want to look like a complete idiot and was desperately hoping for some sort of an indication on what I should or shouldn’t do. I wanted to correct him . I’d been Camille Benning my whole life . T his week I’d gotten used to being called Camille Strayer, but no one had ever called me Camille Chiron . S till unsure of what was and wasn’t acceptable, I simply replied, “Thank you. Did you know her very well?”
“Better than most . W e were betrothed.” He didn’t drop his stare a s it went from uncomfortable to excruciating. Then a light bulb went off : this was the man my mother owed her blood debt to.
Will ended the conversation abruptly, “Kyle, I was hoping we could have our discussion after the nuptials.” I felt my own nervousness straighten my back and widen my eyes as reality set in that this man believed I owed him my life .
The weight of his stare was nearly painful. The look on his face did not match his words, “I wouldn’t dream of delaying such an important event. Of course we can talk after.”
H e didn’t flinch, move , or break eye contact with me. I felt Will’s hand urging me forward. I could imagine why my mother had rejected him . Although every person I saw looked like they’d stepped of f of a magazine cover, there was something about Mr. Richardson that didn’t feel right : a weakness of some kind , as if a part of him w ere missing. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but there was definitely something amiss when I compared him to all others in attendance. I couldn’t see what would have ever gained her interest in him to begin with. As I looked at the guests, young and old , there was definitely a common thread - attractiveness. They weren’t attractive in a Venice Beach kind of way, but in a Hollywood Movie S tar kind of way. Tall, muscular, full heads of hair, charismatic smiles , and thoughtful words greeted me with each new introduction. I wondered silently wh at was so different about Kyle Richardson.
As we took our seats waiting for the ceremony to begin, I could feel eyes watching me. I worried that Kyle Richardson was staring me down, but when I turned my head , I was just in time to see Drake , the man who had caught me in mid-air , turn away. He sat next to a beautiful lady . Her long blonde hair flowed nearly to her waist ; she had high cheek bones, a light complexion and perfect posture. She looked like the poster child for beauty. As I continued l ooking their way, she turned her gaze toward me and gave me a sli ght grin in silent greeting and raised her fingers in a casual hello . Wow , I could see why Drake wouldn’t want to rock the boat with her . I shared a half-grin with her and moved my gaze to where Bruce stood up front with the minister .
The ceremony was remarkably short. It mirrored every other wedding I’d ever attended until the very last announcement was made, “The two joined here today are now one in our kingdom’s eyes . W elcome them into our home. Should one perish before the other, remember Hylonome’s sacrifice when Cyllarus was lost in battle against the Lapiths. Neither will now breath e without the other.”
Not having a clue who Hylonome or Cyllarus were , I made a mental note to do some research. Will’s words echoed in my mind from the other night – that he and Gretchen had been on the outs when he met my mother – everything I’d heard since then sounded like that wasn’t really an option. I’d give it some time then ask Gretchen a little more. As thrilled as I was to finally have someone to call “Dad,” I still wasn’t convinced he was for real. Sure a living, breathing person, you bet – but I had a nagging feeling that something still didn’t feel right . This final s tatement of the wedding vows seemed ominous, unwavering . I wonder ed if I was taking this vow too literally .
I didn’t have long to consider the vows or what my
“Better than most . W e were betrothed.” He didn’t drop his stare a s it went from uncomfortable to excruciating. Then a light bulb went off : this was the man my mother owed her blood debt to.
Will ended the conversation abruptly, “Kyle, I was hoping we could have our discussion after the nuptials.” I felt my own nervousness straighten my back and widen my eyes as reality set in that this man believed I owed him my life .
The weight of his stare was nearly painful. The look on his face did not match his words, “I wouldn’t dream of delaying such an important event. Of course we can talk after.”
H e didn’t flinch, move , or break eye contact with me. I felt Will’s hand urging me forward. I could imagine why my mother had rejected him . Although every person I saw looked like they’d stepped of f of a magazine cover, there was something about Mr. Richardson that didn’t feel right : a weakness of some kind , as if a part of him w ere missing. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but there was definitely something amiss when I compared him to all others in attendance. I couldn’t see what would have ever gained her interest in him to begin with. As I looked at the guests, young and old , there was definitely a common thread - attractiveness. They weren’t attractive in a Venice Beach kind of way, but in a Hollywood Movie S tar kind of way. Tall, muscular, full heads of hair, charismatic smiles , and thoughtful words greeted me with each new introduction. I wondered silently wh at was so different about Kyle Richardson.
As we took our seats waiting for the ceremony to begin, I could feel eyes watching me. I worried that Kyle Richardson was staring me down, but when I turned my head , I was just in time to see Drake , the man who had caught me in mid-air , turn away. He sat next to a beautiful lady . Her long blonde hair flowed nearly to her waist ; she had high cheek bones, a light complexion and perfect posture. She looked like the poster child for beauty. As I continued l ooking their way, she turned her gaze toward me and gave me a sli ght grin in silent greeting and raised her fingers in a casual hello . Wow , I could see why Drake wouldn’t want to rock the boat with her . I shared a half-grin with her and moved my gaze to where Bruce stood up front with the minister .
The ceremony was remarkably short. It mirrored every other wedding I’d ever attended until the very last announcement was made, “The two joined here today are now one in our kingdom’s eyes . W elcome them into our home. Should one perish before the other, remember Hylonome’s sacrifice when Cyllarus was lost in battle against the Lapiths. Neither will now breath e without the other.”
Not having a clue who Hylonome or Cyllarus were , I made a mental note to do some research. Will’s words echoed in my mind from the other night – that he and Gretchen had been on the outs when he met my mother – everything I’d heard since then sounded like that wasn’t really an option. I’d give it some time then ask Gretchen a little more. As thrilled as I was to finally have someone to call “Dad,” I still wasn’t convinced he was for real. Sure a living, breathing person, you bet – but I had a nagging feeling that something still didn’t feel right . This final s tatement of the wedding vows seemed ominous, unwavering . I wonder ed if I was taking this vow too literally .
I didn’t have long to consider the vows or what my
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