Hello. Goodbye - Chapter Four

Chapter Four.

Walking down the church's aisle right before the bride, Lily chanted inwardly to herself.

One foot in front of the other.
Don't trip.
Smile.
Look ahead.
Focus.

She wasn't the bride or anything, but being the center of attention, even for a fraction of a second, irked her right down to her polished toes. It must be due to the fact she more at ease with trying to blend into the background.

Unbeknown to Lily, she looked gorgeous and didn't seem bothered by the on-lookers at all.

In fact, a few pews behind on the grooms side of the church, sat a man quite entranced with his former co-worker.

Quite taken with Lily, Jamie wished he brought his sketch pad to try to capture her in this lighting with the colors around her; she was captivating. Instead, he pulled out the digital camera he always kept on his person and snapped a few photos of Lily and then the bride who followed right after.

Afraid Kiera would ask questions, he prepared the excuse that he may use these photos for inspiration on future gallery pieces. Which wasn't at all far from the truth. He, right this moment, was suddenly inspired as to what direction he would go for one portion of his future gallery exhibit. He smiled outwardly, unaware that he had caught the attention of some of the women around him as he did so.

Soon after the ceremony was finished, the bridal party began to exit the church. This time, it took no effort at all for Lily to enjoy the moment. She took the time to look around at the guests standing in their pews on the way out, and just before she looked down to watch her step, her glance fell over a very familiar and very handsome face.

Looking up again, she lost that face in the crowd and was being guided by her partner to the church front yard for greetings and photos.

Was she dreaming?

The flurry of familiar and unfamiliar faces had her wanting, maybe needing, to run away. Frantically, she looked for a spot against the wall and out of the way to get some fresh air. No one would notice if she slipped out of the way, it would be fine.

Leaning against the cool gray stone of the church she watched as the bride and groom happily hugged, kissed and took photos with every person who hung around.

Meanwhile, Jamie casually made his way toward her without breaking her concentration on the happy couple.
"Hello, pretty Lily," he spoke gently stirring her attention.
"Hello, Jamie," caught off guard, she only blushed. "So it was you I saw in the church."
"Yes, it was. How are you doing?"
"I'm good. Work has been killing me, but I'm hoping a week's vacation will do me good."

She was at the beginnings of what would be psycho-babble at the realization that she just mentioned 'work'. A very sore subject considering she stole his job from him.

Trying quickly to change the topic, she asked what he had been up to.

He didn't notice the shift into uncomfortable conversational grounds Lily was having, so he answered honestly and happily.

"Well, I've moved back home. I don't have a full-time job but I've volunteered at an old age home here in town. I teach art classes. I came here with Kiera our model. She's classmates with the couple."

Lily listened intently.
He didn't sound bitter at all.
He's an artist?

The crowd started disbursing and she noted a few people searching for someone.
It might be me they're looking for, she thought.

One last question, she pleaded with her conscience.
"You're not bitter about.. you know... being terminated?"

He shook his head gently

"Not at all, Lily."
"Oh, well that's quite a relief. I've been worried about that," she candidly confessed.

Wanting to run away from more self-humiliating words, she began to walk, slow enough for him to note he was supposed to follow her.

"Why, Lily?" He asked, trying to catch up to her with quick strides.
"Winnie and Danny!" She hugged, pretending not to have heard his question.
Then gesturing towards the tall, handsome man just behind her, she introduced them.

As the men shook hands, Winnie exchanged a knowing glance with Lily.

Amazingly, it was with Winnie she was able to openly show expressions on her face. The automatic aloofness was hardly ever present when the two were together.

With a silent promise to fill in her favorite cousin, Lily told the newly-wed couple she'd meet them at the reception in a few hours.

Jamie on the other hand, was talking to a very attractive woman with legs the length of the Nile. It was a sin to have those legs in church, Lily was almost certain.

She wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. That idea was thwarted as Jamie called her name out just as she turned to leave.
"Lily, let me introduce you to Kiera."
"Hi, Kiera."
"Hi."
"Jamie," she began apologetically, "I have to go. Maid of Honor duties."
"Oh, right..." He stammered.
Aww, what a sweetheart, she thought, for a second forgetting about his date.
"Well, see you two at the reception?"
"Actually," he began, "Kiera just brought me to proxy her boyfriend who couldn't make it. But since he can come tonight, I won't be going."
"Oh that's too bad," she said hiding her disappointment quite well.

'Would you like to be my date?' Never quite made it out of her mouth, so she stood there trying to figure out what to say.

"Well, I guess you'd better go. They've all left."

As he spoke, she noticed Kiera had gone too.

"They have?" She asked, looking around to see that they were indeed, the last two standing.
"Oh dear, I've got to go back in the church and collect the mess we made."
"I can help..."
"No, please. I can do it. I've got time to spare."
"So do I," he insisted.
Smiling at him, she accepted his help and they went to work picking up the programs and gathering the flowers and ribbons from the pews.

They worked in comfortable silence for about half an hour.
Her heart was doing somersaults and butterflies were doing vaults off her tummy or something. All she could hear was her pulse quickening each time he was close.
Each time he got close, she quickly moved away for fear that he heard the loud thumping.

She grabbed each temple with an index finger and began to massage it.
"Are you alright, Lily?" Jamie asked with concern.
"Yeah, I'm good." She smiled as if to prove her claim.
"I think I'll toss these in my trunk and drive you to your next destination."
"No.. Really, Jamie. You can't."
"Yes, I can. Did you drive?"
"Yes."
"Then you drive home in your car and I'll chauffeur you to the reception."
"I hardly think that's fair."
"Humor me, Lily. I've just been dumped by my date."
"Well, I guess then. Wouldn't want to put your outfit to waste," she said as she pulled at his lapels teasingly.

What has gotten into her?

Generally, she'd shy away from anyone.
Men, mostly.
But most especially single and very attractive men.

Part of her thought she ought to feel humiliated. However, all the other parts of her, chose to side with Undiscovered Lily and push Aloof Lily to the curb.

This will be interesting, she thought.

Boy, was she a tough cookie to read, he thought amusingly.
No one's had him this interested in quite some time, he added.

Not wanting to think any deeper about his past, he picked up the two boxes of paraphernalia they gathered and walked them to his car.

Is this really happening, she has to ask herself. It was the best feeling she'd had since the promotion. Wishing this moment would never end, she jogged in her high heels to catch up with him.
At the sight of his car, she stopped and gaped.
Looking over his shoulder, he saw the most expression he's ever seen. He had to chuckle.

"What?"

She pointed at the incredulous vehicle and asked candidly, "Are you sure that thing has miles to go?"
He thumped the trunk of his car and leaned against it with a smug smile, "Of course it does!"
She cocked an eyebrow at him, "You drove that in the city?"
"No," he smiled. "When I lived in the city, I took transit. It didn't make sense to bring her there. But now that I've moved back, I get to use her more often."
"Oh..." she said unconvinced the thing wouldn't fall apart if she tried to sit in it. Not that she was that heavy or anything. The poor car looked like it would soon be out of commission.
"OK, let's get going now. Before you stare it to death. I still need to drive home today, you know."

They laughed and were on their way.

She definitely hasn't felt this way before.
He definitely hasn't felt this way, either.