"One please," I said to the lady behind the ticket desk.
I paid her for the ticket to the Central Park Zoo before she handed me my ticket.
I made my way over to the monkey exhibit, taking a seat next to the window and watching the two monkeys inside interact with each other and their environment.
It was so simple for them. They get fed. They have toys. They have each other.
There wasn't much more to life for them.
What do they do when they get into a fight? Throw food? Slap each other a little? Scream maybe?
But they have to make up. Because it's only the two of them in this entire habitat.
And they seem to play together now. So they can't stay mad at each other forever.
But what if you add more monkeys to the mix? What if there were three of them, and then two of them got into a fight? Would one always be outcasted? Would one monkey remain stuck in the middle?
Could the two monkeys exist without ever making up in this single habitat?
Why am I comparing my relationship to two monkeys?
Because I'm sad. And I don't like fighting with Bryce.
"What are you doing?" a familiar voice asked me.
I looked up to see the 6-year old from this morning looking down at me with a puzzled expression on her face.
"Watching the monkeys," I informed her.
"Why are you sitting on the floor?"
I just shrugged, because I really didn't have an answer.
"Where's Bryce?"
I shrugged to that question too, because I didn't know the answer to that either.
I hadn't seen him since our fight at the Shake Shack.
"Is he still sleeping?"
"No."
"Leah?" Theresa called, coming up behind her. "I told you to wait for me while I tied my shoe."
"I wanted to see the monkeys."
Theresa smiled at me. "Hello again."
I waved at her.
"Is Bryce here?"
I shook my head.
If she knew or understood she didn't say anything. "Well we were headed over to the bird exhibit if you'd like to join us."
So I stood up and tagged along with them.
I toured the entire zoo with them, and by the end my mood had changed drastically.
"Where to?" I asked Leah, who was perched on top of my shoulders.
"I think we need ice cream," she said, looking over at Theresa for confirmation.
"I think so too," Theresa said, with a nod.
"Yay!" Leah cheered.
I let her down off my shoulders, and the three of us bought animal-shaped ice cream before leaving the zoo to enjoy it on the benches out in Central Park.
"So where are you going now?" Leah asked me.
I went to tell her that I was headed to the hotel, but something caught my eye.
Leaning against the fence outside the exit was none other than Bryce Harrison.
"I knew you'd be here," he informed me, straightening up.
"Bryce!" Leah called, running over to greet him.
"No way that that's Leah," Bryce said, scooping her up in his arms.
"It's me!" Leah said.
"Oh my goodness," Bryce said, resting her on his hip. "You've gotten so big."
"I'm all grown up."
"I don't know about that."
"I'm in Kindergarten now."
"Well I bet that Kindergarteners don't like Dance Glow Parties then."
"They do!" Leah shouted.
"Are you sure?"
She nodded enthusiastically.
"Alright Leah," Theresa said, with a laugh. "I think that Bryce needs to go."
"Where?" Leah asked, looking over at Bryce.
"I need to take Sophie back to the hotel," Bryce informed her. "It's my nap time."
"You don't have a nap time."
"He does," I said, taking a bite of my ice cream. "All big kids do."
"I don't," Leah declined
"Well this big kid does," Bryce said, dropping Leah back down to the floor. "But I'll call your mom later okay? And you can come up to my hotel room and we'll hang out."
"Okay," Leah said, a bit dejectedly.
Bryce gave Theresa a hug before looking over at me.
"Well we better get going," Theresa said.
"Where?" Leah asked her.
Theresa just took Leah's hand, leading her away.
Silence elapsed between the two of us.
"I shouldn't have stormed out like that," Bryce started.
"Why did you keep a secret from me?" I asked.
"I didn't."
"You told me that your dad had left when you were 2. And that you hadn't heard from him since."
"Well maybe a little one then."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, just a small one."
"My dad contacted me my Freshman year of high school," Bryce informed me. "Said that he was sorry for leaving and that he was in a bad place, the basic scripted version of why a parent leaves. I told him to fuck off."
That doesn't much surprise me.
"But he kept it up. He would call once a week to check in with me. I'd never answer, but he would leave messages to let me know that he wasn't going anywhere. That he still wanted to be a part of my life."
That little part of my heart couldn't help but break a little bit. That was actually really sweet.
Even though he'd walked out on Bryce.
"He did the same thing with Kayla," Bryce added. "And Kayla ended up answering the phone after a few weeks and she agreed to meet up with him. And they had this heart-to-heart and made up. And she's been in-touch him since."
So that explains Kayla.
"But walking out on me when I was 2 and then showing back up 11 years later with some lame-ass excuse and an offer to reconcile doesn't cut it for me," Bryce said, his voice hard. "The damage is done. I'm not interested."
"He can't make up for what he lost," I said, quietly. "He's just trying to fix what he can now."
"Where was he when I actually needed him?" Bryce demanded. "When I needed someone to teach me how to throw a damn baseball? Or when I needed advice on how to ask a girl out? Where was he when I was learning to ride a bike? Or when I broke my first bone?"
Bryce's voice continued to rise as he spoke, his jaw trembling with anger.
"That's when I needed a dad. Not now."
"He can't make up for that," I said, reaching out and placing my hand on Bryce's arm. "You can't make up for lost time."
Bryce stared into my eyes, and I watched as he began to relax.
"But he's trying to be there for you now. So I'm not saying that you have to give him a chance. But everything you said to me? Everything you feel like you need to say to him? I think you should at least speak to him."
~*~
"Sophie, right?" Aunt Wilma asked me.
I nodded, curling a piece of hair behind my ear.
I wish I had Bryce standing next to me.
But he still hadn't been feeling well. And it was decided that I should come down to the rehearsal dinner, and he'd be down in time for the toasts and the festivities.
And so now I was left to fend for myself amongst two families, neither of which I knew all too well.
"Where's Bryce?"
"He's coming."
"Those teenagers, always running late."
I just let out a nervous laugh, because I myself am a teenager.
And I'm definitely here on time.
I ended up talking to a few more of Bryce's relatives, who were mainly just interested in either knowing who I was or where Bryce was, before the time came for us to be seated.
The seating was arranged, and Bryce was seated at the head table. And since I was his guest, I'd been seated at the head table too.
I took my seat next to Bryce's empty seat, scanning the room for Bryce.
But he still wasn't here.
Whoever had arranged the seats apparently knew that Bryce was not a fan of his father, because his dad was seated a few people down and at an odd angle for the two of them to interact.
The first course was served, and it was a salad.
My favorite.
"So what did you do today?" Kayla asked me.
"Bryce and I went to the Statue of Liberty this morning," I informed her. "And then I went to the Central Park Zoo this afternoon."
"And what did Bryce do?"
No idea.
So I just shrugged.
"Drama?"
"Drama," I agreed, with a slight laugh.
She just shook her head, chuckling as she sipped on her water.
"What about Bryce?" Regina asked.
Kayla and I exchanged glances.
"Nothing," we chimed in unison.
Regina looked between the two of us. "I see."
"Sophie have you met my Maid of Honor and bestest friend, Rebecca?" Kayla asked, gesturing to the girl next to her.
I shook my head. "Hi, I'm Sophie."
"Rebecca," she introduced. "And where would I know you from?"
"I'm Bryce's girlfriend."
"Oh! You're that Sophie."
That made me a little nervous.
"I talk about you," Kayla informed me. "All good of course."
"She raves about you," Rebecca corrected. "She thinks you're the best thing since sliced bread."
"I just think you and Bryce are the cutest," Kayla defended. "And I think you're really good for him."
"As I said, she thinks you're the best thing since sliced bread," Rebecca repeated, before finishing off her salad. "You should feel blessed."
I could feel my cheeks heating up.
"You're embarrassing the poor girl," Kayla chastised. "And me. So shut up."
Rebecca just chuckled.
They cleared off the first course and brought out a course of French Onion Soup.
"How many courses is this?" I whispered to Kayla.
"Too many," she whispered back. "But those are Josh's parents for you."
"What about me?" Josh whispered, leaning over towards us.
"Go away," Kayla said, nudging him.
"Okay," he said, leaning back over to his own conversation.
She just rolled her eyes, giggling as she dipped her spoon into her soup.
The second course came and went, and still there was no sign of Bryce.
I knew it would be rude of me to check my phone at the table, but I was worried about him.
The third course, the main course, was fish.
I sipped on my water as everyone else munched on their fish, still chatting away.
How did people have so much to talk about?
"Not hungry?" Bryce's dad asked me. And then his eyes widened. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I forgot."
"I'm not offended," I promised, with a laugh. "It's fine."
"I truly am sorry."
"It's fine," I repeated.
He looked over next to me, his eyebrows furrowing as he noticed that Bryce wasn't here for the first time. "Where's Bryce at?"
"He's still in the hotel room," Regina informed him. "He wasn't feeling well."
"I hope he's feeling better by tomorrow."
"Us too."
As they cleared away the main course, Bryce took his seat next to me.
"Just in time for dessert," I informed him, with a smile.
"I think I'll have to pass," he said, taking a sip of the water that was placed in front of him.
"Feeling any better?"
"Not necessarily, but I can't miss the rehearsal dinner." He looked around. "Well, anymore of it."
"It's been highly uneventful, so I think you would've been alright for a few more minutes."
"Are you hungry?" Kayla asked Bryce. "Would you like some salad or soup or something?"
Bryce shook his head.
Kayla nodded, but I could tell that she was worried.
"So who are you?" Josh's mom asked Bryce.
"Bryce Harrison," he introduced. "Kayla's brother."
"Oh it's nice to meet you," she said. "I'm Henrietta Manson, Josh's mother."
Bryce nodded as they fourth, and final, course was brought around, the dessert course.
It was red velvet cake, and it really didn't surprise me after Josh had raved about red velvet cake yesterday.
Josh shot me a smile, and I couldn't help but laugh.
It, admittedly, wasn't as good as the bakery down the street. But it was still really good cake.
"I wasn't sure that cake the night before our wedding was a good choice," Kayla said, with a laugh. "But Josh was insistent."
"Red velvet cake is always a must," Josh said, with a smile.
"Did you have enough to eat?" Bryce asked, after I ate about half my cake. "Did they have some veggie?"
I nodded. "I had plenty."
"Okay."
"Did you eat something?"
He didn't answer, reaching over to sip on his water.
"Did you...?"
He nodded.
"Oh no."
Day three wasn't supposed to be the barf day. That was day four.
"I think it was the burger," he admitted. "I've been organic for so long it was a bit of a shock it to my system. And then with the medicine, I wasn't ready."
"He wasn't ready," I whispered, in the spirit of Kevin Hart.
Bryce chuckled, shaking his head. "I love you Sophie Allen."
I just smiled, kissing his cheek.
"I'm ordered to take this," Rebecca informed Bryce, before swiping his red velvet cake.
She passed it to Kayla, who then passed it to Josh.
Josh flashed Bryce a smile, before taking a bite of the cake.
Bryce just rolled his eyes.
Josh's father then stood up, immediately catching the attention of most of the room because of his enormous presence.
He had been a Marine in the military, so I'd learned tonight at dinner, but it didn't take much of a genius to figure it out. He had an aura of authority around him, and wherever he was he demanded attention.
"Welcome," he announced, his voice hard just like you would expect from a military figure.
Josh was almost nothing like his dad. Josh was so light-hearted and easy-going that I almost didn't believe him when he introduced this Marine officer as his father.
The room fell silent.
"Thank you all for coming out tonight," he continued, his voice booming throughout the entire room, "to celebrate the marriage of my son, Joshua Manson, to my future daughter-in-law, Kayla Harrison."
It didn't even matter what he was saying, he was terrifying.
"I remember the day that Joshua was born," he continued.
Josh looked up at him, a surprised look on his face
"I wanted to make him a Marine," he continued. "Which didn't happen and he became a teacher."
Josh rolled his eyes, looking back down at his drink.
"And then I wanted him to play football in high school, but instead he joined the Senior Council and ran cross country."
There were a couple of nervous laughs around the room, but nobody really knew where he was going with this speech.
It sort of just sounded like a bash-Josh session. And most of us happen to like him.
"So none of my ambitions for Joshua really came true, except one of them. And this one is the most important one."
That caught the attention of Josh, and he looked back up at his dad again.
"I wanted him to marry a nice, beautiful, kind-hearted, funny, and all-around great girl. A girl just like his mother." And then his dad turned to look his at wife, flashing a smile at her, causing her to blush and the rest of the room to laugh.
Josh smiled, looking over at Kayla, who was blushing.
"And my wish came true. Kayla, I love you just as much as I love my son here. You're like the daughter we never had the opportunity to have."
Kayla reached up and wiped a tear off of her face, squeezing Josh's hand, which she was holding up on the table.
"I remember the first day Joshua brought Kayla home to meet us," his dad continued. "I was on a 2-week leave, and he insisted that I meet his new girlfriend. I'd told him before he left for college that I didn't want to meet any of his girlfriends, none that he didn't deem worthy enough to bring home to sit down at the dinner table. And this was the first one that he'd asked me to meet."
Kayla was crying now, shaking her head and trying to laugh it off.
"So he brought her home and we all sat down and had a proper meal at the dinner table. And I knew in those few hours that this was the girl I wanted my son to marry."
Josh reached over and kissed Kayla's cheek, laughing as he tried to help her wipe a couple of tears.
"I'm sorry," she apologized, still laughing.
"I also remember the day Joshua told me he was going to propose," his dad continued. "Henrietta began to cry, demanding to know all the details about the how and where. I just needed to know that it was Kayla, because that was the only girl I wanted as a new member of my family."
"You have to stop," Kayla said, accepting a napkin from a waiter. "Oh my God, I'm a mess."
Josh's dad chuckled. "I'm almost done," he promised. "I'd just like to thank Kayla's parents, Regina and Lionel, for all the planning and organization that goes into a wedding and for raising such a beautiful and respectful young lady."
Bryce scoffed, rolling his eyes at the mention of his dad.
"I'd also like to thank everyone who's here tonight for coming out to the wedding, it means a lot to us and to Joshua and Kayla here. We're glad to have you."
I exchanged smiles with Bryce, and he took my hand in his, kissing the back of it.
And then Josh's dad turned to face Kayla and Josh, clearing his throat. "And I want to..." he trailed off, clearing his throat again.
Josh stared at his dad, tears in his eyes.
"I just want to wish you both the very best," Josh's dad said, his voice breaking. "I wish you lifelong happiness..." he trailed off again, clearing his throat and shaking his head. "Lifelong happiness in all of your endeavors and don't forget to live life to the fullest."
And then he nodded before retaking his seat, looking away from the couple.
Josh bowed his head, silence between the two of them.
"You can't just give a speech like that," Kayla said, still crying.
The room erupted into laughter.
Josh's dad chuckled as well.
"And I'm supposed to follow that?" Regina asked, with a laugh. "My goodness."
Kayla smiled at her, biting her bottom lip.
Regina stood up, smoothing down her skirt.
Bryce tilted his head to the side, a smile on his own face as he waited to hear what she had to say.
"Have you heard her speech?" I asked Bryce.
He nodded. "I got to be the unwilling practice dummy for the past few weeks."
"It is with great pride and joy that I stand here today to wish my daughter a blessed life, a life full of happiness and love and joy and much laughter," Regina started, her eyes already starting to water.
This was going to be a long speech.
"If there are such a thing as angels, Kayla is one," she continued. "Kayla is the sunshine to all that know her and truly is the most beautiful blessing I've ever been given."
"Well then," Bryce muttered.
I chuckled, squeezing his hand.
"As a little girl, Kayla was always happy, and everyone always found themselves attracted to her. Kayla, your kindness and generosity, your calmness and strength are inspirational."
"Calmness?" Bryce whispered. "Kayla is as far from calm as it gets."
"Hush," I ordered, trying not to laugh.
"Your wisdom and maturity are beyond your years," Regina was saying. "These qualities permeate every aspect of your life."
Kayla reached up to dab her eyes, laughing as the tears ran down her cheeks.
"I can see my future," Josh said, as he handed her a napkin.
"Kayla, you have a beautiful partner in Josh," Regina said, as tears ran down her own cheeks. "And I am so very proud of you both. Josh, I value the love, laughter and security that you give to my daughter. I know that Kayla loves you with all of her heart and that you are her true friend and true love."
Kayla reached over and kissed his cheek before burying her head in his neck, still crying.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, dabbing her face with a napkin.
"You were both so young when you met 4 years ago," she continued. "You have weathered some tough storms together and have stayed by each other's side, and I respect you both for that."
I exchanged glances with Bryce, and he just shrugged.
I guess Kayla shares more with her mom than she does with us about her relationship.
"Kayla, I know that there were times that weren't always easy for us," Regina started, before stopping to clear her throat. "I want you to know that as parents we don't always get it right and that we have lessons to learn. Children are the greatest gift and we gains so much and learn so much from them."
"Mom, you're killing me," Kayla whispered, as the tears streamed.
"I'm grateful that I have learned a great deal from you," Regina continued, offering her a smile. "I'm delighted with who you've become and am very proud of you, even if at times I got in your way. All of those memories add to the richness of our relationship and the treasured friendship I have with you, which makes me feel incredibly lucky and blessed to have you not only as my daughter but as my best friend."
Josh reached over and took his dad's napkin, handing it to Kayla.
"And now that you are grown I may not hold your hand each day, but I will always hold onto your heart."
Kayla pressed the napkin over her mouth, closing her eyes.
"Josh and Kayla, you have my full support," Regina stated. "And I love you as a couple and as family. May you both be blessed with much happiness, love and laughter and may today's joy always stay with you. With all of my heart I congratulate the commitment you've made to each other. I love you."
Kayla stood up and wrapped her arms around Regina, burying her face in Regina's neck.
I picked up my napkin, dabbing my own wet eyes.
"That was much more emotional than what she did at home," Bryce said, looking over at me. "Why are you crying?"
"How are you not?"
He chuckled. "You're cute."
The room was silent for a few moments before people began to chat amongst themselves again.
"I need a moment," Kayla informed Josh, as she retook her seat. "Nobody told me that this was going to be so emotional."
"I think it's just you dear," Josh said, with a slight laugh.
She swatted him, and he kissed her cheek, promising her that she could have as much time as she needed.
"Okay," Kayla said, after a few minutes. "Let's get this show back on the road."
And then Josh's best man, whose name I cannot remember, stood up, tapping his spoon on his champagne glass.
And cracking it.
"Damn," he muttered. "It doesn't happen like that in the movies."
The room chuckled.
"Hey there everyone," he announced. "Thanks for putting down your drinks long enough to give me your undivided attention."
Josh chuckled, shaking his head.
"For those of you who don't know who I am, I'm Kayden, the best man. And before I continue, let's give a quick toast to Henrietta and Frank for this wonderful dinner thus far."
He raised his cracked champagne glass, and the rest of us followed suit, throwing back some champagne.
"Now I know that most of you don't make it out too often, and probably only came for the free food, so I've been instructed by Henrietta to instruct you not to make a scene." His eyes zeroed in on a table off to the side. "And yes, that means you Jasmine."
The rest of the room busted out into laughter, and she raised her drink, a smile on her face.
"So I first met Josh in college, but I really got to know him after a cross country meet one night, when we decided to go out for some drinks."
Josh's cheeks flushed red, and Kayden shot Kayla a wink. "Don't worry Kayla, I'm not leading into the story that you're worried about."
She laughed as Josh's cheeks turned a deeper shade of red.
"So when I first met up with Josh after the cross country meet, I couldn't believe that he actually ordered a Martini on the rocks. Who the hell, when they're going out for drinks, orders a Martini on the rocks?"
A large group of people in the crowd let out a cheers, and a few of them even clapped.
Josh just rolled his eyes.
"Now I know that they say that you never get a second chance to make a first impression, but Josh here should be grateful that that's just a myth."
"Josh here stopped ordering his frilly drinks not too long after we met, but he didn't lose his sense of humor from that first night. And for anyone who doubted he did, let's not forget about our night at Pacha Nightclub."
Josh shook his head, and a few guys in the room let out laughs.
"Just kidding Kayla," Kayden said, shooting her a smile. "Josh was as well behaved... well as dull as his old man."
Josh's dad raised his eyebrows.
Kayden shot him a friendly smile as the rest of the room laughed. "But there's a lot more to Josh's humor than his frilly drinks. We've all seen Josh bring his humor into his classroom. All those kids love him."
Kayla clapped to that, and Josh's cheeks turned a bit pink.
"And it's definitely been a driving force in a friendship that's lasted, what 6 years now? With a lot more years to come. And in any case, we all knew that he wouldn't order Martini on the rocks forever. Well, at least we hoped he wouldn't. If he had then Kayla probably wouldn't have given Josh a second look at Whitman's Pub, where they first met."
Josh and Kayla exchanged smiles, and Kayla bit her bottom lip, shaking her head.
"Walking into Whitman's, I'm sure neither Josh not Kayla expected it to be the start of a journey that would lead us here to today. After all, Kayla was so busy with trying to finish law school while Josh was trying to learn how to balance a hacky sack that neither thought they had room for another person in their life."
The room erupted into laughter, and Josh rolled his eyes while Kayla threw her head back in laughter.
"On the day back in May, destiny changed their plans."
"Oh God," Josh muttered.
"And this was the first of many changes to come in Josh's life," Kayden continued. "First of all, gone was his inability to flush the toilet and his constant fedora!"
"Fedoras are cool," Kayla mocked, flashing Josh a smile.
"They were," Josh defended.
"They were never cool," Kayden informed him. "But more importantly, we start to see Josh shine in ways we never knew possible. Kayla, whether it was through her perkiness or her radiant smile, brought a new dimension of happiness to him that even I had never seen. But, having gotten to know Kayla's family a bit more in recent weeks, now I understand where this happiness comes from."
"You have to stay funny," Kayla ordered. "That's the deal."
Kayden just smiled at her. "In fact, tonight I see two very happy families coming together. And we all know how delicate interfamilial relations can be, particularly when one family is Catholic and the other one is divorced."
Bryce chuckled, glancing away and Kayla and Josh's eyes both widened.
"But whether it's over a steaming plate of meat on the Friday after lent or getting together to hail some Mary's, it all comes down to the same thing: love and mutual respect. And I think that you would all agree that there's a lot of that in this room today, and I think you'd also agree that there's a lot of that between Josh and Kayla."
He picked up his cracked champagne glass once again, smiling at Josh and Kayla. "So let's raise our glasses to the happy couple. Josh may not order frilly drinks anymore, but with Kayla at his side, his humor is perfectly matched. Cheers!"
Josh shook his head, raising his glass and downing the rest of the champagne inside.
Kayden offered him a goofy smile before retaking his seat.
"Thanks for that Kayden," Kayla said, shaking her head.
"I'm going to need more champagne," Josh informed the waiter. "Like a lot more."
So what did you guys think about the zoo? Did you expect Sophie to meet up with Leah? What about Bryce meeting up with Sophie after the zoo to reconcile? Do you agree with what Bryce had to say about his dad? What about what Sophie had to say? And then of course the Rehearsal Dinner! Who had your favorite speech?
Teaser: Wedding day! Somebody has some cold feet, but the show must go on.