the way they look at one another. Nevertheless, that ship sailed for me a long time ago.
I've faced the fact that my lack of interest in commitment is the reason I've avoided anything beyond a physical relationship. Those rarely last beyond the obvious. It's easy to tire of one another when the attraction is purely skin deep.
Kimbra squeezes my hand, bringing me back to the present as we resume our seats.
The ceremony continues.
Kimbra's uncle presents Scarlett to Kurt. People sing and verses are recited. There are candles and some symbolic sand-pouring thing. And eventually Scarlett and Kurt say their vows. But through it all, I concentrate less and less on our surroundings and more and more on the hand in mine.
Kimbra isn't thinking about me. Her blue eyes are moist and she nibbles her pink lips as she watches her cousin.
Through it all, I can't shake the image of Kimbra in a wedding dress. The more I try, the more vivid it becomes.
The entire church bursts into cheers as Kurt and Scarlett kiss.
"Look at him," Kimbra whispers. "He's looking at her like he's starved and she's his meal."
I laugh. "My money's on a quick pick of that flower. Or with your analogy, fast food."
Kimbra's eyes open wide as she tries to stifle a laugh.
It doesn't work and Judy looks our direction. "Your mom is watching us."
"No, my mom wants to know what's so funny. She hates missing out on any joke."
"Maybe I should mention Helen's especially white teeth."
Kimbra shakes her head. "Never."
Chapter Seventeen
Kimbra
Our round table echoes with coughs and throat clearing. Though earlier I caught Duncan watching me with an unusual expression, now he’s having fun with the rest of my family. Honestly, his coughs are as loud as everyone else as my grandma takes another sip of her wine and repeats her question.
"Why can't I give it to her? I brought it." She eyes each person suspiciously. "I hope you all aren't coming down with something."
At the head table Scarlett and Kurt are smiling for pictures and sipping champagne. Sheila just finished her matron-of-honor toast, and it's about time for Uncle Albert to speak.
I wish they'd get on with it. I'm hungry, and with the number of glasses of wine Grandma and Mom have had, they need more substantial food than the cheese squares and crackers.
My eyes grow wide as I politely lean closer to Grandma. "You didn't?" I ask in a whisper, but loud enough for her to hear.
"I most certainly did," she announces triumphantly. "I started thinking about it after our discussion yesterday morning." Her eyes narrow and back straightens. "You all aren't the only ones who have Amazon Prime. I can even access it on my new smart phone. And since I won at poker against Mr. Moneybags over there..."
I think her final winning amounted to almost seven dollars.
"...and Scarlett's wedding color is silver," Grandma goes on. "I figured what better gift for her first night as a married woman than to have a silver vibrator."
Cough! Cough!
"Shhh," Mother says. "Mom, you can't just hand her a vibrator and you can't put it on the gift table either."
More coughs. We're drawing attention.
"Judy, you were the one touting the attributes of toys. If you think Oscar gets stress, can you imagine the pressure on poor Kurt? I think this is..."
Though I want to die with embarrassment for my unfortunate dad, he appears totally oblivious. If he wore hearing aids, I’d guess they were off. However, since he doesn’t, I’m going to go with his unique ability to ignore my mom and grandma. That superpower is probably what’s saved their marriage all these years.
"...a great way to kick things off for them. You know sex is as important in marriage. Your grandpa and I…” Grandma keeps talking.
Cough! Cough!
"Not here..." my mom tries. "Give it to them tomorrow."
"No. They might like to have it tonight. And well, it only arrived just before we left. I didn't have time to wrap it. You know," she goes on, "when they get those drone things, delivery will be much faster." She turns toward me. "I probably should have ordered a gift bag and tissue paper. I was just too excited that they had silver. I've never had a silver vibrator before. I like pink."
Cough! Cough!
Ignoring our warnings, Grandma lifts her big leather designer purse that I'm certain came from the outlet or maybe a garage sale. It doesn't matter to her, as long as it has a brand name. Then faster than any of us can move, she pulls the plastic-enclosed silver bullet vibrator from her purse and tosses it to the table. "See, it's new." She looks my direction. "Although I do have the same model.” She winks at Duncan. “Pink. And this one is quieter.”
Cough! Cough!
"I even brought batteries." She digs in the bottom of her purse. "If I can just find them."
"Grandma, put that away," I say, reaching for the vibrator.
Just then, my uncle steps to the microphone and the room quiets. “Today is a special day…”
"Kimberly Ann, give me back the vibrator!"
Cough, cough, throat clearing.
The entire room turns our way. My cheeks catch fire as I shove the package back into her purse. No longer able to ignore us, my father lays his head on the table while Susan's shoulders slump forward. Kevin shakes his head, and Mother takes another drink of her wine. It isn't until I look toward Duncan that the world suddenly seems right. His smile is classic. His green eyes sparkle with unshed tears of delight and his broad shoulders quake with laughter.