“That’s very Zen of you,” Mel said.
“I watched Father of the Bride last night with my dad,” Angie said.
“Steve Martin version?”
“Of course,” Angie said. “He cried—my dad.”
“Aw,” Mel said. She could see Mr. DeLaura watering up. “Was it at the part where the father realizes he’s been dreading this moment since the day she was born?”
“Yeah,” Angie said. “It made me realize that Tate and I will be doing the same thing, you know, someday.”
“Circle of life,” Mel said.
“Promise me—” Angie began, but was drowned out by the stereo kicking in. Her niece Kaylee had found the music, which she cranked.
“What?” Mel yelled at Angie. She saw her lips move, but she couldn’t understand a word she said.
“What?” Angie yelled in return.
They frowned at each other and then at Kaylee, who was dancing in her seat. Oblivious to their ire, Kaylee kept grooving, getting the other young bridesmaids to join in. Finally, Suzie reached across the limo and slapped the music off.
“Honestly,” she said. “We’re on our way to church. Settle down.”
“You are no fun.” Kaylee pouted.
Suzie pressed finger to her right eyelid as if to stop it from twitching. “I can live with that.”
“Oh, we’re here,” one of the bridesmaids cried.
They all turned to look out the window. There it was with its doors wide open, the DeLaura family church where Angie and Tate would get married. A sudden bout of nerves hit Mel. This was it. They were down to mere minutes. She wanted to talk to Angie. She needed just a minute, but there wasn’t a second to be had.
Again, it was hurry, hurry, hurry into the church, where all of their family and friends were gathered. Mel could hear the noise of the crowd right before all of the bridesmaids and Angie were hustled into a small room at the front of the church.
Angie’s cousin Judi was there. She looked lovely in a floral dress that had just the right shade of blue in it. She calmly took Angie’s hands and talked her through what would be happening next. A woman from the church joined them as well.
Once they left, Father Francis arrived with Angie’s dad. He was a jovial priest who’d been close to the DeLaura family for years. Mel watched as he said a blessing over Angie and then told her he’d see her at the altar. Angie nodded and gave him a happy, nervous smile.
As Father Francis walked by Mel, he leaned close and said, “I expect I’ll be seeing you, Melanie Cooper, for some pre-marriage counseling.”
“Uh . . . I . . . um,” Mel stammered.
Father Francis winked at her. “Don’t be nervous. You picked a fine man in Joe DeLaura.”
“Thank you, Father,” Mel said.
He left and the door closed behind him. Mel stood staring at it. She hadn’t really thought about it before, but this was the DeLaura family church. Of course they would be married here. She glanced down at her ring. Was she ready for that? A small smile curved her lips. Yes, yes, she was.
“Okay, it’s time,” Judi announced from the door. “The music is about to start. The ushers are bringing in the moms. Everyone line up.”
Mel pulled herself away from her thoughts and took her place in line. Judi handed each of them their bouquets, which had been dropped off at the church by Annabelle, the florist, earlier that day.
Mel glanced over her shoulder to see Angie take her father’s arm. Mr. DeLaura looked like he would burst with pride. Mel didn’t want to take his moment, so she flashed Angie the hand sign that meant I love you and when Angie flashed it back they shared a smile and Mel took her place in line. This was it.
The moment had arrived when Angie would become Mrs. Tate Harper.
Nineteen
The service was perfect. Angie didn’t light herself on fire, trip over her gown, or say the wrong name. She did cry, however. When it came time to say her vows, she blinked and bit her lip, and in a voice that quavered with emotion, she promised to love and cherish Tate all the days of her life.
The tenderness with which Tate gazed upon his bride made Mel’s resolve not to cry melt into tears that streamed down her face. Tate wiped away Angie’s tears with his thumbs and looked at her as if he could not believe that this amazing woman had just vowed to be his wife.
When he slid the ring onto her finger, and said, “With this ring, I thee wed,” his voice was gruff and his eyes watery. It was Angie’s turn to look upon the man she loved with all of the love in her heart. Mel glanced over her shoulder at the packed church. There was not a dry eye in the house.
When she looked back, she felt Joe’s gaze upon her. His warm brown eyes made her heart pound triple-time. His expression told her he couldn’t wait for it to be their turn. Mel smiled at him. She couldn’t, either.
They turned back to the bride and groom just in time to hear Father Francis say, “You may kiss the bride.”
Tate leaned in and kissed Angie as if no one else were there. When it went on a little longer than necessary, Tony and Al both took a step in the direction of the altar and Joe cleared his throat and gave Tate a solid nudge. Tate released Angie just in time.
“I now present Mr. and Mrs. Tate Harper,” Father Francis said. The guests cheered wildly as happy music pealed out of the old church organ, and Tate grabbed Angie’s hand and they ran up the aisle together. Joe held out his arm to Mel and she took it, and they followed in the newly married couple’s wake.
• • •
The reception was held at the Italian-American Club, a place Angie’s parents had been going to
