Pop: Chapter 16a

     It's not just my mother who won't be showing up.  None of Addie's bridesmaids could make it either.  All of them had to work today and couldn't even fly it for the night.  That includes her maid of honor, Esme Jenkins.  She's a meteorologist out of southern Alabama.  Mobile, I think.  Anyway, she was all scheduled to fly in today after the morning news, when she got called in for a tropical system that's forming in the Gulf.  Could be upgraded to a storm by tomorrow.  If it is, then it will be named "Esmeralda."  Yeah, she has to cover that one.  If the wedding were still this week, they all would have made it, but I guess we're forced to make due.

    At least Mr. and Mrs. Fairbanks could make it in, as well as all three of Addie's brothers.  They will be helping out to fill my groomsmen.  Otherwise, the bridesmaids would be double the number of groomsmen.  Jack and Jill, their real names, really, seem to be getting along with Dad.  Her brothers do too, although only Pete is talking to them.  Russel is the oldest.  Married with two daughters.  His wife is a teacher in St. Louis and couldn't get off for the final days of the school year, so she stayed behind with the girls.  Ken is barely a year younger than Addie.  Divorced, no kids.  I don't know if he is seeing anyone, so I doubt he'll be bringing anyone to the actual wedding.  Mikey is the youngest, by five years.  Just got his Master's in Education.  Maybe that is why he and Pete are getting along so well. He's the one who was playing his last season of basketball when I met Addie.  Second tallest in the room, next to Sam, who's still keeping to himself.

    Addie is in a clutch with the four other wives, possibly trying to get some hints about what will be happening next.  Maybe comparing notes on husbands.  Maybe getting ideas for her bachelorette's party.  Her party got moved to next week.  In Vegas.  Yeah.  Lucky her.

    I run into Reverend Johansen before I can make it to the my Dad and the Fairbanks'.

    "My, my, my, Mr. Burton.  It looks like your father is here.  Should we go on with the rehearsal, or should we wait to see if anyone else is showing up?" the reverend asks.

    Wesley Johansen was the new minister at the church where I sometimes attended back in Lexington.  I started going there for major holidays after my sophomore year, when I decided I didn't want to go back to my mother's home unless I really had to.  I hate to admit it, but I was kind of lapsing there the last few months before I moved to New York.  Maybe once a month.  I didn't even know the old minister had died until I started asking about the venue.  Wes started about a year ago, but he barely looks old enough to be Sam's age.  In fact, he just turned twenty-five before he was hired.  Not really comfortable with someone so much younger than me being the official, but I am managing.

    "No, no one else will be arriving.  I just got a call from my mother, and she had, uh, some car issues.  She's fine, but she wasn't able to get to town in time."

    "I'm truly sorry to hear that," Wes says as he grasps me in an 'affirmation' hug.  He's just a little taller than me, so the hug comes off as slightly less awkward than it should have.  He's also the only one here without a dress shirt on.  Just a polo.  I hope he's not that casual for the actual ceremony.

    "No, that's fine," I add as he finishes his hug.  "However, I think we should get to dinner before we finish up the rehearsal.  We've already gone over most of it, save the vows.  Since there's going to be a second rehearsal the night before the wedding, it might be best if we start eating now so that the food will be warmer."

    And before any storms hit.

    But I don't tell him that.  Don't want to worry him for nothing.