Charlotte hadn’t really known what to expect from Shelby and her friends, but she’d been pleasantly surprised. They’d greeted her at Mary Sue’s home Saturday morning with hugs and how-are-yous, acting as if no time had passed between high school and the present. The best part was that everyone seemed genuine, which was nice. Shelby had run in a different circle of girls than Charlotte, but they’d all been friendly acquaintances so it wasn’t as if she was with strangers.
Thank God, no one mentioned John. And she was trying really hard to forget the fact that she’d have to see him in less than an hour. The girls were close to ready, so Charlotte stepped into the kitchen to get some water and take a breather. Glancing at her phone she saw a text from Lauren, who had headed over to the house Shelby and Jason had purchased together just a few months prior and would be moving into after their wedding. The guys were getting ready there.
LAUREN: He asked about you.
Charlotte bit at her bottom lip and then replied.
CHARLOTTE: What did you say?
She wasn’t sure what she hoped her friend had said. Anything but She’s still single. Which was stupid since it was a shamefully true statement.
LAUREN: That you were doing great.
That was vague enough. She wondered if there was anything Lauren wasn’t saying. Not that she didn’t trust her—Lauren would never do anything to embarrass her—but still …
LAUREN: I might have also told him you have a boyfriend.
She’d said what? Charlotte nearly choked, and obviously she hadn’t hidden her shock because Mary Sue put a hand on her back. “Everything okay, Charlotte?”
“Oh yes, just fine. Thanks.”
CHARLOTTE: What is wrong with you???????
LAUREN: I know! I’m sorry. He just casually mentioned that he knew you weren’t married and it just pissed me off.
Huh. How did he know? Charlotte supposed it wasn’t that strange. Mary Sue knew she was single, as did Shelby and his brother. But it still sucked that he’d made mention of it. Was he gloating? And was it so bad that Lauren had lied? What did it matter? He’d never find out the truth.
CHARLOTTE: It’s okay. I appreciate you having my back. But please tell me he isn’t that good looking anymore.
Because although she used to look him up online occasionally, it had been years since she’d had any desire to do so.
LAUREN: Uhhhh … sure.
Charlotte groaned quietly and stuffed her phone back into her pocket just in time to see that Shelby was carefully walking down the main steps. Pulling out her camera, Charlotte snapped a few of her smiling at her mother, who’d begun to tear up. It was a sweet moment, especially when Mary Sue embraced her daughter at the foot of the stairs.
Charlotte lowered her camera and gave them a weak smile. Happy people were getting married today. Just like they did every weekend all over the world and the show had to go on, whether she would see her ex for the first time in five years or not.
Within a half hour the girls were loading up in the limo bus and heading to the church, where Shelby and Jason would have their first look.
John would be there.
On the way over, Charlotte’s hands began to sweat. Before they’d left she’d ducked into a powder room to freshen up her makeup a bit and adjust her hair, which she’d spent a little more time on today. This morning she’d decided to style it in a messy low side bun with pieces framing her face. It said chic without trying too hard, which was completely false considering it had taken her half an hour to perfect. She’d felt satisfied with her appearance fifteen minutes ago, but as the bus pulled up outside the church, and the brakes hissed, she felt like a hot mess.
She knew the boys would be hidden away in the church so Charlotte could get Shelby into position in a garden patio to the side of the church, but the minute she stepped off the bus she worried John might be around any corner. What would she say? Why hadn’t she prepared better before this moment?
The girls shuffled into the church, carrying their flowers and bags, and Charlotte stepped inside the atrium to see Lauren heading for the door with a smile.
“You made it. Jason’s ready when you are.”
“Okay. I just … I need a minute.”
Lauren frowned. “You gonna be okay?”
Charlotte nodded. “I will. But I really don’t know what I was thinking taking this job,” she whispered.
“Char?”
That voice. The voice. The one that use to say things like “I love you.” “Forever.” “You’re beautiful.” The voice that calmed her when she was panicked, soothed her when she was sad, and whispered in her ear the first time she’d ever made love. It still sent sensation rippling through her nerve endings.
Looking over Lauren’s shoulder, Charlotte plastered on a smile. “John. How are you?”
She didn’t miss the way he looked her up and down. Too bad the shape of her body was mostly concealed by the layers of equipment hanging on her body. Nonetheless, he grinned and walked right up to wrap her in a big hug. Her two camera bodies prevented them from getting too close, but still, the feel of him almost took her breath away.
He was bigger than he used to be. In a good way. Muscular and strong, and his arms squeezed her tight as she was shocked into the past by the scent of him. A different cologne, but still the same John undertone.
Pulling back, he was still grinning. “You look amazing.”
“Oh.” She chuckled, embarrassed and genuinely surprised by his excitement at seeing her. She hadn’t known what to expect. Awkwardness, indifference, maybe even irritation. But this … this happiness came as a shock. “You look amazing yourself.”
He laughed, and then awkwardly glanced over at Lauren as if he’d just realized she was standing there watching. She quickly turned her look of shock into a cheeky grin.
“Well, I need to get our couple moving along so we can take some portraits,” Charlotte said. “Sorry to cut things short.”
“Of course. I understand. We can catch up later,” he said.
Really? What was there to catch up on? Remember that one time we almost had a family together but then we didn’t? Or, Remember that one time I’d just put on my wedding dress at the church and your mom came into the dressing room crying and told me the wedding was off? Huh. She really wondered what they had to discuss, and just like that some of her anger and sadness bubbled up from the place she’d buried them deep inside. Maybe he’d been able to move on, but she had a little bit of lingering resentment. Some might say she was justified.
“Yeah, we could totally do that. Later.” She turned and headed back outside, letting out a deep breath. She heard the door behind her and knew it was Lauren.
“You okay?”
Charlotte spoke quietly as she stepped around an alcove on the side of the building. “What the hell was that?”
“What do you mean?” Lauren asked.
“Well … he acted happy to see me.”
“That’s good, isn’t it?”
“It’s just not what I expected.”
“He was so nice at his brother’s house all morning. Offered to carry my bag and brought me a drink. It’s been very unsettling. Would have been a lot easier if he was a dick.”
“Right? I agree.” Charlotte groaned and looked up to the sky. “I wanted to hate him today. Why was he sweet?”
Lauren laughed. “Let’s just get this first look over with. The sooner we get the portraits done with, the better.”
Charlotte couldn’t disagree with that. Portraits were the time when she’d spend the most time with the bridal party, and by default with John. As she found Shelby and led her to the garden patio, it was strange to consider the fact that in another life, they’d have been sisters-in-law. That Jason, who was currently facing away from them on the stone pavers, ready for Shelby to tap him on the shoulder and reveal herself in her dress, might have been her brother-in-law. She possibly would have been a bridesmaid in this very wedding.
Shaking off those silly and irrelevant thoughts, Charlotte prepared her camera settings, nodded at Lauren who was shooting from another angle, and then instructed Shelby to make her way to her groom.
Charlotte’s shutter began to shoot rapidly as Shelby did as instructed, lightly touching his shoulder and alerting him to turn and look at her. The moment he did, his face broke into a wide grin, his eyes going glassy as he took in every inch of her dress, hair, makeup. Shelby did look spectacular today, and apparently his reaction pleased her, since she covered her mouth with her hand to conceal her emotions.
First sights were almost always emotional. Charlotte glanced over at Lauren to find her friend’s lips twisted, holding back her own happy tears. Despite her thoughts on the wedding day and all of its unnecessary pomp and circumstance, Charlotte knew it was a privilege to witness a couple in this private and vulnerable moment. That fact never escaped her.
“Babe, you take my breath away,” he whispered. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “I love you so much.”
Though slightly different, his voice was similar enough to John’s to make Charlotte pause a moment. She forced herself to continue shooting as they hugged and whispered to each other. When Charlotte and Lauren were both satisfied with their coverage, they made their way to the couple.
“You both look wonderful,” Charlotte said.
“Charlotte, hi.” Jason reached out and gave her a hug. “It’s so good to see you. Thank you so much for helping us out today. I realize it might not have been ideal for you, but I can’t tell you how much we appreciate it.”
He glanced at Shelby, who nodded her agreement as she wiped at the corner of her eye. Charlotte couldn’t decide if she appreciated his acknowledgment of the situation from her perspective, or wished he’d avoided the obvious like everyone else, but either way it was kind of him.
“I’m happy I could help. Truly.” She was surprised to find that she meant it. So far the day had gone well. Shelby was a beautiful bride, her family was lovely and sweet, and after the ceremony and portraits, they’d be spending the evening at the Stag. A bummer that Dean wasn’t scheduled to be there, but it felt like home, so that would be nice. “Shall we get on the bus and head out for some portraits? We have exactly an hour and a half before you need to be ready for the ceremony.”
They agreed it was time to get everyone back on the limo bus, and Lauren made her way inside to gather the troops. The two of them let everyone else load up first and then made their way up the steps and onto the vehicle. After having a quick chat with the driver on how to get to the field they were shooting in first, she turned around to see only one seat left available. The man in the seat next to the vacant one grinned up at her.
She’d have to sit by John.