guests filed out of the church, each one pausing to congratulate the bride and groom.
Tamara’s mother walked up and said, “The ceremony was beautiful, wasn’t it?”
She nodded. “Yeah, it was.”
When Lucas, her ex-stepfather entered into the church foyer, Tamara uttered, “We should go back into the sanctuary. It’s time for pictures.”
Her mother agreed.
Just being in that man’s presence stirred up shadows and fears that made her uncomfortable. Tamara did not want to mar Callie’s wedding day, so she decided to stay as far away from Lucas as possible.
After the traditional wedding-party photos, a limo whisked them to the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta for the reception. Callie and Bryant were in a separate stretch limo, which followed close behind.
Her mother suggested that the photographer shoot some pictures on the grand staircase at the hotel, saying that the brass railing would serve as the perfect backdrop. She had even arranged to have the large floral centerpiece at the foot of the staircase coordinate with the wedding colors and flowers. Whatever Jillian Hodges-Devane wanted she got.
Tamara made small talk with the other members of the bridal party during the ride over to the midtown hotel.
The ballroom where the reception was held consisted of a wall of mirrors on one end highlighted by large crystal chandeliers and large picture windows at the other. Tamara had been in the same room a week ago, covering an event for Luster magazine.
She enjoyed writing for the magazine but had dreams of starting her own publication one day.
The wedding party waited in line outside as they waited to be announced. The best man again escorted Tamara into the ballroom. After the wedding party, Mr. and Mrs. Bryant Charles Madison made their grand entrance.
While waiters navigated about the room carrying trays of hors d’ oeuvres, Tamara mingled, pausing to speak to relatives and friends of her family. She felt the sensation that someone was watching her and turned; meeting her ex-stepfather’s dark and insolent gaze, she straightened herself with dignity.
He smirked, gave a slight nod and then turned his attention back to his daughter, Callie.
Tamara’s eyes bounced around the room, looking for her mother.
“How are you holding up, Mama?” she asked when she found her seated at one of the family tables. Tamara sat down in the empty chair beside her.
“I’m exhausted,” Jillian responded. “Your sister looks lovely, doesn’t she?”
Tamara agreed. “And very happy. I guess all the whining, fussing and craziness she put us through over the past year has been worth it. I’m so glad that girl is married.”
“Seeing Callie and Bryant like this—it was definitely worth it,” her mother responded. “One day we’ll be doing this for you. Hopefully, it will happen while I’m still young enough to enjoy the wedding.”
Tamara drew an invisible pattern on the tablecloth. “Don’t hold your breath, Mama. I’d actually have to have a man in my life in order to get married.”
“So there’s no one special? You haven’t met anyone?”
“Mama, have you considered that I might be one of those women who are destined to remain single?”
“Bite your tongue,” Jillian stated. “Don’t even put that thought in your head. A beautiful woman like you won’t have a problem finding a husband. You only have to open your heart and allow him entry.”
Tamara caught her mother looking at her ex-stepfather. “Mama…”
“Can you believe he had the nerve to bring that woman here? She is what—barely legal? Lucas Devane always had an eye for young girls.” Rancor sharpened Jillian’s voice.
“To be honest with you, I don’t really care enough about him to even wonder,” Tamara retorted.
Her mother leaned over and embraced her. “I love you, Tammy. I hope you know that.”
“Mama, I know you do. I love you, too,” Tamara assured her. “We all went through a bad time, but thank God that it’s over now. Oh, could you please just call me Tamara?” Her eyes traveled back over to the table where Lucas sat with his girlfriend. “I’m not Tammy anymore, so please don’t call me that.”
Lucas’s eyes met hers, and his lips turned into a cynical smile. Tamara’s eyes never wavered as she stared him down until he had the good sense to drop his gaze.
“I hate him,” her mother uttered. A sudden thin chill hung on the edge of her words.
“I don’t have any feelings toward him at all,” Tamara stated. “Lucas could drop dead right here in the middle of the room and it wouldn’t phase me at all.” She turned her attention back to Callie and Bryant, her thoughts roaming once more to the one and only love of her life.
Micah Ross.
He was definitely the one who got away, Tamara decided. She had allowed her fears and insecurities of her youth to keep her from opening up completely and trusting, which caused Tamara to push him away. Micah had always been nothing less than a good friend to her and her math tutor, but because of her inability to trust combined with a group of immature boys who had nothing better to do other than playing pranks, she treated him cruelly the night of their graduation from Hollington College.
She pushed away from the table and helped herself to the caramelized Vidalia onion tart with goat cheese, lobster and chive risotto fritters and miniature crab cake hors d’oeuvres.
Jillian rose to her feet and followed her daughter. “I was thinking…Isn’t Bryant’s best man single? I heard that he’s the vice president of Atlanta Bank and Trust.”
“Not interested, Mama,” Tamara said in a low voice. “Now just drop it.”
She released a short sigh of relief when her mother became distracted by relatives. This would give Tamara a break from her constant matchmaking.
Twenty minutes later, everyone was seated. They dined on a duo entrée of tenderloin of beef and salmon, roasted potatoes, asparagus and béarnaise sauce while the band, which was personally selected by Jillian, played softly in the background.
“Mama was right about the menu,” Callie whispered to her. “This was the perfect choice.”
Tamara agreed. She sliced off a piece of the tender salmon and stuck it into her mouth, remembering the argument between her mother and sister over the food for the reception. They ended up not talking for two days.
Callie won the fight between them over the wedding cake. Her mother, a true Southern lady, wanted the butter pecan cake with a fresh peach filling while her sister insisted on the Tahitian vanilla butter cake, Tahitian vanilla custard and fresh berries.
Tamara left the reception shortly after her sister’s departure and headed home. After she changed out of the bridesmaid gown, Tamara settled down on the chaise in her bedroom to write in her journal.
