Page 143 of Champagne Fizz

All of us look away, realizing how personal this moment is between them. The last thing they need is an audience gawking.

I snag Connor and Mason’s elbows and point to the ceremony, indicating that it’s time for them to walk over there. Mason opens his mouth to say something unseemly, but I slap a hand over his mouth before he can ruin what’s happening between my bride and groom.

“Go!” I whisper, and surprisingly Mason and Connor listen.

Simon catches my eye and I make a motion for him to stay a second, as I turn to my couple and the giant pink elephant in the room: Mrs. Voss.

“It’s time for the ceremony,” I say softly to avoid startling Olivia and Ned. They turn to me and nod. “When you’re ready, I’ll have Simon escort Olivia back to her father, and Ned you can join your groomsmen at the altar. After which, we can begin the procession.”

They both nod, holding each other’s hands firmly.

“I just want to clarify,” I continue, “thatI’mthe one who invited Mrs. Voss to this event. And having done such, I will also be escorting her off the premises.”

“You will what?” Mrs. Voss snaps, glaring at me.

“I overstepped my bounds,” I explain. “I misjudged the situation. I got in the middle of a family dynamic that I shouldn’t have. And now I’m going to fix it. Respectfully, Mrs. Voss, if you could please come with me to the lobby.”

“Wait—” Olivia holds out a hand to stop us, then she turns to look at her fiancé. “Are you sure you don’t want your mother at our wedding?”

Ned takes Olivia’s hand and presses it against his face. “The only thing I’m sure of is I want you.”

Olivia searches Ned’s eyes for a long time. “If the only thing that matters is that I marry you today,” she strokes his cheek softly, “don’t you think it would be alright for your mother to sit in the audience, especially if shewantsto be here?”

“Doyouwant her to be here?” Ned asks.

“Actually, yes,” Olivia says, glancing quickly at Mrs. Voss before returning her attention to Ned. “I wantbothof our families to be here. Your family is about to become my family, and vice versa. I’d rather you celebrate this with your mother than hold a grudge.”

“If you want her to be here, she can be here,” Ned says.

Olivia shakes her head. “No Edwin, I need it to be okay withyouthat she’s here. Either way, I’m still going to marry you.”

Suddenly, my eyes are pricking with emotion. I’m witnessing true love. I’m witnessing respect, and communication, and compromise. My eyes find Simon’s and he’s equally as moved by the scene before us. We exchange a soft smile, both of us realizing these two were written in the stars.

Ned turns to his mother, his hand still clutching Olivia’s. “I don’t forgive you for choosing dad,” Ned says quietly, “but if you want to stay, I’d like that.”

Mrs. Voss nods silently, the wind still stirring above our heads.

“Thank you,” Mrs. Voss says finally, her voice almost lost to the wind, and it takes a second for me to realize it’s Olivia she’s speaking to. My bride gives a kind nod to her soon-to-be mother-in-law.

“Simon,” I say, “can I have you show Mrs. Voss to her seat?”

“Absolutely,” he says, offering her his arm, which she graciously takes.

I walk up to my bride and groom, as Simon and Mrs. Voss head for the ceremony. “You two ready?”

“Don’t ever pull a stunt like that again,” Ned warns. I nod, letting him blow off a little steam in my direction.

“You’ve got about six more hours, and then you never have to see me again,” I say, ready to let all the angry chips fall where they may.

“He doesn’t mean that,” Olivia apologizes.

“He does,” I say. “And that’s okay, I deserve it. I messed up. But more importantly, let’s get you two married, okay?”

Ned turns to Olivia and smiles. He smiles wider than the ocean that’s glazed in orange sunset behind him. He smiles like he’d marry her right now with me as their only witness.

“Good,” I say, beaming at them.

This wedding is far from perfect, but what matters is shining through bright as the sun. These two are ridiculously in love.

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