Before Diane knew it, Sunday was upon them and so the hustle of the wedding. Despite being a bit rusty on the wedding execution stuff, she was quite pleased with herself in how she kept everything organized. Everything from the making sure the quartet knew the song changes to the directing Gina's father on where to wait for her, she was pretty focused. Even the off-the-cuff monkey wrenches like cheering up one of the bridesmaids who had the unfortunate situation of her boyfriend dumping her the night before and Gina getting into it with her mom about wearing a thong on her wedding day, seemed to had worked themselves out. After the successful, but awkward thong discussion, she contemplated perhaps becoming a professional mediator.

As she stood there as her best friend took her vows, a sense of nostalgia took her back to when she once stood there with the love of her life. She'd promised Christian a small wedding, but with so many people so excited to see them finally married, it was impossible. She remembered his annoyance scanning the massive guest list, freaking out about how they couldn't afford it. He wanted to get married at the courthouse, with just a small group of friends and family. "I just want to marry you, Dee," she remembered his simple words. "I don't care where." She and Gina didn't execute her wedding half as well, but it was loaded with fun memories. Watching her handsome fiance standing across from her reciting his vows to respect and love her no matter what. He vowed he'd never let her go.

Till death do us part.

Her eyes watered, as the happy memory turned on her. She felt one of the bridesmaids rub her shoulder as if to comfort her.

The blonde, whom Diane believed her name was Dana, leaned over. "It's so beautiful, isn't it?, she whispered.

Diane quickly nodded, wiping her eyes with her wrist. Shame clawed at her. This day wasn't about her and her loss. It was about her best friend finding love. Not everything is about you, Diane, she thought to herself. Be happy for Gina. She knew she was right and despite her friends odd choice for love, she needed to be there for her, not wallow in her own grief. But it was just hard to keep her own sorrow from invading sometimes.

As both Gina and Derek first kissed as a married couple amongst a league of jolly guests, she was beginning to feel she would always be haunted by missing him. As she walked down the aisle for the recession, she waved at Chrissy as Judy held on to her.

'Hi mama!," Chrissy shouted.

Diane laughed. "Hi bumper." She scooped her up from Judy. "Come on, so we can take pictures before you get your dress all dirty."

"Nah uh," Chrissy shook her head.

"Oh, yes unh, she replied. "I'm glad I brought you some pants." She walked through the corridor and her eyes landed on a tall, lean figure in a black suit. It was William. He leaned against the wall clapping and smiling, when his eyes met hers. Speechless, she avoided his gaze and headed to the gather with the rest of the wedding party. Her cheeks warmed. What's wrong with me? I'm just being rude, now. Looking around, she checked for him nearby, but soon she was pulled into the circus of wedding photos.

The reception was in full swing, with music from Derek and Gina's playlist, food and dancing. After the short, but sweet speeches and toasts, everyone broke out and mingled, noshed and drank. Diane and Gina watched Derek dance with Chrissy and smiled as he held her. Though he wasn't her favorite person, her favorite people tended to like him. Toying with the copious amount of icing on her slice of cake, she watched the festivities. Every now and then, Will would come into her line of sight and monopolize her attention, but she would either take a drink or grab some food. If she kept this up, she'd either be shitfaced or ten pounds heavier by the end of the day. Neither would be a good look for her. But then again, perhaps a deterrent for a handsome, persistent emergency care doctor.

"Why are you so quiet?," Gina asked.

Diane shrugged. "Nothing, just people watching."

"Well, what you need to be watching is that fine ass, roguish doctor over there with eyes like sunshine and an ass like an apple."

"Gina!," she looked around for eavesdroppers as the temperature rose in her cheeks.

"I'm just sayin. I know he's not what you were used to, but he's pretty yummy." She sipped her champagne as they both watched him talking to some guests.

When he looked up, Diane whipped her head around. "So."

Gina leaned in, batting her eyes. "Soooo. When's the last time you had a yummy guy between those thighs, mama?" Gina pinched Diane's leg, making her jump.

"Actually, I think Chrissy's doctor, Dr. Evans was the last brave soul to be down there. He definitely wasn't yummy, but I don't know--if I was older...who knows."

Gina laughed and Diane wasn't too far behind.

Diane couldn't remember the last time she had enough time to pleasure herself. These days, it was the last thing on her mind. Weren't women supposed to pack all that passion up once they had children? It seemed to be a natural switch to her once Chrissy was born. Romance and sex were not in her pursuits, nor should there be when there's a baby that needs you 24/7. She wasn't dead below the waist, but it just didn't fit into her life anymore. "But I mean, c'mon. A girl can survive without it."

She fanned the notion away. "Pssh. Speak for yourself."

"What I mean is, my hands are full with too much to deal with dating someone. The constant nurturing and figuring out want they want and if they want you. The assholes who aren't assholes at first, but once you let your guard down, there they go, rearing the ugliness. I don't want Chrissy to suffer because I made poor choices in bringing home some jerk off. It's too soon anyway."

Gina frowned. "It's been two years, Dee. You're allowed to experience some fun. Some unadulterated pleasure." She winked. "Look at that man and tell me you don't think he could wear you out on an examination table."

A pang of hot embarrassment warmed her face. "Gah! I barely know him!"

"You could fix that if you'd stop being all salty like an old-timey widow. Look at him. He's so into you. I'm surprised he hasn't come over--" Gina paused when she watched him leave the group of guys and strode over past the dance floor to them.

Diana exhaled with anxiety. "What's he doing?" Her eyes didn't leave his frame as Will stood before her.

"Hello ladies," he greeted.

All the ladies at the table in semi unison smiled. "Hi!"

"You make a beautiful bride, Gina. Congratulations, again."

Gina grinned. "Thanks Will. So glad you could make it." She motioned to Diane. "I'm sure you remember Dee?"

He nodded, wearing a sexy smirk that would've made Adonis proud. "Indeed, I do. Hello Diane."

She clasped her hands in her lap. "Hello, Will." Her aloof presence only seemed futile against the calm, but vibrant charm he radiated. It bounced off him like Teflon. And the man really knew how to wear a suit. She drew a steady breath. "Enjoying yourself?"

"I am." He turned to Derek and Chrissy on the dancefloor. "Is that your daughter?"

Diane nodded, smiling at her daughter. "Yep. That's Chrissy."

He grinned watching Derek dip her. Her little giggle rose above the music. She had her mother's eyes. "She's beautiful."

She stared at her. That beaming, cheesy smile was her lifeblood. Her heartbeat. "Thank you."

"She appears to really enjoy dancing."

"Yes, she does."

"I wanted to know if her mother felt the same way."

Her eyes widened in surprise. She must've thought of a dozen rejections for dancing for this very reason. However, somehow, he caught her off her guard. She opened her mouth to speak and gibberish tumbled out.

"What's that?," he asked, confused.

Quickly, she looked at Gina then when her blank stare left her high and dry, she turned to Will. "Um, I said, I'm not much of a dancer."

He put his hands in his pockets. "Sorry, that's too bad. Someone had to have taught that adorable little girl how to dance. Sure it wasn't you?"

Diane, aside from being rude, didn't know what to do. Would it be so bad to dance with the guy? He was polite, after all. She guess she couldn't help herself--the guy was a bit intimidating. Gina was right, it was clear he was interested, but Diane was trying to decide if she felt the same way. She really didn't want to lead him on. The last time she dated, everything went wrong, but she managed to fall in love with the guy. Then, he died and left her behind. She didn't have much to go on except to not screw up her life, to which she constantly worried about for Chrissy's sake. "I'm fine, thanks."

He motioned over to Chrissy and Derek. "Do you mind if I dance with the other Miss Howerton, then?"

Diane shrugged. "Sure, if she'll let you. But be cautioned, she doesn't like strangers."

Will rubbed his chin. "I'll make a deal with you. If Chrissy dances with me, you give me one dance with you."

"And if she doesn't?"

"I don't think you have to worry about that. I'm pretty good with kids."

"Oh yeah?"

He nodded. "Absolutely."

Diane folded her arms. "Okay, if you lose, you have to dance with Miss Brenda."

Gina and some other bridesmaids paused at the mention of Gina's grandmother.

He raised his eyebrow. "Who's Miss Brenda?"

She motioned to the silver-haired woman in a hunter green formal dress suit, similar to Gina's mom. She sat several tables over with more older ladies. "Over there, in the green."

Will saw her and smiled. A cute mature lady hardly seemed like a bad bet. "You have yourself a deal, Ms. Howerton." With that, he turned around and with a long, smooth gait, made his way to the semi-full dance floor.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Gina pinched Diane. Hard.

"Ow!"

"You deserved that. That was evil putting him a risk with my grandma, you know better."

Diane shrugged. "He's the one that came over with a buttload of confidence making bets. I told him I didn't want to dance." Diane and the ladies watched as William whispered to Derek, who turned to see her nod her approval. Chrissy turned and smiled as Will bowed like a Regency gentleman and took her hand. Chrissy began to pull away and whine in her gentle tone as he and Derek tried to console her. "See," Diane goaded. "I warned him. She's picky like that."

Lowering himself on one knee, he reached out for her, but Chrissy ran away and clung to Gina's mom, Judy, where she consoled her.

Will settled back, disappointed. He dreaded looking over to Diane, whom he could feel her eyes on him. Standing up, he turned to her table to see her smiling. That smile wasn't one of innocence or coyness or even humor. Oh, no. it was gloating, pure and simple. He shrugged, trying to think of a way to get another chance, but it was pointless. He lost the bet. It blew his mind as he used to be so good with kids. But this was a total set up. Time to eat crow, he told himself, walking up to her table.

Diane sat back. "That's unfortunate Chrissy didn't take to you."

"Yeah, that seems to be going around with the Howerton women."

"Well, I'm sure Miss Brenda would love to dance with you." She looked over to where she sat and grinned. "A deal is a deal."

He swallowed. "Yeah, a deal's a deal. Excuse me." Moving past them, he made his way to Miss Brenda's table when Gina intercepted.

"Don't do it, Will," she warned. "You don't wanna tango with that, I promise you."

"I made a bet and I lost," he explained quietly. "And what's wrong with your Grandmother?" He glanced over to the woman laughing with the others at the table. "She seems sweet enough."

Gina laughed. "What about 'you don't wanna tango with that' do you not understand? Don't let that silver fox fool you. She's savage." She swallowed the rest of her drink and gathered up her dress. "Listen, Diane's tough, but she hasn't been pursued in a long time, alright? She'll warm up."

"I'm not sure if she's interested," he glanced back at her.

She grabbed a drink off the tray of a wandering waitstaff. "Has she told you to get lost?"

"No."

"Yeah, she didn't think she would. "Well, trust me, you're still in the game." she nudged him. "She only had one man in her life, so this is all new to her. Just get creative. Trust me, she's worth it." She winked and walked away to Derek to join in the Electric Slide.

Will rubbed the back of his neck and thought about it. It was time to stack odds in his favor. He finally approached the table of Miss Brenda. Clearing his throat, finally jarred their attention. Suddenly all the elderly women turned their eyes on him. He never thought he needed prayers to approach a table, but in looking at the sudden scowling face of Miss Brenda as he closed in, he was beginning to wonder what he was getting himself into. "Miss Brenda?"

"Yes?," Miss Brenda choked out, her tone clearly annoyed.

Will still smiled. "Congratulations on your granddaughter's nuptials."

Brenda fanned his comment away. "All those kids can't stand me." Her eyes looked him over from top to bottom. "You a friend of hers?"

"Actually, I'm a friend of the groom, Derek. My name is Will." He paused a moment and leaned forward. "Would you like to dance?"

Her eyes narrowed, she pressed her back to the chair. "Dance? With these old knees?"

He extended his hand. "We can take it real easy. How bout we show these youngsters out there how to really cut up a dancefloor? Let's make 'em jealous."

The women at the table squealed and smiled at him, urging Brenda to accept. After the peanut gallery quieted down, she finally reached out and accepted his hand "Alright, you handsome devil. But no funny business now."

"I promise to be a gentleman." He helped her balance as she got to her feet. As he led her to the dancefloor, he caught Diane watching him.

The music was very low and romantic, just the right speed to dance with an older woman. They took their place on the floor and once he took her hand in his, he started to lead. She didn't talk, but quietly danced with him. He didn't quite get what Gina was warning him about her grandmother. She seemed fine. 

That is, until the music changed to a upbeat dance jam. All of a sudden, a song about a girl in boots with fur came on and Miss Brenda started gyrating to the beat.

"Aw yeah, that's my jam baby!," she swayed back and forth.

Will barely could move as she backed up on him and started shaking her rump on him. He was impressed she moved so well for her age, but at the same time, what the hell was happening? He wanted to go with it, but how would Diane take it if he danced up on Gina's grandma like he was in a club?

He watched as Derek and the others on the sideline laughed to high heavens, including Diane, who merely smiled, stifling a laugh in her throat as she watched poor Will get twerked on, until Gina and Gina's mom finally peeled her and her butt off him and shuffled her back to her table.

The crowd and DJ cheered as Will made his way to where Derek stood, hoping his face returned to a normal hue by the time he walked over to Diane.

He frowned at Derek. "Did you know about Miss Brenda?"

"Everyone knows about Miss Brenda. She likes 'em young. Her husband was almost ten years younger than her and she still outlived him!" He laughed. "Gina even told me she warned you about her. What are you a glutton for punishment? Or humiliation?"

He guessed it was probably both.

Diane watched Chrissy and a couple little kids dancing and playing when suddenly her line of sight was blocked by Will standing before her. Humor lit in her eyes. "Yes?"

"I want to try again with Chrissy. Same bet." He put his hands in his pockets.

Diane shook her head. "Are you crazy? I can't let you unleash the fury twice in one night. I still know these people."

A confident smirk grew on his face. "I get Chrissy to dance with me and you'll owe me a dance."

She rolled the bet around in her head. Hopefully, no one gets thrown out. But if so, she agreed to take the blame. Better her than him. "Okay, it's a deal. Good luck."

Will, with new determination, headed back for the dance floor.

Gina sat back down next to Diane with her champagne and rubbed her feet. "Phew! I need to find my slippers," she noted breathlessly. Watching her friend's line of sight, she frowned. "What's he up to now?"

"Same bet."

Gina did the biggest facepalm in the history of man. "I hope for your sake you lose. I'm gonna tell mom and have her bar your ass from Thanksgiving dinner if he has to dance with Grandma again. Why are you putting him through so many hoops? I thought you stop playing games back in '97."

Diane took a sip of champagne. "Because he's too good to be true, Gigi. Something's wrong with him."

"Why? Because you can't possibly fathom another great guy, other than Christian existing for you?"

Conviction hit her in the heart and she sighed. "That wasn't fair to say that."

Gina reached out and touched her hand. "Yes it was. Just give Will a chance. I know that you like him, or you would've shut him down completely when you first met him. Instead, you kept him on the hook. The only thing I see wrong with him is that somehow he's not giving up on you."

Diane squeezed her hand. "I've only known one man in my life. You can't fault me for being cautious."

"I know, Dee. But you're kinda torturing the guy. Look at him. Doesn't this tenacity even show you what kinda guy he is?"

They watched as he again got down to Chrissy's level on one knee and tapped her shoulder. When she turned around, he smiled and whispered something to her. She giggled hard and shook his hand. The moment he picked her up and started dancing with her, the other bridesmaids swooned. Diane rolled her eyes, never hearing so many "awws" in her life.

Gina erupted with laughter, only to pause to sip her champagne. "Surprised, indeed. I'm sure some ovaries are exploding right about now." She leaned over to Diane, "Bloop!"

Diane pushed her away. "Shut up." For a moment, she sat there a bit spellbound. Will whirled Chrissy around playfully, dipping her where she squealed and laughed. His smile was beyond charming. It was genuinely happy. For a moment, she thought Christian was dancing there, enjoying playing with his daughter. Just seizing the moment to have fun, like he always did. He loved to dance and she was certain that Chrissy got it from her father.

She looked away, a dark feeling picking at her. He wasn't here. Her eyes raised up to the sound of her daughter's laughter and felt the need to be thankful for her joy. Her conversation with Gina sunk into her head as she watched them dance and guilt rocked her a bit. From day one, Will was polite and kind to her. Genuinely kind. That was pretty rare. Though she wasn't sure how to get through his unwavering interest in her, being a bitch to him wasn't the way to go. Her eyes followed the length of him, the way he moved and those killer peepers of his. A basic woman would be all over that in a heartbeat. But she couldn't think of herself. She was a mother now and Chrissy came first.

When the song was over, he lowered her to the floor and she ran to Diane. "Mama! Mama!"

Catching her and sitting her on her lap, Diane asked, "Yes, bumper?"

"I danse!"

She chucked. "I know, I saw. Did you have fun?"

Smiling, Chrissy nodded.

Diane's eyes refocused on Will walking up to her. "Yeah?"

He gently shook Chrissy's little hand. "You're gonna save some room on your card to dance with me later, Chrissy?"

With a bashful grin, she wiggled back and forth, then nodded.

"Good. Now, do you mind if I dance with your mama?"

She turned to Diane. "Danse mommy! Danse!

Oh, he was good. "Don't worry, I will, sweetheart. This nice man will dance with me too."

Watching him standing patiently, she gently lowered Chrissy, so she could run and play, knowing that it was time to settle their bet. "Ready?"

He extended his hand. "Yes. Are you?"

A slow song came up in time for them to dance. Will's hand across her waist and pulled her close. "You look stunning."

"Thanks." As he led them, Diane tried to ignore the table of women watching them. "Pretty low using my kid though, to get me to dance with you."

"In all honesty, all of that could've been prevented if you'd just said yes, when I first asked you. And speaking of low, you didn't tell me anything about Miss Brenda."

Her eyebrow raised, a wicked smirk on her face. "You didn't ask."

Will laughed. Yep, she was a feisty one. "Are you always this aloof?"

Diane cleared her throat. "Do you get tired of putting people on the spot? How does that go over with your bedside manners rating?"

His mouth quirked with humor. "I find that people are much more engaging with the direct approach. I believe in saying what I think, which does my patients a great service." He twirled her around. "And I'll have you know that my bedside manners are impeccable, Ms. Howerton." He pulled her back into his arms to continue leading her around the dance floor. 

His fluid movements distracted Diane from responding to what at the surface just seemed as a confident reply, and underneath perhaps a tempting brag at something else. Her mind drifted to the idea of how his boldness translated into a more intimate setting and stiffened when the visual heated her blood. Luckily, he broke the silence again.

"I wanted to apologize to you."

She grimaced. "Apologize?"

"Yeah. About the rehearsal dinner. I realize that I probably came on pretty strong and I don't typically behave that way. I'm sorry if I scared you or creeped you out. Maybe you're right. I can be too direct at times."

Inches from his face, she saw the sincerity in him. The feel of his hands on her felt foreign, but curiously thrilling. There was something elegant about him like he was a prince from storybooks. His features were entrancing and that deep voice--he could read the back of a cereal box and gain a captive audience. She swallowed. "It's okay. I, uh, I'm not all that great in interacting with the opposite sex, so I think I secretly envy and appreciate your honesty."

He turned up his smile a notch. "Well, don't envy it too much. I think I may be a bit afraid of your brutal honesty."

"Why's that?"

"Because I had a dose of it the first time we met, don't know I could stand another helping. I drove away in my brand new Tesla Roadster wondering how someone so sweet could neuter me so quickly."

Unable to help herself, a rich laugh erupted from her, finding his callback about his "type" quite amusing. "I'm sorry. I was being really rude."

"No you weren't. You were clearly protecting yourself. I get it.  You don't know me and I'm aware that women have a lot more to worry about with strange men than I do. For the record, I know a lot of those guys you were referring to, so I know I have a lot to prove that I'm not like them."

Diane scoffed. "You don't have anything to prove."

He searched her eyes. "Yes I do. If I don't have anything to prove, then how will I get to ask you out?"

"Ask me out?" She grimaced at his suggestion, still dancing with him. "Why?"

He squinted, a glint of humor in his eyes. "Was that truly an innocent question, or were you dying for me to spout off the very obvious reasons why I'd love to go out with you?"

"Uh, I don't date."

"You don't? That's a world of shame. Seriously. Are you still grieving?"

Diane's jaw dropped. Did he just ask me that?

He coughed. "Sorry, I felt that this was the big elephant in the room and usually my tactic is to address it so it's no longer a barrier. I'm not trying to be rude or pry."

Diane bit her lip. Awkward. But that was when she realized it was her that was perpetuating that sense of "hush-hush don't look at the widow" mentality. No one wanted to talk about it and just when she thought she was okay, somehow, sometime, it isn't, just like it did at the dinner. She needed to lighten up a bit. "I know you're not. The funny thing is you asking that shouldn't be shocking, but you're right, no one talks about it, least of all me. It's still sensitive to me, but just not in the way you'd think. I experienced a lot of changes all at once when Christian passed away, so I guess I'll always grieve a bit."

Will nodded. "That's fair." He admired her honesty. "So how about this, l would really like to know more about you. You seem intelligent and kind. You haven't murdered Derek despite him falling in love and marrying your best friend, so that also has to account for something, right?"

A coy laugh escaped her. "I guess you're right."

"So, let's just take things slow," he stepped away to twirl her around and back to him again where she belonged. I'd like to see you again where I don't have to wear a tux and you don't have to wear a bridesmaid gown. Not that you don't look ravishing in it."

She couldn't help but laugh at his charm. It was a bit infectious. Who the hell just goes around saying what they really thought? Crazy people. She searched his eyes and found nothing but peace in there. "So first it was a dance, now a date?"

He twirled her once more and when she returned, he dipped her. Their faces so close, they could feel each other's breath. He smiled. "No rush," he whispered. "Just think about it as an adventure." He returned her upright as everyone clapped.

Diane wanted to shrink into the floor despite his sweet kiss on her hand as he left the dance floor. He didn't crowd her. Didn't impose himself on her. And yet, him walking away gave her an absence of warmth she had in his arms.

The wedding day slipped to the wedding night and everyone was packing up to leave Diane hugged and kissed Gina and her family. "I had a wonderful time."

Gina gave her a full body hug. "We're gonna be on honeymoon for your birthday, so please do something fun in my honor. No moping."

"Shh," Diane smiled. "I'll be alright. You guys enjoy yourself and be safe."

Derek helped Gina in the car as she stuffed her dress in after her.  He winked at Diane. "Thanks. See you guys later. We're heading to the hotel. Bow-Chicka-Wow-Wow!," he sang lavisciously.

Gina smacked his head. Hard.

"Ow!"

"What the hell's the matter with you? My niece is out there." Gina leaned out the window. "Bye Doll. Bye Chrissy, I love you."

"Love you too!" She and Chrissy waved.

"Hey, just FYI. I think Will's earned your phone number tonight, so expect a call soon!" The limousine began to drive off.

Her eyes the size of saucers, Diane yelled, "You did what? I hate you!"

"But I love youuuuuu!," she shouted as the limo disappeared down the road. 

###