Melanie was wearing a beautiful red dress made of satin that swooped low over her breasts, and hung to the floor. The two other bridesmaids were wearing similar dresses. The gown defined Melanie’s shape, and she found herself thinking that if Lawrence could see her now, he wouldn’t be able to resist her.
“The flowers on my veil don’t seem right,” Richelle said, pulling Melanie from her thoughts.
“Here,” Melanie said, and adjusted the crown of white flowers so that it was symmetrical. “There you go. Better?”
Richelle checked out her reflection, and nodded. “Thank you. I guess we should finally take the official pictures. David has been patiently waiting.”
Moments later, David, the photographer, was taking photos of the bridal party. When Melanie wasn’t in a photo, she stood to the side and watched, not sure she had ever seen Richelle smile so brightly.
While Richelle and Roy had declined to dress in the style of a traditional Fijian bride and groom, they had opted for other touches native to Fiji. Richelle wore a lei of fresh flowers around her neck in addition to the veil adorned with flowers. Soon, the choir would begin singing wedding songs. And Melanie especially couldn’t wait to see Richelle escorted to the beach by Fijian warriors.
“Those pictures are going to be amazing,” Melanie said when they were done. She fussed with the curls hanging at the side of Richelle’s face. “And you’re glowing. Everyone should get married in a place like this. It just seems so right. I look around here and the setting is so romantic, so meant for love.”
Richelle sniffled. Her eyes were moist again. “Do I have everything I need? I have something old, something new, something borrowed—”
“You have everything,” Melanie assured her. “But most importantly, you have your man waiting out there on the beach, thrilled about making you his wife.”
“You’re right. I have the man of my dreams, and I have my best friend here.” She grinned at Melanie. “I have everything I need.”
“Are you ready?” the wedding planner, Maria, asked.
Melanie looked at Richelle, deferring to her. Then Richelle nodded and said, “Yes. Tell them to start the music.”
Moments later, the cheerful sounds of the Fijian choir drifted from the beach to the wedding bures. And the wedding procession began.
Though Melanie had had no idea how a wedding in a tropical location would play out, that moment exceeded every dream she could have had. As she made her way barefoot in the sand toward the beach, her heart skipped a beat as she saw Roy beaming with pride and expectation.
I should have had this moment, she told herself, trying to hold back the sudden urge to cry. I should have had this moment when I got to see Lawrence standing at the altar, excited to see me as his soon-to-be bride.
Somehow, Melanie kept it together as she took her place on the bride’s side of the altar. Once the last bridesmaid made her way down the sand, the sounds of the choir became softer and more romantic, and the guests were beckoned by the wedding planner to stand.
Everyone looked on in anticipation. And after several seconds, the bride emerged. Six men dressed as Fijian warriors, with green skirts made of the leaves of banana plants, carried her to the beach on a bamboo raft. Cell phone cameras began going off. David quickly began to take shot after shot.
It was magical. And when the bride and groom exchanged their personal vows, there wasn’t a dry eye among the guests.
* * *
The wedding was simple, yet beautiful. The music of Fiji enthralled everyone during the wedding and continued to do so at the reception. A band was playing and a smaller choir was singing an array of happy, love-inspired songs as the meal and speeches came to an end.
Roy was at the microphone, addressing the small group of wedding guests. “Honestly, this day would not have been as special without all of you here. So thank you.”
The guests clapped and cheered.
“Now, I don’t know if you all know the story about how Richelle and I got together,” Roy went on, and at the center of the wedding table Richelle playfully groaned.
“I don’t know why he keeps harping on about that,” Richelle said.
But Melanie smiled as she prepared to hear the story for the umpteenth time.
The guests began to laugh.
“You never know when Cupid’s arrow is going to hit you.” Someone cheered. “When I saw that fire in her, even as she gave me a piece of her mind, I was hooked. I knew that I had to get to know her. And thankfully, she allowed me the chance. Because that was it for me. And here we are in Fiji, and I’ve made this incredible woman my wife,” Roy concluded.
There was exuberant applause to Roy’s closing statement. The applause only got louder when he went back to the table, where Richelle rose to meet him, and the two shared a long, passionate kiss.
Richelle and Roy’s love was a testament to the fact that people could find their happy ending. As the wedding party moved to the sand to dance under the stars, Melanie beamed with happiness for her friend.
Just like Richelle had said that morning, the day had been perfect. The skies remained clear and the weather not too hot. But even a torrential downpour would not have soured the mood for Richelle and Roy.
A DJ began to play American love songs, and Richelle and Roy started their first dance to “I Found Love” by BeBe Winans. As they gazed into each other’s eyes under the moonlight, Melanie felt that familiar pang. She had four more days here. Four more days when she certainly couldn’t be the third wheel with Richelle and Roy. Now legally husband and wife, they were going to begin their honeymoon. Melanie knew she wouldn’t see much of them, if any, before she left Fiji.
Another slow song began, and the guests made their way onto the sand dance floor.
“May I have this dance?”
Melanie turned around to see Edward standing there. All day she had been busy with her duties as maid of honor, and had been able to avoid him for the most part. But now, there was no putting him off.
He was a nice guy. There was no real reason to avoid him. “Sure.”
They danced, and he held her close, and on a night like this, Melanie was all too aware that these were not the arms she wanted to be in.
She wanted to be in Lawrence’s arms.
“Thank you, Edward,” Melanie said after that dance. “Will you excuse me?”
Edward seemed surprised, but he didn’t object. “Sure. I’ll be here.”
Melanie first went to the restroom, where she checked out her reflection and touched up her makeup. Here she was, looking beautiful with her hair and makeup done, and in a dress that flattered her figure. This was the day she wanted Lawrence to see her.
With Lawrence on her mind, she exited the restroom and headed toward the beach away from where the wedding celebration was taking place. She wanted some time alone. She began to walk along the water’s edge, pausing to dig her toes into the sand. Behind her, a lively tune was now playing.
Melanie strolled, holding her dress up so the hem wouldn’t get wet. She was doing what Richelle had done that morning before her wedding. Taking time to simply enjoy the environment around her.
Melanie had only been walking alone for a couple minutes when she heard a male voice call out, “Hey.”
That voice... Her pulse began to race. She turned, her eyes searching the stretch of beach. And in the distance, she saw him.
It was Lawrence.
Her heart began to pitter-patter in her chest as he walked toward her.
She stood rooted to the