023

Tanner helped me to sit up. He bid me to remain sitting to see if I got dizzy again. I was impatient, but it was a smart thing to do. I sat calmly, waiting for the requisite period of time to pass. I didn't get the spins, so I said I was fine.

Dad and Tanner helped me to my feet, staying close in case I started to drop again. I was doing fine, so I asked to go back to the reception. Each of them took a hand and walked with me back to the hall. A few people saw me come in and started clapping, which caused others to look and see me, and they clapped too. I felt ridiculous. I'd made a mess of my wedding and people were clapping and cheering like I'd scored a touchdown.

Three quarters of our guests were still there. They led me to a chair and I sat down and people started coming up to me and asking if I was all right. I must have said "I'm fine, just too much emotion, I think," about a hundred times.

"Are the wait staff still here?" I asked Tanner.

Tanner looked around. "They were almost finished clearing when you fainted. I'm sure they've all left by now. Why do you ask?"

I wanted to see if my blackmailer was with them, but I couldn't say that. "I thought they did a great job," I said. "I wanted to thank them."

"They were well paid," Tanner replied. "That should be thanks enough."

"Of course, dear. You're right. I just wondered."

I sat there for another half hour, holding court, really. My guests coming to me instead of me going to them. I felt fine really, it was all so silly. Finally, I asked Tanner if we could have our dance now.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"What could happen? You'll be holding me, won't you?"

"Of course."

"Then let's dance. I'm not an invalid."

"Give me a minute to speak to the DJ. I'll have him put on our songs."

"Thank you."

Tanner got up and went to speak to the DJ. He stopped the current song and said, "The bride and groom, after a brief interruption in the nights festivities, would like to dance their first dances together as man and wife. The grooms song is 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight' by Elton John."

The music started and Tanner came to my chair and escorted me onto the dance floor. We started dancing and he was holding me close.

"I hope you're feeling well enough to 'Feel the Love Tonight'," Tanner whispered. "You've made me wait so long already."

"Nothing in this world could stop me from loving you tonight, Tanner. I've waited too long as it is. There have been times I wished I didn't make you wait." Like today before our wedding, I thought. "I love you so much. You may never know how much." I settled my face on his shoulder nuzzling up to his neck. "I even took lessons."

"You took lessons?" He looked at me, shocked and puzzled. "From who?"

"My posse, last night. We watched some porn while they gave me some pointers. Tiffany even brought out a glass dildo so I could practice sucking, you know, your penis."

"And that's all you practiced on?"

"Of course." I lied again. "Where else would I practice." I nestled against him again so I didn't have to look at him.

His song ended and the DJ said, "This is the bride's song, 'Someday, My Prince Will Come.' This version is by Barbra Streisand."

"Am I your prince?" Tanner asked.

"None other," I responded. "I will prove it to you tonight, my prince."

After our two dances, I danced with Daddy and Tanner danced with Mom, then we danced with Tanner's parents and the Best Man and Maid of Honor. I thought Geoff got a little handsy, though never obnoxiously so, but I was happy when he started dancing with someone else. I don't know why he bothered me so much, but he did. Of all our friends, if I thought anyone would be guilty of doing something disgusting to me, I would have guessed Geoff, he seemed that slimy. But he hadn't been at the Bachelorette Party. If he had done something, I believed he would do it for himself, and not for me to suck some stranger I'd never seen before. I could see him dancing with my other girlfriends and more than one of them removed his hand from their ass. Erin was tall enough Geoff could practically put his head on her bosom and I thought Erin would slap him at some point. Instead she stormed off, and he smiled to himself, his weaselly little smile. What a creep!

Nine o'clock rolled around and Tanner and I cut the cake together. We passed a few pieces out to family members before Tiffany took over and started passing out plates to the other guests.

"Are you ready to leave?" Tanner asked just before nine-thirty. "I have plans for you tonight."

"Yes, I am. I'm ready to go when you are. I just have to grab my things from the wedding bag."

"Why don't you get it. I'll start making our excuses."

I found Tiffany, who'd carried the bag from the wedding. "Tanner and I are leaving," I said. "I need to get my things."

"Okay, Brooke. You're sure you're all right?"

"I'm sure. Thank you."

We went out to the limo she'd come in and pulled out both bags. "Everyone else got their purses and clothes, Brooke. Why don't you just take these? You can use them for any souvenirs you buy in St. Lucia." She handed them to me. The bags were nylon and would fold into nothing in my suitcase.

"Thank you. I'll return them to you."

"No problem. You take care of yourself. Maybe see a doctor when you get back, just in case."

"Thanks for everything you did for me, Tiffany," I said. "I can't thank you enough." I hugged her and she kissed me on the cheek.

"I'd do anything for you, Brooksie, you know that." One more hug and she was gone.

I looked in the one bag, found my stained little cape. I took it out and threw it in a dumpster. One symbol of my degradation gone. My clothes and purse were in the other bag. I dug around in my purse until I found the blackmailer's phone. I put it in one of the nylon bags and smashed it to the ground, three or four times. I opened the bag and the phone was smashed into a thousand pieces, none of them larger than a penny. I dumped all the pieces into the same dumpster. The rest of my shame trashed. I went to look for Tanner.

I found him saying goodbye to his parents. I joined him, linking my arm through his, purse in hand.

"Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Tanner. I want to thank you for the gift of your son. He must get his character from you and I appreciate it so much.

"You're welcome, Brooke," his Mom replied. "You can call us Mom and Dad now."

"Thank you, Mom," I said, laughing. "We need to leave now. Tanner has big plans tonight."

"Don't do anything we wouldn't do," Tanner's Dad laughed.

"I hardly think that's possible, do you, Father. We'll see you when we get back from the honeymoon," Tanner said.

We went and said goodbye to my parents as well. They inquired after my health, but I told them, honestly, I felt fine now and they shouldn't worry. I reminded them I'd call them after I got back. "I love you both," I said. "Thank you."

"Of course, sweetheart," Dad said. "You kids have a good time on your honeymoon."

"We will, don't worry."

I waved to the rest of the room with a quick good night and thank you, and taking Tanner's arm, left to finally become a woman.