by Ashley Pullo
As Julia pulls out a chair to her vanity for Nana to sit, she glances at the text bubble on her phone.
Mike: Julia, it’s Mike. Can people sit wherever they want?
Jules: Yes, thank you. Have you seen the reverend?
Mike: Uh, is it the guy with the Bible?
Jules: I hope so, or this could get weird.
“Oh my, word. Is that Mere Bear’s dress?” Nana clutches her chest as tears well in her baby-blue eyes.
“Yes!” she exclaims, pausing to admire its breathtaking elegance. “It’s the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen my fair share of wedding gowns.” Julia grabs her favorite pair of black heels, and a pashmina shawl from the closet. Stepping into the four-inch heels with a subtle taxi cab design, she returns to her dresser, removing a few bangles and the Boston terrier ring from her jewelry box.
Theo: What are you wearing?
Jules: We can’t do this right now!
Theo: Seriously, what are you wearing?
Jules: Oh. Black dress.
Theo: Just a dress? No panties . . . excellent.
“Julia, I think I heard a knock on the door,” Nana whispers.
“Stay here,” she mouths, tossing her phone on the dresser.
Opening the door, Julia whistles as Meredith models her tiny leather shorts and sheer blouse. “Wow. You look hot!”
“Great dress, Jules, but the Kate Spade shoes are terribly wrong. Why did you have me bring them?” she asks, placing the cloth shoe bag on the desk.
“Oh, I, um changed outfits at the last minute.”
“Cool.” Meredith grabs Julia’s hand and shrieks, “Holy fuck, Theo is hot!”
“He is.”
“And so sweet – the way he talks about you, and taking Bradley out on such short notice.” She grabs a handful of gummy bears and throws the green ones back in the bowl.
Julia chuckles. “The green ones are the best.”
“Ew, no. The strawberry ones are the best,” she replies, popping a red bear in her mouth. “Hey, how did you get Bradley’s brothers to show up?”
“What do you mean?”
“I saw Mitchell get out of a cab on Fulton.”
“Um, Meredith, tonight is not going to be anything like you expected.”
“Oh really?” she barks.
“I have a surprise for you.” Julia takes Meredith’s hand and leads her to the bedroom. As she gently pushes open the door, Meredith squeezes her hand.
“Wait! I can’t sleep with a stripper – even if he’s the one from McTushy’s who dresses like a firefighter and diddles his hose – I just can’t do it.”
Smiling as she opens the door, Julia replies, “The cowboy with the lasso was much hotter.”
Meredith takes a cautious step inside and covers her mouth. “Nana?” she gasps.
“Mere Bear, did you honestly think I would let you elope to Vegas?”
“But, but, I, uh . . .” Meredith mutters, staring at her dress hanging on the closet door. “What the hell is going on? I can’t breathe. I, what?”
“Take a deep breath and have a seat,” Julia says, pushing Fletch off the bed. “Meredith, you’re my best friend, and you and Bradley deserve a special ceremony, with the people that love you, and with the dress of your dreams.”
Balancing on the edge of the bed, she hushes, “I don’t know what to say . . . wait, does Bradley know?”
“No, Theo will explain everything in the elevator ride to the roof.”
Meredith’s lazy smile collapses into a frown of disgust. “We’re getting married on your roof?”
Rolling her eyes, Julia snarls, “We cleaned up all the dog poop.”
Gazing at her gown, Meredith nods her head as happy tears roll down her cheeks. “Okay. Okay! I’m getting married on a rooftop! Nana, will you escort me?”
“Sure, Mere Bear, but your dad might get jealous.”
“Daddy’s here?” Leaping from the bed and wiping her eyes, Meredith embraces Julia in a girly chokehold. “I can’t believe you did this. Holy shit, Jules! Holy shit.”
“We have forty-five minutes to get you dressed. Chop, chop!” Julia commands, freeing herself from Meredith’s arm.
“Okay! What’s first?”
“Let’s see . . . your makeup looks pretty good, but you’ll need a red lip.” Julia removes a Sephora bag from her dresser and pulls out a tube of Givenchy Le Rouge. “Something new.”
“Magic wax from the gods! Thank you,” says Meredith.
Standing from the vanity table, Nana digs in the pocket of her pantsuit to reveal a pair of ruby earrings. “These were given to me by my grandmother on my wedding day. Something old.” Nana opens Meredith’s hand and places the sparkling jewels in her palm.
“And I had you bring your Kate Spade Licorice heels because they’re mostly blue, and really cute. Something blue.”
“So now we just need something for you to borrow,” Nana asserts.
“Um, well, this is awkward.” Meredith removes her gold exclamation point earring and replaces it with a ruby. “I kinda need to borrow some underwear,” she whispers.
“What?” Julia cringes.
“I’m not wearing underwear!”
“You’re not wearing underwear?”
“I’m not, wearing, underwear,” stresses Meredith.
“Well, that’s nasty, Mere Bear,” Nana says.
“I thought underwear was optional for a bachelorette party.” Meredith grinds against Julia and laughs.
Stepping back, Julia remarks, “I’m not sure if I can lend you underwear – there has to be boundaries in our friendship.”
“Oh, but you’re okay with your best friend flashing the snatch during her wedding?”
“Jesus Christ.” Mumbling, she slides out the bottom drawer to her dresser, the drawer that hides all the things she’s too shy to actually wear, and removes a nude thong.
Meredith yanks the thong from her hand and declares, “Awesome! Something borrowed.”
Julia steps onto the roof the moment the sun disappears from lower Manhattan. With Fletch by her side, they gracefully walk the aisle to an acoustical version of “Everlong.” Confused by the roof’s new setup, Fletch sniffs at the grass peeking beneath the Moroccan runner and lifts his leg. “No!” she shouts, gently kicking his butt. The guests laugh as they pass through the line of chairs, and when they reach the front row, Fletch runs straight to Theo’s lap. Taking the seat next to Theo, she whispers, “Hi.”
“Hey, gorgeous,” he whispers back. Theo takes her hand, thumbing the ring he gave her in his palm, as they turn to gaze at Meredith.
The DJ lowers the music, allowing the white noise of New York City to serenade the bride. As if on cue, Meredith and her father take a step forward, her lace dress shimmering under the twinkling Christmas lights as they continue down the aisle. She focuses on Bradley, watching as his mouth quivers and his eyes water. Meredith simply smiles, knowing that she’s walking into the arms of her best friend. When they reach the rusted pipe arbor, Meredith’s dad kisses her cheek and then shakes Bradley’s hand.
Reverend Douglas begins the ceremony, keeping it light and funny and engaging for the guests. He follows the standard ceremonial order. But after they exchange matching wedding bands found at a pawn shop, Meredith hesitates, knowing the pronouncement is the final act.
“Wait,” Meredith mutters.
Reverend Douglas, slightly throw off his game, clears his throat. “Is there something you’d like to add?”
“I, uh, I want to share my own vows,” she says.
“Oh.” He chuckles. “Go for it.” Reverend Douglas smiles and takes a step off to the side.
“Bradley James Gilmore, I promise to live in the holy bonds of matrimony. To honor and keep you. To comfort you in sickness and in health. As long as we both shall live.”
Smiling, Bradley fights a snicker. “Mere, that’s kinda what we already said,” he whispers.
“Yes, but I never want this p
art to end,” she says, squeezing his hand.
“Meredith Victoria Rice, I promise to love you. Even after this part ends.” Bradley nods to Reverend Douglas to continue.
Stepping back into position, Reverend Douglas exclaims, “So then, forasmuch as Bradley and Meredith have consented together in holy wedlock, and have witnessed the same before God and his company, and have declared the same by joining hands and by giving and receiving rings, I pronounce that they are husband and wife together. Bradley, you may kiss your wife!”
Wiping a tear from her eye, Julia leans into Theo and says, “That was awesome.”
As the fifty guests consisting of friends and family stand to applaud the new couple, Meredith and Bradley raise their hands and cheer. They stroll down the aisle, happier than they’ve ever been, waving and pumping the air to the beat of the music.
Julia steps to the front and shakes Reverend Douglas’ hand, and then turns back to the guests and announces, “Champagne and desserts will be served at the cocktail tables. Please, go have so fun!”
Howard approaches Julia and asks, “You did all this in less than a week?”
“Yep,” she replies proudly. “Howard, I’d like you to meet Theo Barnes.”
The two men exchange pleasantries while Julia says hellos to Meredith’s parents.
“You’re something else, kid. We’re going to miss you at the paper,” Howard mutters, walking toward the cookie tower.
“What was that about?” Theo pulls her close and kisses her cheek.
“I’ll tell you later.”
“Jules!” Meredith shrieks. “We’re effing married!”
“Julia, what you did, I could never adequately express how much this means to us.” Bradley squeezes her into a hug and twirls her around.
“Oh, my, God, put me down, weirdo!”
Passing her off to Theo, Bradley asks, “What can we ever do to repay you?”
“You can literally repay me. One-thousand-nine-hundred and twenty-seven dollars,” Julia replies with a grin.
“What? You did all this for under two-thousand dollars? The City could really use you as a budget analyst.”
“Ah, no thanks.”
Taking a Compost cookie from the table, Meredith squeals, “You got Milk Bar, didn’t you?”
“You told her about Milk Bar?” Bradley whispers, blushing.
“We tell each other everything,” Meredith razzes, winking at Theo. “Every. Big. Thing.”
“Watch out for these two,” warns Bradley, pinching Meredith’s waist. “Babe, I think now’s a great time to make our announcement.”
“Might as well,” she agrees. “But do it like a toast – grab a knife and clank it against the champagne glass.”
Bradley does as he’s told, first motioning to the DJ to lower the music, and then tapping a spoon against a flute of champagne. “Friends and family, Meredith and I want to thank each of you for being a part of our surprise wedding. We’re truly humbled and blessed to be surrounded by so much love, and honestly, we can’t imagine a more fantastical wedding than the one Julia gave us. Mere, wanna take it from here?” he says, placing his arm around her waist.
“Julia, what am I going to do without you?” she says, her voice shaky and emotional. “Bradley accepted a position at Georgetown, so we’re moving to D.C.!” Meredith reaches for Julia’s hand and pulls her by her side. “Don’t worry, you’ll have your own room to come visit whenever you want.”
After Bradley’s father delivers an actual congratulatory toast, the DJ turns up the music and invites everyone to the small area set aside for dancing. Fletch is the first to dart to the middle, running around in circles, and chasing the lacey train of Meredith’s dress. Theo dances with Nana, Julia with Bradley, and Meredith with Howard.
“You got some mad skills, Jules,” Bradley shouts.
“I know it’s your wedding, but fuck you!” Julia shakes her ass while she hops in a circle.
As the music shifts to a slower song, and the enchanting lyrics of “Sea of Love” blast through the speakers, Theo grabs Julia’s waist and pulls her into his arms. Barely moving, they hold onto each other and gaze into each other’s eyes.
“Do you like me?” he asks, a smile stretching across his face.
Julia wraps her arms around Theo’s neck and grins. “I do. Do you like me?”
“I do.”
I do – the promise that changes everything.
“There’s a reason I’m a cultural anthropologist – the field allows me to evaluate the human behavior within a civilization. And New York is home to some seriously fucked up people.”
Chapter Thirteen
A few weeks later, as November quietly makes a gorgeous entrance, Julia and Theo wait patiently inside a TriBeCa office building. She spins the Boston terrier ring around her finger and smacks on grape-flavored gum.
“I’m so nervous,” she says.
“Don’t be worried.” Browsing through an Entertainment Weekly, Theo pauses on an article about Deadpool. “Jules, we have to see this movie!”
“What movie?” she asks, staring straight ahead and blowing a bubble of purple gum.
“Deadpool. He’s a Marvel character.”
“When’s it coming out?”
“Next year . . . hey, you need to spit out your gum.” Theo rips off a corner of the magazine page and holds it under her mouth. “He’s like an unstable antihero with mutant abilities. In the comic books, his character breaks the fourth wall – funny as hell.” Theo tosses her gum in a nearby wastebasket, making it on the first shot. “I should play basketball.”
“When’s it coming out?” she repeats.
“Hey,” he grabs her hand, “You need to calm down and just enjoy the ride. This is happening – and you’ll be great.”
Following an uproarious amount of male laughter, Ben Tannenbaum, executive producer and engineer for National Public Radio, opens the door to the waiting room. “Julia, are you ready to make a podcast?”
Standing from the couch, she nods and then asks, “Can Theo come with me?”
“Sure.”
They follow Ben down a long hallway of glass-enclosed sound booths, and then stop at a small office with a full-length window. “It’s cramped, I know, but you have a desk, and a decent view of the Sheraton,” Ben says, pointing to the hotel across the street.
“Wow. It’s perfect,” she mutters.
Theo nudges Julia’s arm and says, “That’s a great view. Hey, Jules, didn’t you want to ask a question?”
Taking the hint, she says, “Mable mentioned I would have a web designer.”
“Yep, I think Drexler is assigned to you. You’ll meet him tomorrow. You’ll also have an engineer at your disposal for a few months. Editing a podcast can be tricky.”
“Oh, okay, great.” She relaxes.
“You’ll record your first story today, and then we’ll stream it tomorrow. Once you have about six podcasts, we can set your program. Once you have your own program, your listeners will demand you be on the live schedule. Pretty simple.”
“And the live schedule is?” she asks.
“Like a radio show. Listeners can call in and interact with you.”
“Ah, I’ll like that.”
“And how will people even know she has a podcast?” Theo asks.
Ben snaps his fingers and replies, “Oh, I almost forgot. You’re doing a live interview with Shay Scarborough in five minutes. We should head down there.”
“Oh, my, God,” Julia mutters. “I’m usually on the other side of an interview.”
“You’ll be great. Let’s go.” Ben leads them to a sound room around the corner. Making a signal to an engineer, he opens the door and says, “Shay is the host of This and That, and she’s on top of your bio.”
“Okay. Wish me luck.” Julia pecks Theo’s cheek before she closes the door behind her. Taking the cues from the staff of engineers, she sits across from Shay and smiles.
“Hey, Julia, I’m Shay. I was a h
uge fan of your column – so sad to see you leave.”
“Thank you!” Julia shouts, unsure if she’s on the air. She leans forward to test the microphone, but an engineer shakes his head.
“We’re not live,” Shay whispers. “When the green light comes on, I’ll make the introduction and then ask a few questions. You’ll need to pitch your podcast to my listeners.”
“Shit,” Julia mumbles.
“Three seconds, Julia.” An engineer announces, passing her a set of clunky headphones.
With a voice as smooth as velvet, Shay begins her segue. “I have a fellow podcaster with me today, dear listeners. And if you were a fan of her column, then you’ll love what she’s bringing to NPR. Julia Pierce was the wedding and celebrations columnist for the New York Herald for three years, and now she’s hosting a storytelling podcast with a romantic twist.”
Shay makes a signal and then says, “Hello, Julia, and welcome to the NPR family.”
“Thank you, Shay. I’m excited to start this new adventure.” Julia holds the too-big headphones over her ears and begins to panic.
“I loved how you were able to create such an intimate description of the weddings you covered. Will your podcast continue to bring us dreamy stories of nuptials and engagements?” Shay asks.
“My wedding column focused on the details of a ceremony, with the fashion and the venues being top priority. With the podcast, I want to explore a romantic narrative from the people of New York.”
“Ah, like the interviews in When Harry Met Sally. I dig it.”
Locking eyes with Theo from outside the booth, he gives her a tiny wave as she smiles. “Yes, exactly. Love is an abstract theme in storytelling. There’s emotion and uncertainty,” Julia pauses, “And people are simply characters . . . easily interchanged and forgotten, or hurt and rejected. However, the moment two characters fall in love, the story they share becomes their constant.”
Shay nods her head and gives a thumbs up. “I’m not even openly-romantic, but there’s something about a love story that warms my heart, and I’m sure my listeners will agree.” Shay holds up a card that reads “Enrique and Simon,” and then asks, “Can you give us a teaser from your first podcast?”
