Lilac Valley

Carter Ties the Knot

Strapless. Rhinestone belt. A straight white dress.

A fingertip veil.

It reminds Autumn of her wedding. However, she wore the fluffiest skirt imaginable.

Standing on the altar is Carter Li.

~

They met on a perfect fall day in Washington Square Park.

There was something about her.

He knew from the moment he saw her.

She was not human.

He took his bag lunch over to the bench.

"Mind if I sit?" he asked.

"There are plenty of empty benches," she pointed out.

"Do you work around here?" he asked. She nodded.

"I work at West Village Accountants," she told him. "You?"

"NYU Law School," he said. "Third year."

He noticed the white seashell necklace that hung from her neck.

"You like the ocean?" he asked.

"I love it," she replied. "Sometimes, I like to go to the docks and just sit and watch boats pass by and breathe in the salt water."

"That sounds like something a mermaid would say." The young woman froze. "I'm a warlock from Lilac Valley, New York." She smiled.

"Obsidian Forest, California," she said. "I'm Tori."

"Carter."

~

"Do you Carter take Tori to be your lawfully wedded wife?" Reverend McAllister begins. "To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," Carter says.

"Do you Tori take Carter to be your lawfully wedded husband?" the reverend continues. "To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," Tori says.

"By the power vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife," the reverend says. "You may kiss the bride."

The guests erupt in cheers and applause. Con whistles. Eddie shoves him on the shoulder.

~

"Which bridesmaids are single again?" Con asks.

"I'm not telling you," Autumn says. "You can't just sleep with a girl and never call. Girls don't like that."

"They like happily ever after," Con says. Autumn nods. "My dad's going to be on my case. Thanks a lot Autumn." She shrugs. He spots Amber...alone. "Excuse me."

He pushes his way through the crowded dance floor.

"Hey," Amber greets him.

"I'm surprised you got a last-minute invite," Con says. "How are you liking Lilac Valley? I don't see you around much."

"Well, a lot of my friends are in the city or Connecticut," Amber explains. "And I have a ten-year-old son." Con nods.

"And you're sure he's Eddie's?" Con asks. "Is he a quarter vampire or half werewolf?"

"That is none of your business," Amber says.

"If he's my son, it is," Con points out.

"Okay, ladies, gather round!" the DJ announces. "Tori is about to throw the bouquet." Amber, the bridesmaids, cousins, and friends gather on the dance floor.

Tori turns around and throws.

She turns around.

The bouquet is in Amber's arms.

Autumn turns to Marty.

Marty looks to Eddie.