The day of the wedding dawned, bright and clear. The clouds that had gathered in the night, threatening gloom and possibly even rain, had vanished as if by magic. Instead, sunlight danced across the blue waters of the bay and warmed the old villas of Tartosa.
"Oh, I can't believe my little girl is all grown up," Cassie said, pulling Miranda to her.
"Mom, you're gushing," Miranda groaned in her mom-you're-embarrassing-me voice, but she smiled as she said it.
"You're getting married. I'm allowed to gush," Cassie said.
Standing a little apart, Gwen just quietly beamed, but somehow Miranda could feel her love and approval surrounding her like a hug. One of these days, Miranda thought, I'm going to figure out how she does that.
"Alright, Gwen and I are going down to the beach to make sure everything is ready," Cassie said with a deep, getting-down-to-business, breath. "Catch up with us. You don't want to be late."
"We'll get her there," Genie Elderberry promised.
"You know, unless we run into some cute Tartosan guys along the way," Jenny Poole teased with a flirty toss of her golden hair.
"We'll get her there," Genie repeated firmly as Cassie and Miranda laughed.
"Hey, I wanted to thank you again for asking me to be a bridesmaid," Jenny said as Cassie and Gwen walked on ahead. "I know I wasn't your first choice."
"Don't be silly," Miranda said. "You're a friend."
"Yeah, I know, but I'm not a friend like Genie here or Beth," Jenny said. "If Beth could have been here, she'd be standing with you instead."
"I'd still want you standing with me, Jenny," Miranda said. "Yeah, it's true Beth and Jake couldn't be here... their duties as the new pack leaders mean they can't leave Moonwood Mill right now... but I can have as many bridesmaids as I want."
"OK, I've got to say it's a little weird that your high school best friend can't be at your wedding because of her werewolf stuff," Genie said. "I mean, werewolf stuff? Really? I will never get used to your life."
"My life's not that weird," Miranda said defensively, tasting the lie even as she said it.
"Oh yes, it is," Jenny laughed. "Magic, werewolves, vampires, gangsters... all part of the Miranda Goth package. Does this Mariah of yours really know what she's signing up for?"
"Oh, she does," Genie said. "Believe me, they're perfect for each other."
"Well, that's... a little scary actually," Jenny said. "Anyway, thank you. I'm honored. Even if it does mean I'm stuck with this dress instead of one that let me show off my assets better."
"Jenny, if you showed off your assets any more, you'd be topless," Miranda laughed.
"I like to play to my strengths," Jenny grinned. "Not that it matters. I mean, I get that it's a lesbian wedding and all, but couldn't you have invited a couple of straight guys? I mean it's traditional... bridesmaids get laid."
"She has a point," Genie giggled.
"You're both horrible," Miranda said.
"Though there is that Lucius guy who was at dinner last night," Jenny mused. "He's straight."
"No," Miranda said, shocked.
"Yes, he is," Jenny insisted. "He was totally checking me out. Flip you for him," she added to Genie.
"No," Miranda repeated firmly. "You may not hook up with Lucius! He's Gwen's father for God's sake."
"I thought Don Lothario was your father," Jenny said.
"He was," Miranda said, "Lucius is Gwen's father... which makes him my grandfather and you may not hook up with my grandfather at my wedding. Or at all!"
"Damn, he's fit for a guy in... what... his sixties," Jenny said.
"A little older than that actually," Miranda sighed. "And I'll say it again for emphasis - you may not hook up with Lucius. Besides, I thought you guys both swore off men after the whole dating gangsters thing... and can I just say that it's weird that you both, separately, did that."
"What can I say, bad boys are really good at doing naughty things," Jenny smirked. "You know."
"No, as it happens, I don't," Miranda said loftily. "I've never been with a bad boy, or any boy."
"I didn't know that," Genie said. "You mean... never? I thought you were attracted to guys too?"
"Well, I am. I mean I kissed boys when I was younger," Miranda said. "I've never... you know... and I've been with Mariah since I... I mean... why am I talking about this?"
"OK, we've got about an hour until the wedding," Jenny said. "I bet we could find you a reasonably cute Tartosan guy..."
"No!" Miranda said, laughing.
"Let's just get her to the wedding," Genie added.
