Sorry this is late! I had a family thing yesterday and totally spaced that I needed to upload a new chapter. Without anymore delay, here's chapter 7:
Chapter 7- The Wedding
The sanctuary was filled with people. From church members to the extended Camden family to Megan's many brothers. Eric entered to the front of the church in his pastor's robe. Simon entered next from the right followed by Matt, his best man. Sam and David ushered Annie to her seat. The romantic music began playing; Lucy made her way down the aisle as bridesmaid with Kevin on her arm. She was followed by Mary with Carlos on her arm. Megan's niece came down spreading flower petals along the aisle and her three year-old nephew toddled down the aisle holding a white pillow with the wedding rings upon it.
Ruthie entered the sanctuary next. She beamed in her pink silk gown holding a bouquet of lilies. She caught eyes with Bryant for a second as she descended down the aisle. She decided to take the Colonel's advice and plus, she needed a date for the wedding. Her eyes quickly moved off Bryant when she noticed Martin sitting next to Sandy and Jonathan. His eyes were on her but they didn't read anger or hate. They seemed to look at her with love? Ruthie blinked to remind herself to not look at him. It was over. Wasn't it?
Taking her place to the left side, she could still feel Martin's eyes on her even as he stood for the wedding march. Megan came down the aisle in a beautiful strapless, white gown. Her lace veil framed her face as if a picture. No wonder Simon couldn't take her eyes off her. In the presence of the beautiful bride, Ruthie couldn't understand why Martin was still looking at her.
"Who gives this woman to this man?" Eric asked as Megan and her father reached the altar.
"I do." Said Megan's grayed, slightly plump father. He kissed her on the cheek before moving to stand next to Matt.
The wedding proceeded with the normal vows from there. Ruthie tried her best to focus on her brother's big moment but as she wrapped her mind around the vows, she found her gaze shift to Martin. They stared at each other as if silently saying the vows to each other.
"I know pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride." Eric's announcement knocked Ruthie out of her trance. She snapped her attention back at the new married couple clapping and laughing like the rest of the congregation. Yet in the back of her mind, she wondered if she and Martin still had a chance.
As a cold breeze struck her body, Ruthie pulled her wool coat closer to herself. She stood on the steps of the church watching people travel toward the parking lot. She tapped her foot impatiently. Where is Martin? She wondered not believing anyone was left in the church but yet she hadn't seen him leave.
Just then the church doors open. Ruthie braced herself for what was about to take place but quickly let it go when she realized it was Bryant. I forgot about Bryant. She felt guilty for not remembering her date.
"There you are." The shaggy blonde said coming up to Ruthie. "I've been looking the entire church for you."
Ruthie smiled weakly. "I'm sorry. I was eager to get to reception." She lied.
"Well, then let's go." Byrant grabbed Ruthie's arm and guided her toward the parking lot.
As they walked away, Martin came out of the church. He watched Ruthie arm in arm with some guy he didn't know and sighed disappointedly.
"So what are you majoring in?" Bryant asked Ben at the table he shared with Ruthie, Felicity and her beau. Ben was on winter break and came to visit Felicity for a short time.
"Engineering." Ben answered. He was a tall young man with short blonde hair. He was quite handsome and polite. Felicity was lucky to have him.
"That's cool." Bryant replied.
Ruthie wasn't paying attention at all to the conversation. She fiddled with her glass of punch while every once and a while carefully sneaking a peek a Martin who was talking with Sandy, Jonathan, Kevin and Lucy at a table across the lawn.
She felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she saw Simon standing there in his tuxedo and a big smile. "Would you do me the honor of this dance?" He asked.
Ruthie laughed. "Sure." Turning to Bryant. "I won't be long."
"No problem." Bryant said genuinely.
Simon took his sister's arm and led her to the dance floor.
"So are you glad to be married?" Ruthie asked as they started to dance.
"Yes. I'm thrilled. I love Megan so much."
Ruthie shook her head. "I don't know. I still kinda think you should have married Rose." She teased.
"Rose wasn't that bad. Was she?" Simon pondered.
Ruthie scrunched up her face. "I hate to break it to you but she was horrible. But then again, she seemed to get better as time went on."
Simon laughed. "Yeah. She did. I think she's really happy with Umberto. It's funny how things work out."
"Yeah, it is. Life just has a way of making turns you don't expect." Ruthie stated meaningfully.
Simon looked at his sister deeply. He knew there was something heavy on her mind. And he had a pretty good idea who it was but yet he knew his sister well enough to not bring it up. "You know. I really miss you when I'm away from home."
"I miss you too." Ruthie looked up at her brother.
"You should come visit us sometime in LA." Simon suggested.
"I'd like that. I'll see if I can twist Mom and Dad's arms."
They continued dancing in silence. Ruthie felt herself stiffen as she noticed Martin approaching them. He tapped on Simon's shoulder. "May I cut in?"
Simon looked at his sister for a moment before saying, "Sure. I should probably get back to my bride."
Simon transferred Ruthie into Martin's arms as Ruthie felt a mixture of excitement to be with Martin and anger at Simon for putting her there.
Neither one of them said anything for a few moments. Ruthie was trying her best not to tremble with Martin's hands around her waist.
Martin finally spoke. "I wanted to say that I'm sorry. Sorry for the way I spoke to you that day. I over reacted. I tend to do that."
Ruthie finally looked him in the eye. "You're sorry? I'm then one who should be sorry. I should have forgiven you right then and there. And for that I'm sorry. And also, I truly forgive you for everything."
Martin chuckled a little. "I'm glad."
"So…" Ruthie mumbled gazing into his eyes trying to figure out what was going to happen next.
Martin blinked. "So I guess this means we can go back to being friends."
Ruthie's heart stopped pounded. She stared at him in surprised but quickly tried to recover. "Right. Friends. Just good ol' Ruthie and Martin again." She looked down in disappointment.
"Yeah." Martin uttered sounding as disappointed as Ruthie.
Trying to recover, Ruthie nonchalantly asked, "So, how's Vanessa."
Martin laughed a little confusing Ruthie. "She's fine I guess. You'd have to ask her fiancé. I was just her lab partner, Ruthie."
"Oh" was all Ruthie could make out. Her cheeks were burning red.
The music stopped. They reluctantly moved apart.
"I should go. I promised Sandy I'd pick up Aaron at the babysitter's." Martin said.
"Yeah. Me too."
Martin looked at her weird.
"I mean, I should get back to my…date." She gulped suddenly realizing she had been slow dancing with Martin right in front of Bryant. Am I the worst date or what?
"Talk to you later." Martin waved goodbye.
Ruthie closed her eyes, breathed in and turned around on her heel. Walking to Bryant, she tried to think of something to say if he asked who she was dancing with.
But when she got to the table, Bryant graciously didn't say anything about it. "Hey, I'm glad your back. While you were dancing, a found an extra lemon tart. I know you were disappointed when you thought they were all gone."
Ruthie smiled. "Thanks." She sat down and took a bite out of the tart. "Hey, what happened to Felicity and Ben?"
"Oh, they're on the dance floor." Ben replied pointing to the couple.
"Oh." Ruthie fell silent. Bryant really is a sweet guy. "Bryant?"
"Yeah."
"Would you like to go out again on a more private date?"
"I loved to."
"Good."
