Within seconds, she was standing at the microphone, her voice piercing the audience as she smiled brightly.
“Hello everybody! The bride has prepared a surprise game for you, and the winners will receive a very special gift from the bride.” She yelled.
Curiosity spread across the room as the audience whispered and looked toward the dance floor.
Melody smiled as if she had invented the game herself.
“All right! The first obstacle! Who’s got red socks on?” Mel smiled as if she had invented the game herself.
There were a few giggles in the room before Will let out a happy squeal and ran to the front. Like a magician uncovering a trick, he yanked up the legs of his trousers.
Red socks, indeed.
I gave him a chocolate-covered strawberry from a silver dish and said, “Well done, buddy,” laughing. He smiled as if he had just won the world’s greatest prize.
Still grinning, Melody took the microphone once more.
“Next one!” she jokingly exclaimed. “Who’s sporting a wine-colored, dark cherry lipstick? Get moving!”
The room became quiet as the energy changed. In an attempt to identify the winner, guests were examining each other’s lips.
There was a brief period of stillness during which people began whispering. People turned. Furrowed brows. Then I noticed some of the people at the distant table looking at Serena.
Someone pushed her as she glanced down at her drink.
She stood slowly, like if she were walking on water.
Calm down.
The woman who knew every story and scar I had was my roommate in college and my friend from my breakup. After saying “Finally!” too loudly to toast our engagement, she gave me a sisterly hug.
Her face was pallid as she approached the dance floor, her heels clicking.
She and I met in the middle.
I whispered softly, “There’s no prize for you,” holding the microphone now. However, you might want to explain to everyone why you kissed my spouse. Tell us why you choose to brand Richard.
There was complete silence in the room.
Serena’s mouth moved back and forth. Then it opened once more.
“I—I didn’t—Grace, I was—” She stumbled.
I moved out of the way. Serena became even pallid before running out the closest door.
Nobody chuckled. Nobody gave a clap. They merely gazed.
Taking my daughter’s hand, I turned and walked away from my own wedding reception.
That night, Richard called me six times.
I chose not to respond.
At that point, there was nothing he could say to correct the situation. Stillness was what I desired, not explanations. Without anyone attempting to dissuade me, I needed time to process the impact of what had transpired.
But Serena called later that night. When I picked up, her voice broke. I could hardly understand her since she was crying so much.
She confessed, in between sobbing, that she had loved Richard for years. She claimed that although it began when we were simply friends, she never imagined that he would truly end up with me.
“Grace, it’s just that. I don’t mean it in a bad manner. You have Natalie, you’ve had your first love, and you’ve been married before. You became the widow after Alex, and naturally, we all felt your suffering. However, I didn’t believe Richard would pursue you.”
“For not meaning something in a nasty way, that came out incredibly nasty, Serena,” I said.
Ignoring me, she went on, “It was right after the ceremony,” “I told him right away. I leaned in to give Richard a kiss after telling him how I felt, but he retreated. My lipstick got on his arm in this way.”
I let out a sigh.
When she said, “I swear it didn’t mean anything,” “Grace, he didn’t return my kiss. He might have… I simply… I went out of control.”
When I said, “I don’t know what to say,”
She said, “Can we talk again soon?”
“No, Serena, I don’t believe we will.” “Goodbye,” I said.
