Chapter 6: Wendy
I was at a late Saturday afternoon wedding with my son Mike because Jason, a good friend of his, was the groom. Jason and the groomsmen were also the only other persons I expected I would know. Jason was a good stand-up kind of guy and a fairly famous photographer. He and Mike had known each other since they were college roommates.
The ceremony was like all ceremonies except that the maids of honor all wore green, tight, silky, sexy dresses that would not need to be hidden away from children after the wedding. Most of the maids of honor had red or auburn hair so they all looked fantastic in them including a red headed woman about my age.
She was, in a word, spectacular. The other sweet young girls in the group paled in her presence. She was taller, full of dangerous curves, with a smile that lit up the room. She was not beautiful by conventional views. She was better than that, she was striking. Her face was covered with freckles, which made her big green eyes seem to shine with their own light. From thirty feet away I could see she had the most kissable lips I had ever seen.
Somehow she sensed that someone was eyeing her like a wolf eyes a lamb and began to scan the audience. I quickly took my eyes off her and looked at my program. I searched the names of the bridesmaids for a clue but none of the six names listed seemed to be a fit. All six were MacDuff's, family of the bride.
After I thought more than enough time had elapsed for her to return to whatever maids of honor were supposed to do I looked up and saw her quickly averting her eyes away from me. I quickly looked away too and after I managed to get the hairs on the back of my neck to relax I watched my son as he escorted the grooms mother to her place.
Soon after that the best man escorted the bride's mother to her place, a redhead that was a taller, possibly younger version of the woman that was the object of my lust but with fewer freckles. The program identified her as Maureen MacDuff.
An adorable redheaded little girl, (Samantha), marched down the aisle and scattered flower petals as she walked.
After a small delay Mendelssohn's march filled the chapel as the bride, (Margaret), who looked like a miniature version her mother, made her entrance. Most eyes stayed on her and she did look gorgeous, but my eyes went to The Woman.
She seemed to be very proud of the bride, a tear had to be quickly wiped away. Her eyes stayed on the ceremony until Jason kissed his bride with such ardor it made the ladies giggle.
She looked out at the guests and her eyes briefly locked on mine. I smiled at her with a nod as the hair on the back of my neck rose again. She smiled at me with a nod, but her face told me that she was perhaps trying in vain to remember who I was.
The procession out began and she quickly joined the parade. We exchanged glances and smiles as she went past me. The rest of us waited until the dignitaries were escorted out then we milled around for a while.
The reception was going to be in my hotel banquet room and many of the wedding guests were staying there too. My son and I were sharing a room.
He had the interminable wedding photos to go through and told me to go on, that he had a ride.
His ride was with a short, freckled faced, auburn haired cutie with a great smile for my son, but a shy, somewhat nervous smile for me.
My son was beaming, exceptionally proud to be with her.
She was one of the maids of honor and resembled the bride in many ways, a sister perhaps. Mike had escorted her to the altar before returning with Jason's mother.
The young girl and I had an idea who the other was but had not been formally introduced.
Before that could be accomplished she was called for photos in the chapel.
I took the opportunity to remark to Mike, "Son, you need to tell me where you will want your rehearsal dinner. I thank God that the father of the groom only has to pay for that."
"What? No Dad, we are just good friends. We haven't gone out together or anything."
"Why not? Oh, that's right. You are a coward just like your father. Genetic I guess."
"No one is as big a coward as you. The principal at my school wets her panties every time you come over to my classroom with your wild creatures from the shop and all you do is smile politely.
It would be politically very helpful to me if my father made an effort to come on to my boss."
"OK, here is the deal. You ask that sweet young thing to go out with you and I will give your boss the opportunity to seduce me."
"Where would I take her? The gang goes to clubs to dance but she seldom joins us."
"The last thing you want around you is the usual gang. Take her to the boardwalk in Galveston, take her on some rides, and hold her hand if she looks nervous and I guarantee she will look nervous just so you will hold her hand. Take her to dinner there. Win her a teddy bear. And always hold her hand."
My son gave me one of my favorite looks; the one that says his father is making perfectly good sense.
"Oh, one more thing", I added. "At the reception later make sure you sit next to her and do not hesitate to ask her for the very first dance. Do not give another guy a window of opportunity. If her hand accidentally touches yours at any time hold it until she decides you can't. I am sure she will never stop you from holding her hand."
Someone called him and he patted my shoulder as he ran back into the chapel. I loved those times when he was as proud of me as I always was of him.
It was early evening when I got back to the hotel and found my way to the reception room. As usual the food was ready but we had to wait for the wedding party. The bar was open and that was the important thing. Mingling and visiting with people I did not know was very difficult for me. My courage came from Crown Royal.
I had just finished my first drink when some members of the wedding party started to drift in. I had saved two chairs at my table and waved at my son when I saw him.
He pointed to my table as he talked to the love of his life that he still he did not realize was right in front of him. I was hoping my comments had nudged him closer to awareness.
She came over to join me as my son headed to the bar. He had not introduced us yet so I presented myself to her.
She was very nervous about meeting me, it was apparently very important to her to make a good impression. She already had.
This was the girl for him. Her name was Karen. She was a teacher at his school.
My smile apparently told her she would never have a problem with me.
Her smile said thank you.
She obviously understood the predicament she was in even if my son did not.
Mike came to our table with drinks for each of us just as the bride and groom made their entrance. Finally we could eat.