Lasting

Chapter 1 Everything smelled fresh. He swallowed the emotion in his throat and paced the lobby, lifting one of the invitations from the table. You are graciously invited to the wedding of John Darren Lasting and Laura Victoria Helton. He read the first line to himself and smiled a sigh of relief. Laura Lasting. He envisioned and grinned. Then someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned quickly; the invitation slipped from his hand, onto the floor. JOHN: Mom, what’s wrong? You look like you’re about to cry. EILEENE: Oh John, I’m so overjoyed I can’t help myself. Here, put on your coat. JOHN: I don’t understand why you’re crying. There’s nothing sad here. And the wedding doesn’t start for at least another half hour, and it’s warm in here enough without wearing the jacket, so I’m waiting to put it on. EILEENE: John, just put it on now before you forget to put it on at all. He smiled lightly, rested a hand on her shoulder. JOHN: Mom, I’ll remember. Trust me. And then it came - the sobbing as she hugged him as if for the last time. He reassured her, all the while trying to hide his laughter. JOHN: Mom, please stop crying. It’s a wedding, not a funeral. EILEENE: John, don’t say things like that! JOHN: Well, I’m sorry, but after looking in the sanctuary and seeing rows of relatives rocking themselves back and forth in tears, I’m beginning to wonder whether we made a mistake and got the wrong time slot. This is a church, after all, and they do deal with life and death matters here. EILEENE: Oh John, stop. We’re all just so happy we can’t hold back the tears. It’s so beautiful. What are you going to do when Laura cries during the ceremony? Will you tell her to stop? JOHN: I won’t have to. She won’t cry, mom. EILEENE: John, Laura will cry. All women cry at weddings, especially their own. It’s a fact of life. Now put your coat on and get back inside the room with your groomsmen. Heaven forbid that Laura should walk out here in the lobby for some reason and you should happen to see her. Go, right now! She grabbed his arm and forced it into the sleeve of his coat as she held it open for him; he reluctantly closed his eyes and held out the other as if his fist were reaching into a trap. Then Eileene carefully smoothed out a few wrinkles from the jacket, walked several steps back to look at him fully. EILEENE: Oh John! She wept again, and stepped close to hug him tenderly. Then she pushed herself away, wiped any wrinkles she feared she had pressed into his coat. He tried once more to restrain his widening smile as he watched her iron his clothes with both hands and then turn as if nothing happened. He tugged uncomfortably on his jacket and saw the fallen invitation from the corner of his eye. He picked it up and replaced it on the table, neatly, before walking to reunite with his groomsmen. But his steps hesitated - he hoped to catch a glimpse of his future bride in the hallway. Then he heard a doorknob turn and tumble violently - from the same door he was walking toward. It opened as if a stampede were rushing out. ZACK: JOHN! Your family’s INSANE! John’s eyes curiously questioned his best friend, and best man, Zack Dallard. JOHN: What? ZACK: White socks! JOHN: Huh? A woman wearing an extravagant red and white floral sundress clicked her heels just outside the frame of the door - and began whispering madly. WOMAN: Stop yelling! This is a church after all! Get in here right now and fix it, young man! ZACK: SEE. The word slipped tensely from his jaw. JOHN: What’s going on? WOMAN: Who are you?! JOHN: I’m John. WOMAN: Oh, you’re the one Laura’s marrying. Well, you get in here and fix this! The heels clacked as sharply against the flooring as her abrupt turn into the room. Zack’s bottom jaw clenched offside along with his now cocked head, and with raised irritated shoulders, he shuffled inside as John followed. WOMAN: Close the door! John closed the door. WOMAN: Alright! Tell me whose idea it was to wear white socks under black pants and shoes! ZACK: I picked up the clothes from the rental store and we changed into them a few minutes ago. That’s all! Someone must’ve messed up the order! WOMAN: Well, you fix it before this wedding starts! ZACK: Who cares about white socks?! WOMAN: This wedding party will look ridiculous in the photos! I will make sure everything is perfect for Laura before this wedding starts! Now, get it RIGHT this time! She clicked toward the door and finally exited, closing the door delicately. ZACK: What was that?! Don’t leave me alone with these people again! I have no idea who they are! First she comes in perfectly normal and asks, “Don’t mind me boys, I’m just checking to see if you’re dressed yet,” and then she lifts up a pant leg on one of the guys and snaps into another state of mind as quick as her heels were clicking. “OH DEAR NONSENSE! What have you boys done?!” John reclined in a rotating chair and swiveled as Zack retold the incident. The rest of the men in the room were grinning, except for John’s brother, Ethan Lasting, who was sitting still in a chair and staring at the floor. ZACK: I didn’t see nothing wrong and I’m thinking, “Hey there’s nothing wrong here.” Then she goes on, “Um, let’s see, we have black coats, black ties, black pants and black shoes, but what’s missing?” And so I ask really nice, “A killer smile?” Of course she says, “NO! Black socks!” So I ask, “Well what about the white shirts underneath? Aren’t they a problem too?” I thought I made perfect sense, but then she just got angry and claimed I was set on ruining the wedding. I don’t need this pressure! But I was nice though because she was kin to you. JOHN: I don’t know who she was. ZACK: What? She’s not from your family?! JOHN: Not that I know of. She must be from Laura’s. ZACK: Oh wow, I TOLD you! JOHN: What? ZACK: This marriage thing! You’re marrying into a family that obsesses over white socks! Who knows what else you’re getting yourself into?! You saw how crazy she was! JOHN: Zack, what family’s perfect? I don’t want to hear this again. I’m marrying Laura. ZACK: Okay, but what happens when that crazy soon-to-be-in-law of yours comes back? Do you want me to drive downtown and buy some new starchy black socks to please her? JOHN: Don’t worry about it. I’ll think of something. ZACK: Alright, it’s your responsibility now. I’m done with this! When’s this thing start anyway? JOHN: Not soon enough. His fingers drum rolled on a desk beside him as he continued spinning in the chair. ZACK: Well, then I’m going outside for a bit. I’m not getting blamed when she comes back. Come on guys, it’s too hot in here anyway. Come on, John! JOHN: I’m just gonna sit in here for a while. I gotta think about those white socks, after all. ZACK: You better! John laughed shortly and loosened his tie, slipped off his coat, and tossed it onto the desk as the rest of the men followed Zack through the back door. He raised a leg of his pants and remembered he was wearing black socks; he had changed separately from the rest of them at his apartment that morning. With the flip of a lever, he lowered the chair and swiveled again as he leaned back in solitude, unconsciously tapping his fingers against the arm of the chair. I don’t suppose you could possibly speed up the clock a little? His eyes looked upward, as did his smile. Thanks again, by the way. To be joined to her is gonna be amazing. Thank you, Lord. He grinned a half-smile; a revelation of his joy. But then he remembered their first kiss.