David Dun - At The Edge

"Nate was in here?"

"He's the son of the groom. That doesn't count."

Laura finished the last button while Maria went to the vanity to inspect her makeup.

"I'm not really a makeup person. But my cowboy grew up looking at teenyboppers in Maupin with makeup. Tess wore makeup. Do you think I'm giving away too much of my own identity?"

"Oh yes. Shaving under your arms and a little blush will no doubt twist your soul, dear."

"Ever since Dan Young started looking at me in the courthouse, I started changing what I wore, my hair, then lipstick. Jeez, why couldn't I just stay myself?"

"This would certainly explain it," Laura said, reading the homily. "It's really one of the most touching things I've ever read. You're going off in a hearse because he's dying to every love but yours. There won't be a dry eye in the place. It's so un-macho of Dan."

"There's more to macho Dan than meets the eye."

"Apparently," Laura said. "Let's do the veil."

"We're ahead of schedule."

There was a knock.

"That'll be the bridesmaids ready to go."

''I don't understand how I can wear a veil. The symbolism is so outmoded.''

"The hearse is for you, honey; the wedding is for the rest of us. Wear the veil. I think your father has invited everyone he ever met, and then some."

"He's gloating. But he doesn't really know what I've reeled in here. He hasn't completely won."

Laura sighed a deep sigh.

"Mom, I love you. And you know what I'm going to whisper in Dad's ear when he gives me away?"

"What, dear?"

"I'm going to try to fix us. I'm going to tell him I want to sit in his den and watch football again."

"Oh dear. He'll cry in front of his friends."

Dan was in the pastor's conference room, which was also a kind of theological library. He stared in the mirror; everything seemed in order. Turning to Nate, he stooped down to help him with the cummerbund on his tuxedo.

"Dad?" Nate said.

"Mm-hmm."

"I still miss Mom."

"I do too. Always will."

"Maria says she can't be my new mom because Mom is still my mom."

"That's right."

"But she says she's going to be like my godmother. She's there to remind me what Mom would want, and to stand in at parties and games and stuff and remind me that Mom's proud of me. And she says she loves me like a mom. Is that right?"

"That's right."

"Do you think Mom knows?"

"She knew we loved her, Nate."

Dan was fluffing the large salmon fly in his hat.

"Does Maria know we love her?"

"I believe she does. Wouldn't hurt to tell her, though."

"You're not gonna wear your hat, are you, Dad?"

Dan looked down and smiled mysteriously.

"Dad, I don't think they allow cowboy hats with tuxedos."

"It's livin' at the edge, son."

Dan watched Nate screw up his face in disdainful puzzlement.

"I'm just kidding, Nate. There are times when a man can leave his hat behind."