"I just can't imagine what could be more important than your own wedding," Elaine laments as though this situation is the direct result of Sam's upbringing.
"Mom. Elaine. This is, quite literally, the least surprising thing to happen all week." Joan lets out a sigh and gives me a pleading look. The groom, and the majority of the groomsmen, are all held up with a work emergency. The bride is taking it in stride, but the mothers are less than pleased by the departure from scheduled events.
"I'm sure everything will be fine," I offer. In Sam's defense, the wedding doesn't even start for another 2 hours. "I'll personally bring the groomsmen up to speed as soon as they get here. And they can follow our leads. Right, ladies?"
The three women beside me nod their heads and agree with more enthusiasm than needed at a desperate attempt to diffuse the situation.
"I'm just concerned," Sarah states with a heavy emphasis on the last word.
"It's beyond any of our control." Joan tries and fails to keep things light. "They aren't actually late though. Just giving us a heads up. I'm sure it'll be fine. But if it isn't, we'll deal with that too."
The Moms seem to take the hint and disburse, making their way towards the snack table.
"He'll be here," I tell Joan confidently in an aside. "That man can't wait to marry you."
She grins for a moment, getting swept away in her thoughts of Sam, and goes back to having her hair done.
And 45 minutes later, the wedding planner peeks his head into the bridal suite to announce the arrival of the groom on the premises.
We're all dressed and ready a half hour before the wedding, and the photographer takes photos of our side of the wedding party prior to the ceremony. Much to the dismay of Elaine and Sarah, Joan and Sam share a private first look moment. And a few moments after that we're all lined up and ready to walk down the aisle.
Josh arrives at the last possible moment, his cell phone tucked between his shoulder and his ear as he comes through the door, quickly ending a very aggressive sounding call and flipping his phone closed. He is literally tucking his tuxedo shirt in as he scrambles over to get in line next to me near the double doors that lead to the garden area where the event will be held.
"Hi, Ma. Hi, Joanie." He half bellows, his hair looking completely disheveled. "You both look beautiful."
The man's a charmer, there's no doubt about that.
"Where's your tie?" I whisper harshly to him as the music begins and the rabbi walks down the aisle.
He pulls a wadded up bow tie out of his pocket and hands it to me, giving me a puppy dog stare.
"Can you do it? That morning at the hospital you were able to…"
"Hold these." I command, giving him my bouquet and quickly knotting the tie. "And turn your cell
phone on silent. Ugh. You don't have a boutonnière."
Josh looks around for a moment, trying to find a solution. "Give me one of yours."
"What?"
He nods to the full bouquet of red roses I'm holding and I roll my eyes at him but realize I have no other choice.
"You're infuriating." I snap one of the stems off the back of the arrangement and fasten it into place with a floral pin that was holding a piece of satin ribbon in place. It'll have to do.
"Thanks." He gives me a grin and offers me his arm, escorting me to my designated place for the ceremony before taking his own next to Sam.
Joan looks amazing walking down the aisle. I glance over at Sam, who is barely holding it together, and I can't help but notice that Josh is looking a little sentimental as well.
I tear up as the two exchange eloquently written vows. Sam has a way with words, there's no doubt, but Joan put a lot of effort into hers, and even sent them to the other writer at the White House for a polish. I think his name is Toby. He's a groomsman, too.
Sam and Joan are pronounced Mr. & Mrs. to a round of applause that echoes through the garden and we all file back down the aisle. The bridal party is directed off to the side for more photos while the guests head for cocktails on the balcony.
We finish up outside and are introduced to the reception, and join Joan and Sam on the dance floor.
Josh holds me delicately, and he's a rather good dancer. I'm not sure why any of this surprises me, but it does. Just given his appearance and general demeanor, I wouldn't have imagined him being good at something that requires you to slow down and move in sync with someone else. But then again, he was raised with Joan and they were exposed to a lot of social niceties.
"You look really nice." He moves in a little closer and speaks softly to me. His gentle voice does something to me that I wasn't expecting.
"Oh. Thank you." I blush. "You do too."
He lets out a chuckle at my response though I'm not quite sure why. The man can wear a tux. There's no doubt about that.
He leads me around our section of the dance floor a bit, and I easily fall into step with him.
"Are you, ah, here with anyone?" He asks somewhat shyly.
"Well, I'm friends with the bride." I try for a witty retort. "What about you?"
He grins at me but gives his head a little shake to indicate that no, he didn't bring a date. "Save me a dance?"
"What's this?" I retort, striving again for playful banter.
"This is an obligation. I mean, save me another dance, a real one, where you choose to say yes to me."
His smile disarms me and I agree timidly. I'm not sure when I became so shy around him, but I can't find the right words at the moment.
The music stops abruptly and Josh and I separate, both clapping for Joan and Sam as we make our way to the head table.
The reception quickly moves into speeches. I go first, making my way through the heartfelt wishes for a happy marriage and telling the story of the time I met Joan. Though I'm nervous speaking in front of so many people, I make it through all of my notecards without a stumble and I think it goes fairly well. The room seems receptive. Joan and Sam give me warm hugs and I take a seat, giving Josh the floor.
He takes the microphone and stands, without any notes, and begins to introduce himself. Part of me wonders if this is something he's forgotten about, but even though he's disorganized there's something that tells me he won't let Joan and Sam down.
He owns the room when he speaks, and he has my attention as well. It's clear he's put a considerable amount of care into this. We make eye contact and trade a few smiles as he makes us all laugh a few times. He's sentimental and he's loving. He tells the newlyweds that he's certain his father would be proud and the room joins them in a toast. He shakes Sam's hand before pulling him into a brief hug, and then he pulls Joan in close. The two are clearly sharing a little moment and though I can't hear what he's saying I can see Josh speaking to her as the crowd goes back to what they were doing. I see Josh give her a kiss on the cheek and another quick squeeze before they both take their seats, Joan with misty eyes. It's a side of Josh that I wouldn't have anticipated existing.
We all share a meal and the guests mingle. I don't really know anyone except a few people from the work table, but they're all doctors and we're mostly just acquaintances.
"How about that dance?" I turn when I hear Josh's voice and he extends his hand to me.
I accept and he leads me onto the dance floor as the band plays a slow tune. We sway to the music for the duration of the song before something more up beat begins. There's a crowd on the dance floor and everyone is enjoying themselves. We dance the night away but somehow Josh always finds me for the slower songs. It seems like our bodies move closer to each other with each dance, and I begin to relax into his arms at the feeling of his thumb gently caressing me from where his hand rests on the small of my back.
Eventually we all line up to give Joan and Sam a grand send off to begin their life together. The band stops and the lights come up a bit. I'm honestly sad to see the night end.
I'm gathering my small handbag as I see the groomsman I know to be Charlie yell over to Josh from a side door.
"Come on, man. We're all heading to the lounge on the other side of the lobby."
"Yeah." Josh bellows his response. "Okay."
He turns to me and offers his arm once again. "If you're up for it," he smiles, "there's some people I'd really like for you to meet."