At Last

Oh And Then The Spell Was Cast

I was fed up posing for photographs when all I wanted to do was go and taste all the delicious food that was offered on the menu. Since I'm eating for two, I think I could easily eat two dishes from each course; I'd have to pass on the trio of cheese but I could make up for it by devouring everything that was listed under desserts. 

The photographer, someone Sophie used to work with back in her days at Vogue, snapped away and announced that there was just one more set of photos to take before he was done. He wanted a photograph of all the women in the family to show all the generations together and so beckoned both my grandmothers forward, along with Mum, Dita, my sisters and Isaac's sisters, as well as Martha, Sera and Léa. When the two babies wouldn't settle and were becoming grumpier by the second, we all fell in a relaxed pose. I heard the click of the camera before the photographer shouted, "All done."

"Thank God," I say, balancing Sera on my hip. She looked adorable in her little white outfit but I could see that she was tired after the long day. Martha took Sera from me while Sophie leads the way back into the house, telling Martha that the babysitter will look after the little ones for the rest of the night. I feel someone's arm loop in mine, looking to my left to see Mum smiling fondly at me. "You're smiling an awful lot, Mum."

Her grin widens. "I know. I'm just glad to see you happy, that is all, Coco." I pause mid-step. Mum hasn't called me Coco in almost twenty years, not since I begged her to stop. "Indulge me this one last time, Coco. As I was saying, you looked radiant today and I am so happy that you and Isaac found each other. Your vows were ridiculous, of course, but they were true and that surely is what matters. I cannot wait to see what comes next. A boy, perhaps."

She glances at my stomach and winks. Everyone has been telling me that Isaac and I will have a boy this time but I don't believe anything they say. With Sera, they all did their stupid old wives tales black magic on me and thought I was having a boy, so this time, I wasn't buying into any of that crap. When we're at the twenty-week scan, we'll find out and then people can pass an opinion.   

Until then, I want to stuff my face stupid. 

Dinner was just as I imagined it to be- heavenly. I ate everything I was given, and then some more after that, too. The gown was starting to feel a little tight around my stomach and I couldn't wait to go and change out of it to the second dress. When Delphine suggested I have two gowns at hand today, I almost laughed and told her that it was ridiculous, but I was now thankful that she managed to persuade me, especially since I remember that the second gown was slack at the waist. 

The clinking of a glass broke through the quiet chatter as Michael stood up and commanded everyone's attention. "Ladies and Gentlemen, Mesdames et Messieurs," he confidently began, looking from one table to another before settling his focus on where Isaac and I were sat, separate from everyone else. "Mr and Mrs Fletcher, thank you for welcoming us all today and for letting us share in your happiness as you become man and wife. We've now, of course, reached the point in the proceeding where we all get to see the groom shift uncomfortably in his seat while gripping the tablecloth in nervous anticipation. No, he hasn't been handed the bar bill yet; it's time for the best man's speech. You have no idea how much I've been looking forward to today because for the first time in our fifteen plus years of friendship, Isaac has finally admitted what everyone else knew to be true- I am the best man."

At my side, Isaac rolls his eyes but he joins in with the laughter nonetheless. From there, as Michael got more and more into his speech, we laughed so hard that we cried. Or at least I did. Michael shared stories about them that I'd never heard before and while they weren't all embarrassing, they were hilarious. 

"But above all," Michael continues, trying to shush the crowd. "I do have one more thing to say. When Isaac first told me about you Charlotte, I was sceptical. Not of you, but of him. I never thought I'd see the day that he'd settle down but you have changed him for the better. I've seen it with my own eyes. You have made him a better man. Not the best man because that's still me-" cue laughter. "His family and those that love him cannot thank you enough for making him into the man he is today. Isaac, I would say that you've made Charlotte a better woman but you can't improve on perfection, so you're shit out of luck for any such compliment. From the bottom of my heart, I want to say a huge congratulations. To love, to laughter, to happily ever after. Please, join me in raising your glasses to the bride and groom. Mr and Mrs Fletcher."