Chapter 31 Make vodka lemonade
When Leah opened her eyes, the world stopped. There was Gabe, looking ever so handsome in his wedding suit that Leah helped him pick out months ago. He had his perfect smile on and his face was—well, covered in makeup.
He leaned in to kiss her and then he twirled her around, eyeing every inch of her dress as the photographer snapped away. “Stunning,” he said. “Simply stunning.” He pulled her in for another hug and kiss and Leah saw Maya standing behind him next to Kyle.
“Thank you,” Leah mouthed to her friend and then focused solely on the man of her dreams in front of her. They hugged and kissed some more and then let the photographer guide them, their wedding party, and their families in a dance of different combinations for pictures. With the makeup, Gabe looked perfect for the pictures. No one would know his face was covered in a rash or that he spent the night in the ER.
“Vodka lemonade?” Maya offered Leah and Gabe drinks after their faces hurt from smiling. “I figured this was the right occasion for ‘life giving you lemons.’” They all laughed and said cheers with their lemonade.
Guests were starting to arrive, entering in spurts between rainfall that was becoming more sporadic. Waiters passed around appetizers and handed out champagne and vodka lemonade. Everyone kept congratulating them and saying what luck it was to get married in the rain!
“I need the wedding party!” the woman managing the ceremony said. She herded everyone to line up exactly as they had done during the rehearsal the night before. The guests gathered in front of the Chuppah and Maya connected her phone to the speaker system. Maya, the makeup artists-turned DJ, was proving to be the savior of the event, Leah thought. Who would have thought that Leah really did meet her b’shert at a Chabad singles event on her first night in Manhattan? Maybe it wasn’t b’shert in the traditional sense of the word, but Leah felt that her friendship with Maya deserved the moniker that they were meant to be.
The music started and the flower girls tossed rose petals down the aisle. The bridesmaids and groomsmen followed. Shira and Kyle awkwardly stood next to each other waiting their turn until Kyle gave her a little pinch on her behind. He probably thought nobody was paying attention, but Leah was. As her mouth dropped open, she realized something. That night at her bachelorette party when she was sneaking out of Gabe’s bedroom and she saw an arm on Kyle’s chest. That was Shira’s arm! Leah wanted to scream, but there wasn’t time for that because Gabe was already walking down the aisle and it would be her turn next.
When her song came on, she stood straight and linked her arms with her parents who stood on either side of her. They walked her down the aisle together almost to the Chuppah, where Gabe would meet her and walk her to the Chuppah, their new home, together.
When she reached Gabe, he kissed her forehead and covered her face with her veil and they walked together to the Chuppah.
“Welcome, family, friends, and loved ones! We are gathered here today to celebrate the love and union of Leah Rosenberg and Gabe Russo, two incredible individuals who have found in each other a partner, a best friend, and a lifelong co-adventurer,” the officiant said, leading a spiritual ceremony that didn’t include any religious blessing, despite being under a Chuppah.
When the “you may kiss the bride” part came, Gabe grabbed Leah and dipped her deep as he pressed his lips onto hers. She wrapped her arms around him tight and all she could think was that she couldn’t believe they did it.
Once the ceremony was over, all Leah wanted to do was tell Gabe about Shira and Kyle, but there wasn’t time for that. Everyone was congratulating them, hugging them, offering words of wisdom, and then the photographer asked if he could steal them for a moment.
“I know you aren’t happy about the rain, but if you’ll trust me, we can make some amazing memories with it,” he said. Leah and Gabe looked at each other, shrugged, and agreed, following the photographer out of the tent where it was still drizzling. He handed them a large black umbrella and started photographing them kissing under the umbrella with the rain falling all around. “You can play a little bit, just have fun, I’m capturing the moment,” he advised them.
Gabe nodded and immediately jumped into a puddle, soaking his fancy black shoes. Before Leah could do anything, he picked her up with an arm under her legs and the other around her back and spun her around while the water from the puddle splashed everywhere. “We’re never going to wear these clothes again,” he whispered in her ear. “Let’s just have fun with it.”
Leah agreed and kissed him. They posed together for pictures in and out of the rain and then returned to the wedding. Leah’s hair was frizzy and her dress and feet were wet, but it didn’t matter. She was married to Gabe, the man of her dreams, and now they would start their life together. They danced and drank and sat at their table when it was time for dinner and speeches.
Kyle went first and spoke about his friendship with Gabe and how he knew Leah was the one because of how happy Gabe was when he was with her. Next, Shira stood up and took the microphone from him.
“Hard to follow that act,” she said and there was a slight murmur of laughter from the crowd. “I’m Shira, the maid-of-honor, and Leah’s sister for those who don’t know me. I am going to try to be funny, even though I am usually not, so I’ll scratch my head every time I tell a joke so you know to laugh.” With that, the entire crowd laughed.
When the speeches were finished, Gabe led Leah to the dance floor for their first official dance together. Maya was still playing DJ and played the song they had chosen. After a few moments, they invited their friends and families to join them on the dance floor. Several couples came, including Kyle and Shira.
“What is going on there?” Gabe asked, motioning to them.
“I’ve been meaning to tell you,” Leah responded and told him her theory of Shira’s arm.
“Your poor parents,” Gabe laughed. “Losing both daughters to goys!”
“You think it will be serious with Kyle?” Leah asked. She had never considered them to be anything except an awkward fling.
“Who knows,” Gabe said. “But he did mention last night that he thought he met someone, but that it was complicated.” They laughed and Gabe twirled her around. “I love you,” he said and he kissed her.
“I love you too.”
So maybe not everything went as planned, but the most important thing was perfect: their love. And at that moment, it was the only thing that mattered to Leah. She had married her love, her best friend, her life partner.
But of course, that was only the beginning.