Chapter Seventeen #3
But Freddie didn’t love her, Marly reassured herself. She knew he didn’t because he didn’t behave the way people did in the books and movies when they were in love. His gaze didn’t follow her, he didn’t share secret smiles with her, he didn’t give her a look like he wanted to devour her whole.
He didn’t look at Marly that way either. But that was only because he thought she was just a kid. That was a perception she could change.
“Oh, I’m so nervous, I could die,” Sylvie gasped, pressing her hands to her midriff.
“That’s as it should be.” Aunt Betty chuckled. She was decked out in a deep cerulean silk suit, with a little hat with a net. “You’re lucky you’re not sick from the nerves like I was. Remember that, Lorraine?”
Marly was the only one who noticed that her mother didn’t respond. That she didn’t even seem to recognize her own name. She was standing at the edge of the room, holding the lace veil with a faint frown on her face.
“Mom?” Marly went to her, concerned.
“Oh honey, don’t you look lovely.” Mom’s big hazel eyes, so like Marly’s own, were soft with appreciation. “You got so beautiful.”
Marly was shocked to find tears pricking. “Thanks, Mom.”
“And this will finish it perfectly.” Mom lifted the veil to Marly’s hair.
“Oh no. No, Mom, that’s not for me. That’s for Sylvie.
” Marly caught her mother’s hands. She hoped no one had noticed.
“It’s Sylvie’s wedding, Mom, remember?” She searched her mom’s eyes.
They were confused. “Here, Mom, let me.” Heart pounding and hands sweating, Marly took the veil to Aunt Bet, who pinned it in Sylvie’s honeyed hair as the girls chattered.
But in the corner, Mom still looked anxious and confused.
Marly slipped downstairs and found her father. “Daddy? Can you come?”
Marly’s father was a self-contained man. He’d been away at the war for the first few years of her life and had always been reserved and a bit awkward with her. He knew how to act with boys; with Marly he wasn’t so sure. But she felt comforted by his stolidness on Sylvie’s wedding day.
“Just bring her out onto the landing, honey,” Dad said calmly. “And I’ll escort her down for the ceremony.”
She could tell he was worried, but he gave her a nod, like he’d take it from here.
Marly brought her mother out.
“Well, what is this?” Daddy said, taking Mom’s hands and kissing her forehead softly. “Did an angel fall to earth?”
Mom sagged against him. “Walt…” she said in a small, uncertain voice.
“I know, honey. It’s okay.” He kissed her again. “I’m here. Now let’s just go down to the garden and take a seat, okay?”
Marly watched her father lead her mom downstairs and found she was trembling like a leaf.
Her father looked up as they reached the hall and caught her eye.
He gave her the faintest of smiles and then passed out of sight.
Marly had never loved him more than she loved him in that moment. And she’d never been so afraid.
“Marly!” Priscilla’s head popped out of the big front bedroom. “There you are! Don’t go disappearing. It’s time!”
Numbly, Marly took the small bunch of carnations and daisies and took her place in the procession. Uncle Don had joined them and was already weepy as he regarded Sylvie in all her lacy glory.
“Aunt Bet?” Paul had arrived to escort their Aunt Betty down the aisle to her seat.
The wedding itself went by in a blur. The makeshift altar had been set up near the rose garden, which was in vigorous full bloom, and the powdery sweet scent of roses mingled with the sea air.
Uncle Don cried through the whole wedding, and so did Mom, but Marly didn’t think they were crying for the same reason.
Marly’s heart was hurting in her chest. As she walked down the aisle, she saw her father holding her mother’s hands and she almost cried herself.
What was wrong with Mom?
She was so caught up in her thoughts, she didn’t even look for Freddie de Marche in the crowd, even though she’d spent all morning fussing over her appearance for him.
It wasn’t until the ceremony was in full swing that she remembered and darted a glance at the crowd.
He was up the back on the aisle, so she must have walked straight past him.
He was in a suit, with a bow tie, and his hair was slicked back neatly. He had a brooding expression, at least until he caught her staring at him. Then he winked.
Marly blushed and jerked her attention back to the bride and groom.
Elton Coutts was beaming ear to ear, his blond hair in a side part, and his brown eyes shining.
He looked like a man who’d just found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
And Sylvie was giggling and blushing and acting the schoolgirl.
They were so cute it was sickening. Marly’s attention wandered again, this time back to her parents.
Her mother was leaning into her father, and he was still holding her hands, his thumb stroking hers.
And to her horror, Marly found herself crying, in front of all those people.