Sunday, May 29, 2011

the big day



Kayla felt beautiful. She honestly did. And she had Olivia's mother to thank. Really, it was going so well even if Oliver must have text every few minutes. It was the countdown. Minute by minute, it seemed.

She'd spent a quiet evening with her Mom. It was fun looking over old photos and building her wedding scrapbook, already. Her Mom had taken the time and care to put in all the pictures so far, of her adventures with Oliver. There were photos of the two of them first meeting, her family meeting him. Pictures of them in the snow, being silly.

Kayla couldn't help but smile. And then the occasion arrived. The wedding march starting. There was Oliver waiting with his brothers. They were married in the first church ever built in the area. So it wasn't much more than an old rock building. It was hollow, but it was the people inside that made the quaint little place, alive. Thankfully, they hadn't been married at the little cafe, only two blocks away.

Then with the pastor called for Estelle, who had planned this elaborate occasion. A barbecue in the park behind the church already smelled of smokey and spicy flavors, as if the party might start without them. The old woman was nowhere to be found.

It was quiet for some time. But no one gasped. Soon their vows started and it went off without any other qualms. Still it was a mystery where Estelle might be. Oliver was worried even after the I do's and getting out of the church.

"Maybe I should check on her." Oliver felt the urgent need to do so.

"No, this is our wedding day. Somebody else can do it." She locked her arm around his. He was going nowhere. They had pictures to get to, and cake and throwing the bouquet to some lucky girl. "Estelle wouldn't want you worrying about her."

So they went off to do what families do, on such a day. Smiling, drinking champagne. People lined up for food, and a dance. It was practically an all afternoon affair that went into the night. Although, Kayla really didn't want to stay until the last person left.

Finally, they cut the cake and made a mess of themselves. After-wards, a policeman informed them that Estelle had died in her sleep.

10 comments:

  1. When I get the time, I will sit and read all of your work, this was great :)
    xoxo

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  2. Those last lines really make the story! It goes from so happy to a drama in only few words, really good.

    With love, Kirsten

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  3. With every happy moment there is a tragedy. :/

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  4. Sweet and sad. Oliver, knew something was off.

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  5. Aww it sounds perfect! Bittersweet ending though :(

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  6. does it make me a weenie if I am almost in tears? Or does it make your writing just that powerful, either way. I cannot believe this, something so happy yet so sad, so beautiful yet so ugly. An ending, but only the beginning....

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  7. What a beautifully happy...yet tragically sad day!

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  8. So glad the wedding was great..but so sad, too.

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  9. oh my gosh :( that is the saddest end to the wedding ever!

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  10. Oh my. The wedding was so lovely, and then the ending was so sad. At least she died peacefully.

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