Amanda stood in front of her bedroom mirror, feeling butterflies in her stomach, as she studied the reflection of herself in her wedding dress. She couldn't believe that the big day had finally arrived and she wanted to make sure that everything was perfect.
As she primped in the mirror, she questioned Alma to make sure that every detail was in order, but she still didn't seem satisfied when an annoyed Alma assured her that everything was in place and ready to go.
"I'm sorry I keep bugging you about everything," Amanda apologized. "I'm just so nervous. If you're ever a bride, you'll understand . . .Oh, it's about time to go to the church. Is mother ready?"
"I'll go check," Alma replied through clenched teeth, eager for an excuse to leave the room.
After his horrible date with Lauren from night school, Lawrence reluctantly agreed to be set up on a double date with Hector and Eileen. The group met at Hector's house before the wedding and waited in the living room for Lawrence's blind date to arrive.
"She's a really cute girl. I just have a feeling the two of you are going to get along great," Hector assured Lawrence as the doorbell rang. Hector left the room to answer the door and returned a moment later with a smiling nurse Sal following close behind him. "Sal, I'd like you to meet Eileen and Lawrence. This is Sally."
"Hello," Sally waved. "It's nice to meet you."
"Lawrence has had a rough time with dating lately, but I don't think he'll have anything to worry about with a nice girl like you," Hector told Sal with a wink.
Sal's bright smiled faded into confusion. "What?"
"Oh, don't worry. It's not Lawrence's fault. He just hasn't been out with the right kind of woman. That's why I decided to set the two of you up. I'm sure, you'll get along great."
Sal was struck speechless by this turn of events. She had come here assuming that Hector was her date, not that he had only asked her out for his friend. "Oh," she finally managed to say and left it at that.
Eileen could tell that something wasn't right and when Hector left the room to get Sal a drink, she took the opportunity to question the other woman. "So, Sally, how do you and Hector know each other?"
Sal was feeling very uncomfortable and had been trying to think of a suitable excuse to get out of this awkward situation when Eileen asked her that question. The fact that this gorgeous brunette was Hector's real date only made her feel worse. "I met him at the hospital a few weeks ago. I work as a nurse there and he was looking for someone who could answer a few questions." Even as she answered, Sal felt a complete fool. How could she have misunderstood the situation so completely? There had to be a way to get out of this date.
Eileen wanted to ask Sally more, like what kind of questions had Hector been asking her. But Hector came back before she had the chance.
"We've got a few minutes before we have to leave. Why don't we sit down?" Hector suggested. Eileen started to follow Lawrence and Sally to the sofas, but Hector stopped her. "Let's give them a chance to talk, alone."
"Hector?" Eileen began. "Did Sally know that Lawrence was going to be her date."
"Of course not. It's a blind date," he replied.
"Did you tell her that?"
"Sure. What are you so worried about?"
"I don't think this is going very well," Eileen replied, glancing towards Lawrence and Sal. "We should have invited Lucy to come with us instead."
Hector frowned. He didn't want Lucy to go with them. It was bad enough that she would be there. "But what good would that do Lawrence? She already has a boyfriend. I'm just trying to help out a pal. I don't know why you have a problem with it."
"I don't," Eileen replied. "I just hope Sally doesn't have a problem with it."
On her way out the door, Lucy stopped to give Jordan some last minute instructions. She rattled off a list of things that needed to be done and was pleasantly surprised when Jordan told her that he had already taken care of them. "That's wonderful. I don't know what I would do with out your help, Jordan."
"Is there anything else I can see to, Miss Stuart?"
"No, you've done plenty. Why don't you take the rest of the afternoon off?"
"Thank you, Miss Stuart."
Lucy started towards the door, but then paused. She really hated that she had to go to this wedding alone. She glanced back at Jordan and had a crazy idea. "Jordan," she called out and he turned at her call. "Would you . . ." she started, but was interrupted by the doorbell.
When she didn't resume her sentence, Jordan walked past her to answer the door.
"Is Lucy home?"
At the sound of his voice, Lucy hurried to the door and greeted Craig in a warm embrace. "Craig, what are you doing here?"
"I took the night off. I could tell how much you wanted me to be here to take you to the wedding."
"Oh, Craig, that's so sweet!" Lucy exclaimed and hugged him again. "We'd better leave now, if we're going to be on time."
"Sure," he said releasing her. "Wow, you look gorgeous."
She beamed at him as they started out the door. With a nod towards Jordan as she walked out, Lucy said goodbye.
"Were you about to ask me something, Miss Stuart?"
Lucy almost blushed, realizing how close she had come to making horrible, social faux pas. "No, just enjoy your afternoon."
The wedding was held that afternoon in a local church. The ceremony was simple and the guest list was limited to the bride and groom's family, co-workers, and close friends. Since her father was no longer around, Amanda asked Arthur to walk her down the aisle.
Amanda met Andrew in front of the altar where Pastor Felix was waiting to perform the ceremony. When he asked if there was any reason why they shouldn't be married, Mrs. May glared sharply at Alma. Alma held her tongue and the ceremony continued.
The vows were exchanged and Andrew and Amanda were pronounced husband and wife.
After the wedding, the party moved to the May's house for the reception.
It was a beautiful, clear evening, so the reception was held in the backyard. Amanda and Andrew started the festivities by cutting the wedding cake and dancing to the first dance, then mingled with their guests.
Alma was on her way to the kitchen for some ice when she ran into Dr. Wilton in the foyer.
"It was a lovely wedding," Dr. Wilton remarked. Alma mumbled in agreement and continued towards the kitchen. "And the reception has been very nice too. I can tell you put a lot of work into it."
That stopped Alma in her tracks and she said firmly, "I did."
"It shows. I know a lot of it must be due to you, considering your mother's health. It was very nice of you to put so much work into your sister's celebration."
"I didn't really have a choice," Alma mumbled as she walked into the kitchen.
Dr. Wilton followed, "Your mother told me that the new couple will be living here. That will be quite a change to your household."
"It won't be my household anymore."
"Oh?" he questioned.
"I'm handing it over to Amanda and going back to work."
"What kind of work?"
"Teaching elementary school."
"That's great, except that means I won't be seeing you at your mother's appointments."
"Amanda will take her," Alma replied shortly as she shut the freezer.
"Oh, excuse me," Lucy interrupted as she entered the kitchen. "I just came in for a glass of water."
Alma pointed towards a cabinet door before heading out of the kitchen with the ice. She left quickly, hoping that the doctor wouldn't follow her, but when he didn't, she felt oddly disappointed.
"Hello, Miss Stuart. How are you?" Dr. Wilton asked.
"Fine and yourself?" Lucy replied tensely as she poured the water from the tap. Given her pending lawsuit against the hospital, she had a feeling that she shouldn't be talking with the doctor alone.
"Fine. I heard from a friend at the university that you recently enrolled in the medical program. Congratulations."
"Thank you," Lucy said graciously and started towards the door.
"I know it can be a challenge. I've mentored new students in the past, so if you have any questions or want to talk to someone in the field, you're welcome to drop by my office sometime and we can chat."
"I don't think that's a good idea, Dr. Wilton," Lucy declined before walking out of the room. "Unless Arthur or our lawyers come along."
Dr. Wilton called after her, "I'll give you a call in a few days, in case you change your mind."
Eileen spent most of the evening mingling with the other guests until she noticed Lawrence standing alone. "Hi, Lawrence. What happened to Sally?"
"She said she had a headache and had to go home."
"That's too bad," Eileen replied, not the least bit surprised. Lawrence's date had spent more time chatting with other guests and hitting the champagne than spending time with Lawrence. What had Hector been thinking?
"You know, I just realized something the other day," Eileen said, changing the subject. "We've met before."
"Yes, you were on your way to a concert."
"No, before that. Years ago, when you were in high school, you used to visit Hector's family in the summer, didn't you?"
"Yes, once," he replied thoughtfully. "but I don't remember you there."
"You wouldn't. I was just a little neighborhood kid who liked to tag along."
"Veronica and I are taking off now," Arthur said to his hosts. It was getting late and the party was starting to break up.
"Thank you so much for coming. I can't tell you how much it means to us," Amanda replied.
"It's my pleasure," Arthur replied. "I want you to know how happy I am for the both of you. Enjoy your honeymoon and when you get back there will be a bonus in each of your paychecks." Before heading to the car, Arthur patted Andrew on the shoulder, "I always like to have a family man in the business."
"I can't believe they had to drag the poor little flower girl down the aisle kicking and screaming like that. I don't know why they didn't just leave her out of the ceremony if she didn't want to participate. Don't you think so?" Veronica said to Hector, grabbing his attention..
Hector had been more absorbed in the conversation between Arthur and the Martins than the gossip of the boss' wife and he didn't like what he was overhearing. "Yes, I totally agree," he nodded.
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