Rachel Dyken: The Wager

She was perfect.

So how was it possible that she was still nervous? Her hands clenched the sides of her dress, then she remembered that would make it wrinkle, so she let go and began to pace in front of the mirror.

“Nervous, dear?” a soft feminine voice said.

Kacey looked up. Petunia was standing in the doorway, wringing her hands.

“Uh, a bit.” Kacey admitted.

Petunia nodded. “I can understand. After all, it’s only natural to worry about what goes on in the marriage bed.”

“Oh.” Kacey swallowed. “It’s not—”

“Oh, I know. It’s terribly fragile talk, bedroom talk. And I’m not the one to have such a discussion with. I’d probably bring a bat or some sort of other object just in case he got too frisky. Give him a good beating; that’ll teach him.”

“A bat?” Kacey pressed her lips together. “I don’t think that will be necessary and it’s not that I’m nervous about the marriage bed.”

“Oh.” Petunia waved at Kacey and laughed. “It’s okay to be nervous, my dear. Tell you what. You just give your Aunt Petunia a call if that nephew of mine gets too…” Petunia blushed and looked away. “Oh, you know what I mean. If he, if he…” Petunia pressed her hands together. “If he hurts you, you just tell him no.”

“I don’t think Travis would hurt me.” Kacey said in a calm voice, though she was trying desperately not to burst out laughing. “After all, he’s a gentle… man.”

“Ah, a gentle lover.” Petunia nodded. “I see, and you know this, how?”

Kacey hoped her face didn’t look guilty.

Petunia’s eyes widened.

And then Grandma burst through the door. “Petunia! You aren’t supposed to be in here.”

“I was giving much needed advice.”

“About staying a virgin, no doubt.” Grandma snorted. “Now go change into your wedding attire.”

“I refuse.” Petunia lifted her chin. “You know how I feel about bright colors.”

Grandma closed her eyes for a brief moment and pinched the bridge of her nose. When she opened her eyes again, even Kacey took a step back. “You will wear the damn dress and you’ll smile. Now go put it on, or so help me God, I’ll drug every last one of your cats!”

Petunia gasped. “You wouldn’t dare!”

“Tell me, how is Garfield? My, my, he is getting up there in age. Pity to see him take a tumble down the stairs, or accidently eat something he shouldn’t.”

With a huff and stomp, Petunia quit the room.

Grandma shut the door behind her and dusted her hands off into the air. Straightening her gold jacket, her eyes fell to Kacey. “Sweet pea, what’s wrong?”

The tears Kacey had been holding in streamed down her face. She collapsed into Grandma’s arms in soft sobs.

“Oh dear, oh dearie, don’t cry. Grandma’s here, she’s here. Now, if you’re scared that’s perfectly normal. Well, men can be absolute beasts! They make noises no human should make in public. They find themselves funnier than hell, and don’t understand the concept of doing dishes—”

Kacey hiccupped.

“Oh, but honey dear, they are wonderful. They were created for us you know, specifically made to be strong where we are weak, to be able where we are not able, and to share such a magical union that you won’t ever want to remember what it was like before that ring was put on your finger. Honey.” Grandma pulled back and offered Kacey a handkerchief. “Love is magic. And you, my dear, are so in love; why, it shows in your every action, in your every breath.”

Kacey dabbed at her eyes and gained control of her breathing. “It’s not him.” Kacey shook her head. “Travis is a godsend. He’s incredible. It’s not him. It’s me.”

Grandma was silent as she patted Kacey’s hand.

“I love him so much, I just wish—”

“What?” Grandma said.

“I wish,” Kacey’s lips trembled, “that Dad could walk me down the aisle. That my mom was sitting in the front row smiling, I don’t know… I just wish they could see me.”

“Oh.” Grandma pulled Kacey into her arms. “But Sweet Pea, they can! They can see you! Didn’t I say love is magic? Well, I imagine the love you and Travis have for one another is only created by God himself, and if God himself is paying attention, how could it not gain the attention of your parents? I’m sure they have front row seats tonight. Love is bright. It’s like a star in the night sky. You can’t help but see it. It’s like the very sun; you can’t help but feel it. It’s like breathing; you can’t help but breathe it. Oh, honey, the least of your worries is your parents knowing exactly how incredible your wedding day is—they’re here.” Grandma touched Kacey’s chest. “And dearie, they’re here, too.” Grandma pulled out a small box from her satchel and set it in Kacey’s hands. “Go on, open it.”

Shaking, Kacey opened the box. Inside was a long silver chain with an oval charm. With a tug, the charm fell open. Inside was a picture of Kacey’s parents.

“It’s your something old,” Grandma whispered. “It’s been in my family for a very long time. It was my mother’s, and her mother’s before her.” She took the necklace from Kacey and undid the clasp. “When you feel afraid, I want you to remember that your parents are never far…” She attached it behind Kacey’s neck, and the oval fell directly between her breasts. “They’re right on your heart.”

With a sob, Kacey threw her arms around Grandma’s neck and held her tight. Never in her life had she expected this. It was perfect, and suddenly as if a weight had been lifted, Kacey felt alive again, excited, ready, and oh so done with being just Kacey. She was ready to be Kacey Titus.

“I love you, Grandma.”

“And I you, sweetheart.” Grandma sighed. “Now fix your makeup. We don’t want you looking like you’ve been crying.”

Kacey kissed her on the cheek and stood. “I think this calls for pink lipstick.”

“That’s my girl.” Grandma reached into her purse and pulled out a tube. “Use it wisely. I’ve been told pink lipstick also holds magical powers.”

“Oh, yeah? By whom?”

“Well, your grandfather, rest his soul, he loved the pink.” With a saucy wink Grandma rose to her full height and walked out the door.

“God bless her,” Kacey said aloud. “And keep her alive forever… I know you want her, but you can’t have her yet.”

“Ready?” Jake slapped his brother on the back a few times as Travis looked in the mirror and cursed.

“Damn, I can’t stop shaking.” Travis closed his eyes and shook his arms, then jumped in place.

“Uh, first stop jumping.” Jake put his hands on Travis’s shoulders. “It’s not a basketball game. We aren’t in the state finals.”

“Right.” Travis stopped moving and nodded his head a few times.

“And stop nodding. You look insane.”

“Shit.” Travis sat down on the chair and hung his head in his hands. “I need to get out there before I lose it.”

“Agreed.” Jake reached into his front jacket. “But until then, take this.”

Travis didn’t look up. “Jake I hardly think this situation calls for Grandma’s infamous Benadryl remedy.”

“Not a pink pill.” Jake thrust the tiny bottle of liquor into Travis’s face. “Liquid courage, my friend. Drink up.”

Travis opened his eyes and took the plastic bottle. “Hmm, so it’s a Jake Titus remedy? I like.”

“Or just a Titus remedy, although mom usually goes for the wine.” Jake shrugged. “Either way, I don’t need all the credit.”

Travis twisted the cap and cringed as he drank the entire bottle of cheap vodka, all four ounces. “That tastes terrible.”