Page 360 of Under Her Skin
“I say, I’m on it. Help me out and I think we can have this place ready in five or tenminutes.”
Getting my party to help, they begin to get things in order, and I go to talk to Mr. and Mrs. Richards. “We’re going to have the wedding in here. If you’ll go get her, we can start in ten minutes,” I tell herfather.
Her mother hurries after him. “I’ll bring thepreacher!”
With the plan in action, I hurry to assist with the moving of the tables and find a couple of people who were in there helping too. One of her nurse co-workers passes by, then comes back in. “What are you guys doing?” sheasks.
Shirley tells her, as I’m just too busy to explain things. “Delaney and Blaine are getting married in here. You want to see if you can get the wedding march played on the speaker system forus?”
The other nurse runs off, and I find my heart pounding with excitement.I think we’re going to really pull thisoff!
DELANEY
“No, Dad! I think this is all too many things going wrong. It’s a sign!” I say as he tells me we’re having our wedding in the cafeteria. “What about the beautiful pictures we’re supposed to have at the quaint, little chapel? I don’t want a case of pies in the background of our weddingphotos!”
“You’re acting spoiled,” Dad tells me. “Now come on. He’s waiting on you. I’m sure it will look great. Everyone is helping to make sure of that. It might not be what you planned, but the end result is that you two will be hitched, and that’s all that really matters.Right?”
I look at Kate, who is nodding. Then Tiffany, who is also nodding. With one more look in the mirror, I find the crease in my cheek is gone, and I look a lot better than when I first wokeup.
Looking up, I say a silent prayer. ‘God, if this is the right thing to do, I’d love a sign right aboutnow.’
Looking down, I find my heart slowing as I think about the lack of any sign. Then the speaker system crackles and the wedding march is playing overhead. I look up again with a smile. “Grab my bouquet, will you? I have a wedding to getto!”
BLAINE
One by one, I watch the people come down the makeshift aisle we created. Tiffany comes in on Kent’s arm. Then Kate comes in on Randy’s. The music goes on and on for what seems like forever, then I see my Delaney coming into the cafeteria. The lights are dimmed and someone found candles and placed them all over theplace.
I can see her face, and she’s amazed at the transformation of the cafeteria. Her eyes shimmer as she looks around and holds her father’s arm as he brings her to me. Finally, she looks at me and a smile fills her face. “Hey,” I say as I take her hand, which her father is giving tome.
“Hey,” she says, then bites her lip. “You ready forthis?”
With a nod, I take the woman who will be my wife and turn her to stand with me in front of the preacher who will lead us in saying the words that will hold us together forever andalways.
And, now, I am sure we will all live happily everafter.
The End.
