Chapter 11

       “Aunt Rachel, all fancy,” Ellie murmured as we entered the venue and looked around. I had convinced my Dad to let me go with Ellie and her mother early to ‘help with things.’ He brushed me off with a simple ‘yeah, yeah, see you there’ as he and Mom went about getting things prepared themselves.

    “Yeah, it’s nice in here,” I agreed as we walked around. Ellie’s mother, Oliver, was busy with other things, like helping Rachel prepare for her big day. “Wedding days seem so scary…” I whispered.

   “Why?” Ellie chuckled as we walked.

     “I don’t know…” I giggled, wringing my hands together. “Just seem so nerve-wracking. Mom said she didn’t even know Dad before they got married.” I murmured.

     “Your Mom was in an arranged marriage?’ She asked curiously, picking up one of the white roses at the tables.

     “Well…yeah. Grandma and grandpa were strict. It was…something through the church, I think,” I sighed, looking up into her eyes. “Ivy’s scared Dad’s gonna put her in a marriage like that. I don’t think so, though. Ivy’s too stubborn and Mom would definitely advocate for her…” I said softly.

     “Yeah, Eve, don’t worry about it. It’ll be chill. You think too much,” She sniffed. “And besides, I’d steal you away from your husband. A man doesn’t deserve you.” She winked at me playfully, handing me the rose.

     “What a lady,” I gasped dramatically, taking the flower in my grasp as we both laughed.
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    “Didn’t know so many people would get wasted at a Christian wedding,” Oliver, Ellie’s mom, laughed. We were over by the food bar as we watched those on the dance floor act like crazy people and stumble around. My mother and father were stationed at a table in the corner, chatting over wine. Dad drank a glass every night as well as Mom. They said it was healthy.

    “A lot of people get wasted at inappropriate places,” Ellie murmured, not-so-sneakily trying to lean down and sip her mother’s drink. Oliver scoffed and playfully smacked her away with the back of her hand. Ellie giggled softly, covering her mouth as she swallowed what she had managed to steal.

     “Well, I’m not letting you get wasted at inappropriate places.” Oliver laughed softly.

    “Eve, why would you make me do that?” Ellie teased sarcastically, looking at me with a frown. I looked around in innocent confusion as Ellie and Oliver laughed together. Ellie and her mother were almost like the same person sometimes. They laughed the same, smiled the same, and looked the exact same. They were so similar it was nearly uncanny.

    “Be quiet…” I huffed, rolling my eyes and giving her a light shove. She and Oliver laughed once again, bringing a smile to my face. Ollie patted my arm lightly and smiled as she brought her glass to her lips again.

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     “They’re cute together…” I murmured softly. Ellie and I were sitting down by the lake near the venue on a wooden dock. The wind swooshed and whirled causing the water to sway and ripple, darkened by the sun that had long set. The bride and groom had driven off a few minutes ago to head to their honeymoon. Oliver and my mom were back at the venue helping to clean up. Dad was chatting with some friends and I think my sisters were somewhere around here, maybe.

     “Yeah, they’ve been engaged for, like, four years now. They’ve had plenty of time to know each other,” Ellie murmured softly. Her hands rested behind her on the wooden dock as she leaned into them. She glanced over at me, reaching one of her hands over. “Wanna know what I think?” She asked with a smirk, reaching up to stroke my auburn hair.

     “What do you think?” I laughed softly, leaning into her touch contentedly. Ellie and I had always been like this, rather touchy. I wasn’t exactly raised in a house of physical affection, but I loved it. Especially from Ellie. It made it feel special.

     “Well…since you asked,” she began playfully, running her hand through the loose strands of hair. “I think Rachel’s pregnant and that my grandpa would flip if she had a baby when they weren’t married.” She shrugged.

       “You think?” I hummed. “Maybe…I guess. She didn’t look pregnant, though.”

     “Well, yeah, she doesn’t wanna give it away, duh. That’s how it works,” Ellie chuckled, her fingertips grazing my scalp.

      “Eve!” Someone shouted in the distance and footsteps followed. They came quickly down the dock and I looked back to see Kaylee. She had on her pink, ruffly dress as she skipped over to us.

     “Hey,” Kaylee said happily, standing there bouncing on her toes. “Dad says it’s time to go.”

     I sighed at her words and glanced Ellie’s way. She was already looking at me, her eyes sparkling with the way the lake reflected the night sky, the stars, and the moon. I looked her over for a moment, admiring her laid-back look in a place like this. She had on a simple pair of black slacks and a dress shirt. Ellie dressed like a boy sometimes, but I quite liked it. Ivy dressed that way as well, sometimes. Dad had opinions about girls like them.

     “Fine,” I murmured, pushing myself up from the dock. “See you, Ellie. At church.” I said softly, following behind Kaylee while the girl trotted away.