Our Wrong Choice - Joshler

Chapter 3: Fire Child

Tyler tried, yet again, in vain to adjust the stiff collar of his suit. The reception hall was filling steadily with he and Jenna's family and friends. His eyes scanned the room for a tuft of red hair while sipping idly from a flute of fizzy champagne. Jenna was chatting happily with her sisters, Carrie and Kristin, dressed in an elegant, gold-colored gown. She held him tightly by the elbow as the room filled. White fairy lights hung from the rafters of the lofty ceilings and Tyler wondered where one would get a ladder tall enough to carry out such a task. Zack gave him a wave as he and a very-pregnant Tatum entered the dimly lit building. Tyler took this cue to tap Jenna's bare shoulder and nod toward Zack. She loosened her grip on his elbow and he gratefully bee-lined for his brother, who had just seated him and his wife at one of the many white-clothed tables.

"Fancy digs," Zack commented, nodding towards Tyler's uncomfortable but stylish suit. Even Tyler had to admit that the slick black suit and yellow silk tie complimented him, but he couldn't help feeling a bit strangled in those fancy threads.

"I feel stupid," Tyler admitted, taking a seat next to his sister-in-law.

"You look great in the suit, Ty," Tatum reassured, moving a hand from her pregnant belly to pat his hand.

"Not just the suit," Tyler began, "I mean that's part of it but this party. I mean, who has a one-year anniversary party, in real life?"

"That's the married life for you, bro," Zack explained with a chuckle, "you know what they say? 'Happy wife, happy life,' right?" Tyler nodded and grabbed a couple of finger sandwiches from a caterer passing by. He was shoving the third one in his mouth when his father amicably thumped him on the back. He stood without thinking and faced his father with a smile. He regularly video-chatted with his siblings but with their most recent press tour, he hadn't seen much of his parents. Chris pulled him into a bear hug and Tyler couldn't help but squeeze him back.

His father pulled back with his eyes glistening, "long time, no see, big shot."

"Good to see you, too, old man," Tyler said playfully, earning a broad grin from his father. Chris' eyes swept the enormous room, taking in the ice carvings, the open bar and the four-piece violin troupe setting up on the stage towards the back.

"This is a hell of a fancy party, son," Chris said, throwing an arm around his eldest child's shoulders and leading him away from the table.

"I was just telling Zack and Tatum how silly it seems," Tyler admitted, rolling his eyes at the immaculate floral centerpieces adorning every table in the building.

"Not at all," Chris exclaimed proudly, "I wish I could have done something like this for your mother when we first married. Lord knows she deserved it for putting up with me. It's nights like this that you'll always remember."

Tyler felt guilty, not for the first time, and cleared his throat, "where is mom, anyway?" If his father had noticed his attempt to change the subject, he gave no sign.

"Over by the bar with Madi, go say hello," his father said with one more clap on the shoulder and left him standing in the middle of the rapidly crowding hall. He spied his mother and sister ordering drinks and sauntered casually over. He tapped Kelly on the shoulder and she gave a pleased little squeak as she took him in. She hugged him to her tightly.

"Mom," Tyler said breathlessly against her shoulder, "you're smothering me!"

She laughed and pulled away to hold him at arm's length, looking over his gangly body.