Husband Material

Bridesmaids

It was two weeks after the proposal. The sign proclaimed "SerendipiTea" with an extremely flowery script. I entered through the pink french door, a little bell tinkling over my head. The café was lit with the bright sunlight of the afternoon, which was streaming through the lacy curtains hanging in the bay windows at the store front. Two tables had been pushed together under the chalkboard proclaiming the day's specials: cucumber mint tea sandwiches and petit fours. Assembled stiffly in antique farthingale chairs at the tables were Mia, her college roommate Heather, her cousin Lily, our mutually close friend Elizabeth, and Nick's sister Zoey. Each of them were wearing something worthy of a tea party: pastel coloured dresses or blouses, with their hair pinned back from their faces. I had just thought it would be Mia and I, so I had come straight from school, not bothering to get dressed up. Mia didn't even seem to notice though, she just patted the seat beside her. I sat down on the chair with caution, expecting its spindly legs to give out at any second.

I took another look around the cafe from my new perspective: there were lace tablecloths on every table, delicate tea cups sat on doilies in front of each of us, and iced cakes glistened beneath glass domes on the counter in the corner. In the middle of our table sat a bouquet of dried roses in a pink vase. The entire room smelled like they had attempted to cover up the musty antique scent with a pungently floral perfume. I raised my eyebrows at Mia, wondering where in the world she found this place. The look she gave me told me it was a long story.

They had already ordered before I arrived. I had just poured myself a cup of tea when a sullen looking teenager appeared to serve us a tray of meat pasties, quiches, and scones with clotted cream and jam.

"Thank you," Mia told our waitress.

The girl rolled her overly mascara lined eyes and muttered, "whatever" before sauntering off.

"Kids these days," said Zoey in mock-disbelief, who was still in high school herself. We all got a chuckle out of that.

With the ice broken, we all began eating and making easy conversation. I was starving, having skipped breakfast to make it to class this morning. Unfortunately, tea shops really put emphasis on the phrase "light lunch". Even after the goth-like waitress had returned to clear away the empty tray, I was still hungry. My stomach growled loudly. I grinned sheepishly around at the other girls who were sitting with perfect posture and had used proper etiquette throughout the meal. I relaxed when Mia leaned over and whispered to me: "Sorry. If I had had the choice, I would have taken us to McDonald's." I squeezed her hand under the table, and she squeezed back.

We had all been sitting, waiting to understand the real reason we had all been invited to this ghastly, I mean lovely, tea shop. Mia coughed lightly to clear her throat and stood up at the head of the table.

"I'm sure you all probably understand why I called you here this afternoon," she said. I watched as all the other girls exchanged knowing glances. I, however, was still at a loss. Mia continued on with a beam, "My wedding is only 9 months away, and I'd be glad to know that each of you...will be standing by my side at the altar. Would you ladies please be my bridesmaids?"

There was a rush as each of the others competed to be the first to say something along the lines of "of course" or "I can't wait". I sat in my chair, wondering how I didn't even realize that that was the reason for this meeting. If I had, I wouldn't have come wearing sweatpants and my worn out university crewneck. The others began chattering shrilly about bridesmaid dress colours and styles, and bouquet flowers. I would have been lost in the midst of all that "girl talk". I had never really got the hang of it. So, when our waitress returned with our complimentary macarons, I took my time picking at it, waiting for the frilly pastel nightmare to be over.