latest crying jag. A string quartet began to play the familiar
strains of Cannon in D, and Stephanie tiptoed around the anxious crowd as Scot and Cheyenne started down the aisle. Even though
they looked like a total fashion nightmare, their dark good looks complimented each other nicely. Steph planned to crop out as
much of their clothes as possible when she developed the shots.
Liam shouted “Mamma!” from Kara’s lap and the crowd snick-
ered.
Bret started down the aisle with Yasmin, closely followed
by Phillip and Antonella, who all seemed nervous that it might
begin to rain again at any moment. The sun was peeking through
breaks in a heavily clouded sky, so Steph considered that they
might be onto something. Liam shouted “Pip” and broke free
from Kara’s grasp, chasing Phillip down the aisle and tugging on an effeminate lace cuff. Liam broke in between the couple and
took both their hands, escorting them to the altar, much to the
amusement of the on-looking crowd. Cheyenne looked around
horrified, but Scot beamed proudly.
Phillip scooped up Liam and tickled him. Liam exclaimed
“up,” and Stephanie knew that he wanted Phillip to throw him in
the air. Phillip whispered something to him. Both Kara and Scot
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made attempts to get Liam to come to them while the string
quartet vamped for time. Liam shook his head and snuggled into
Phillip, sucking his thumb. Steph took several shots of that mo-
ment and felt as if someone was gently squeezing her heart. Phillip shrugged at Scot, then turned and winked at Steph.
Pilar and Nathan were the last to make the trip. It was odd
seeing Nathan with a woman who didn’t tower over him, and
Pilar’s dark hair and skin contrasted fabulously with his fair skin and emerald eyes. The Maid of Honor and Best Man both smiled
dashingly, and Steph was pleased with the series of photos she
snapped of them.
Once they arrived at the altar, the quartet struck the familiar
chords of the bridal march, and all the guests rose from their
seats. Steph maneuvered around the crowd for the best vantage
point as Yara and her father stepped onto the red carpet in the
sand. Yara appeared as if she did this every day, and you’d never have known she’d been a raving lunatic only an hour before.
Stephanie’s shutter made whirling sounds as she took photo after photo, then turned and zoomed in on David’s smiling face.
Earlier, while they were waiting out the storm, Phillip had
regaled Steph with David’s rampage about his betrothed’s text
messages. Looking at him now, one would never guess that he
thought of Yara as anything but perfection. The frank love his
face expressed made Steph have to suppress a sniffle. She as-
sumed it was the flood of hormones from reuniting with Phillip,
but like the Grinch she was, she swore her heart grew three sizes that day.
Yara’s father lifted her veil and kissed her cheek, handing
her off to David. The priest launched into his spiel in Portuguese, and Steph made every attempt to get shots of the crowd in as
unobtrusive of a way as possible. As she moved to the far back
to take a shot down the aisle, she noticed an SUV pull up and a
figure in pink hop out. Steph tilted her head and narrowed her
eyes curiously. She lifted her lens and zoomed in on the ap-
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TAMMY COONS & MICHELLE PACE
proaching figure.
Her breath caught in her throat when she saw it was Bret’s
wife Sarah. Her long blonde hair whipped around her, framing
the flush apples of her cheeks. Her eyes had a bright quality that made her look like she’d been crying, but she took determined
strides as she rushed in the direction of the ongoing ceremony.
Choking back a gasp, Steph pulled her eyes away from the
camera and looked around wildly for someone to tell. Every eye
was on the bamboo altar and the beautiful bride and groom un-
derneath. Every eye, except for Bret’s. As if he sensing Sarah, he turned and looked over his shoulder. Steph pointed, and Bret’s
eyes followed her finger. As he zeroed in on Sarah, his mouth
fell open, and his hand grasped his chest.Sarah came face to face with Steph and opened her mouth to speak, but Steph just pointed mutely up the aisle. She turned, and Steph got a front row seat to the moment Sarah locked eyes with her husband. As if unaware of his surroundings, Bret slowly turned away from the cer-
emony and with unsure steps walked back down the red carpet
toward his wife. The priest faltered in his speech, and soon
hushed murmurs peppered throughout the gathered crowd.
Sarah rushed forward and Bret opened his arms as she flung
herself into them.
“I’m sorry, I love you. Bret, I’m sorry!” She cried, and she
clung to him, her hands entangled in his long dark hair. Tear
streamed down Bret’s face as he showered her with little kisses.
“I love you, too, Darling. I missed you so much.” His voice
cracked with emotion, and Steph stole several pictures of their
reunion, wiping away tears of her own. After two full minutes of ignoring the crowd around them, Bret took Sarah by the hand
and led her away from the wedding. Steph wanted to applaud
him, but looked up the aisle nervously at Yara. She waited for
the meltdown, but Yara had her hand to her mouth as if stunned
with emotion.
“Oh my God, that was so beautiful,” The bride cried, turn-
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ing to her groom. She reached up and pulled him in for a deep
kiss, “That is true love, David!”
The priest cleared his throat and without any further delay,
he proceeded to marry them just before the first raindrops began again.
Several hours later, after a whirlwind of photos, cake,
toasts, and dancing, Steph was completely spent. If Phillip ex-
pected to get laid (by her, at least), he was probably out of luck.
Every muscle in her body screamed, and she ducked away from
the reception, curling up in a hammock around the corner. She
told herself she was only going to rest her eyes for a minute, but soon drifted into a light sleep.
She nearly had a heart attack when she felt the hammock
swing wildly, nearly hurling her off the side.
