Love Remains The Same

White Wedding

I've been away for so long
I let you go for so long
It's a nice day to start again
It's a nice day for a white wedding
——White Wedding, Billy Idol

February 2019

Cait retreated to her room as soon as she could. But then she realized that she was supposed to stay with Rae in her suite tonight. Luke was spending the night in his parents' suite, so as not to see the bride before the wedding.

Cait sighed and texted Rae, telling her to let her know when she was back and that she would come over. She wasn't sure she was up to a whole night of Rae giggling and mooning over Luke. Her nerves were pretty frazzled from being in close proximity to Grayson. Hopefully, Rae would be tired and would want to get some rest.

And once Rae texted her, she headed over and managed to convince her that the bride needed her beauty sleep. But that was only after Rae tried again to tell her that she should talk to Grayson, which just caused Cait to snap at her.

"And say what, exactly?" Cait's eyes were narrowed. "Nothing has changed. He doesn't want to talk to me.  He's moved on. Sounds like he'll be getting engaged soon. That's what's supposed to happen.  He's happy.  He'll have the family he wants."

"Cait," Rae frowned at her. "You're miserable. He's miserable. Can't you two talk about it?"

"Why does everyone think he's miserable?" Cait snapped in return. "He seems just fine to me. He's sleeping with a swimsuit model and apparently he's quite serious about her. And he's shown zero interest in talking to me."

"You don't see the way he looks at you, Cait," Rae said softly.

"That's him contemplating whether he could do me in and get away with it," she snarked in return.

"No it isn't," Rae told her. "And you look at him that way too."

"That's how I know what he's thinking," Cait gritted out. "Now, go to bed. You need to be all glowing and beautiful tomorrow."

Rae had muttered about stubborn friends and lost causes and gone to bed. And Cait had laid awake wondering if her feelings were as obvious to everyone else as they were to her best friend.

*****
She managed to avoid Grayson until the wedding itself.  She spent the day with Rae, Olivia, Lauren and Joan.  They had spa appointments and hair appointments.  Jennifer and Sherry joined them for lunch and Cait found herself avoiding Grayson's mother, because it honestly hurt to even talk to her. 

She hated herself for it.  Sherry had been wonderfully kind to her, at least after their initial rough start.  But she had to make an effort to talk to her and she knew it was probably apparent. She forced herself to catch up with her.  They talked about Cait's job and about living in New York, about small things. And Cait noted that Sherry studiously avoided any mention of Grayson's girlfriend.

Finally it was time to get dressed and Cait slid on the deep purple chiffon bridesmaid dress before helping Rae with her dress.  Rae had chosen the color because it looked good on all three of her attendants. After sliding on the glittery, strappy silver sandals, Cait posed for pictures with the beautiful bride, forcing a smile.
*****

When Cait appeared and started down the aisle, Grayson felt like he'd been punched in the solar plexus. She was so beautiful. The color of the dress was flattering to her skin tone and the sides of her hair were pulled back, with curls framing her face and trailing down and a flower in her hair. He never even saw the bride appear.