Walk the Line

15 - The Time She Walks Down the Aisle with Him...Again

15 – The Time She Walks Down the Aisle with Him Again

The church doors opened up, and I held onto Ford just a tiny bit tighter.

"I've got you, Ellie. Just me and you, we got this," Ford whispered and I relaxed. This was the second time I had walked down the aisle with Ford as maid of honor, and he best man. I guess there was a truth in "always a bridesmaid, never the bride."

I just kind of felt like God appreciated a special kind of irony when it came to Ford and me. We were always walking the line, walking down the aisle together, but there was always something hinting at our undoing. I couldn't deny the fact that I had feelings. Feelings I needed to get over, desperately. I wish I could go back to the days in high school where I had a love-hate relationship with the goon. Where he did everything he could to antagonize me and the biggest problem we had was the way he pulled my ponytail.

I spent the rest of the wedding ceremony in a daze. It was the same old wedding stuff there always was. The "I dos" and the ring and the kiss and the people crying. I was happy for my sister, don't get me wrong. Brandon was good for her. He was calm in the ways she wasn't and he was ready to take on the handful that was my sister. I could see her being visibly reassured in his presence, and I appreciated that. She needed that.

What I needed, however, was the open bar at the reception. I had a Long Island iced tea, and I was starting to feel a little better. As bitter as I was being back in my hometown, it was nice to see everyone again. A room full of familiar faces where you didn't have to explain who you were or what your life story was. Everyone just knew. And there was some comfort in that.

"Eleanor, can I interest you in a dance?" my dad asked me. I smiled and nodded. I'd missed my dad.

"Good to know one of my daughters isn't too cool to dance with their old man," he chuckled.

"Allie?" I asked, referring to my younger sister in the midst of her rebellious teen phase.

"She'll come around," I laughed.

"I hope so, I forgot how bad the teen phase was, somehow. After Kyle, and Carolina, and you, I'm not sure how, but I did," he chuckled.

"We all turned out alright," I replied.

"You sure did," he said, "I know it's not what you wanted, but for what it's worth, your mother and I are still really proud of you."

"Thanks, dad," I said, resting my head on his shoulder as we danced.

"Get up there!" Blythe shoved me into the crowd of girls gathering to catch my sister's bouquet when the song ended and my dad went back to his seat.

I glared at Blythe who smiled in response. I turned to face my sister and reached out my arms, half-assed, unlike the other girls who were eagerly hoping to catch the bouquet. Tiffany gave me a big smile of hope. I knew she was dying to catch it because Ford had already caught the garter. It was only fitting.

My sister winked as she turned around to throw it behind her. It went high up in the air, and bounced off another girl's arms before falling into my hands. Are you kidding? I didn't even try and it just fell into my hands. Seriously?

"The bride and groom ask that the two that catch the garter and the bouquet share a dance," the DJ announced and Ford came up to me, snapping the garter so it flung at me. I caught it and wrapped it around the stem of the bouquet. Blythe came and got it from me and I handed it off to her as Ford grabbed my hand and pulled me to the dance floor. Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" began playing and Ford held my hand while keeping the other respectfully on my waist.

"So we're supposed to be the next to get married, huh?" Ford smirked.

"I guess so. It's really a shame Tiffany didn't catch it. I wasn't even trying to catch it," I said.

"She's off pouting, I'm sure, but it'll be fine," he said, "She's a big girl, she'll get over it. It doesn't really mean anything anyway."

"No, it doesn't," I laughed, "I mean, could you imagine?" He gave me a look I couldn't quite read.

"Are you still looking for a place?" he asked.

"Yeah," I laughed, "Not that I could afford one. I'm really sorry I dumped all of that on you when I was drunk. I didn't meant to--," I started.

"I have an idea," he cut me off.

"Okay...?"

"Move in with me," he said.

"What?"

"My house has like five bedrooms. I bought it thinking I'd grow into it, but I think marriage and kids are still a ways off. You can have one of the spare bedrooms until you find somewhere else to rent or whatever," he said.

"Ford, what about Tiffany?" I asked, "Shouldn't you be asking her if she's okay with this first?"

"She's my girlfriend. She isn't on the deed and title of my house. She doesn't make the house payments. You'd be like a roommate, if anything. I don't see why we can't all be adults about this."

"Did you even think about it?"

"I thought about it. I've been thinking about it, ever since the night of your graduation," he said.

"Ford...," I sighed, looking into his deep eyes, "You've gotta stop saving me like this."

He gave a small smile.

"At least let me pay you rent," I said.

"We can negotiate it later," he replied, and planted a kiss softly on my forehead.

3z