PATIENT LOVE

Chapter three

"No, the flowers are on the wrong side of the table! Ashley and Aaron can't sit at the same table; he'll be with his new girlfriend!" I start trying to get the mistakes fixed, I know I shouldn't be yelling at those trying to do their job, but I can't help it.

"Ms. Clarke I could use some assistance with the food." One of the cooks tell me.

"What is it?"

"What foods do we display first?"

"The appetizers like Ms. McCall requested and then we move on to the main course. And there absolutely better not be any pork!"

"Yes, we didn't use any pork." He assures me which is great because that was Ms. McCall's main concern for her guest that don't eat pork.

"Where's the photographer!?" I suddenly realize.

"Uh, he said he's stuck in traffic." Alice informs me.

"You call him now and tell him if he's not here in the next fifteen minutes then his pay is going to be cut in half!" I seethe.

"Got it," she immediately takes out her iPhone to call him.

I move from the reception tent area to go out to the next tent where the wedding will take place to make sure all chairs are aligned correctly. I'm relieved to find everything as it should be.

"Have all the men been dressed?" I ask Lana who is helping set up the carpet the bride will walk on.

"Yes, and Ms. McCall's hair and makeup are finally done. They're slipping the dress on now."

"Great," I breathe and then walk over to the photographer who just made it here.

"I'm sorry Madelyn, traffic was heavy," he says as he frantically attempts to fix his bow tie.

"Let me do it," I huff as I begin to fix the knot. I pull on the fabric hard just to make it hurt a little bit. "Next time don't have me waiting, Jacob." I say sternly. He gulps but nods and then I shoo him to go begin taking pictures of the whole process.

I walk over to the entertainment to see if everything is going accordingly and to see if the CD tracks are playing correctly.

"Guests are beginning to arrive," Lana comes over to tell me.

One by one everyone enters the white tent. Once everyone is seated the noise level begins to rise as everyone speaks to friends and family. I make my way over to the groomsmen and bride's maids, telling them it's time for them to walk.

After them is the groom himself. When the music begins, all the guests fall silent. Everyone walks in beat with the song choices, all with bright smiles. The traditional wedding song begins to play as the flower girls walk side by side dropping the rose petals. All of the guests stand as Ms. McCall makes her way up the carpet with her father at her side.

I sit in my spot next to Lana and Alice, observing all our hard work. I can't help but shed a few tears at the beautiful vows and then finally the "I do."

"You may now kiss the bride," the priest says. The crowd cheers the newlyweds on as they kiss as husband and wife for the first time.

After the wedding we make our way to the reception area and the party begins. I feel the stress from today ebb away as everything went smoothly. No crazy persons crashed the wedding, no rain, no mistakes with the cake and catering. All was good.

The reception ended around 10 p.m. and I was pleased to know that everyone including the bride and groom enjoyed the entertainment show.

Since it's a Saturday night and our store would be closed tomorrow as it always is on weekends, Lana, Alice, Jackie and I decide a celebration is called for.