The Wedding of John Putnam and Carrie Hall

The bridesmaids were lined up on one side. Cassie, the maid of honor, followed by Sam, followed by Carrie's friend, Amy, followed by a couple of Carrie's church group friends, followed by you and then Jezebel. Jezebel fussed at you, fixing your hair, adjusting your panties. She wrinkled her nose.

"You're pretty pungent today, Joanie," she said with a smirk.

"Oh. Carrie give me her pair this morning. I think her and my Daddy have been saving up for a few weeks since she's off the pill ... so she's probably needy." Jezebel laughed.

Tommy Robinson was the best man, next to Chad and a bunch of bankers that worked for your Daddy. The church was full of people. Political people, corporate people. You saw Marco and waved daintily at him. The butterflies were churning pretty hard in your stomach today. You thought maybe it was just best to focus on holding the bouquets, and not to think about your ex-girlfriend ... the only girlfriend you'd ever had ... about to marry your Daddy.

You saw your Daddy come down to stand next to Tommy. God, he looked handsome in the tuxedo. You shook your head. Focus, Joanie. Then a few minutes later, "Here Comes the Bride" was played live.

Carrie looked radiant. She was freshly tanned, her ass was on point, her tits were on point. She looked like she'd spent the last week in the salons and spas, getting to her peak beauty. Her hair was long and silky and honey blonde. She was your Daddy's dream wife. She had eclipsed Cathleen, and you saw that as you looked into his eyes, dreamy as Carrie walked to him, Charlie escorting her.

Finally they reached the end of the altar, and the crowd grew hushed. The preacher cleared his throat.

"Friends and family who have traveled to be with John Putnam and Carrie Hall, welcome." The bride's side interrupted, in unison. "Barbie!!!" The crowd laughed. Carrie and John laughed. The preacher laughed.

"That's right, that's absolutely right. John and Barbie, love has brought you together here today. I can tell everyone in here that John has been through tragedy. He's been through loss. And he's come out the other side. And it's because of this jewel here. Barbie is without a doubt one of the impressive members of my congregation, one of the most impressive women I've ever met. And I think all of us, or at least many of us, hope they are our future Governor and First Lady." The crowd applauded. It had to be a little bit political.

"To truly love, you must both enter your life together with trust. With candor. With vulnerability. You must respect and revere one another. But so long as you love and believe in each other, there is no obstacle you won't be able to conquer. Now, John Putnam, do you, of your own free will, take Barbie Hall as your lawful, wedded wife, to love, protect and defend so long as you both shall live?" John smiled broadly at Carrie.

"I do."

"Now, Carrie, do you, of your own free will, take John Putnam as your lawful, wedded husband, to love, protect, and defend, as long as you both shall live?" Carrie looked at John, her eyes glittering.

"I do."

"Do you have the ring?" The preacher asked John. Chad produced it. A beautiful ring for a beautiful woman. Carrie placed a simple gold band onto John's ring finger.

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

John pulled back Carrie's veil. She still had on her gleaming gold tiara as he dipped her back, giving her a long, deep kiss. You were starting to feel faint. Jezebel rubbed your back reassuringly.

"It's almost over sweetie, I know it isn't easy."

The crowd applauded. You adjusted in your heels, looking at your feet. You wanted to cry, but you weren't sure for what. It was the bliss on their faces, you supposed. Your six months with Carrie was a speedbump in her life. But your Daddy ... he was the main attraction.

Cassie caught the wedding bouquet, giving Tommy a meaningful look. You ditched out a little early, hanging with Marco in a large porch swing next to the lake. Neither of you said anything. Neither of you had too. A chapter in your life had closed. Necessarily, but it wasn't totally painless.