Jackie disappears, and you leave Terri to go find her.

As you break the kiss, you stare into her eyes - Jackie's eyes - that shine so loving and happy and hypnotic. You don't blink or move just gazing as if in a trance hearing Terri's words, "Relax and just treat me like you would Jackie. Just like Jackie. Just like Jackie. Just like Jackie. Just like Jackie. Just like Jackie. ..."

"Um humfp."

The sound of Terri's voice awakes you, and you turn to see Jackie standing there, half smiling and half a mother's disappointment but happy.

"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" she teases with a hint of concern if not anger (perhaps jealousy?).

"Oh. Mom," Terri cries out dropping your hands and running to embrace her.

This confuses you as you're about to joyously cry, out "Oh, Jackie, my love," until you see the rest of the bridesmaids coming several steps behind her. As Terri releases her, you start, "Mrs. Driscoll, er ... Mom," and embrace her trying to hold back your true feelings of wanting to crush her body to yours even though it is Terri's. However, you lean your head against hers to whisper in her ear, "Jackie Driscoll, I love you more than anything." That's all you have time for to avoid it looking unusual while the rest of the bridesmaids rush Terri and surround her with hugs and best wishes.

When you pull back, Jackie plants a kiss on your cheek and loudly sings, "You're very special to me now, Gerry," so everyone can hear. She also gives you a wink that squeezes a tear out to slowly run down her cheek.

You know what she means even if everyone else has another interpretation, and you want to say and do so much more, but you suffice to just catch the tear on your finger and bring it to your lips since your back is to everyone.

Jackie smiles broadly as her eyes start to turn puffy holding back a flood. "I need to get touched up," she says and turns to walk briskly down the hall.

There's no time to react as the bridesmaids are now all over you tugging you back to Terri and pushing you two together. Caught up in the moment and burning with emotions for Jackie from the brief encounter, you play the happy, confident groom and now husband hugging, tickling, lifting, and kissing Terri treating her just like Jackie. It all seems so right, and your concerns vanish.

Shortly as everyone gathers, no one can find the maid of honor - Jackie to you and Terri, but Terri physically right now. You aren't that worried until most of the wedding party departs and again notice Jackie is nowhere in sight. Concern now boils up, and you grab Terri's hips and nibble her neck treating her just like Jackie then ask if she's seen "her mother." She shakes her head and turns around to embrace you while others gaze on. Naturally you kiss her just like you would Jackie until she is pulled away so she can hug goodbye to another well-wisher. You wander back towards the dressing area and start searching the rooms.

It's quiet and calm as you look in every room even the janitor's closet and down the stairs to the boiler room. "Where can she have gone, and why? you keep pondering. It's not like Jackie to just vanish especially at her own wedding. "And it was hers," to tell yourself even if she had to watch from the side.

The ceremony replays in your head. You clearly remember the sound of her voice as one of the angels singing "I do." You wish so much this hadn't happened and that you could have spent more time with her after the ceremony, but you have to treat Terri just like she is Jackie to keep up the pretense.

A touch of guilt and sadness enters your thoughts, then all the love swells up, and your emotions overflow with tears running down your face. Wiping them away seems to just spawn more, and you find yourself stumbling blindly forward and slowly climbing some stairs. At the top, the tears fade, and you see you are at the back entrance to the alter. You stare at your feet as you shuffle your way around towards the same spot where you'd made your vow.

There in beams of colored light coming through the stained-glass window is Jackie. An angel with her face aglow looking into the light, and you feel your chest heave and your face ache as tears again flow into your eyes. Desperately wanting to move but feeling unable, you stand and whimper like a child until a cloud dims the light and Jackie turns to you holding out her, or actually Terri's hands.

You join her holding hands and gazing into each others eyes. Slowly words form on your and her lips, and in unison you speak quietly to each other the ceremony vow.

"I pledge my life and soul to you, forever and ever, here before these witnesses, in this place of God, and .."