The Nothings

Kate (Chapter Twenty)

  Anita and Richard were getting married. They had been dating for six months, her kids loved him, and they wanted to 'seize the day' so they said. They were all invited to the small ceremony that would be held at what Anita called 'a darling little church.' 

Kate felt ill at ease walking inside with Tabitha, Joan, and Ellis. She wished Ellis hadn't come as he kept making snarky remarks the entire walk over. Kate had been surprised that Ellis was even invited, but Anita said she didn't want there to be any bad blood between any of them, and she forgave him. 

  Anita looked beautiful in a simple light pink dress with a red rose attached to her collar. Richard was wearing a suit, and he looked surprisingly normal. Ellis whistled at the sight of him, and he told Richard that he looked 'divine.' Kate gave him a look and asked him if he were switching teams. Ellis said he might now. Richard just laughed at them, and he shook hands with Ellis and welcomed him. Ellis seemed almost lost to words at this. Someone was welcoming him and glad to see him? Since when?

"See what happens when you're decent to people," Kate smirked as the four of them took a seat in the pews as Anita and Richard greeted their other guests. Anita had a large family and population of friends while Richard's side barely took up three pews. They had decided to sit on his side to fluff it up a bit, in Tabitha's words.

  "I thought you weren't supposed to see the bride before," Joan grumbled as she sat in her gray dress she had borrowed from Tabitha since she said Joan could not wear black to the wedding. Joan had actually listened to everyone's surprise.

  "It's her second marriage so I doubt she believes much in good or bad luck anymore," Tabitha shrugged. "Oh, there are Anita's daughters. They're her bridesmaids. Wow, they're really pretty."

  One of them very striking with long, curly dark hair and blue eyes. Ellis sat up and took notice before Kate punched him in the arm and told him to stop. She was a kid, she told him. Ellis just smirked and settled back down and put his hand on Kate's thigh. She smacked him again, but he didn't pull away. She started laughing as he tickled her thigh. 

  "Stop it," she hissed at him.

  "Afraid your girlfriend is watching?" Ellis bit back, and sure enough Tabitha was staring at the two of them.

  "He's an idiot," Kate explained to Tabitha and got up to sit on the other side of Tabitha. "There. Maybe he'll leave me alone now."

  "What is going on with you two?" Tabitha asked in a whisper. "... Is he still into you?"

  "He's into anything that moves," Kate said with a roll of her eyes.

  "I don't even understand why he came," Tabitha said quietly as Ellis and Joan started making fun of various people in attendance. "He doesn't even like Richard or Anita."

  "He's trying," Kate said with a shrug. "At least it gets him out of the house."

  "True," Tabitha said with a sigh although she looked as if she wished he would stay in his house.

  It was simple and heartfelt  ceremony. Kate was happy for Anita and Richard. They seemed content with each other and the best of friends. She was glad Richard wouldn't be lonely anymore too. She remembered during one of their sessions; he said his biggest dream was just to find someone to be happy with, have a home and maybe a couple of kids. Ellis had said he thought that sounded like a pretty sad and boring dream, but Richard just shrugged. That was all he wanted. 

  "Can we leave now?" Kate asked after an hour at the reception where people were dancing, stuffing themselves on the buffet, and Ellis wouldn't stop complaining about the lack of liquor. Who didn't serve alcohol at their wedding? Weirdos, he said under his breath. Kate told him to shut up and go eat some of the amazing chocolate cake. Joan already had five pieces.