Tiffany stood up afterward. "Hello, ladies and gentlemen, and I use the word loosely for some of you. You know who you are." She waited for the laughter to die after her comment. "I've known Brenda since we were in Junior High School together. Brenda has always been an amazing person, full of life and love, loyal to a fault, believing the best of everyone. She's made me a better person just by knowing her. She's always, ever since we started talking about boys, always wanted to save herself for marriage. It isn't easy in this day and age. Sex is everywhere. It's used to sell everything from jewelry to Coca Cola. Despite the social pressure to succumb to the allure of the carnal, Brenda remained steadfast in her beliefs and her commitment to chastity. She was teased constantly. Even I was guilty of doing it, but she was convinced the man she married would appreciate and respect her for waiting for the one she truly loved. Tan is the man she's waited for. The one she wanted to surrender to, and from his speech earlier, it seems he really does appreciate she's had to courage and fortitude to wait only for him."
She raised her glass and everyone drank. Oh, God, even Tiffany was talking about it now. Why couldn't they talk about anything else? I had waited. Waited right up until 30 minutes before my wedding, and fearing what might happen if that stupid fucking picture got out right before the ceremony, tarnished myself on my wedding day. Couldn't anyone talk about anything else? I started crying harder, leaning in on Tan's shoulder to weep. What excuse would I use this time? Tears of joy again. Overcome with emotional happiness? Maybe still somewhat sick or overwrought from being sick? Talk about anything else, please. Tan put his arm around me and kissed the top of my head. It was my turn; my turn to speak and my eyes were red, my nose was running, my make-up ruined and I looked like a mess. The pictures and video from my wedding would show Brenda running from the altar, crying all the time, sobbing hysterically, and I would be the only one who knew why.
I was an emotional, hysterical wreck. Taking my napkin, I wiped my face. If my make-up was ruined anyway, I might as well finish the job. My Dad on one side and Tan on the other were patting my shoulders and encouraging me. What to tell them now? I appreciate everyone saying I was a good girl and waited for my wedding day before sex, but a half hour before I married the wonderful person beside me, I sucked another man's cock. I'm a horrible person and I'm sorry for all the nice things said about me, but it's all a lie now. It's not what I'd planned on saying, but it's what I felt like saying. I stood up and faced my guests, every eye on me but a few of the wait staff.
"I want to thank all of you for coming today. Some of you have come from far away to share in our joy, including three of the groomsmen. I'm thankful you think enough of us to take the time out of your busy lives to be with us here. I apologize to everyone for being such a wreck today," I said. "This has obviously been a very emotional day. I love the man beside me like no other. As others have rightly pointed out today, it was not love at first sight, for me at least. Tan did have a reputation which did not strike me as a good fit for myself when I first met him. I did not want to fall in love with someone so clearly unlike what I'd been looking for in a life partner. It was only through his patience and persistence, I gave him a chance to prove himself to me. And he has done just that - proved himself to me every day. He has been kind, and loving, and understanding with me. I look at him now," I looked down at my love, "and feel inadequate and unworthy of him. He has waited for me, treasured me and loved me, and I want to be a better person for him. I shall attempt to prove to him every day how much he means to me and how much I love him, and I pray he never regrets marrying me. I raise my glass to Tan, my friend, my husband, and soon to be, my lover. I love you, Tan."
I touched my glass to his and Daddy's and emptied my glass, then looked around the room, sweeping all our gathered company. I barely noticed them, the obsequious waiting staff, but there was one clearing off our table I glanced at more closely and I could see a cruel mouth, a whisper of an evil smile on his lips, and I fell into a dead faint, my glass shattering on the floor.
When I wake up, Tan, Tiffany, Taylor, Donna, Yvonne and my parents are all standing around me. Beneath me is soft cushions and I look around, recognizing the billiards and dart room of the Moments Hills Golf Club. They have couches and easy chairs for members to sit in while waiting their turn for the table and dart board. I was lying on one of the couches and Tan was stroking my face and head. Mom and Dad were leaning over the back of the couch, concerned for their one and only child.
"How long have I been unconscious?" I ask, trying to sit up.
"Stay down for a minute," Tan said. "There's no rush. About twenty minutes, I think, maybe a little less." He looked at the others for confirmation and several of them nodded in agreement. I laid back down, glad to comply, my head still spinning.
"What's happened to our guests?" I ask.
"The DJ is playing music and most of them are dancing and drinking," Tan smiled. "Some went home, a little overwhelmed by what's happened today, but most are still here waiting for us to make an appearance."
"We didn't get to dance the first dance together, Tan."
"So we'll dance the tenth, or the twentieth, or the fiftieth together. It's no big deal. Did you not have enough to eat today. Why did you faint?"
What was I supposed to tell him? That I thought I saw the man who blackmailed me into sucking his penis right before my wedding? That Tan wasn't the first one I'd done that for? Someone else had beat him to it? Was it even the same man? I saw so little of him for so briefly, I could be wrong, though I doubt I could ever forget his cruel expression if I didn't see it again for a hundred years.
"I don't know," I lied. Starting out my marriage with a second lie, the first being I was unstained.
"Brenda, are you okay?" Tiffany asked. "You haven't been right almost all day? Are you sick? Do you need to see a doctor? I'd ask if you're pregnant, if it weren't patently ridiculous."
My dear friend, Tiffany. Was she the one who betrayed me? One of my friends did and put me on my knees sucking a stranger's dick.
"I think I'm fine. Just emotional, I guess. It's been an exciting day."
"You're one of the calmest people I know, Brenda. Nothing ever flusters you," Yvonne said. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Was it Yvonne, or Tammie, or Donna? They were all here with me now. Did they want to witness what their effect on me, what had been done to me? Keep an eye on me in case I started to figure it out?
"Please, Tan, help me sit up. At the very least, I'd like to go back to the hall and wish our guests a good night."
"Are you sure? You can rest here for a few more minutes."
"My head has stopped spinning. You and Daddy will make sure I don't collapse anymore. I need to go." I was hoping to see if I could spot the waiter, get a better look at him. Was it the same man?
Tan helped me to sit up. He bid me to remain sitting to see if I got dizzy again. I was impatient, but it was a smart thing to do. I sat calmly, waiting for the requisite period of time to pass. I didn't get the spins, so I said I was fine.
Dad and Tan helped me to my feet, staying close in case I started to drop again. I was doing fine, so I asked to go back to the reception. Each of them took a hand and walked with me back to the hall. A few people saw me come in and started clapping, which caused others to look and see me, and they clapped too. I felt ridiculous. I'd made a mess of my wedding and people were clapping and cheering like I'd scored a touchdown.
Three quarters of our guests were still there. They led me to a chair and I sat down and people started coming up to me and asking if I was all right. I must have said "I'm fine, just too much emotion, I think," about a hundred times.
"Are the wait staff still here?" I asked Tan.
Tan looked around. "They were almost finished clearing when you fainted. I'm sure they've all left by now. Why do you ask?"
I wanted to see if my blackmailer was with them, but I couldn't say that. "I thought they did a great job," I said. "I wanted to thank them."
"They were well paid," Tan replied. "That should be thanks enough."
"Of course, dear. You're right. I just wondered."
I sat there for another half hour, holding court, really. My guests coming to me instead of me going to them. I felt fine really, it was all so silly. Finally, I asked Tan if we could have our dance now.
"Are you sure?" He asked.
"What could happen? You'll be holding me, won't you?"
"Of course."
"Then let's dance. I'm not an invalid."
"Give me a minute to speak to the DJ. I'll have him put on our songs."
"Thank you."
Tan got up and went to speak to the DJ. He stopped the current song and said, "The bride and groom, after a brief interruption in the nights festivities, would like to dance their first dances together as man and wife. The grooms song is 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight' by Elton John."
The music started and Tan came to my chair and escorted me onto the dance floor. We started dancing and he was holding me close.
"I hope you're feeling well enough to 'Feel the Love Tonight'," Tanner whispered. "You've made me wait so long already."
"Nothing in this world could stop me from loving you tonight, Tan. I've waited too long as it is. There have been times I wished I didn't make you wait." Like today before our wedding, I thought. "I love you so much. You may never know how much." I settled my face on his shoulder nuzzling up to his neck. "I even took lessons."
"You took lessons?" He looked at me, shocked and puzzled. "From who?"
"My posse, last night. We watched some porn while they gave me some pointers. Tiffany even brought out a glass dildo so I could practice sucking, you know, your penis."
"And that's all you practiced on?"
"Of course." I lied again. "Where else would I practice." I nestled against him again so I didn't have to look at him.
His song ended and the DJ said, "This is the bride's song, 'Someday, My Prince Will Come.' This version is by Barbra Streisand."
"Am I your prince?" Tan asked.
"None other," I responded. "I will prove it to you tonight, my prince."