Invisible

Chapter 4 Red White Black and Blue

Tiffany looks so beautiful in her black wedding dress. The heavy bouquet of red roses and babies breath adds just the right splash of color. Her hair is twisted up in an elegant fashion with a black lace veil pinned into her hair, she would go modern in her wedding dress, it's very dramatic and very her. I still want to laugh remembering the look on the designers face when she tried on the gown and stated that it would look better if it was a different color.

There are 6 pairs of bridesmaids and groomsmen, I am number 6, and I am paired up with a middle aged man named Carl, he's one of Sam's uncles... I think his godfather. He's very nice and doesn't seem to mind my shyness.

I have my hands full anyway, keeping Blake and Gordi in line but it's my favorite part of the day. Pictures are excruciating, cameras are my enemy. I try my hardest to smile and be happy but all I want to do is run and hide.

It's finally time, Maggie and I help each other touch up our makeup and hair. Then we line up and wait for the music. It all seems to happen too fast and yet not fast enough, but it all is played out just right.

Walking down the aisle in a white dress makes me emotional. But I stand and smile, Tiff and Sam exchange vows and everything runs perfectly, everything is so beautiful. Finally my eyes find relief as I am able to cry as everyone else does as we make our way back down to the exit. Only my tears are joy mixed with pain.

I catch a ride with Al and Maggie to the reception hall. The kids are excited for cake and dancing.

The venue is huge, they are set up for over 500 people. Tiffany has ties to every high life society person in Nashville, plus some. Her father works in marketing in the music industry and in this town that means a lot.

We are one of the first cars in the parking lot.

We walk in and deposit the cards, walking into the main hall. I stop and draw in a breath. Twinkle lights and red paper lanterns hang from the ceiling and the walls, candles light every table and the light from the flames dance off of rose pedals that scatter the black runners on the tables. A ridiculously large area is set aside for dancing and a stage is set up for live music.

Blake screams and runs over to one of the dessert tables which are laden with truffles and macaroons, she's headed for a sugar high. That much is clear already.

Other guests start to arrive and I take Gordi to see the drum set. "I'm gonna be a drummer when I get big!" He announces as he beats the stage with his hands.

"You are going to be a fantastic drummer!" I smile at him.

"When's the dancing part?"

"Soon." I promise. "Cake first, then dancing."

By the time they announce the first dance both of the kids are needing major clean up, we hurry to get up to the floor, Tiffany is having a very traditional wedding. The first dance is the couple, the second is the mother/son and father/daughter dance. The third song is the wedding party with who we walked with, and the fourth is the wedding party and their spouses. I can leave after that if I want to, and right now I want to.

We clap as the couple takes the floor. The song starts and I freeze in shock.

🎶
"You know I'd fall apart without you
I don't know how you do what you do..."
🎶

Up on stage, in person... Hunter Hayes! Singing Wanted!

My stomach flips, I don't want him here. I try to focus on Sam and Tiff, they look so happy. It makes me smile while my heart breaks.

As the song ends everyone claps again and Hunter walks off of the stage. I hold on to Gordi as he tries to run out onto the floor, he pulls hard and I stumble on my heels a bit. I see Hunter's head jerk my way and then surprise shows in his eyes. Great he saw me, and I think he recognized me.