Don't wait or say a single vow,
You need to hear me out and they said speak now.
-Speak Now

Angela Bower, even in her wildest dreams, never imagined this day would come. This was her thought as she made her way inside the church with her mother, Mona Robinson, at her side. Her blonde hair was in an upsweep, her dress hugged her in all the right places, and Mona had yet to make a disparaging remark. If today was a normal day, she would consider it a fantastic day. But nothing about this day was normal.

The two women took seats in an aisle of the church and looked at each other. Their eyes said it all: after today, nothing would be the same. Angela felt her eyes brimming with tears and looked away, deeply sighing and looking anywhere but the front, where the pastor's place would normally be.

She didn't want to be here. She'd choose to be anywhere else in the world, even the freezing arctic, over being in this building, on this occasion. But Tony was her best friend and he deserved her support, at least her physical support, which was all she could give at this point.

Sighing again, Angela looked down at her lap and thought back through the last seven years of her life. She had reluctantly hired Tony Micelli and he and his daughter, Samantha, moved in. She and Sam had grown close, as had she and Tony; from employer/employee, friends, best friends, and then a gray area she didn't know how to define.

Well, that area definitely wasn't gray anymore. It was black, a definite, bold color, one usually associated with mourning and sadness. It was the perfect color for where their relationship was at this point.

That gray area was dotted with late nights they had shared on the couch, watching old movies, eating popcorn, and talking. The biggest part of the gray area was the outline of what had happened in Jamaica between them; their makeout session, and the promise their future could hold for them. He told her that he wasn't sure about himself, so he didn't know about them, but that he couldn't picture his future without her.

Then there was a splash of what had happened between them in the time since then: flirty moments, suggestive comments, and the occasional moment where their eyes would meet and their hearts would race. Of course, all of these things had transpired earlier in their relationship, but somehow they were intensified. Perhaps it was what had happened in Jamaica, maybe it was something else.

Then everything shattered. Tony started a relationship with someone from his college study group, Kathleen. Kathleen… Angela couldn't even say her name without feeling the same pain she felt when she found out about the relationship.

And that was where everyone was now. Their relationship had led to an engagement, and after an engagement comes a wedding. Angela remembered the day Tony told her about it – he couldn't maintain eye contact with her and she could barely understand his mumbles. It was almost like he didn't want to get married. But those thoughts were soon kicked out of Angela's mind as the wedding planning continued and the big day was here.

A tear slipped out of Angela's eye and she wiped it away, hoping Mona hadn't noticed. That hope failed, as she felt Mona's hand cover hers and give it a light squeeze. She looked up at the sound of footsteps going down the aisle – it was Tony and his best men making their way to the front. Her eyes made contact with Tony's, and the look held for what felt like forever until music started to play.

The music notes sounded like a death march as the bridesmaids and flowergirls entered and made their way to the front to join the other members of the wedding party. Following them was the bride, Kathleen herself, and she and her father took their time walking to the music.

"Her gown looks like a pastry," Mona snorted as she elbowed Angela. She gave a small smile in response but remained silent.

The guests sat down and the ceremony began. Angela stared straight ahead, but the voices went in one ear and out the other. Until Mona elbowed her again, this time much harder.

"Ouch! Mother-"

"If there is anyone here who objects to this union, speak now or forever hold your peace," the pastor said.

There was a silence. Angela's hands started to shake and her heart raced. Flashes of memories from the past seven years raced through her mind.

She stood up. The guests and wedding party looked at her with horror-stricken faces, but she was only looking at Tony, who looked right back. And his face was flooded with relief.


"Angela… Angela. Angela!"

"Wha-what? What's wrong?"

"You're gonna be late for work if you don't get up!"

"What?" Angela sat up. She was in her bed, Tony standing beside it with a confused look on his face.

"It's not like you to sleep like this."

She put a hand to her forehead. "Where's Kathleen?"

"Kathleen? I would guess she's at her apartment… are you okay?"

Angela looked at his hand. It was empty of any rings. She smiled.

"Yes. I'm more than fine," she said, looking at him.

Tony still looked baffled. "If you say so, Angela…"

Baby, I didn't say my vows,
So glad you were around when they said speak now.