As weddings go, this was a nice one.

The brutal afternoon heat had broken and there was now a refreshing breeze coming off the ocean. The guests sat comfortably on padded folding chairs, enjoying the serenity of the gentle surf and the blissful absence of children under sixteen, who were pointedly not invited.

Standing in relief against the shimmering silver waters of the Pacific, Robyn and Brian faced each other, beaming, under a trellis archway draped with purple wisteria. Brian looked dapper in his tuxedo, and Robyn was the quintessence of elegance, her veil seeming to glow as the orange sun caressed the sea.

In short, it was a perfectly acceptable place for two people to begin their lives together.

Robyn tried to absorb it all, but everything went by so fast. The earnest vows, the solemn exchange of rings, the first marital kiss that went on and on until everyone laughed. The party. An unsteady, unrehearsed, but adorable first dance. A drunken, rambling toast by the Best Man. "Celebration" by Kool & The Gang, as required by federal law. And finally, a dash to the limousine under a shower of bird seed. And then it was over.

It was all an indistinct blur. Except for one part, early on, which Robyn would remember with crystal clarity for the rest of her life. It was her entrance. The Bridal Chorus began, the combination of flute and harp infusing Wagner's well-worn notes with a sublime, ethereal quality. Then she took her father's arm and he led her down the aisle.

The assembled guests stood and turned to face her. They had all been to plenty of weddings, but clearly, they were not prepared for this vision of pure loveliness before them. They shared a collective gasp that dissolved into excited, private whispers of astonishment and envy. 

Even Julia, who almost boycotted the event out a sense of obligation to her suffragette foremothers, was moved practically to tears by Robyn's beauty. Swept away by emotion, and not knowing what else to do, she clutched the hand of her Plus 1, brought it to her lips and kissed it several times.

Robyn smiled beatifically as she walked down the aisle with measured, self-assured steps. And when Brian finally saw her, he uttered a silent prayer to the heavens, thanking God for making him too selfish and weak a person to rush to her rescue when he should have.

When Robyn got to the front, her father lifted her veil, gave her a peck on the cheek, and sat down. And in that moment, she stood there alone, her hands at her waist, hidden behind a white orchid bouquet. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the photographer and she smiled into the lens. There was a flash. The photographer looked at the image on the LCD screen and, from his immensely satisfied look, Robyn knew she had what she wanted.

The bridal picture. The timeless portrait of a woman at her happiest, her most beautiful. Life is fleeting, Robyn knew. Some day her body would deteriorate, her health would fail, and ultimately the earth would reclaim her. But there would always be a picture of her on this joyous day. Happy, radiant and in love. 

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EPILOGUE:

"Welcome to Tenacity for Women!" Debbie said effervescently. Her face had healed, leaving no trace of her confrontation with Robyn six months prior. "I'm kind of surprised to see you here."

"Yeah," sighed Julia, in a voice suffused with shame and self-loathing, "I am, too." Feeling the need to justify her actions, she added, "I'm getting married."

"That's exciting!" Debbie enthused. "She must be a very special lady!"

Julia smiled thinly and chose to let that remark go.

"So," said Debbie, leaning forward. "Are you ready for a whole new you?"

"Yeah, I guess."

Debbie became very serious. "You can't guess, Julia. I need you to be committed. Are you committed, Julia?"

"I am," Julia said, resolutely this time.

Debbie clapped her hands excitedly. "Yay! You just have to sign some paperwork and then we can get started!"

THE END

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