The rehearsal dinner was going to be at Richard's house, and everything had been planned out carefully in advance. But most of all, Julianna had been so busy that she hadn’t mentioned Richard and me going to the wedding together since the dress shop, thank God!
“So, after dinner at Richard’s,” Crystal explained, “we’re going to head over to the Twisted Lemon for drinks? That sounds like fun!”
“Yes, but we had to hire guards,” Julianna replied, rolling her eyes. “This town is so small. Virtually everyone knows about the Truman brothers and are aware one of them is getting married. Unfortunately, they are very well known to the press and media.”
Crystal nodded. “And the other is an attractive, eligible bachelor.”
I felt myself get a little bit jealous at Crystal’s comment, which was ludicrous. There was no way that anything romantic would happen between Richard and me. Plus, I knew that she wouldn’t have said such a thing if she knew that I liked him even if I couldn’t admit it out loud.
“He's a serial bachelor,” I told Crystal. “Quite attractive, though. Anyway, the guards will keep any paparazzi, and people in general, at bay. It’ll be as normal as it can be… if that’s even possible with the Truman brothers.”
I topped off our champagne glasses and held mine up in the air.
“Another toast?”
I nodded at my sister. “Julianna, I truly couldn’t be happier for you. You’ve found the love of your life, a man to come home to every day, and one who has blessed us with your son. Seeing you happy makes me happy, and I know this is just the beginning of a wonderful journey for you guys. To a happy, healthy, and prosperous future!”
All three of us clinked glasses yet again, and as we finished our champagne, I started to wonder if I’d ever find the love of my life. Or was I destined to always be ‘the bridesmaid instead of the bride’, as the old saying went? Part of me knew, though, that was my own fault. Fear would always hold me back.
* * *
The rehearsal dinnerat Richard’s house went well. I was seated next to him, and we spent most of the evening discussing that past year and how quickly the wedding had come.
“I remember the moment I knew he’d end up marrying Julianna,” he said to me, staring down the table at them. “It was the morning after they’d spent the evening at our father’s cabin by the lake. You, Caley, and I were waiting for them at a diner. The look on his face when he saw Caley was the moment I knew. They're a family.”
I smiled and thought back on that day, too. Julianna, Jake, and Caley did look like a family.
Speaking of family, Richard and Jake’s parents were sitting at a table across from us. I saw a lot of Richard in his father’s face. They both had the same nose and eyes, but he had inherited his mother’s lips.
“Aunt Annie!” I looked down to see Caley smiling up at me, her big, beautiful blue eyes lighting up as she stretched her hands out.
I grunted as I pulled her up on my lap. “You are not a little girl anymore, remember. You’re heavy.”
She wrinkled her nose. “My brain isn’t, but I’m still skinny…Or at least that’s what my mom says.” I laughed and glanced over at Julianna. Caley wiggled excitedly. “Oh! Did you see my new phone?”
I gasped and smiled dramatically. “No, who got it for you?”
“Jakey!” She jumped off of my lap and ran toward her chair to grab it out of her tiny purse.
Jake heard her and chuckled. “Julianna resisted, but I won out. Phones are a necessity for school kids these days. But rest assured, there are controls on her internet usage around here.”
Richard and I laughed and nodded as we watched her grab the iPhone and then come racing back with it, showing me her game apps. Richard watched as I peered over her shoulder as she played.
“Julianna and I loved playing with dolls growing up. That was before phones were such a big thing,” I told him. “I used to make mine do yoga stretches, and hers would be the student in my class.”
“That’s so funny,” Richard remarked.
I glanced up at him. “What about you and Jake?”
“Well, we never played with dolls, of course, but we were really into G.I. Joe and we had tons of Legos.”
I laughed a little. “Caley, do you have any new Barbies?”
“Yep, let me show you. I don’tplaywith them anymore. I just collect them.” She handed me the phone and took off to her room, returning with the latest Barbie dressed in a Puma outfit.
Richard’s eyes narrowed at me, and he glanced down at Caley and the doll. Then almost as if to prove something to me, he got on the carpet and started talking with Caley. I watched as she told him that this particular Barbie was into fashion design, and he hung on to her every word. Caley even brought out several different outfits for Richard to choose from for Barbie to model. I hadn’t pegged him as being all that good with kids, but then again, he’d been around Caley a lot that past year.
“I’d like to make a toast.” Jake and Richard’s father stood up, holding a glass of champagne.
