"I still don't see why I have to wear this thing." Harper complained.
"Harper." Rhade said. "There are hundreds of people out there waiting to see you and Trance get married. Do you really want to stand in front of all those people wearing what you have on?"
"What's wrong with what I got on?" Harper asked. "I wear cargo pants every day."
"I'd be willing to bet you wear the same cargo pants every day." Brendan said.
"I do not!" Harper proclaimed. "That's not the point! The point is, that there is no way that I'm wearing a stupid tux today and that's final!"
"You're wrong Harper." Rick said. "The point is, that this a special day for you and Trance. How's Trance going to feel when she walks down that aisle and sees you wearing your everyday clothes? Do you really want to disappoint her like that?"
Harper bowed his head and realized that his friends were right. There was no way he would be responsible for ruining this day for Trance. She deserved the best, and if that meant he had to wear some silly suit, then so be it.
"Ok." Harper said. "I'll do it,… but what about my tail?"
"Your tux has been altered to allow for your tail." Rhade said, handing the tux to Harper. He was glad that he no longer experienced fits of anger in Harper's presence, and that Harper forgave him for the earlier incidents. However, he found it difficult to forgive himself. He was actually surprised when Harper asked him to be a part of the ceremony by escorting one of Becca's Bride's Maids down the aisle.
Harper recently discovered that he had an ability other than the gift of time. He could also hear people's thoughts as well as conversations at great distance. He didn't hear them audibly with his ears. It was just sort of in his head. He decided not to tell anyone about this new talent, except for Trance.
It was with this new talent that Harper knew what Rhade had been thinking. He knew that it was hard on the big guy to lose control like he did. He wanted to say something so he would stop worrying about it, but he couldn't reveal his new gift.
Instead, Harper accepted the tux and just said, "Thanks. You guys probably just stopped me from making one of the biggest mistakes of my life."
Back in the girl's tent Trance was in the process of getting out of her wedding gown.
"Are you sure you want to do this Trance?" Becca asked.
"I know Harper, Becca." Trance said. "And you know him too. There's no way he's going to wear a tux, and if he's not dressing up then I'm not either. It would make Harper look bad and people would start laughing at him. He doesn't like to be laughed at Becca, not even by his friends."
"It's still not right!" Becca protested. "I'll go over there and make him wear it, if I have to dress him myself!"
"No Becca." Trance said. "That would only make him mad and humiliate him."
"Just wait a minute." Rommie said. "We don't know that Harper won't wear the tux. We just assume he won't."
"Good point." Gloria said. "Perhaps I could go over and get Rick's attention and ask him."
"Good idea." Rommie said. "I'll go with you."
"In the meantime." Becca said. "I think you should keep the wedding gown on."
Rommie and Gloria walked to the men's tent. As they neared the tent they could hear them talking inside.
"I still don't see why I have to wear this thing." Harper complained.
"Harper." Rhade said. "There are hundreds of people out there waiting to see you and Trance get married. Do you really want to stand in front of all those people wearing what you have on?"
"What's wrong with what I got on?" Harper asked. "I wear cargo pants every day."
"I'd be willing to bet you wear the same cargo pants every day." Brendan said.
"I do not!" Harper proclaimed. "That's not the point! The point is, that there is no way that I'm wearing a stupid tux today and that's final!"
Rommie and Gloria ran back to tell Trance and Becca what they had heard, and never heard the rest of the conversation.
Later all things were ready. Harper was standing up front and watched as Brendan escorted Becca down the aisle. When they reached the front, Brendan stood next to Harper as Becca went to the other side.
Rhade and Rommie were next, followed by Rick and Gloria.
The wedding march began to play and Trance proceeded to walk down the aisle.
To Harper, his purple princess had somehow been transformed into an angel. She looked beautiful and was absolutely glowing!
"I didn't think she was going to wear the gown." Gloria whispered to Rommie.
"She wasn't going to," Rommie said. "but I'm glad she did, seeing how the men must have been able to change Harper's mind after all."
Becca heard Gloria and Rommie talking.
"If you must know, I told her that there was no way I was going to let her march down this aisle in anything but her wedding gown. A wedding day is a very special day for any woman and it should be perfect,…and besides, I told her if she didn't wear the gown then I would wear my leather flight suit."