29
FRANK
When Frank contemplated moving on with his life, he never hoped for a seemingly impossible second chance with Chris.
In the far distance, they could see the unmistakable figures of a giant and a small man, Ben and Tom, walking in the grounds.
"I met Tom only a little earlier; I can't believe he's your housemate."
"And I've met Ben many times," replied Chris. "I can't believe he's someone you work with."
Chris glanced at his watch. "Connor and Lee are due to arrive soon."
Sure enough, just as he spoke, Frank spotted Eileen, Connor's sister, walking across the grass toward them. As Frank caught her eye, Eileen called out, "Come inside, they are almost here. Mom has just texted me." Satisfied they'd heard, she rolled her arm to signal they should follow her and she turned and walked back toward the rear of the marquee.
"That's Connor's sister; I don't know whether you've met her? She's one of the co-managers at SHS."
"No. I don't know any of Connor's family. Tom met his father so they could conspire in organising this event, so I've heard about them."
They both stood up to follow Eileen.
As they set off toward the rear of the marquee, Frank said, "I'm sorry about the carpentry lie. I really do make stuff with wood; I'm all self-taught, not qualified or anything. It was never meant as a lie."
Their hands brushed against each other. Frank wondered about holding hands but made no move to do so. Ideally, he'd wanted to wrap his arm around Chris and hold him close as they walked. Better still, stop walking and get even closer.
"It's no big deal. We only spent a few hours together. I didn't tell you everything about myself either."
Frank licked his lips. "So there's more to find out?"
Chris carried on looking in the direction they walked as he said, "Indeed there is."
As they neared the crowd outside the rear of the marquee, people were still smoking their cigarettes, shuffling their feet, and whispering, "Sh! Be quiet."
Eileen continued to shepherd people into the marquee. "Three minutes, everyone. They are on their way."
"Let's go." Chris nodded toward the door. Frank stood back, let Chris go first, and closely followed him inside.
Inside the marquee, the music had already been silenced and people were speaking in whispers. Everyone stood on their feet and moved to better vantage positions. They gathered in a large semicircle such that the maximum number of people could see the main front entrance that Lee and Connor would enter. More and more people crowded behind them, but Chris and Frank were just in time to find themselves in a good position with a clear view of the door. They'd see the reaction of Connor and Lee as they entered.
Connor and Lee, two scaffolders who’d married each other on Valentine's Day in secret.
With hindsight, it seemed incredible that no one in their male-dominated workplace suspected they were in a relationship together. Such is the power of heteronormative assumptions. Even when they married they'd already been living together for a couple of months and regularly went away together. Their work colleagues only imagined two single straight men sharing the cost of the bills and having fun in the way lads do.
Everybody filtered inside and all talking ceased. The sound of breathing and the friction of clothing swishing against the same seemed absurdly loud. Despite the crowd, Frank could hear approaching footsteps on the gravel outside and muffled voices in conversation.
Mr. and Mrs. Lisk had brought Connor and Lee to this venue thinking they were coming to a small family gathering. Who knew what they had been told the reason was for coming out to a tent rather than inside the grand old Georgian building.
Oblivious to the welcome awaiting them, Connor and Lee walked in ahead of Connor's parents, Stan and Rita Lisk, who lingered at the doorway.
Having taken a few steps into the marquee, Connor and Lee stopped dead in their tracks, openmouthed and wide-eyed they looked around at the crowd of familiar faces before them.
Frank, Chris, and all of the guests broke into a round of applause along with screams, whistles, and hollers of delight.
After a moment or two, the noise died down. Frank noticed music in the background, fortunately not too loud. He wondered who chose the unmistakable tune of “Here Comes the Bride” and whether anyone else thought Wagner's “Bridal Chorus” highly inappropriate when there was no bride but two grooms.
Waiters appeared in their distinctive black uniforms. They moved effortlessly through the crowd, offering a distraction to watching the shocked couple, along with pink champagne from silver trays.
While Connor and Lee shook a few hands and regained composure, someone tapped on a glass to regain attention. Mr. Lisk held a microphone and he began to speak.
"Connor and Lee, my son and son-in-law. This lot know why we're all here and now you can probably guess. You went and got married without telling any of us. Well, without telling your mom, me, or a load of the people who know you. I don't know what you were thinking, because I can tell you, we are delighted to welcome Lee into our family as our new son-in-law. Connor, I don't think you could have married anyone better."
A ripple of applause went through the crowd.
"If you can spring surprises on us, we can spring surprises on you, although I have to tell you this surprise party wasn't just my idea. You've got your work colleagues to thank. They were all keen to celebrate your wedding with us, just as we would have done if you'd told us about it before."