Lemming 11: Cake by the Pool

     Justin and Katherine's kids get along very well. I could hear him one morning telling the two of them some of my older jokes.

    At one point, Jocelyn starts crying. The two guys act worried for a few seconds before they figure out that she's crying from laughing so hard.

    "You two are so sweet worrying over me like that," she tells them when she can compose herself.
    "Well, you know it's possible to laugh yourself to death," Justin replies.
    She lets out a short laugh. "Nah. That's just an urban legend."

    At last, my wedding day arrives!

    With everything going on, J and Zoe haven't met Katherine. The second J and Katherine see each other, J glares at her like she's a demon from his past. Maybe I'm just making that up in my head. I can't help but notice the instant animosity between the two.

     I don't worry too much about it. I love Katherine. Nothing could change that.
     Guests start getting into place, and I catch my bride wiping a tear from her eye.

     "Yes. This is real," I say before she can ask it, and I kiss her fingers.

    Justin's girlfriend is unable to attend because her family is on vacation, but to my surprise, Jenny has a date! I decide I'm going to have to meet him later.

    Right now, my focus is Katherine.

     At last, I'm a married man. I'm needed. I'm loved. I'm no longer alone.

(sorry, fuzzy. Something weird happens when I go into camera mode near the pool)

   As the reception continues, several people, my bride included, change into their swimsuits and sit near the pool with their cake.

    "Oh, so you're not actually her date," I say to the young man that I thought was Jenny's date. I've learned his name is Hugo.
    He chuckles nervously and says, "Uh, no sir. We're friends."
    Is this the boy at school that Justin spoke of?
    He keeps talking, offering me more insight. "I'm here for...emotional support."
    Ah, so probably not. "Well, that's very nice of you," I say in a leading way.

      I think he catches on to what I'm implying when he lets out a nervous laugh. "I didn't like seeing her so down these past weeks. I thought she...might need someone here...since this is a big change for her." His eyes get wide all of a sudden. "Not saying it's a bad one! I was just concerned since she's been so bummed."
     Jenny walks in from a dip in the pool, grabs some cake, and goes to sit at the table alone. The young man next to me watches her as she does it. Then he looks back down at his plate.
     I feel one corner of my mouth go up in a half-smile as I say very quietly to him, "Well, she's sitting over there all by herself. Why not go and offer that emotional support."
     His head turns towards me with a look of surprise. Then he smiles, puts down his fork, and does as I suggested.
     If a boy at school is the problem, perhaps another is the solution, I think with a smile as I get up to go find my wife.

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next: Jenny's p.o.v. in all this