Ninety Days Without You by Jennifer Woodward

Author:Jennifer Woodward
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Ninety Days Without You
Publisher: Jennifer Woodward
Published: 2022-07-22T00:00:00+00:00

8

I slip into ivory satin shoes then carefully, oh so carefully, slide my dress over my head. Mattie’s in treatment. The center informed us that he arrived safely and Dad even spoke to him before they took away his cell phone. So I’m getting married and Mattie’s getting treatment. There’s something strange about that. I look in the mirror. Behind me, Lena and Anne smile at my reflection. They’ve united to be here for me. Lena says, “You look… wow, Kat. Just wow.”

Anne adds, “A super-duper hottie tottie wow.”

I meet Dad at the top of the aisle in the Pleasantville Country Club’s event room. Overflowing vases of cream and soft pink roses, baby’s breath, delphiniums and bluegrass greet us. I carry a simple bouquet to match.

I’ve avoided being alone with Dad until now. After we knew Mattie had been picked up by the treatment center and had settled in safely, I told my parents we were going to go ahead with the wedding, and I made sure that Charlie was with me when I told my Dad. He responded pretty aggressively that he thought I was making the wrong decision to proceed without Mattie. I hope he’s calmed down enough to walk me down the aisle. My stomach clenches as he leans into me. In a low voice, he says, “You’re a fabulous woman, Katherine. Charlie’s a lucky guy.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

In front of us, Lena and Anne start walking down the aisle. Mom was meant to walk down with Mattie. In his absence, she’s opted to skip the walk, so she’s seated at the front of the church.

Dad holds his arm out to me. “We’d better get this over with.” I take his arm. We start walking, but I freeze. My body will not move. Dad tugs me, “Katherine?” When I don’t respond, he prods, “Is this you coming to your senses? You want to delay this? I can tell the guests right now if you’d like.”

I look down the aisle. It’s not very long. Charlie’s at its end, hands folded in front of him, the picture perfect groom. When he sees me see him, Charlie grins. And then, I can breathe. This stuff with my Dad doesn’t matter. I can breathe and walk. I can do anything. I tell Dad, “Just get me down the aisle.” Dad looks like he makes some sort of internal decision. He faces forward, pulls my hand through the crook of his arm, and starts walking.

As we make our way down the aisle, my smile’s so big it threatens to fly off my face.

And we do it. We recite the vows, say the prayers, kiss. A good kiss. A long kiss. A passionate kiss.

A kiss to begin our life together.

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