The faint hum of organ music played in the background as the guests casually took their seats.
Standing at the back of the chapel Kevin adjusted his bow tie, smiling as A.J. bounded up the steps and through the open doors.
“So how’s he doing?” Slipping off his sunglasses A.J. tucked them in the inside pocked of his tuxedo jacket before signaling to Aaron to fetch him his boutonniere.
“He’s okay, nervous as hell but he’s okay.”
“Eh, it’s to be expected. In less then thirty minutes he’ll officially have his very own ball and chain.”
* * *
One by one the groomsmen made their way up the long petal strewn aisle, linked arm and arm with equally stunning bridesmaids dressed in head to toe pale lavender, bouquets of pastel colored roses tied with wide satin bows clutched in their hands.
Taking their places on the stairs before the congregation the whole bridal party, including the groom turned as the wedding march began, everybody gasping as the bride made her way down the aisle on the arm of her father.
She was a vision in white, an almost heavenly glow around her as she glided down the aisle, the sparkle off of her diamond tiara catching the rays of the sun that beamed in through the ornate stained glass windows.
“Shit man she looks like an angel.” Aaron whispered, elbowing his brother in the ribs.
“She does, doesn’t she.” Nick smiled, swallowing hard, his bow tie feeling like it was constricting around his neck.
Glancing over to the first pew Nick smiled at his mom, wondering why she didn’t go and have her hair professionally streaked for such a momentous occasion. Sometimes a box of Clairol just doesn’t cut it he thought.
Then he looked at his dad, looking uncomfortable and somewhat hung over from the bachelor party the night before as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other trying to figure out the best way to stand in his “monkey suit.”
Letting his eyes trail across the aisle to his future mother in law Nick noticed that her eyes weren’t on her daughter but instead they were set on him. Eyes of steel, he thought as he forced a smile at her that wasn’t reciprocated.
“You’re not good enough for her.” Helen Jeffries had said the first time she met Nick at their family Thanksgiving.
“Nice to meet you too.” He’d replied with a cocky grin, handing her a $700 bottle of wine.
And then his eyes rested on Callie.
Calinda Marie Jeffries an artist, a trendsetter, a woman who knew what she wanted and how to get it.
Stopping before Nick she looked up at him through long dark lashes and a sheath of diamond studded netting. She didn’t smile; instead she sort of sneered.
Placing his daughters hand in Nick's Colonel Armand Jeffries sighed. “Well I guess she’s all yours.” He whispered to Nick. “I hope you can make her happy.”
“I’m going to try.” Nick laced his fingers through Callie's, trying to figure out how to fit his fingers around her pear shaped diamond engagement ring that had cost him nearly a years worth of tour earnings.
“You’ve got your work cut out for you.” The Colonel replied.
“That’s enough Daddy.” Callie whispered harshly. “You can take your seat now.” Turning the Colonel made his way back to his wife’s side; his shoulders rounded his eyes vacant.
A defeated man.
And Mrs. Jeffries had done that to him, the same way Callie would do it to Nick.
Turning Nick led his future bride up the stairs to where the pastor waited, arms spread wide.
“We are here to celebrate the union of this man and this woman….” And while he tried to focus on the matter at hand, the vows that he was going to take and the man that he was going to become. Nick felt his mind wandering.
* * *
“Dude do you really think she is the right girl for you?” Standing backstage Nick and Howie rubbed sweat from their heads with fluffy white towels as roadies placed bottles of waters in their hands and wardrobe people swarmed around unhooking them from their complicated stage gear in preparation for the finale.
“What do you mean is she the right girl for me.” Stepping out of the heavy plastic shin guards that they wore when they sung “Larger Then Life” Nick walked to his locker grabbing out a sleeveless t-shirt and a pair of well worn sweats that he quickly slipped on.
“Well, I mean she seems sort of…..I dunno......mean?” Howie replied tugging on a wool Versace sweater and a pair of heavily pressed jeans.
“C’mon you two, you missed the cue.” Kevin yelled as he climbed the metal railing to make his way back up onto the stage.
“Mean?” Following Howie to the railing the two men climbed through the portal waving away the confetti that rained down all around them.
“Yeah mean?” Both men took the stage, waving and smiling as the crowd shouted at them, begging for more.
“She’s just self confidant.” Nick shouted in Howie’s ear as they smiled and waved walking up the platform that would take them up and over the crowd for their final song.
“Are those her words or yours?” Howie shouted back a big fake grin on his face as he winked to a girl who tossed him an overstuffed pink teddy bear.
“Are you two here to chat or here to sing.” A.J. grumbled shoving Nick from behind as the platform raised up into the air. Glancing over his shoulder Nick squinted down to the stage, the platform turning, pushing them out further over the crowd.
Standing in the wings with a bored expression on her face Callie filed her fingernails, pausing only briefly to stifle a yawn into her hand before turning and walking away.
* * *
“Nickolas Gene Carter, do you take Calinda Marie Jeffries to be your lawfully wedded wife. To have and to hold from this day forward, in sickness and in health until death do you part?”
Blinking Nick looked up at the pastor.
“I’m sorry, um….what did you say?” Looking around the pastor smiled as nervous laughter filled the sanctuary.
“I said,” the pastor continued “Nickolas Gene Carter, do you take Calinda Marie Jeffries to be your lawfully wedded wife. To have and to hold from this day forward, in sickness and in health until death do you part?”
Taking a deep breath Nick looked up at the ceiling. He could feel the eyes of his friends on him as they stood at his side. He could feel the eyes of his brother on him, the eyes of the bridesmaids and his parents as well as the rest of the congregation.
And he could feel Callie’e eyes, burning a hole through his very soul.
“Would you like me to repeat the question again son?” The pastor prodded.
“No sir, I heard the question. You asked me if I take Callie to be my lawfully wedded wife.”
“And do you Nickolas, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?
“Um…….” Nick paused turning to look at the woman beside him. “I guess so?”
And so our tale begins………………..