Ripple Effect

-32-

A few hours earlier

Wren sits and looks at herself in the mirror of her changing room after the hair and makeup team have completed their work and made her camera ready. 

Christen is all full of smiles as she and Tobin enter the room. "You look so beautiful. I need pictures, Toby, can you take some of us before I become a blubbering mess and have to have my face redone?"  

Tobin smiles, "Of course, beautiful."

Wren turns around as Christen leans into her and puts on a big smile. Tobin looks through the screen of her phone and at her family, "Can I get a smile, Wren? This is supposed to be the happiest day of your life, I shouldn't have to ask." 

Wren shakes her head and slouches down, "Mom, Momma, I can't do it; I can't marry Danny." 

Christen rolls her eyes, "Of course, you can; it's normal to have cold feet on your wedding day, I did and I know your Momma over there did as well as much as she chooses to try and play it cool." 

"It's more than just cold feet. I love Dan, I, really do, but it's not the all consuming, can't breathe without her type of love they talk about or show on tv or in the movies. I'm not sure what I feel towards her is enough." 

"It takes more than just love to make a relationship or marriage work, you'll be fine." 

Wren shakes her head, "No, I won't be. This marriage isn't what I want, it's what you want, Mom. It's about appearances and how you can brag to your uppity friends that I married a Doctor, rather than allowing me to be with the one who makes my heart beat." 

"Danica, is a lovely girl and will make a wonderful wife and mother to our grandchildren. It's time that you realize that not everything is about you and sometimes you need to make sacrifices." 

"Sacrifices? Really? My entire life has been about you and your choices, not, mine. Momma, tell me that you don't agree with me going through with the wedding?" 

Tobin looks at her daughter and wife. "Chris, I love you more than life itself, and have gone along with and supported all of your choices and decisions through out the entire duration of our marriage and relationship, but, on this we will never agree. Wren has a good head on her shoulders and is more than capable of making the choices that are right for her; it's well past time that we let our little bird spread her wings and fly. She deserves the happiness and love that we found in and with each other, not, to be forced into a marriage that is more about the looks from the outside than the meaning of the words spoken during it. Let her go, beautiful." 

"It's your responsibility to tell everyone including Danica that you aren't going through with it." 

Wren looks at Tobin and then to Christen, "For clarification purposes, is that your way of telling me it's okay to call off the wedding?" 

"I've learned over the years that your Momma doesn't often speak up, but, when she does, she's usually right and in this case as much as it pains me to admit, she is. I've only ever wanted you to be happy, and if Danica doesn't make your heart flutter when she's near then perhaps, she isn't the one for you. I probably don't want to know the answer to the question, but, may I ask what your plan is?" 

"Plan?" 

Christen nods, "It's that Gabby girl who holds your heart or am I wrong?" 

Wren shakes her head, "You aren't wrong. It's always been her, since, the first day we met." 

"So, what's your plan to get her back?"  

"I've done so many stupid things and said stuff and I've probably chased her away for ever. I don't have a clue as to where to start."