[OTA] We Are Gathered Here | The Fox-Kattalakis Wedding

[headfollowheart]

A few things had gone wrong, honestly. There had been some confusion in the morning when they’d arrived to decorate the church - a few bouquets on the altar, some green and blue ribbons twined around a few of the posts - and it’d been locked. She’d managed to leave Spade Castle with her dress, veil, the coin from his mother strung on a thin leather thong, the emerald silk sash and Victor’s ring - but of all things, she’d managed to leave her shoes in their box in the closet, and Chives had had to go back for that. Hadyn looked a little green from his adventure shanghaiing Victor with Ben and Elisha, her cousin Sara had in usual Sara fashion managed to break the heel on her left shoe. Nerves finally hit as Chives was braiding her hair, and by the time the veil was settled over the smooth curls, her nails had left indents in her palms.

In the end, though, it was pretty much perfect. Two of her closest friends preceded her down the aisle in soft blue dresses with forget-me-nots in their braided hair and small posies in their hands. She’d walked towards her fiance on her brother’s arm with her hands full of spring flowers, and after the words were said and Victor lifted the veil, they were married. It only felt a little different than before, Zoe thought as their brief kiss ended. But it was different; she was Zoe Fox.

Zoe Fox knew, of course, that Victor Fox would have preferred them to just slip back to their apartment - no big party, no flowing wine and hors d'oeuvres - but she’d wanted something. And he’d given her carte blanche in the end, really; she’d chosen the small reception room that opened out into the Castle gardens, she’d picked the combination of hyacinths, hydragea, and lily of the valley for the table arrangements, the Greek-flavored menu of spanakopita, wild green and strawberry salad, linguine primavera and herb-encrusted lamb. She’d pored over cake designs until she finally picked a vanilla bean cake with strawberry puree filling, decorated in vanilla buttercream. She’d pruned the list of friends, family and acquaintances who might be expected to be invited to the wedding reception until they numbered barely fifty.

Under the strict supervision of Chives, of course the reception looked perfect, she thought as they arrived, and she smiled as she slipped her hand into Victor’s arm and the full skirt of her dress swirled against both of their legs. Perfect, though perfect didn’t matter quite so much to her right now.

Comments

[somuchheart]

“Maybe a little more fabulous than just ‘sorta’, yeah?” She laughs up at him. “No, you’re right. They’re all lovely in their own ways.”

[bluntforces]

Oh, snort, madam. "Don't knock 'sorta,' girly. It's a pretty rockin' degree."

[somuchheart]

"Sorta is like... okay. Okay fabulous isn't okay. Fantastically fabulous is a lot better. It even alliterates."

[bluntforces]

There's a calm laugh for that as he pulls them into a bit of a twirl. "And what about 'sorta perfect?' Like... when life ain't flashy, but it's exactly what ya want it t' be?"

[somuchheart]

"If it's exactly what you want, then doesn't that automatically make it, ah... flashy?" She raises an eyebrow, giggling a little. "What's the difference?"

[bluntforces]

"I mean, 'flashy's gotta be sparkly and outward. Other people gotta see it. Exactly what you want can be really... quiet. Like th' first moment when you wake up an' it's still real quiet but you know you ain't never been as happy as you are in that split second." It's possible Evan McCartney in love waxes just a little poetic.

Could be worse. He could be talking about Riley's hair.

[somuchheart]

“...That’s so sweet. You’re so eloquent. That’s—I know exactly how that feels. On the morning of the last wedding, I woke up like that.” And then she has to pause. “I think... I don’t know if I did this morning. Lots has... happened recently. I mean- not that I’m sad to be here, but... I don’t know if I’m completely happy right now, you know?”

[bluntforces]

"I wrangle words okay sometimes." And, clearly, not other times. "What's keepin' you from complete happy right now, then?"

[somuchheart]

"... Things are a little stressful. And... stuff has happened that I'm still healing from. I guess-- I guess I'm happy that I'm healing, though."

[bluntforces]

"'s a good first step, Blythe." Dancing can also be a hug, right? Right.

[somuchheart]

Of course it can be. "Thanks, Evan. You're too sweet."