Wedding Bell Blues by Jill Santopolo Read Free Book Online

“I love the silver eye shadow, Heather.”
    The girls rushed into the ladies’ room, and Suzy quickly worked her makeup magic on the sisters. Aly kept staring at herself in the mirror, hardly recognizing how grown up she looked. Suzy was talented—there was no denying it.
    â€œThanks, groomsgirl,” Aly said with a wink at Suzy.
    Fifteen minutes later the bridal party was linedup, waiting to walk down the aisle. Isaac would be first, followed by Aly and Suzy. The bridesmaids and groomsmen were next in line, with Aly’s mom, as matron of honor, and Suzy’s dad, as best man, walking together. Jonah, the three-year-old son of one of Isaac’s friends, would bring the wedding rings. Next were Brooke and Heather, and then finally, it would be the bride’s turn: Joan walking down the aisle with her parents on each side of her.
    Aly couldn’t believe how nervous she was. “I think I have to pee,” she whispered to Suzy.
    â€œYou do not have to pee,” Suzy whispered back. “You just peed ninety seconds ago.”
    It was true; Aly had just gotten back from the bathroom.
    â€œYou’re just nervous,” Suzy continued. “It’s going to be fine. Stop worrying.”
    Aly tried to stop worrying, but there were so manypeople there and her dress was so long. What if she tripped? Aly took a deep breath.
    â€œSeriously,” Suzy said, “whatever it is you’re worried about probably won’t happen.”
    â€œI’m worried I’ll trip,” Aly told her.
    â€œWant to know a trick my mom taught me about that?” Suzy said.
    Aly nodded. Why didn’t her mom teach her a trick?
    â€œYou hold your skirt a little off the floor, like this.” Suzy demonstrated by pinching just a little part of her skirt, right where her hand fell against her leg, and lifting it a tiny bit. “Now you won’t trip.”
    Aly tried it, and it made her feel much calmer. Then the music started.
    Suzy tugged Aly’s arm, and they were walking down the aisle. Every guest was taking pictures. Aly was smiling her biggest smile and admiring all of theflowers strung along the sides of the chairs. She felt herself wobble a little, but she held tightly to Suzy.
    â€œNice job not falling,” Suzy hissed through her smile.
    After what seemed like the longest walk of Aly’s life, the girls finally got to the front of the aisle. Aly forked to the left, Suzy to the right, and each stood on opposite sides of the judge, where they watched the rest of the wedding party come down the aisle.
    Everyone laughed when Brooke started waving as she and Heather walked together. My sister doesn’t have a nervous bone in her body, Aly thought.
    An old Beatles song started playing. Joan appeared. Aly knew it was Joan, but she didn’t look anything like the manicurist and baker Aly saw every day. She looked completely transformed. Her dress was a princess-style ball gown covered in beads andlace. A long veil flowed behind her as she walked. Or floated, it seemed.
    â€œOooh,” everyone said, including Aly.
    Joan and Isaac looked at each other like they were the only two people in the room. Brooke sent Aly a Secret Sister Message: Isn’t this amazing? Aly started to send one back, but she couldn’t . . . she had started crying. She gazed out at the guests and realized she wasn’t alone: It looked like everyone was crying happy tears.
    Aly glanced over at Suzy. Even she had tears on her cheeks, and Aly wasn’t surprised one little bit.

eleven
Good Knight
    A fter the ceremony there was a cocktail hour, followed by dinner and dancing. Brooke and Aly made sure to dance to every single song they possibly could, including the last one—another old Beatles tune during which they danced with their mom and dad, all as a group, sort of like a big, swaying hug.
    Halfway through, Dad turned and kissed Mom.
    â€œEw,” Brooke said.
    But