"Who are all these people anyway?"
Tom had agreed to be Roy's groomsman, so he pulled him away from the door and stepped into the church to assess the situation. When he returned, he was smiling.
"I have no clue, Roy."
"How much longer Reverend?" Roy pleaded.
Daniel reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a bottle of Irish whiskey and shoved it at Roy. "Here take a drink."
Roy narrowed his eyes at the bottle in Daniel's hands." I don't drink Reverend."
The minister was forceful, "You do now! It will help calm your nerves."
Roy shook his head and then tipped the bottle to his mouth. After taking a large swallow, Roy gasped for air and shook his head again. "Yuck, that tastes awful."
"Take another drink, Roy." The minister tipped the bottle up to Roy's mouth.
Roy repeated this act two more times and felt his head starting to spin. Tom snatched the bottle from Roy and finished off the rest of the contents in three gulps.
Aghast, the minister watched his prized Irish whiskey disappear.
"Ah… how are you feeling my friend?" Tom asked.
"Sick."
"Perfect. Let's go get you married."
Roy had to admit, he did have less anxiety. Standing straight, Roy plunged for the door and stumbled into the church.
The Reverend made his way to the front, facing the crowd while Tom assisted Roy into his proper place. Minutes later, the organ pumped out Wagner's 'Bridal Chorus' and everyone stood to their feet. Frank Dillard was beaming with pride as he walked Sara down the aisle toward Roy. When he saw Sara, Roy's erupted into a broad smile; she was so lovely. It took an eternity for the woman to reach the front of the church and stand next to Roy.
Roy whispered, "Sara, you look beautiful. Where'd you get a dress like that?"
Sara forced a smile, hissing between her clenched teeth. "Don't say a thing Roy. It took a lot of nerve for me to put this dress on and show up today.
"Oh, you have no idea Sara, but we're here now." Roy flashed a charming smile.
Sara burst out laughing.
Unfortunately, neither individual getting married remembered anything the reverend said. The two people stared into each other's eyes completely love-struck. When they repeated their vows, it required four attempts for Roy and Sara to get their lines spoken correctly. When Roy stumbled and said, "In sickness and death we parted," the entire church broke into laughter.
Eventually, they completed the ceremony and Roy remembered with distinct clarity the reverend saying these words, "You may now kiss the bride."