I rested my head on her shoulder. “I haven’t felt feminine in a long time. But I like it. You would, too.”
She pressed her lips to the side of my head, and then to my lips when I turned towards her. “Okay, I’ll think it over. So, you about ready? I can’t wait to show you off.”
I grinned at her. I didn’t think they’d be that impressed, but I didn’t say it. I was excited to attend my first lesbian wedding. I’d told my husband that an old classmate was getting married in Charlotte this weekend, and he hadn’t pushed for any details, other than if I were going alone. He knew, as well as I did, that if I remarried he’d likely get to stop paying alimony, which I’m sure he wouldn’t mind. I’d sidestepped the question, no reason to let him head down that particular road until I was ready.
God, was I even thinking about that? I looked at Sandy, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, slipping on her two-inch heels. Yeah, yeah I was. But I wasn’t sure she felt the same, even with everything she said.
She stood up, taking the small, elegant string of pearls lying next to her and putting them on. She was wearing a purple, chiffon, long sleeve, bow tie blouse with black, high-waisted slacks. From her heels to her sharp, chiseled features, she was stunning, her curly chestnut hair pulled back into a ponytail that reached down to her mid back. The sight of her made me shiver from head to toe.
She took a last look in the mirror, her face apparently displeased with what she saw. I guess we all have our dissatisfaction regarding our appearance. But as soon as she turned to me her face brightened. I felt the smile stretch across my face as she reached out her hand, and I took it without hesitation.
***
“Sandy! Hey, girls, it’s The Hawk!”
I glanced up at Sandy, seeing the blush that spread across her face, along with an embarrassed smile. “Hey, guys. Don’t call me that.”
They gathered around and hugs were exchanged, along with the warm smiles associated with long friendship. “Everyone, this is my girlfriend, Melanie. Melanie this is everybody.” She went around and said a bunch of names that I knew I would never remember. What I would never forget was the warm look of welcome on their faces, or the beaming pride in Sandy’s voice.
“So how did you guys meet?” One of the women present, who Sandy had introduced as Eddie, asked the question, eyes shining.
“She’s my daughter’s field hockey coach. And she’s very persistent.” I grinned up at her.
“What can I say? I get what I want. Or I try anyway.”
Eddie clapped her hands together. “That’s so sweet. Mine was boring, I just fell in love with my personal trainer. Total cliche.” She looked around. “But I guess it worked out, we just had our second baby last year. He’s around here somewhere. The husband, I mean. My babies are spending the weekend with my in-laws.”
We spent a few minutes trading love stories. Two of the girls were together, having met on the team, but the others were straight, or at least in relationships with men.
We were greeted warmly several more times as we made our way inside the sanctuary at the Universal Church, the first one I’d ever been in. I wasn’t sure what I’d been expecting, but other than the lack of crosses, it looked like any other church. It had beautiful woodwork on the vaulted ceiling, with a stage and baby grand piano in the front. The flowers hanging on the edge of the pews started red, fading through all the colors of the rainbow flag as they went down the aisle.
There was a sign on a tripod that said ‘Pick a seat, not a side, either way it’s for a bride!’ which I thought was cute, and we walked down the aisle hand in hand, picking an empty section about six rows back. The stage sported a trellis done all in white, and I just let my eyes travel around the fairytale scene.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” We looked up as Eddie and her husband scooted in next to us. “It was like what we did with our flowers, remember honey?”
The gentleman on her arm, wearing blue slacks with a checked shirt and tie, nodded. “I do. I have fond memories of our wedding day.”
“Oh, Melanie, this is my husband Daniel, or Danny. Danny, this is Melanie, Sandy’s new girlfriend.”
He shook my hand.
I smiled and asked a question. “So what was memorable about your wedding, Danny?”
“Mostly that it was the only time in my life I’ve ever been allowed to call my wife by her real name.”
Eddie admonished him with a playful stare. “Well, you’d go by something else too if your fool parents had named you ‘Edwina’.”
“I just never imagined marrying someone named Eddie. I had to tell my father three times that she was really a woman.”
We all laughed and chatted some more as the sanctuary slowly filled. After a bit a woman with long dark hair and a black dress walked out to the piano and started playing. The general murmur of the crowd began to quiet. I glanced down at the program I was holding, noting there were only six ‘bridal attendants’ listed, of both genders judging by their first names, along with both a maid and gentleman of honor.
I didn’t have time to ask about it before the doors opened, and two women walked in arm-in-arm. They made their way down the aisles before separating, each going to a far side. The next couple was boy/girl, the guy in a tux, and the lady in an orange bridesmaid dress, matching the first two outfits. This repeated two more times, the men and women interspersing amongst themselves up at the stage.
The doors closed as the music changed from Pachelbel’s ‘Canon in D Major’ to the traditional wedding march. When they opened again they revealed a woman of average height in a white, jumpsuit style outfit, the bodice overlaid in patterned lace. An older woman was on her arm, clearly her mother, and they came down the aisle as the congregation rose to their feet.
As they got to our row the bride’s eyes found Sandy, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth as she lifted her chin in recognition before she looked back to the front and continued on her way.
Sandy whispered into my ear. “That’s my friend, Iona.”
Iona reached the front, her mother kissing her on the cheek and sitting down as the bride turned back to face down the aisle. Her face broke into a pure, joyous smile, and the congregation rotated their attention back to the entrance, where another woman had just entered. Her gown was much more traditional, an A-line skirt with a sweetheart neckline, all smooth and pleated in elegant style. Her father held her arm, and she was beaming towards the woman waiting for her at the altar.
The wedding began, and it was beautiful. Each bride read their own vows, and the minister gave a short talk about how love conquers all. Seeing two women standing in front of their friends and family and pledging their love and lives to each other, openly and without fear, well, it was very inspiring to someone who’d been hiding her entire life.
***
“Ladies and gentleman, give it up for the brides!”
A general, good-natured roar went up from the assembly as the two blissful women entered. The shorter one, Lara, was holding her bouquet over her head as they both sort of danced into the reception hall. Sandy and I were sitting at a table with Eddie and Danny, along with the lesbian couple from before the wedding and one other straight couple consisting of a former teammate of Sandy’s and her husband.
I listened as they swapped war stories and shared good-natured gossip about old friends with whom they were still in contact. The chicken and pasta was excellent, and I was having a wonderful time. The brides stopped by our table, and Iona introduced Lara to everyone, but they were busy, and didn’t hang around long. I don’t blame them for that. I have minimal recollections of my own wedding day, although maybe that’s a blessing.
Eventually the couple was called to the dance floor, and the traditional numbers began, including the maid and gentleman of honor, the latter of which turning out to be Iona’s brother. I figured it was a lesbian wedding, so all bets were off, and I just enjoyed how all of the couple’s family was so supportive.
Eventually the floor opened, and Eddie dragged her husband off to the floor. Sandy turned to me, suddenly looking a little nervous.
“You know I’m not a good dancer, but do you want to try?”
I giggled at her. “Yes, very much. But I need to use the ladies’ room first. Okay?”
She leaned in and kissed me before I stood up, and it wasn’t easy walking away, although the fact I really did have to pee helped. I found my way to the restroom. There was only one occupant when I entered, and she was just finishing up at the sink as I went into the far stall.
As I was finishing up I heard two women enter, laughing and giggling, making me wonder how many glasses of wine they’d had already. I didn’t recognize them, but it turns out they knew Sandy.
“Oh. My. God. Did you see the new porker Sandy Dalton showed up with? I swear, that girl.”
The second laughed. “Yeah, Jesus, she does have a type, doesn’t she? You know what it is, right? Lack of confidence.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s the girlfriend test, you can tell how much natural confidence an athlete has by the relative hotness of their partner. And Sandy always dates fat girls, so there you go.”
“Shit, do you remember that one girl we caught her with at the pool in Denmark?”
“The one who got all embarrassed and thought Sandy’d set her up? That was hysterical. She was so pissed. Someone oughtta show her better.”
“Well, you swing that way sometimes. Go for it.”
“I just might, it’d be my public service for the weekend. Leave the chubby girl crying in her ice cream.” They both laughed, and I felt the anger rising in me bubble over. I banged out of the stall and stepped up to the sink.
Now, I reckon if I’d been bad mouthing someone and realized they’d overheard, I’d probably feel bad about it. But then, maybe I’m just a decent person. Apparently that isn’t a universal quality, and they just laughed at my presence.
I shook my head, looking into the mirror. “What? You don’t have to stop talking just because of me.”