Completing The List

by P.J. Lowry

Ten days seems like a long time, but when you’re planning a big event and have a million things to do before that deadline, those days will just fly by without a shred of notice. Despite having to run around for almost everything, Lizzy was super excited about the wedding and couldn’t have been happier for her friend as she prepared to commit the rest of her life to a man she was confident her friend loved a great deal. For the longest time she had been working on something that was made by her late husband. To be working on something for her living friend brought pure joy to Lizzy’s heart for the first time in who know how long and it was just fine by her. It was almost like she was taking a break from the list, but was still doing work on it at the same time. She was getting lost in the decorations, the dresses, meals for the reception and all the other great things that usually drive people crazy when trying to plan a wedding. Lizzy was in the dress shop with Anna trying on dresses for both her and the bridesmaids. They were both beaming with excitement, as was Anna’s mother who was there and helping out as much as she could.

  “Can you do me a favour?” Lizzy softly asked.

  “I’ll try my best. What is it?” Anna asked back.

  “I know you’re supposed to the best looking woman there, and I agree with that part. That’s why we’re going through all these dresses. But when you decide on what I and the other maids should wear, I know we can’t look better than you but don’t pick something that will make us the worst dressed there either.”

  “I’ll try my best.” Anna said with a soft smile. “We wouldn’t want you to look bad when you make your toast during dinner.”

  “Help me out and I’ll go easy on you with my speech.” Lizzy countered.

  Anna flashed a devilish smile. “Deal.”

  It was all Lizzy needed to hear as she did her best work for her friend that week, planning everything she had time to put together. While time was limited, Lizzy made the best of it and tried to make each chore and event, something the bride and the groom to be could make a memory out of rather than a nightmare. Even something as sampling possible entrées for the reception was fun because Lizzy and a few others were there to chip in their two cents and make it something they could all enjoy together rather than feel the pressure to pick the perfect meal. Easing tension seemed to work as both Crispin and Anna were confident in their choices and didn’t feel nervous about the task at all. Lizzy watched from her seat and couldn’t help but think of her hurried mad dash to the altar. While she and Hayden had more time to work with, it all seemed to fly by so fast and at the time didn’t seem as fun as Anna was having with her fiancé. It was over half a decade early, but she could remember going through all the motions with Hayden. Eating the food, trying on the dresses and even setting up all the tables for the reception one spoon and fork at a time, to her it was all an exhausting chore. For some reason, it never felt that way to Hayden.

  It was the night before what could have been the most important day of his life. But if you looked at him, his face would never tell you that. Hayden was calm, cool and childishly playful as he went about his business, setting each plate with care as if the President himself was going to eat at that particular part of the table. Two spoons above the plate, two forks on the right and two knives on the left was what they needed to have at each setting to make sure there was enough cutleries to handle every course. Most men the night before their wedding would be out with the guys, drinking booze until their liver gave out or having a stripper dance on his lap. While a bachelor party sounded like fun, Hayden would have none of it. There was a reception that was less than twenty-four hours away and tables needed to be set. Decorations needed to be hung, and the booze for the real celebration needed to be packed into the bar. This was no time to party, and he knew it. Lizzy was frustrated by the chore. She wanted to spend the rest of her last night before the wedding just relaxing to a glass of Bailey’s, straight with two pieces of ice. Instead she was with her husband to be, doing work to make sure their night was perfect. She looked up at her husband to be who also took a moment to stop placing and he smiled back to her.

  “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “Why are we doing this?” Lizzy asked, almost whining.

  “To make sure it’s done right.” Hayden answered as he winked at her. “And to make sure it’s done at all. The last thing I want to see is my Uncle Rex complaining because he doesn’t have a fork for the salad and the main course. That would not be a pretty site.”

  “I guess not.” Lizzy said as she kept working. “Can we take a break soon?”

  “I can’t see why not.” Hayden said as he stood up. “We can always go to the bar above us and get a drink. Wet the whistle…”

  Lizzy thought that was a great idea, and she followed him up to the stairs. Their reception hall was in the basement of the building and above it was a bar that was often full on Friday and Saturday nights. It was nice to take a break, Lizzy thought as she followed Hayden up. She wanted to take break from the preparations and spend some time with the man she loved, even if just for a few moments.

  When they got up to the small bar, it wasn’t full but had a small crowd to prevent the place from looking empty. Hayden stopped and pointed over to a table that was in the corner of the room. “Take one of the tables over there, I’ll order for us.”

  Lizzy didn’t think much of it and went to find a table. She got a small one with stools and a small round surface. One that allowed you to get cozy and share space with someone you like. She looked around and realized that while it wasn’t the place she wanted to be in the night before her wedding, it beat being back downstairs working on anything. She was aware she had a lot more work to do, but didn’t want to think of it. She gave her husband to be a warm smile as he delivered her drink. “Thank you, kind sir.”

  “Bailey’s straight, one the rocks.” Hayden said as he passed her the small glass.

  “Very good.” Lizzy said, “I might go through with this thing after all.”

  Hayden sat there with what everyone assumed was a rye and coke. “Are you nervous at all about tomorrow?”

  Lizzy paused for a moment. “Would you be upset if I said no?”

  “No.” Hayden answered. “I think I would be more offended if you were questioning whether you want to do it or not.”

  “Not me.” Lizzy said as she took another sip of her drink. “I’d do it right now if you let me. I’m ready to start the rest of our lives as soon as possible.”

  “So am I.” Hayden concurred as he leaned over and gave her a kiss. “I’m afraid to say you are so stuck with me.”

  “For how long again?” Lizzy jokingly asked.

  “Till death do us part my love.” Hayden answered. Just as he said that, a special song came over the speakers of the bar. It was the first slow song that Hayden and Lizzy had ever danced to. Without asking, Hayden offered his hand and she knew what he wanted. They didn’t care if the dance floor was empty as they shuffled out to the floor and held each other, swaying to the song they both loved. Twenty-four hours later they would be married, dressed a little better then they were that night, and dancing again to another slow song as man and wife. Neither of them cried at their wedding. Both of them were eager to get on with the rest of their lives. Neither knew how long that would be, but at that exact moment it didn’t matter. They held each other as if it was their last, and continued to dance.

  “Lizzy.” Anna called out to her. “Are you all right?”

  Lizzy had a hear watering in her eye, and she wiped it away before anyone could notice. “I’ll be all right. I got distracted.” She smiled and continued to help Anna with her decorations and place settings, working hard to keep the wedding on track.

  Everyone tried their best to get as much taken care of but the big day came upon them a lot faster than anyone wanted it to. Lizzy knew the real reason why it was such a short engagement and her friend took the heat for it too, never telling anyone it was to help Lizzy and the list. As
promised Lizzy made a nice and very short speech that didn’t humiliate her friend and will actually be something that might make her shed a few tears of joy. The church was spruced up, looking as if three flower houses had been ransacked and stripped of their entire inventory just for this occasion. While it might seem like a waste to some, to the happy couple this was hopefully a once in a lifetime moment and no one understood that more than everyone involved who had walked up to the alter before her. No one wanted to ruin it that for anyone, which is why Lizzy did her best to not think of Hayden during these times and stay focused on helping her friend prepare. Anna and Crispin were very easy going, and made the day easier for everyone trying to get it on the right track. Whatever mistake that happened big or small, they took it in stride and looked forward to telling it to someone at a later time for a good laugh on anniversaries. Finally it was the big moment. Lizzy found her self standing in the same church, this time holding the flowers as the maid of honour. She watched as her friend walked down towards them. She looked over at Crispin and saw the look on his face, and she knew this was the real thing: they truly loved each other. Even if it was a mistake, it was theirs to make, and no one had the place to say otherwise. When Anna finally arrived Lizzy took her flowers and held them for the entire ceremony which seemed to go a lot longer than she remembered. Lizzy bit her lip when Anna and Crispin went through their vows, especially the part when the pledged to love each other until death came between them. While death seemed to come early for Hayden, Lizzy was fortunate to have a man that loved her until his final day. Before she knew it, Lizzy was signing forms as a witness and the event was over. After the wedding was over, there were pictures to be taken with the wedding party and when that was over they quickly travelled to the hall where the reception was being held. There was food, laughter, games for all the guests to play throughout the meal. The food was amazing, and the happy couple seemed to concur as they were starving from having eaten little while their nerves got to them. Then it was time for selected guests to make their speeches, and Lizzy knew it would be her turn very soon. She had scribbled some notes down, but was determined to speak from her heart, say what she truly felt and make a loving tribute to the happy couple.

  When she was called up, Lizzy took a deep breath as she put her notes on the podium and looked out to the hundred people staring back at her. “I know the maid of honour and best man are supposed to say some funny things, embarrass the happy couple for a few good laughs but I’m not going to do that. I love these people to much to crack any jokes on their special day and want to use my moment to say something true and from my heart. When I got married myself, I thought all we needed to get through the tough times was each other. I was wrong, because it takes more than love and good intentions. It literally takes a community to make a marriage work and to support their love. I can tell from the people who are here to support Anna and Crispin that they are in good hands and have the support they need to make things work. I can testify that I will be there for Anna, to do whatever it takes to support her and make things work. I love her too much to not be there for her. I wish her all the happiness as well as a long and lasting marriage.” She raised her glass as did everyone else. Lizzy had completed the toast she needed to do, but more importantly she said something from the heart that made her friend cry and walk over to give her a big hug. Everyone took a sip to complete the toast and Lizzy returned to her seat, relieved that the moment was finally over. She had been on edge and nervous about it the entire week, but like the wedding it had all come up her way to fast. After she took a seat, the master of the ceremony took over from there and got everyone laughing again and getting things back on track. When all the talking was done, it was time for the bride and the groom to take their first dance. Lizzy watched as they floated around the floor, deep in love and celebrating the moment. She had been there before and couldn’t help but think of her first dance. While she was watching the couple dance, it was that moment when LIzzy thought she spotted something she never thought she would see at this wedding: a uniform. Not just any uniform but a military dress uniform. At first she denied it. Could have been a fireman or police officer in a formal wear, she thought to herself. Once the dance was over, she strolled to the other end of the reception hall to look around. She saw it again as she got closer to the bar but then lost track of it. Lizzy was confused and decided to get a drink to calm her nerves.

  As she was taking a sip, the uniform came to her and was front and center. The last man she ever expected to see there, standing before her. “Hello Elizabeth.” Gary said with a calm and cool demeanour. “If I may say so… you look amazing.”

  “Thank you.” Lizzy said as she quickly polished off her drink. She had no idea what or how Gary made it to the wedding but there he was, dressed in his military best and looking the better than she had ever seen him. “What are you doing here?” she quickly asked.

  Gary answered the question by raising a small piece of paper. “I was invited. I was under the impression you knew. I guess the bride did this to surprise you.”

  “I guess she did.” Lizzy said as she turned to face the bride and groom’s table. From a distance, Anna and Crispin were watching and waved when they realized she was looking at them. She waved back before turning back to face the soldier before her. She smiled at the fact that she was being set up by her friend. “I’m sorry you’re here because my friends think I need a date even if I’m not ready for one just yet.”

  “Lizzy, I completely understand.” Gary said. “It’s been almost three years since my marriage ended, and I’m still not ready yet. I am not going to ask you to do something if you’re not ready. This is a wedding however; are you against having a dance?”

  She was hesitant to accept but he was only asking to dance. Lizzy gave him a small grin and took his hand. “No, receptions are for dancing.” She said as she walked him to the floor and they took a very respectful stance for the slow song that was playing. Gary held her hand in his, while his other hand was on her right ribcage about several inches above her hip. It stayed there the entire dance, and they seemed to enjoy this intimate moment as they looked into each others eyes, but said nothing. They danced with each other for a few moments, enjoying the moment and for the first time in a long time Lizzy felt comfortable enough to do that. The last time she had the kind of comfortable silence was with Hayden, and while she wasn’t ready to move on Lizzy realized that it was possible to feel that way again. She wasn’t ready to get that close to someone, but feeling that way just for a few moments was enough to let her know it was still possible. When the song was over, Lizzy leaned over and gave Gary a small kiss on his cheek. “Thank you very much. I’m still not ready, but I will keep in touch.”

  “That’s all one can hope for.” Gary agreed, “Good luck, only three more to go.”

  Lizzy knew Gary had most of the list memorized but the fact that he knew about the toast still impressed her a bit. She gave the soldier a big hug and then left the reception for the night. She had about all the wedding she could handle for that night. But as she left the hall, all she could think of was what Gary said to her. Only three left and her quest would be over. She pulled out a copy of it from her pocket and took a long look at the three that remained. Not a single one would be easy, but like Gary had told her at the beach: she had come this close, quitting was not an option. She folded it back up and hailed a cab. The next day she was going to get back on track and finish this thing before it finished her. While it had consumed over a year and half of her life, it wasn’t going to take much more from her. Not while she had a say in the matter.