Generations: The Long Game

The Scrappy Officiant

Marjorie sat on the bench close to the door as each table cleared and the patrons left. A brunette who was slightly more curvy than her with striking blue eyes caught her eye. She shifted her eyes to the side and back to the brunette when she turned from the hostess and made a beeline for the bench next to her. She was wearing a red top with a revealing neckline, Marjorie shifted uncomfortably as the woman sat next to her.

"Are you here for the weekend hostess position too?" The brunette's voice was cheery but in that syrupy sickeningly sweet kind of way. The kind of voice women put on when they absolutely hated other women. Marjorie cleared her throat. "Umm no. No I'm not." The brunette shifted herself closer to Marjorie. "I'm Amanda. Are you not confident enough to be a hostess? What position are you in for? Dishwasher?"

Marjorie shifted herself away from the woman. She had filled in for a sick hostess many times over the years, and Reece would never ask her to wash the dishes. Not if he valued them anyway. She was frequently as bad at that as she was at cooking, and it usually ended in shards on the floor. The kitchen was just not her zone. Unless it was across the island watching the blonde in what could only be described as his comfort zone.

"No actually I am not here for any position. I'm just waiting on someone." The brunette rolled her eyes and looked around the restaurant. "It's bigger than I thought it would be." Not trying to engage in any lengthy conversation with the woman, Marjorie shifted away once again. "Uh huh." The brunette seemed to be determined to fill the silence. "It looks very successful."

A broad smile crossed Marjorie's face when the tall blonde came from the swinging doors of the kitchen and stopped to talk to a table of patrons that hadn't left yet. He glanced up. Spotting his wife, he matched her smile and nodded in her direction acknowledging her presence. The woman shifted in anticipation. "Well isn't he a tall drink of water."

"Excuse me. What!?!" Marjorie looked at her almost in a state of shock. She had seen the mom's go crazy for him at the nursery. She had seen staff and patrons fawn over him, but this woman had to see the look he had just given her. She couldn't be that blind. "He's gorgeous. My god." Marjorie shifted to look at her. "Did you happen to see that silver band on his left hand when you were drinking in that 'tall drink of water'?"

"Pfft! Lots of men wear rings. Lots of men have wives. That doesn't mean anything." Marjorie's brows furrowed. "It will to him." The brunette flipped her hair over her shoulder. "We'll see." She crossed her legs finally intending to end the conversation. Marjorie stood placing herself between the brunette and the view of her husband. Her heart racing and her face flushed she wouldn't set silent a moment longer. "We will absolutely not see."

"Look I know some women see things differently, but you should pick up your kid or whatever and go home to your own husband. I saw tall, blonde, and handsome first." Seething, Marjorie leaned her body forward over the brunette and spoke through clenched teeth. "That gorgeous man over there." She pointed in his direction. "That tall drink of water. That is my husband."

The brunette scanned her eyes up and down Marjorie's body. "Pfft I don't believe you." Just as she lunged toward the brunette she felt arms wrap around her waist and pull her back. "What?" She turned her head from one side to the other trying to figure out who had ahold of her. "Viv! Viv let me go! I am going to teach this one a lesson! Let me go! As she thrashed against the dark-haired woman. The petite blonde walked up to the shocked and still seated brunette. "I think it's time you leave."

"But I'm here for an .. an interview." From behind Viv they all heard his voice. "I assume your Amanda Brown. Amanda we've decided to go another way. See I don't know what you said to my gorgeous wife, but for her to get that angry it must have been...a lot. And I will always stand with her. That woman fought her way back from hell to get back to me, and I would fight my way through hell to get to her. Thanks for your application. You can go."

As the brunette made her way to the door, the petite blonde opened the door for her and quickly put out one foot. The four watched as she tripped and fell to the ground. Smirking, Siobhan looked down. "You really should be more careful." Turning back toward her friends, she let the door swing closed and winked at her friend before taking the arm of her wife. "So where are we sitting?"

Vivian chuckled as Reece led them to a table in the back he had already prepared for them. "Gorgeous can I trust you not to get in any more scraps if I steal these two away really quickly?" She smirked and rolled her eyes. "Unless the old couple at table 4 gets scrappy with me, I should be fine." He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers before turning to their friends. "Viv I could use a bit of help in the kitchen, and Shib I was wondering if you might have a moment to give me an opinion on fabrics for the new chairs."

He ushered them quickly into his already immaculate kitchen. He was all ready to plate up their food and do the last few dishes before sanitizing for the night. He lowered his voice as if she could hear him from the other side of the restaurant. "I don't need help, and I haven't gotten any fabric swatches." Viv looked at him with her brows raised nodding. "I've gathered, so why are we huddled in your kitchen?"

Smiles spread across both women's faces as he began to explain the plan for the vow renewal, and those who had already agreed to be involved. "So what do you need us to do?" He looked at Viv first. He never imagined their friendship would grow as much as it had. "Viv I would really like you with Mia and I that day. It's going to be a lot of work. We will have to set up in both locations and with Winter do the food preparations as well." She nodded her head in understanding and agreement. "Reece, anything you need. Just let me know."

The blonde looked at him questioningly. "Siobhan you are one of her dearest friends and after what I have just seen, she is one of yours. I think you are also likely our most eloquent friend, so I would really like if you agreed to be our officiant." She looked up at her wife and then to the blonde. "I'm not going to cry you know?" The last word left her mouth as the first tear fell. Viv pulled her into her side as she spoke. "I would be honored. Is there anything else?"

"Well actually yes." He looked from Viv to Siobhan. He explained the plan about the dress and his instructions to Char. "Siobhan if she refuses to purchase them, call me and I will. Whatever she wants that day...any day Shibs. Whatever she wants any day I want her to have." The blonde gave him a stern look. "Reece Knight! I said I wasn't going to cry." He looked at her as the tears rolled down her face. "No. No of course not." Over her head he exchange a look with Viv who shrugged but held her a little closer.

Not wanting Marjorie to see the evidence of her tears the blonde excused herself, as Viv and Reece returned to the table with the plates. "I've brought wine out for you and Siobhan and whiskey for us Viv. I also have a pitcher of ice water, and the coffee is ready as well if anyone wants some after." The brunette beamed at him as she caressed his cheek. "I've brought the Merlot, but if the two of you want the Malbec or rosé, I have that as well." She took his hand in hers. "This is perfect my love."

As the blonde returned to the table, Marjorie looked up. "You alright, Siobhan?" She looked to Vivian and then to Reece. "Why's she been crying? What's happened?" The blonde rolled her eyes thinking quickly. "Those swatches were so horrible Jorie. Even you would have cried.