As It Should Be | Hat Films

[1] The Wedding

I had dated many other women before Veronica, but I never felt as serious as I did about her. She was only one out of all the girls to ever make me second guess myself. Veronica made me into a better man than I was five years ago. Our story is long and complicated, but I promise it is worth the time because everything is as it should be.

I was attending the celebration of marriage alone, and nearly persuaded myself not to show up because I had not spoken to my old mate, Gabe, in years. Although I knew there was an open bar, and probably a single woman roaming about feeling sorry she could not score a date to show all her married friends. The wedding took place on a sweltering Saturday afternoon in mid-July. I was thankful that both the wedding and reception to follow were both set indoors because I had mistakenly not checked the weather report before leaving the house in a semi-formal suit.

The religious ceremony was held in a small Catholic church and was drawn out much longer than needed, making me fidget in a pew towards the back of the sanctum. By the time the wedding ended, the only thing I really cared about doing was getting drunk and hoping it would make watching the wedding party dance a pleasant experience. Except when I got there I found someone more interesting than the wedding party and a glass of alcohol. I approached her trying to push away the feeling of nervous knots growing in my stomach. This was not a normal reaction for me. I was usually confident trying to pick up women at dive bars and clubs, but she was much prettier and more intimidating than most girls. She was gorgeous. The tiny amount of makeup she had on only enhanced her natural beauty. Her dark hair and dress contrasted nicely with her pale complexion. She was tall for a female, and the black heels she wore only gave her a two-inch height difference making her a few inches shorter than my usual six four. The woman gave me a white toothy smile before speaking, "Hello, how are you?" her accent was clearly North American and had a weak country draw to her speech. I couldn't pinpoint what part of America she was from by her odd accent, but I was sure she was many miles from where ever home was to her being in England.

I-I" I shuddered, looking away from her intense bluish green eyes. I regained some composure and looked up at her face. Her expression was cautious; I believe she thought I was drunk and trying to make a cheap pass at her to get myself laid, which in the beginning was true. Except was not drunk, I was fully aware of my actions. Desperate not to make a fool out of myself, so I opened my mouth. However, the words that came out were not the response I wanted, "You're very pretty." I exclaimed in a much more feminine tone then I would have liked for myself. Her cautious look faded into that bright smile as she bowed her head to hide her giggles. I could see a light pink blush rise to her face. The innocent actions made a smile rise to face, which in turn made me nervously pull my hand up to scratch the course hair of my vibrant red beard.

She looked up at me a thin smile still resting on her face before she spoke, "How sweet, thank you." Her light expression turned into a poker face as she raked her eyes down my body, which made me a little uncomfortable. This was not the normal reaction girls gave when I complimented them, especially compliments that were genuine. She then met my eyes and smiled again her eyes crinkled at the edges hiding her gaze, "You don't look bad yourself,"
"Thanks," I said smoothly, acting as if the nervous word vomit I said moments ago was intently planed.

I felt an ache insecurity when I looked over her slim figure. The purple skintight dress showed off every perfect curve on her body. My eyes caught the black, foe leather portfolio in her tiny arms. Anyone passing by could have easily mistaken it for looking at the small amount of cleavage escaping her lower cut collar. I looked up at her then back down at the binder and her eyes followed, "What's that for?" I questioned.

Her bright smile returning before she spoke, "I'm the wedding planner, I did all of this." She said gesturing towards the party around us.