The Last Hour (Thompson Sisters) by Sheehan-Miles, Charles (reading well .txt) 📕

He just smiled. A little while later, it was time for the toasts. Ray gave the first one, then me, then our parents. Dinner was finished, and the toasts were continuing, when Julia stood up and called, “It’s time for the first dance! Dylan and Alexandra, the dance floor is yours!”

The partiers were all pretty drunk at this point, so there was a lot of clapping, but Alexandra stood and held a hand in the air. “Wait!” she called. Then she grabbed the microphone.

“I need to propose a toast first,” she said. I leaned in my seat, watching her. She was radiant in that dress, and she looked as happy as I’ve ever seen her. As she started to speak, she rested a hand on Dylan’s shoulder, and my eyes darted to Ray. He met my eyes and gave me a smile.

“I want to propose a toast to two people who mean ... everything ... to me and Dylan,” she said quietly. And I froze. She turned to me and said, “Most of you know that when we were growing up, we moved, a lot. Every three years we were some place new ... I remember living in Moscow, and before that Washington, and before that China. So until I went to high school I didn’t get a chance to have ... friends who stayed around. Or anyone else my age who really knew what I was going through. But there was one person I could always turn to. Whenever I ... stubbed my toe. Or needed help with my homework. Or cried over a boy. She was always, always there. My big sister Carrie.”

She sniffed, and then said, “Most of you also probably don’t know that a year and a half ago, Dylan was badly injured in Afghanistan. And ... as he’s told me the story ... the person who bandaged his wounds, and made sure he got to safety, was Ray Sherman.”

 She looked at Ray, and I could see tears in her eyes, and they were in mine too, as she said, “Dylan said that as he was losing consciousness, nearly bleeding to death in a remote region of Afghanistan, the only thing he could hear was Ray’s voice. Telling him it was going to be okay. And not just in war, but at home, Ray has been ... a gift. He helped bring me and Dylan back together when I didn’t think that could ever happen. And for that, I’ll always love you, Ray.”

I grabbed a napkin and wiped tears off my face, because tears were running freely and it was completely screwing up my makeup.

Alex turned to the crowd and said, “Carrie and Ray are two of the most selfless people I’ve ever met. They both said they didn’t want to ruin my wedding day with their announcement, because they thought it might overshadow it.”

Oh. Shit. I met Ray’s eyes, and I could feel mine grow wide, and he just shrugged and grinned.

Alexandra continued. “But I can’t go out there and have the dance with my husband, unless Carrie gets hers too. Because yesterday, in a quiet ceremony, Carrie and Ray became husband and wife.”

I was paralyzed with shock. She didn’t have to do that. She didn’t have to do it at all. I stood up, weeping, and pulled my little sister into a hug. There was a stunned silence, and then someone started clapping, and then someone else, and then the screaming and catcalls and cheers started. Over Alexandra’s shoulder I saw my mother hugging Ray and crying and somehow I knew then that everything was going to be okay.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I said in Alexandra’s ear, my voice rough.

“I wanted to. Now let’s go dance with our husbands.”

So the music started, and I shivered. Because it wasn’t what I expected at all. Not a song that was Alexandra and Dylan’s. It was Falling Slowly, from the musical Ray and I saw together in Houston. The four of us went to the dance floor, and when we got there, we put our rings back on, and then I was in Ray’s arms, and I couldn’t in a million years have imagined a better wedding.

When the dance was over, it was time for the father to dance with the bride, which was going to be ... difficult ... after what I’d said to him at the beginning of the reception. So Alexandra went first, and I waited on the sidelines, and then when they were done, it was my turn.

We danced like robots. Worse, we danced like people who had severely wounded each other. Halfway through the song, he said, “This came as a surprise.”

“I told you I loved him, Dad.”

He nodded. “You were correct to demand an apology. Please forgive me. I was concerned about your welfare. But I’d have to be completely blind not to see how much you love each other. And what Alexandra said about ... well, both of you. It was touching. It made me feel that I hardly know you at all.”

I swallowed and said, “Dad, you don’t have to…”

“No. You know, your mother and I have been telling ourselves for ten years that we’d be better parents. That we wouldn’t let you down or hurt you. But I know we did. You ... Alexandra ... especially Julia. What I want more than anything in the world is for you girls to be happy. And somehow I keep doing exactly the wrong thing.”

“Dad ... I forgive you. But please ... will you apologize to Ray? And give him a chance?”

He nodded. “I will.”

The dance ended soon, and we split up. Dad went and cornered Ray, putting his hand on Ray’s shoulder. I waved, and pointed toward the restrooms and mimed fixing my makeup. Ray grinned and nodded, and he and my dad walked off together.

I walked to the exit and down the hall until I found the restrooms. I walked up to the counter