)The Baymore Hotel looked scary from the sidewalk, standing taller than the other buildings on Michigan Avenue. It looked just like a big fat bully who takes away kids’ lunch money; scary, cruel, and proud. I stared at the massive building and took deep breaths.
Making sure to lift up the bottom of my dress a little, I went up the front steps and entered the main lobby. The front desk was gold and circular, and the lobby was surrounded by leather chairs. Some golden chandeliers were hanging from the ceiling, and everyone was dressed elegantly. Entering the Baymore was like going to a fashion show, if you wore jeans and a t-shirt you would definitely stick out.
People once again were staring at me, pointing out the girl with white sand on her dress. However, I plowed past them and towards where the ceremony was in Applegate Hall. I went through a couple of hallways before seeing the hall in front of me. It was deserted, except for a loan janitor mopping up the floors.
I hesitantly walked in. “Sir, do you know when the wedding here ended?”
The janitor, an old man with a bald head on some stubby hairs on his chin resembling some sort of a beard, set down his mop. “The ceremony ended about two hours ago. They’re having the reception in the Banquet Room on the other side of the hotel.”
I quickly thanked the man before racing back through the other halls. I knew I had to get there ASAP, I could possibly miss my mother if I didn’t make it to the reception fast enough. After all, the bride and groom are always supposed to leave the reception first.
Once I got close, I could hear pop-dance music and a quick bass beat. I quickly rounded a corner and came upon a sign.
Banquet Room:
2 PM - 5 PM
The Wedding Reception of Kathy and Joel Cassidy
Taking a deep breath, I made my way towards the door and opened it with a flourish.
The whole room was dark, and almost everyone was dancing. There was a designated dance floor in the middle of the room, with a shiny disco ball over it. There was a line of conga dancers parading around the room, clearly drunk.
There was only one person who didn’t look all that happy, and I was surprised to see she was in tears. My mother was in the corner talking rapidly into a cell phone, while Joel patted her back.
I walked closer to them, and I could hear snippets of what she was saying.
“I don’t know where she is…….she’s about five foot six and she’s got straight, brown hair. I think she probably ran away………we’ve checked just about everywhere.”
When I got about five feet away, Joel noticed me and tapped on mom’s shoulder. She looked in my direction, and for a second, it was like her eyes glazed over me. I wasn’t real.
But then, tears started streaming down her face. She ran towards me and encompassed me in one her world famous hugs. And for a second, everything was right with the world.
Mom pulled back and stared at me; my face, my dress. She took a deep breath, and then her voice rattled like an incoming train.
“I can’t believe you had the nerve to do that.”
I was absolutely astounded. She had seemed happy that I was back; this was clearly not something I thought she would say.
“Do what?” I asked, but I already knew what I had done.
“Do what,” she mimicked, “You ruined my wedding, Cherie. I didn’t have a maid of honor.” She threw her hands up in the air. “Why? Why’d you do that?”
I wasn’t very confidant anymore. I played with the end up my hair, a bit nervous. Now that I wasn’t gone, she enjoyed knocking me down, brick by brick.
This time, I was the one to cry. Seeping tears stung my cheeks. I wanted to tell her that I was OK with it all, but I knew I wasn’t. It was just something I tried to make myself believe.
Fast on my toes, I spun around and ran out of the Banquet Room. Later I realized that the DJ had stopped the music, and everyone in attendance was watching our little confrontation.
I burst through the wooden doors and out through the Baymore’s crazy hallways. Behind me, I heard loud steps, thumping in the back of my brain. Someone was calling my name. Someone wanted me to come back.
The sandy bottom of my dress swished along the fancy, carpeted floor. The footsteps were closer now, and I realized the person who was running after me was wearing heels like me. I stopped to look around.
There she was. Mom was running after me, her head thrashing from side to side and her gown rustling beneath her. She looked like a cheetah about to pounce on its prey.
Out of breath, I found an empty janitor’s closet in one of the hallways and locked myself in. The room was small, dusty, and cobwebs were everywhere; hanging from various shelves stacked with bleach and carpet cleaner.
Mom pounded on the door; and I imagined her fists balled up with anger. I slid down against the door and closed my eyes, and the pounding relentlessly continued. She tried to talk to me, but I blocked her out.
An hour before, I’d wanted to tell her that I was OK with her marrying Joel. That if she was happy, I was happy, and that family should support one another.
Now, I was certain I didn’t agree with that anymore. I couldn’t take them being together all the time.
Salty tears were still coming down my face. I didn’t even bother to wipe them up, because I knew there was more coming.
Life is hard.
When you’re little, you believe in fairy tales. You think that one day Prince Charming is going to find you, sweep you up onto his white stallion, and ride into the sunset. You think that there are unicorns frolicking in some mountainside pasture, with a rainbow mane.
In life, you have to work at things. I knew that I would one day have to accept that Joel and my mom were together.
But then, I just couldn’t handle it.
