The Third Date 02: Dazed by Dizraeli

I raised my hand to my mouth, feeling sick in my stomach. Seeing my reaction, Melissa put her free hand on my arm.

"It's fine, it's fine," she said in a rush, "the car got blocked in. They are on their way."

"Oh thank goodness!" I heaved a sigh of relief, and felt my heart rate descending. "I'd better go tell Tom. He's probably on edge."

"I'll wait here for them. Good luck!"

I pushed through the doors of the wedding venue, already full, the crowd murmuring quietly over Nadine's piano playing. I gave her a big smile as she looked my way. I strode down the aisle, trying to project confidence, to reassure everyone that all was under control. Tom was standing at the end, jiggling up and down on the balls of his feet, trying to keep his nerves under control.

"Don't worry," I said as confidently as I could, "Jenny's on her way: the wedding car just got blocked in. They'll be here shortly."

"Oh, phew, for a moment there..."

I cut him off. "Never! Believe it Tom. I know what it is to see a girl look at you with nothing but love and adoration in her eyes, and I've never seen Jenny look at you with anything but. She's yours, heart and soul."

He wrapped me in a hug. "Thanks Kate," he choked out. I could tell he was close to tears.

"None of that!" I joked, trying to lighten the mood, "if you wanted to cop a feel you should have tried it on during the stag do - too late now!"

He laughed, clapped me on the back and straightened up. I checked him over, brushed a hair off his shoulder and pulled his jacket square. He was a handsome guy, but more importantly he was a good guy: caring, considerate and more than willing to pitch in with the housework. I totally got what Jenny saw in him and I was deeply honoured that he'd asked me to be his best woman. He'd admitted it was partly to avoid having to choose between his two younger brothers, but I was still touched. He'd also, stupidly, thought it would make the stag do tamer if a woman was organising it. Ha! His youngest brother had looked at me with awe halfway through the night, shook my hand and told me he was going to ask me to organise his bachelor party if he ever got married. Lesbian does not equal tame.

I was suddenly aware of Nadine bringing the piece she was playing to a close. A hush came over the congregation as conversation stilled. Glancing behind, I saw the bride poised by the doorway, her arm through that of her father. Priya, Melissa and Jenny's school friend Mia were lined up behind. Nadine started up the wedding march and the guests stood to welcome Jenny to her wedding.

The service was beautiful. I tried to focus on the happy couple, but I couldn't help but glance at my gorgeous Priya standing opposite me. It didn't help that she kept batting her eyelashes at me, knowing full well how much it would turn me on. Two could play that game, so I raised my pierced eyebrow.

"Repeat after me," said the celebrant.

"I love you," she mouthed across at me.

"I love you," I mouthed back, then shifted my attention back to the happy couple.

Their vows were very moving: they'd written them themselves, speaking of loving and caring for one another, sharing their lives completely. I'd helped Tom practise them - he'd wanted to know them by heart - and couldn't help but shed a tear at the sheer honesty and truth of his feelings. Jenny's were just as heart-warming. These two had done so much for me and deserved so much.

As much as I'd loved that moment, I knew that once they were done the bit I was really looking forward to would be coming shortly afterwards.

The vows over, the celebrant led Jenny, Tom, their parents, Mia and one of Jenny's colleagues off to sign the marriage register. This would take a few minutes, so Jenny and Tom had asked Nadine and Priya to play some music for the audience. Many of the guests were the couple's older relatives and family friends, so Nadine had decided not to play one of her songs but go for something everyone would know. Priya hadn't told me what it was, but said I'd love it.

I was mildly surprised to see her pick up her cello. She'd begun playing live over the last year, but the Glastonbury stage was very different to a more sedate, vaguely traditional wedding. Mind you, she'd been practising a lot, often naked and leaning back into my arms as we perched on the corner of our bed. She said if she could control herself in such a situation, as my hands played with her as she played the cello, she'd be able to cope on stage. Sometimes she managed it, but mostly she didn't. Both were excellent outcomes as far as I was concerned.

She nodded to Nadine, then fixed her eyes on me.

Nadine hit the opening chords and the breath nearly went out of me. Suddenly, I was back in that sitting room two years ago and falling in love all over again.

It's a little bit funny

This feeling inside

Priya's eyes were full of love as she gently drew her bow over the strings.

I don't have much money, but girl if I did

I'd buy a big house where we both could live

Her strokes were so light, yet every movement tugged at me. It was a struggle to stay where I was and not rush to her.

The chorus came and Priya's mouth opened. Still looking only at me, her voice rose in harmony with Nadine's.

I hope you don't mind

I hope you don't mind

That I put down in words

How wonderful life is

While you're in the world.

I felt a sudden, irrational stirring of jealousy to hear their voices so intimately entwined, but immediately dismissed it. I snuck a glance at Melissa across the aisle from me: she was similarly rapt.

Hmmm. I might have some competition for the bouquet later.

________________________

The End

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