"And you think I am happy about this? That Aunt Karen was supposed to do something big for the wedding, and she missed her flight!" Elsa said as she followed Jack who walked towards the balcony with breakfast still in each of their hands.

Jack took a deep breath and put his plate of bacon on the stone ottoman and pointed at the golf course as far as the eye could see with his hand.

"Yeah, but I have a tee time, and I'm going golfing, and you should be getting your massage that you re-scheduled." He said reasonedly, not at all happy with this impromptu task.

"But the bride needs her something-blue!" Elsa exclaimed, in her heart she really wanted to enjoy this wedding but she also didn't want to disappoint her sister and again, she had to put aside her interests to help the people she cared about.

Jack squinted, not understanding what the blue thing meant. "What is that?"

"It's a tradition! 'Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue?' And this something has to be attached to Anna's wedding dress during the ceremony." Elsa explained, singing the part she meant as a tradition.

"Right, but what is the 'something'?" Jack still didn't really understand and this was starting to annoy Elsa.

"I don't know yet!" Elsa said in a higher tone, not wanting to explain further. "You know what? You just go play golf, but just answer me this before you go since you know this city like the back of your hand. Is there, like, a really good vintage accessories place?"

"What?" A hungry stomach and the possibility that he wouldn't be able to play golf today made his brain work more slowly. What Elsa said seemed like something he had just heard. "In english, please?" He added.

"Like, an antique jewelry store."

That, he understood. He did know one of the best places for that. But he wasn't sure that coming there was the right decision because it would evoke his bitter memories. But seeing Elsa in front of him, he couldn't bear not to tell her what he knew.

"Oh. Um... I might... know a place." He said slowly, his eyes wandering.

"Okay, great. Thank you. Let's go. We don't have time." Elsa said, feeling a little relieved. She placed her plate next to Jack's plate and immediately rushed from there.

"Hey! What do you mean let's go? You said I can play golf! And you're going to starve!" Jack shouted because Elsa was walking very fast. But it seemed he had no other choice. So he stared at the two plates of food and let out a long sigh.

"I'm taking my bacon." With a heavy heart, Jack took his plate and immediately followed Elsa out. It's going to be a long day.


"It's a perfect day for golf." Jack said for the umpteenth time. He and Elsa were already in his car but he still hadn't done anything other than complain and eat his bacon with his hands because apparently he forgot to bring a fork.

"Oh, quit sulking." Elsa said. "Anyway, helping people has its own reward, and besides, as Maid of Honor and Best Man, it is our--"

"Sacred duty." Jack cut Elsa off in a boring tone. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, but Jack Nicklaus just designed this golf course back there, so..."

"And look, I loved him in Chinatown, but can we please get this dog and pony show on the road?" Elsa said, she wanted to quickly finish this task and go for a massage.

"Okay, wait, what?" Jack looked at Elsa confused. The Jack Nicklaus in question is a professional golfer, not Jack Nicholson, the actor who played in the film Chinatown. And the dog and pony show? He thought maybe Elsa was really frustrated so she had started saying random things.

But then Jack understood the meaning of the Dog and Pony show, and the slang. However, he loved seeing Elsa getting more and more frustrated.

"Where did that expression come from? Do you know?" Jack continued, busy chewing.

"Well, obviously, the dog needed a sophisticated touch, so they added a pony." Elsa said calmly, which looked forced.

"No, no, no, the pony needed to appeal to the masses, so they added the dog." Jack said casually, throwing a few grapes into his mouth.

"Is everything an argument with you? Wow, you really are a lawyer." Elsa asked in disbelief, while Jack just nodded and smiled. Annoyingly smiled.

"Can we go now, please?" She said again, tilting her head and giving a fake sweet smile which Jack still ignored, because he was still focused on his bacon. "Can you put that down--"

"Hold it."

Elsa had to lean her body back because Jack suddenly thrust his plate towards her, and she wasn't a fan of bacon so... "Ugghh, I don't think... "

"Okay, I'll hold it." Jack pulled back the plate to his chest and expertly put on his sunglasses with his other hand, started the engine and then stepped on the accelerator.

"Yeah, thank you." Elsa sighed in relief, finally they went on their way to look for that something-blue.


"Oh, I hate to say it, but... this place looks perfect." Elsa said as she crossed the street because Jack parked his car on the other side of the street where the store was.

Elsa was so focused on the store in front of her that she crossed the road without looking around, so Jack had to stretch his arms several times in Iron Man style to stop the car from passing.

"Let's head inside." Ela said again when they were in front of the store, peeking through the window and couldn't wait to get in.

"Look, I think I'm just going to wait out here. I don't want to go in, so..." Said Jack as soon as he stood next to Elsa. He really didn't want to go inside. It didn't feel right to him.

Unconsciously, Elsa clung to Jack's arm and looked at him strangely. "It's a jewelry store, not a haunted house. Come on, help me pick something out." She dragged Jack by his arm into the store.

And as soon as the two of them were in the store, the vibe made Elsa smile. She was sure she would get good a thing here. Lots of vintage, antique items, knick-knacks and accessories. She could even see some jewelry on display in the store.

But it was different with Jack, as soon as he entered, he wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. So, when he saw the blue mouse-shaped keychain, he immediately took it.

"Ah, look! Something blue. All done. Let's go." He said, holding out the keychain for Elsa to see.

"Um, a keychain?" Elsa asked, looking at the keychain in confusion, it was blue but...

"Yep. I mean, look at that. To unlock the secrets of each other's hearts. It's poetic." Said Jack, as if he was reading a poem.

"Okay, Anna is not going to pin a keychain to her wedding dress." Elsa grabbed the key chain and put it back in its original place. She then walked further into the store. "How do you even know about this place?"

"I... " Jack had to clear his throat because a lump suddenly formed in his throat. "I just do."

Elsa narrowed her eyes suspiciously but finally gave up guessing why Jack's face looked awkward just because of her question. "Fine, be mysterious. Oh! Look at that!"

"Oh, yeah, that's perfect. Can we go now?" Jack nodded quickly seeing a blue dragonfly-shaped brooch. His eyes immediately fell on the entrance.

"You know what? No. Anna was swarmed by dragonflies when she was young. She still has flashbacks--" Suddenly Elsa gasped loudly seeing something in front of her.

Jack, who was curious, followed her and as soon as he was in front of Elsa and saw Elsa putting a necklace with a blue ornament around her neck, he was stunned by the woman in front of him.

"That... Is perfect." Said Jack, although his eyes were not on the necklace but on Elsa's blue eyes. "Really is."

"What are you staring at?" Asked Elsa, who also felt fascinated by Jack's gaze. His blue eyes easily made her feel like she was drowning in them.

"Hmm?" They still locked eyes with each other. "Oh, nothing. It's just that, it matches your eyes." This time though, Jack allowed himself to be dazzled by another woman and maybe, just maybe this time he was ready.

It was Elsa who broke the gaze first, something made her feel like this wasn't right but at the same time she felt like she was starting to enjoy this.

"Oh, you know what? I think it's a little... I think it's a little flashy. Yeah. Mm-hmm." Elsa finally said, awkwardly putting the necklace back in its place.

Jack frowned, not understanding what Elsa meant. One second she looked like she really liked the necklace and now she said it was too flashy.

"Listen... why do you even ask for my opinion if you're just going to ignore it?"

"Oh, 'cause when it comes to weddings, you have everything backwards. I ask for your opinion so then I can do the opposite."

Here we go again. "That's ridiculous! Okay, something blue... honestly! That is exactly what is wrong with weddings... The traditions, the pitfalls... They turn what is supposed to be some great party into one big buffet of stress." Jack said at length, it seemed that his dislike for weddings was rooted in his heart.

"You just don't get it, because a big event like this for you, all you have to do are the three S's." And just like that, the two of them were back to arguing.

"Ah, the three S's?"

"Yeah, shower, shave, and show up."

What Elsa said brought a bitter smile to Jack's face. "That is not how I remember it."

"But the bride is under so much pressure. She's got the planning, the organizing, the budgeting, and then also, like, the juggling of family, and old friends from college, even exes, all the while trying to look gorgeous in a dress!"

"Wow. You have really put some thought into this."

"I'm just saying, most of the heavy lifting falls on the bride's shoulders, so cut Anna some slack."

"Uh-huh. Anna has been in Chicago long enough. She can handle it. They don't call us the City of Broad Shoulders for nothing."

"Yeah, what does that even mean?"

"You know, it's the line in the Carl Sandburg poem 'Chicago', and it means we work hard here, and even if that work isn't pretty, and even if it hurts, Chicago people push through. We do what we have to do to get things done."

Elsa was stunned by what Jack had just said, someone like Jack could also read poetry.

"What?" Jack tilted his face to avert Elsa's gaze, which gradually made him feel uncomfortable, awkwardly uncomfortable.

"Oh, uh... just actually sounded poetic." Elsa said slowly.

"Thank you."

"Is something wrong with you?"

Jack threw Elsa a 'really?' look and decided not to respond becuse something else was in his mind. "And it's how I know that your boyfriend is not from Chicago."

Elsa raised one of her eyebrows, not expecting this conversation to flow and lead to her boyfriend. "And how's that?"

"Because he doesn't do the heavy lifting, like flying here for a wedding. That is really ugly." At first he said 'ugly' referring to the fact that Elsa's boyfriend did not accompany her to Chicago but that coincided with Elsa showing a blue bracelet which he thought was also ugly.

Elsa's eyes lit up hearing that because it meant her task was almost complete. "Then it must be perfect. Thank you."

"You're welome." Jack nodded and smiled, but then suddenly Elsa's cell phone rang.

Jack sighed softly, "Again?"

"I've got to take this." Elsa said after knowing who called her. She placed the bracelet in Jack's palm and walked away from there.

"Yep. No problem." Jack grumbled, then took the initiative to go to the cashier. If he went to the cashier with Elsa and if Elsa knew that he knew the cashier of this store well, there would probably be lots of questions that would arise that he didn't want to answer.

"Hi." Said Elsa happily after swiping the answer button. She had been waiting for a call from Hans since last night and only now did he call.

"Who were you talking to back there?"

"Oh, that was Jack. Yeah, we're out shopping for jewelry."

"Who?"

"Jack. He's the best man. Yeah, we're just helping Anna out. You know, the bride, she needs her something..."

"Hey, Elsie, I need your help. How soon do I need to take that sea sickness medication before yachting to be absolutely positive?"

Elsa frowned because Hans interrupted her words. Not only that, Hans sounded uninterested in what she was doing here. But she tried to shake it all off.

"Oh, just a couple of hours." Elsa finally answered.

"Got it. Thanks!"

"Hey, look..."

"I've got to run, babe. I'll call you later."

"Well, how..."

"Miss you. Bye."

"Okay, bye." Elsa hung up the phone with a long face, and that didn't escape Jack's attention.

"Everything okay? Boyfriend troubles?" Jack asked, there was a sense of genuine concern in his tone.

"Everything's fine. Thank you for caring. Oh, I have to pay for the..."

"I already took care of it. It's for a noble cause. And you're welcome." Jack handed over a box with a ribbon and Elsa immediately grabbed it, still with a sour face.


"They're probably around the twelfth hole by now." Jack said quietly, sensing that Elsa's mood was back to good.

All the way back to the cottage he kept glancing at Elsa who remained silent. He really wanted to know what was going on inside her head but he didn't want to start a conversation if it would make her mood worse.

"Don't you feel some deep sense of satisfaction, playing such a role in someone else's happiness?" Elsa said, and Jack was right, she was back to herself as soon as they passed between the green expanses of the golf course.

"No, I feel a deep void where the golf would have gone. Are we done?" Jack said, feeling it was safe to argue again.

"Yes, thank goodness, so you can go join your friends, and I finally get to relax, too." Elsa said with a deep sigh.

"Ah, now you're starting to get it!" Jack said, for some reason he wanted Elsa to feel the fun at this wedding. Aside from the fact that he liked seeing her frustrated, he found it more enjoyable to see her happy.

"Elsa!"

Someone called from behind and when Elsa turned, she found Ariel and two other people already wearing white robes walking side by side.

"We're headed to the spa, and you're coming!" Ariel said, then walked past Elsa towards the spa.

"Finally--"

"Elsa!" Someone called her again and this one turned out to be her mother. "I've been meaning to talk to you, Sweetheart. Now, you know about computers, right?"

Jack and Elsa stared at each other for a few seconds, they both smelled something that didn't smell fun.

"Sure. Why do you ask?" Elsa prepared for the worst possible answer from her mother.

"Well, it's the slideshow for the rehearsal dinner. Kristoff was supposed to help me, but I can't find him anywhere, and I'm in way over my head." Iduna explained, she looked very stressed about it. The rehearsal dinner was happening soon and the slide show hadn't been made at all.

"Els, but you're due at the spa right now." Jack wishpered, showing his watch for Elsa to see.

Elsa was in a dilemma. She really needed to relax right now but, "I... I can help." She said finally.

"Oh! Thank you, Honey. Bye, Jack!" Iduna dragged Elsa by her elbow and took her away from there. Jack caught a glimpse of Elsa's look for help but there was nothing he could do and besides, it seemed like Elsa couldn't escape from her mother, she wouldn't have the heart to.


"Thank you, Els. You and Jack have been such lifesavers. So, what do you... what do you think of him?"

Anna and Elsa this time were at the dock on the edge of the lake, after Elsa had finished with her mother. One by one, Anna's wedding problems were resolved and that was thanks to Elsa and Jack.

"Oh, he's like a foggy x-ray. I can't figure him out." Elsa said honestly, there was something that made her think that behind his seemingly easy going behavior, Jack had a story that might be beyond her expectations. At certain moments Jack could be mysterious.

"Hey, hon', I'm going to head back to the kitchen, and grab some more marshmallows and stuff for the s'mores, okay? We need them." Suddenly Kristoff came over, said something, kissed Anna on the cheek and immediately left without turning around, making Anna gape and unable to react in any way.

"And there he goes again, the amazing vanishing groom." That was all that came out of Anna's mouth as she stared at Kristoff's back as he walked away.

"Stop worrying." Elsa said soothingly.

"There's mountains of marshmallows. He just keeps making excuses so that he can disappear. He was AWOL for hours today." Anna reasoned that recently she felt that Kristoff was becoming increasingly distant.

"He was probably with his groomsmen." Elsa said, giving a possibility so that Anna wouldn't think so wildly.

"No, no! The groomsmen were at the gym. Not Kristoff. Oh, God, Els, what if I'm making a huge mistake?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I love Kristoff, but we are very different people sometimes. I am a morning person. He's a night owl. Kristoff loves the beach. I hide from the sun. I mean, I love to dance. But I think Kristoff would rather be tortured than dance."

"Okay, Anna... " Elsa held out her hands to prevent Anna from thinking any wilder. "Do you remember the first day of college when your keys went missing, and you thought for sure your roommate had stolen them, and the whole time, they were in your nightstand, and everything was fine?"

"Yeah... "

"You are a worrier. It's just what you do." Elsa concluded, she knew Anna like the back of her hand and this was just excessive worry talking.

"I know... " Anna let out a long sigh and nodded slowly.

"And you know the best thing for cold feet?"

"No?"

"Circulation! So go get that party started. Please, go move those feet." Elsa recommended strongly, while moving her finger in circles indicating 'circulation'.

Anna laughed at that and thought that Elsa had a point. "Okay."

"Doctor's orders."

"I'm going!"


"Uh-oh."

Elsa frowned at Jack's greeting when she had just arrived at the barbecue place near the lake that evening. Jack was carrying chunks of wood in preparation for the campfire and when he saw Elsa approaching, he stopped what he was doing and said 'uh-oh' loudly.

"What kind of a greeting is that?" Elsa asked casually even though she didn't get a warm welcome from Jack. She then sat down on the couch around the campfire that Jack was preparing. She put her laptop bag beside her and watched Jack continue his activities.

"Well, you know, every time I see you, we get dragged into some kind of task." Jack said, arranging the wood in a circle.

"That's actually true. So, how was the rest of your day?"

"It was great actually, yeah. Finally got that round of golf in... and I'm really sorry you got roped into that presentation. I tried to help you."

"And thank you for trying, but what choice did I have? I mean, no one was lifting a finger, and Mom gave me the photo album, and there was a scanner in the business center." Elsa said resignedly, then took the laptop from her bag and put it on her lap while Jack was still busy with his wood.

"Well... at least you get to enjoy all of this." Jack was finished with the wood and smiled looking up at the sky where stars were starting to appear. "Looks like it's going to be a beautiful night. This sunset, the fire coming and... your laptop."

His smile disappeared when he saw that Elsa had turned on her laptop and her face looked serious, staring at the desktop. Curious, he stood up and bent behind Elsa to see what she was doing.

"Wow! Okay. For such an organized person, I did not expect to see such a cluttered desktop. That's impressive. 'Innovations in Bone Density Scanners'? 'Advances in Pediatric Treatments'?" Jack squinted, trying to read the icon files on Elsa's laptop desktop and thought that this woman, besides being a great helper was a workaholic. He then sat back down and looked at Elsa.

"I like to be cutting-edge. I have, like, 50 medical papers to read, in my fun-time." Elsa said smiling, proud of her messy desktop.

"Promise not to invite me to your fun-time."

"Oh, I promise."


Jack continued to observe Elsa all evening even while talking with other guests and enjoying the barbecue. His eyes were always focused on the woman who until now had not touched any food just yet.

Meanwhile, Elsa, apart from being serious with her laptop, was constantly busy with incoming calls. Now though, Jack noticed Elsa was standing facing the lake, making him curious. So, he took the last two barbecue skewers on the grill and took them with him.

"A hundred seconds of solitude?" He said, as he stood next to Elsa and it made Elsa turn to him.

"Hmm?" Elsa put the cell phone away from her ear and ended the call with who knows who.

"What?" Jack didn't think that Elsa was on the phone with someone, he thought she was quietly watching the lake and daydreaming. "Oh. Yeah, of course. What was I thinking?"

"Had to check on the florist. No stone unturned." Elsa said, putting her cell phone in her blazer pocket and walking towards where she was sitting before.

Jack couldn't help it any longer, someone who was used to helping other people, turned out to be the person who needed help the most.

"Hey, Elsa? Can I make an observation?" Jack said, following Elsa and even though he didn't hear Elsa's answer, he knew that she was listening. "In the 48 hours that I've known you, you pass up a golf game, you've eaten only when forced to, and you missed a spa day so that you could work on a slideshow presentation."

"And your point?" Elsa asked, not really understanding the meaning of Jack's words. She then sat down and Jack also sat next to her.

"My point is, all these guests here, they're having a blast. When are you going to join in?" Jack pointed around with his hand at the guests who were laughing, talking, eating and drinking.

"Well, it just seems like people keep needing my help!" Elsa answered, in reality, there was always something she had to do, even though it meant she couldn't enjoy this wedding like other people.

"That's because you let them! Ever heard the phrase, 'Doctor, heal thyself'?"

"Look, there is a silver lining to me being busy this weekend, and that is that it takes the focus off of me. I swear, if Ariel asks me where my 'missing boyfriend' is one more time, I am going to snap!" Elsa answered a little emotionally because she was really fed up with the question. She also wanted her boyfriend to be here, but reality said otherwise, and it was annoying to explain why over and over again.

"And where is your missing boyfriend?" Jack felt the need to calm Elsa's emotions so he asked that again but in a joking tone.

"Ha. Very funny." Elsa replied, pretending to be angry but she was trying hard to hide her smile.

"Thank you." Jack smiled and nodded, feeling a little triumphant at being able to lift Elsa's mood a little.

"I just have to survive yoga with her tomorrow, and then I can have some peace. Oh, carb-loading again?" Elsa asked, glancing at something in Jack's hand.

"Last two skewers on the barbie, and one's got your name on it." Jack handed the plate towards Elsa but Elsa narrowed her eyes instead.

"Don't confuse me by being nice."

"Fine, I'll eat 'em." Jack pulled his plate back but Elsa held it back, making him smile crookedly.

"No. I'll..." Elsa suddenly gasped and didn't take the skewer on Jack's plate because her eyes caught someone's presence.

"What? What is it?" Jack was confused because he almost made Elsa eat but now her attention was diverted from the food.

"It's Dr. Hastings again." Elsa gestured her head towards Dr. Hastings who was not far from where she was sitting.

"Oh, yeah, the guy from the brunch. What is his deal, anyway?" Jack was curious about this doctor because wherever Elsa saw him, she looked like a nervous person.

"I'm up for this fellowship at Northwestern, and he is on the selection committee." Elsa said, her eyes still on the doctor.

"Ah." Jack nodded in understanding. "So... go say hi!" He suggested.

"Hmm? No, no, no. Well, he's having dessert, you know, so..." Elsa didn't want her presence to disturb Dr. Hastings who was enjoying his dessert.

Jack was silent thinking about Elsa getting her fellowship and then something came into his head. To be honest, it made him a little excited.

"Okay, so, if you get the fellowship, does that mean you're moving to Chicago?" Jack asked quietly, he didn't want to look at Elsa while waiting for the answer to his question because for some reason, there was a part of him that wanted to continue seeing her even though the wedding was over.

"Oh, um, I don't know. It's complicated." There was deep doubt in her words and it rang clearly in Jack's ears, and he could guess what made her feel doubtful.

"Ah, the boyfriend doesn't like Chicago." Jack guessed confidently.

"Oh, you just think you have everyone's number, don't you?" Elsa sometimes felt annoyed when Jack confidently guessed something and felt even more annoyed when she had to admit that he had guessed correctly.

"Yeah. I can't help it. After years and years of patterns, they just start to form. Like, for example... See those two right there?" Jack pointed to a young couple who were alone together not far away from there.

"Yeah?"

"He just met Kristoff's cousin. And she really likes him, but she doesn't know how he feels about her." Jack continued to observe.

"Well, how does he feel about her?" Elsa became interested in the analysis made by Jack.

"Well... I know it looks like he's wondering if his kebabs are overcooked, right?" Jack said as the boy nervously lifted his skewer and then put it down again, still with the same nervousness.

"But... he likes her." Jack chuckled when the boy tried to pour a drink into a glass but because he was too fascinated by the girl next to him he kept filling the glass until it spilled all over the table. "He likes her a lot."

"Wow! Good work! I'm impressed." Praised Elsa, she didn't expect that Jack's analysis was right on point.

"Thanks. You know, in my line, you get so you can just glance and understand people's love-lives." Jack answered casually but was able to make a light bulb turn on in Elsa's head, she finally realized something.

"All right... all right. You're using your professional skills. So, I'm going to use mine." Elsa shifted in her seat so that she was now looking at each other with Jack, her face turning serious.

"The patient's acute cynicism suggests a build-up of antibodies to weddings, perhaps from a prior trauma? Oh, wait, let me guess... commitment-phobic?" Elsa continued, with a fake serious face. Unlike Jack, his face implied something. He smiled bitterly.

"No. I mean, yes... Okay, a couple-- two or three years ago, I was engaged... Emily... and I just went with the flow, sunk a ton of money into a big wedding that she wanted. You know, the whole hoopla... the string quartet, and the... doves." Jack chuckled at the last word, but Elsa laughed at that.

"You? Dove? Did not see that one coming." Elsa said, imagining Jack playing with the dove.

"Yeah, I was all in, everything but the break-dancing bears."

"Oh." From the tone of Jack's voice, the emotions expressed on his face, Elsa suspected that something unpleasant was about to be revealed. Her laugh died down and she dreaded what she was about to hear.

"Then, three months before our wedding, she met somebody else, and... at a wedding, ironically." Jack continued, letting out a long sigh.

"Ouch." Elsa could feel the bitterness that Jack was feeling, she was speechless.

"Yeah, and then, you know, the jewelry store today..."

Elsa gasped at the thought of what Jack was about to say and she could guess what it was. "No! Don't tell me... That's not where you got the ring!"

Jack nodded slowly and looked away. "And where I returned it."

"Oh, Jack... " Elsa closed her eyes trying to think of what she should say.

"I'm really sorry." In the end, that was all that could come out of her mouth. She really didn't imagine that something like that could happen to Jack. Now she could understand why Jack had such antipathy towards weddings.

Jack could feel the sincerity in Elsa's words and it lifted his spirits.

"It's in the past. Right?" He said, smiling and now his smile was no longer bitter. He felt he had moved on and by talking about this with Elsa easily made him even more convinced that he was ready to open his heart again.

"Yeah!" Sensing that Jack's mood was better, Elsa put on her best smile and grabbed her skewer and raised it high. "To Kristoff and Anna!"

"To Kristoff and Anna!" Jack followed along.

"The last two skewers." Elsa bumped her skewer with Jack's and immediately took a big bite, making Jack laugh out loud even though in the end he followed what Elsa did.

to be continued...