Isn't it Ironic?

I walked into the dimly lit hotel room. I could feel the tears building up at the back of my throat. Funny how that happens, hey? Here it was, my beautiful, younger sister’s wedding day, and I was ready to bawl. She was getting married to the greatest man alive – my best friend. How it worked out that way – I don’t know. All I remember is the way he met her – I was there. I, in fact, introduced them. Secretly, I was hoping to bring him home, woo the family with his charm, and plan our wedding. Somehow, in between the blazing red car and my front door, he locked eyes with my forget-me-not-eyed sister and fell madly in love with her.

Kristine waltzed into the room just then, stopping my teary eyes mid-fall. “Ah, Katz, perfect – just the girl I wanted to see.” I dreaded that mischievous smile she gave me. “Guess what, dearie?” Since when did she start calling me dearie? “We have less than one hour to get every last-minute detail touched up.” I gave her a weak smile as she waltzed back towards the door. “Don’t forget to put your dress on,” she called, walking away. I cringed. As if I was going to walk down the aisle in torn jeans and a smelly t-shirt.

One hour. One hour of torture. I raced around the room doing a few laps to calm my growing anxiety and took a few expansive breaths. Then, I heard a knock on the door. Ginger, our sweetheart childhood nanny, stepped into the room. I smiled and reached around her full waist, drawing her into a few dancing steps. She looked into my eyes, really deep, deeper than I normally allow her, and stated the words that I’m sure would finalize my fate. “Teddy won’t be showing up today.”

I wanted to scream. Better yet, I wanted to desert the wedding party and go paintball. Blazing red paint splatters on white t-shirts – good thought. “He got called in to cover a few shifts,” Nanny kept talking. My brain started reeling. I must be bad luck. Teddy was the stand-in guy whom I, one of five bridesmaids, had the so-called privilege of being seen with. “Does Kristine know?” I demanded.

Nanny nodded vigorously. I cringed (bad habit I guess). One hand in my jean pocket, the other chewing frantically at my nails, only to realize that they were in fact fake, plastic ones. Eww. I spent a moment in thought. “What does she expect me to do, exactly? Can I skip out on this?” To be honest, I hated the dress that I was forced to wear more than anything I have ever hated in my life. Except for that time when Monica... never mind, that’s a different story.

“You must find someone else!” Nanny tells me as she pats my shoulder lovingly. I feel the anger stirring deep inside by this point. What in the world did my sister want – for me to go out and pull a random guy off the street to walk me down the aisle? Ha! It was all for show anyways. I gagged – stupid weddings. If it wasn’t my sister’s, I wouldn’t be here.

“Fine.” It sounded so final, until I realized it had come out of my mouth. Had I just said that? I guess I was coming to terms with this. I could handle this. Teddy meant nothing to me. He was just the guy who was supposed to make the pictures symmetrical; the guy who was supposed to pull the seat out so that I could sit politely like a lady; the guy who was supposed to help me host the entertainment tonight. No biggie. Whatever. He was just the guy I needed most right at that moment!

Fuming, I raced out of the room. Taking a sharp corner I nearly killed the poor guy racing just as quickly. Of course, with my clumsiness I had managed to scatter all of his papers. “I’m terribly sorry,” I panted. Then I made the stupid mistake of locking eyes with him. Locking eyes with the most handsome man that I had ever seen in my life. I gasped. Sea-water green eyes, raven black hair, dimpled smile. I melted.

“Not a worry, all my fault.” He stood up. He was dressed in a suit. Sliding the papers under one arm, he held his other hand out for me to shake. “Derek.”

“K-k-k-Katie.” I breathed. Woah. Since when could I not properly say my name? Gulp. Since Derek, I suppose.

“Pleasure to meet you, Katie.” He gave me that smile. I’m shocked that he’s not on some top model show right now.

“Yeeah.” My voice squeaked. IT SQUEAKED! My stomach turned. What was happening?

“Again, I’m really sorry. I hope that you weren’t at all injured.” It seemed like he inquired it of me. I quickly shook my head, no.

“Well then, I’ve gotta run.”

Before he got three steps ahead, I ran after him. “Wait, Derek. Do a favor you could me?”

He raised his eyebrows. I cleared my throat and stuck my sweaty palms in my jean pockets. Now he must think I’m illiterate.

“Could you walk me down the aisle for my sister’s wedding in about a half hour?” I couldn’t believe myself. That took guts. Wow. I wanted to pat myself on the back, but held off, for fear that he’d find me more of a weirdo than I had already revealed.

He looked at me concerned. “I’m not really sure.” I felt the hot tears well in my eyes. What is it with me and guys? Honestly!

“I suppose I could.” Did I imagine that? Did he say that - for real?

Without another breath, I gave him the details before I ran back to my room at the hotel to get ready. Frantically, I tugged the dress on. A disgusting, bruise-shade of purple, it didn’t at all match with my straight blonde hair.

With a seemingly steady hand, I attempted to apply some ruby, red lipstick, followed by a splash of raspberry fragrance. I had met the perfect man. The most perfect, most handsome man alive and I had to be dressed in the ugliest dress ever created by a human. I sighed. Hopefully he could put up with holding my sweaty hand down the aisle.

I met him in the main foyer a few minutes later. He grinned like a little boy. “You look great,” he said. My already melted heart began to pool at his feet. I dragged myself alongside him to the room reserved for the ceremony, never taking my eyes off of him.

We hit it off great. He told me all about himself. He played golf every second weekend, attended church every other weekend, and enjoyed his work as a surgeon. Pretty much, I could imagine myself with him - I fit his lifestyle perfectly. I giggled.

My sister arrived a few moments later, and raised her eyes in approval when she saw Derek. I merely put my chin a little higher up. This one was mine.

The moment came for him to walk me down the aisle. I grimaced as I gave him my sweaty hand. He took it gently and reached over to fix a stray piece of hair. I couldn’t breathe for a moment. Wouldn’t that be fun? – In the middle of the walk, I would fall over and require CPR. Ha! Kristine would have a fit.

Derek walked alongside me, though I swear I walked on fluffy clouds, not luscious red carpet. At the end, he released my hand and regally walked over to the side where the groomsmen were seated.

Around me, the other girls were getting hysterical, begging to know the details of this new, charming fellow. I grinned, all-knowingly, and kept quiet. Oh, the power that I held!

The ceremony ended much too quickly and the dinner escorting began. I waited half-patient for Derek.

We finally took our seats at our special reserved table, and I let out a sigh of relief. The conversation, surprisingly, consisted of everything fluffy. I loved it. There were others at our table. I kept my eyes on Derek. He was mine. Mine. Mine. Mine.

Finally, he addressed me. “Katie, thank you very much for allowing me the pleasure to escort you tonight.” I grinned. But he looked past me. I turned around just as a beautiful brunette woman reached our table.

Her flawless smile was directed at my Derek. I wanted to shove her aside.

“Katie, allow me another pleasure tonight...”

I nodded enthusiastically.

“Let me introduce you to the most beautiful woman in the world - my wife.”