Chapter 8
The Reception
After all the crazy partying stuff like the throwing of the bouquet and the garter(XD), which Leyla and Ricky had caught, it was time for the slow dances. First was the father/daughter dance. Jamie had changed into a much lighter dress about ankle-length(You're welcome George! she thought) and a lot less tight. Instead of her clunky sneakers, she put on a pair of blue flats. Zak wasn't too far away dancing with Drew and the leftover parents(Emily and Doc) were dancing together. Jamie overheard Zak talking to Drew and smiled at his words. "Hey, Mom. Now you've got six daughters that you never had!" Jamie now looked up at her father. His eyes were glossy and he was trying not to show it. "Oh, Daddy! Don't cry, 'cause now I'm gonna cry!" They both chuckled. "Hmm...Let's just say my fourth baby girl isn't mine anymore," George replied, planting a kiss on his daughter's head. "I'll always be your fourth baby girl, Dad. I'm just not with you 24/7. Hey, you've still got Vanessa! But I doubt she'll be single much longer."
"Oh, that's helps so much!"
"Hey, only I can use sarcasm in this family!" they both laughed. As the song ended, Jamie made the most of the last moments with her dad. She turned around and saw her husband approaching. It had a nice tune to it: husband. Jamie really liked that word. "Care to dance?" Jamie took his hand and they started to dance as the new song started. Her hands on his shoulders, his on her hips. Jamie rested her head on his chest. She was so content with this moment that she didn't even have the curiosity to see who everybody else was dancing with. Jamie closed her eyes and let her mind drift. Asking herself how their relationship survived 11 years while others only survive days. So there were bumps in the road, but they'd gotten through it. Suddenly, there was loud barking in the room. Jamie sprang to attention and looked around to see a distraut looking Peanut in a cute little doggie tux. He barked at Jamie and stared with big frightened brown eyes and bolted out of the room. "Come on!" Jamie held up her dress and ran after her dog. "Peanut, what's the- oh! Sammy!" Jamie kneeled next to her fifteen year old yellow lab. Sammy was so pale, her eyes had lost their luster and were a very dull brown. "Sammy no!" the poor dog was wheezing and she looked at Jamie with sorrowful yet welcoming eyes. It was her time. Jamie had Sammy since she was five years old, that's a long time for a dog. Tears poured down her face. Sammy slowly inched forward to lick them up saying, "Don't worry, you'll see me soon enough. But now I have to go." Jamie took Sammy's paw and layed her head on the lab's shoulder and felt it rise and fall one last time. "Goodbye, ol' buddy..." she whispered. She felt a hand her own shoulder and dug her face into her old companion's fur. "Jamie, I'm so sorry..."
"I's ok, Zak. It's not your fault. Stuff happens, you know?" Jamie stood up and turned into Zak's embrace and cried. "Oh, Jamie. Shhh, it's alright," he cooed. "I'm probably ruining your tux right now huh?"
"Not really. I knew you were going to cry one way or another so I had one taylor made; God bless waterproofing!" he said, trying to lighten the mood. Suddenly, another person walked into the room. "Jamie?" That was the unmistakable voice of Aaron. Jamie let go of Zak and went around him to face her past enemy. He put his hands up like she was a cop when he saw the look on her face. Jamie clenched her eyes shut to expel the excess tears and, in a surprising twist, went and hugged him. "Woah...okaay..." he said, hugging her back. "Y' know, Jamie, I'm uh, really sorry about what I did in high-"
"Shut up. That was years ago. I thinks it's safe to say we're friends now." Zak smiled at his wife's words. She was saying this more to herself than to Aaron. "I think I'll leave now," he said backing out and waving goodbye. "Who are you, and what have you done with my scaredy cat?" Zak joked. "She's still here. You still have to protect me from the dark you know."
"Hehe, true. Hey, I'm proud of you. It took a lot to do that," Zak said, smiling. "I don't know how I'm going to cope without Sammy..." Jamie said. Most people would've said "Suck it up, it's just a dog!" but not Zak. "Jamie you aren't the only one feeling this. Plenty of people out there are grief stricken by the death of their best friend, a family member, or even a lousy goldfish! But with every death, there's birth. I know it's hard, but what do you say we go back to the party, huh?" Jamie allowed Zak to lead her back to where everybody was. The party was obviously restored to its fullest and everybody was doing all kinds of weird dances to a random pop song. "Hey, Zak, where are you and the Ball-and-Chain going now?" Ryan said, laughing. "Oh, haha Ryan you know you're tied down too so shut up!" Zak said. Ryan and Mary were together and Ryan had bought an engagment ring for her the other day yet he still hadn't proposed. "Yeah, I know but for now I'm free as a bird!" he said loopily. "Are you drunk?" Jamie said trying not to laugh. "Noooo- yeah. See ya later gators! WOO!" Ryan said going to do whatever Ryans do. "There was always something wrong with that kid," Zak said. Jamie laughed. She had a lot of best days ever but this one really was the best. "Hey, After all this commotion gets over, I've got a little surprise for you," Zak said. "Really? Zak, you know I can't stand waiting!"
"Yeah, but you always love the thing afterwards."
"I know, but-"
"Just be weird for a few more hours and wait. Everybody's in on it."