by Tifani Clark
*****
The next morning was another beautiful summer day. Camille and I grabbed some fruit from the little market in the lobby of our hotel for breakfast before we headed out with Sophia in search of a wedding dress.
“There’s no way I’m going to find a traditional dress and still have time for alterations before this evening. I think we need to stick to department stores so we can buy something off the rack,” Sophia said as we rode in a taxi to the nearest mall. Peter and Nick had taken the rental car.
After not finding anything interesting in the three department stores anchoring the Patrick Henry Mall, we grabbed another taxi and headed for the nearest Nordstrom’s twenty-five miles away. Sophia chose a couple of white cocktail dresses and headed for the dressing room. She emerged looking absolutely radiant in a dress with a lace covered bodice and a skirt that flared slightly at her knees. There was a dainty white bow at her waist. We knew immediately that it was the one.
“Oh. I’m going to cry. That’s definitely the dress.” Camille beamed.
“You think so?” Sophia asked as she twirled in front of the three-way mirror.
“I agree with, Cam. It’s definitely the one.” I added.
“Great. That was easy. Let’s find something for you two. I saw a lavender dress on the other side of the store that I liked. Let’s go back and see if it will work.”
That time Camille and I were the ones to be oohed and aahed. I had to try on a couple of sizes before I found the perfect fit, but I agreed that the little lavender dresses with spaghetti straps and mini ruffles at the hem were cute. I didn’t usually feel very feminine and I blushed when I thought of Peter seeing me in it.
We made our way back to the hotel where Sophia proceeded to give us makeovers. She was subtle with the makeup she put on me. It was as if she’d known me my entire life. She pulled our hair up into curly twists on the backs of our heads and then went to work on herself. She looked amazing when she was finished, with her hair cascading down her back in soft golden curls. Instead of a veil she tied a white ribbon in her hair. A pair of simple pearl earrings was the only accessory she needed.
Camille excused herself to the restroom and I had Sophia all to myself for the first time in a long while.
“Sophia?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you having any second thoughts?”
“About marrying Nick?”
“No. About finishing your business. Jack and Rita don’t want to finish their business now that they’ve found each other. You and Nick have had so little time together, I just wondered if you were still as excited to go.”
She was quiet for a long time. “Honestly? The thought has definitely crossed my mind, but Jamie, I have faith that it will all work out. I don’t think we would have remained on earth to find each other again if we were just going to be separated once we got to heaven.”
“So you believe in heaven then?”
“I do. I believe Nick and I will be together there and I will finally be able to see my real family again. Nick will be with his mother and his sister, too. It will be a great reunion, Jamie. Besides, if we don’t go know, when we have the chance, we might never be able to leave. I’m not sure I want to stay around forever, watching the world at war and witnessing tragedy after tragedy. Do you realize that I’ve been here for both World Wars, the Great Depression, the Korean conflict, the so-called Cold War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the tragedies of 9/11, and everything that’s happened since then?”
I nodded. I couldn’t imagine witnessing all of that. My parents had never taken me to church and I didn’t know whether I believed in God and heaven or not. I wanted to, but I didn’t think I’d ever seen any proof that either thing existed. Maybe Sophia was my proof. She’d lived a rotten life, but remained true to her values, and things were looking up for her. The Goodwins had led a life of crime and they still weren’t happy in their afterlife. Maybe there was some truth to everything churchgoers believed. It was something I was going to give deeper thought to in the future.
Camille came out of the bathroom and we slipped into our shoes before heading for the lobby. I was kind of nervous about walking in heels in the grass at the park. I’d only worn heels a couple of times before.
Sophia had called in a flower order earlier in the day and they were waiting at the hotel desk for us. She handed Camille and I each a single white daisy and then tied the remaining ones with a purple ribbon to make an impromptu bouquet. It couldn’t have been more perfect.
“Nick and Peter have already left and are just arriving at the park now,” she said as she read a text.
We emerged from the hotel and turned right. The park was supposedly only a block or two away and sure enough, there was a large green space with big shady trees just down the road.
Peter and Nick were standing in their tuxedos, talking with a man who I assumed was the officiant, when we came up behind them. The look on Nick’s face when he turned and saw Sophia was priceless. It was a look of true love.
The ceremony was short and sweet. Nick and Sophia faced each other, holding hands under a leafy tree. The three of us who were attending stood behind them—there were no seats. Camille snapped about a million pictures with her phone in between wiping tears from the corners of her eyes. They exchanged vows they’d written themselves and the officiant pronounced them joined. They didn’t need an official paper and no witnesses needed to sign anything. It was just a sweet and magical moment where two people pledged their love to each other.
When the mini ceremony was over, Nick and Sophia kissed and he picked her up and twirled her around. She laughed and threw her head back. Camille had tears streaming down her face by that point. I looked away so the tears threatening to fall from my eyes wouldn’t be noticed. After congratulations and well wishes from the man performing the ceremony, he left and we were alone in the park. Sophia threw her bouquet and Camille grabbed it. She was ecstatic.
Peter offered to crash on the couch in the girls’ hotel room so that Nick and Sophia could be alone that night. The three of us stayed up watching late night comedy and eating junk we bought from the convenience store in the lobby. I wondered what Dad would think if he could see me then. I needed to break the junk food habit or I’d look like a blimp for my sophomore year. The next day would be business as usual and we were all keenly aware that it might be the last night all of us were still around.