A Chance at Life

Forever Peace

I greet all the guests on my way over to Marty who seems more relaxed than I've seen her in over a year. "Marty"
"Toni!" I hug her and Shelby joins us.
"You don't understand how grateful we are of you for doing all of this"
"Just know, you're both being put at work when it's my wedding"
"I can agree to that"
"Okay so food will be open soon just to make sure everyone's here, those who didn't attend the ceremony can arrive"
"Great, everyone has their seat right?"
"The seating board is where you left it, your seats are over there and if you give me 10 minutes, I can join you" I kiss her cheek and walk off with Shelby.

I go round greeting the rest of the guests and welcoming them in before I find myself sitting at my seat with Shelby by my side. "Do we get to talk shit about people, sitting here?"
"Only if no one's listening"
"Where's Marcus?"
"I thought he was with Marty?" I point over to Marty and she's standing with her dad. "He keeps disappearin'" we laugh and Fatin comes over smiling.
"What's funny?"
"You Fatin. Have you seen Marcus?"
"No. He's probably off smoking his life away, I should find him myself" She speeds off, joining the other bridesmaids.
"Is it just me or is she just weirder than usual"
"Marcus smokes?"

Marty grabs the microphone at the DJ booth and clears her throat. "Mic check 1, 2, 3" she taps it and it squeals from feedback. "Can you all hear me?" Everyone cheers and claps. "Good. First of all, congratulations to the newly weds Toni and Shelby" Everyone cheers again and there's a couple wolf whistles. Marty laughs and clears her throat again. "If you can't find your seat, the seating board is over there. If you want to change around. Don't, thank you. Second of all, I know both Toni and Shelby agreed to not open any wedding gifts until after their honeymoon but this can't wait that long. So Toni, Shelby. This is your wedding present from Marcus and I"

Everyone turns to the entrance where Marcus comes through with two dachshund puppies. "Oh my..." He comes over to us with them and gives one to each of us. I hold mine and I look at Shelby and she's nearly crying.
"Marty...I don't know what to say"
"They're brothers and we adopted them from a rescue kennel"
"I wanted to give you them now just so you know that they're here and well"
"They're perfect, thank you. Both of you" Shelby fusses over her pup as mine falls asleep in my arms.

Marty announces some other stuff while we both gush over our new family members. "What do you want to call them?"
"I don't know, I'm just so happy we have puppies"
"We should keep them in the back room until we leave, I don't want them to get hurt"
"10 more minutes? Yours is asleep" I laugh and nod. Marty comes over smiling.
"So what do you think?"
"You've really out Marty'd yourself this time. Why puppies?"
"I know Shelby's been wanting to get a dog for the longest time and I know Emily's cat died so it's been a pet free house for over 2 years"
"That's why Marcus left yesterday"
"They weren't too far but he'd of missed the ceremony if he got them today. Their stuff is in the car, do you want to put them in the back?"
I nod and get up from my seat. Shelby passes her pup to Marty and we go to the back room.

Marcus comes in with some puppy pads, toys and beds. "I'll be back with their bowls"
"Are you ready for speeches?"
"Are you ready to watch me become a soppy romantic"
"You've always been a romantic, you just express it more with Shelby" We leave the room and I sit back in my seat with Marty sitting next to me. Marcus finally comes over and sits next to Shelby.

"Ready?"
"Are you?" I clear my throat and tap my glass.
"Hey guys-" the DJ runs over with the microphone and I put my glass down, taking it. I look down at Shelby and she looks up confused. "Hi guys, I want to thank you all for coming out today to celebrate with us and I want to thank everyone involved in making this day happen especially Marty and Bernice for being the duo who've probably not slept since last year" They chuckle and cheer. "I've prepared a little speech and I know we said we wasn't doing them for each other Shelb but I can't help myself. I also have to prewarn you about how emotional it's about to get so brace yourself" I pull out a piece of paper and scan through it before I clear my throat again.