Who Is The Wedding Crasher

Here's hoping you'd like to have a little fun…… I've started a short story (fictional, of course), and I'd like each of you to write the ending.

Please forgive my "outright" shameless flaunting of Eleanor and my story...

ï‚·  Is he a long-lost relative or someone from the past?

ï‚·  Is he an old lover, thought to be gone forever?

ï‚·  Is he a ghost, a con artist, or something supernatural?

ï‚·  Take the story in any direction you wish…. Just have fun with it.

THE WEDDING CRASHER

The grand lobby of the Magnolia Hotel was buzzing with activity, hosting not one but three weddings that sunny afternoon—amidst the flurry of elegantly dressed guests, a close-knit group of friends—Sandra, Karen alias Karenina, Wendy, Cecelia, and Lorraine (better known as LLButterfly) — sat in the small garden outside, chatting and catching up on their daily life on and off FanStory, their bond evident in their shared laughter and animated conversations.

Sandra adjusted her glasses, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "It's come to my attention that a few of you have questions about my latest edition."

Carol chuckled, "Well, what's the deal with Mazledanya and the twins? If I were Maddie, I'd turn her into a toad for coming after my boys."

Karenina leaned back thoughtfully. "Or maybe a fat, slimy frog."

Lorraine chuckled. "I bet that Nancy woman could put her in one of the stews."

Wendy wrinkled her nose. "Yuck, frog-leg stew. I hope they serve something better than that at the dinner."

Sandra shook her head, her eyes twinkling. "Sorry, girls, no frog-leg stew."

After the laughter subsided, Cecelia's eyes lit up. "Have any of you been reading Marilyn's limericks?"

Karen nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely! The imagery sends chills down my spine. That girl's got vampire blood in her veins, I'm sure of it."

Lorraine chimed in. "And Begin Again's new book, 'Veil of Secrets'? A masterpiece!"

Karen added, "Right! I'd like to meet Eleanor. She's not only smart but hilarious."

Wendy, the quietest of the group, nodded. "If we're meeting anyone, how about a threesome?"

Sandra's mouth dropped open. "A threesome?"

Wendy smiled, knowing she'd purposely rattled some cages. "Yeah, you know, Garth, Donatelli, and Eleanor."

Lorraine spotted April (prettybluebirds) arriving with Helen (lyenochka), Rhonda, and Pam. She called to them, "Come join us."

Everybody exchanged hellos. "We aren't interrupting anything, are we? You looked deep in conversation."

Cecelia shook her head. "Heck no! Just talking about FanStory, of course. We were saying how much we liked Begin Again's new novel."

Rhonda replied, "Oh yeah, isn't that about ghosts or something? I don't do horror very much."

Cecelia clarified, "Oh no, Carol's ghosts, especially Eleanor, are smart and funny. If you want horror, you have to check out Marilyn or Patrick. They've cornered that market."

Their discussion grew animated, voices overlapping as they dissected plot twists, poems, and metaphors. They were so absorbed that the soft strains of a string quartet went unnoticed until the music swelled, signaling the start of a ceremony.

"Oh shoot, we're late!" Sandra exclaimed, her voice echoing through the lobby and drawing amused glances from the other guests.

Without a second thought, the ladies hurried towards the nearest chapel, slipping into a row halfway down the aisle.

As the groom stepped forward, Pam squinted. "That doesn't look like Jack."

"I only saw his picture once, but Sally said Jack had dark hair. That guy is bald," Helen whispered, her confusion evident.

"Strange, but I don't see Roy either. He was supposed to read a poem and offer a prayer."

Almost on cue, the Father of the Bride approached the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have a slight change in the program. Our scheduled reader is running late. Would anyone like to step in?"

The friends exchanged nervous glances. Karenina nudged Sandra forward. "Go on, Sandra. You're great with words."

An usher who overheard Karen waved at the father, handed Sandra the microphone, and then walked away.

Caught off guard, she soon found herself at the podium. She took a deep breath and began, "Love is patient, love is kind..." blending lines from various scriptures and poems. Her impromptu reading was heartfelt, if not entirely traditional, and the guests responded with warm applause.

Relieved, Sandra returned to her seat, where her friends greeted her with supportive smiles and hugs.

The bridesmaids began their procession, and Lorraine leaned over and whispered, "Wasn't Debi supposed to be the maid of honor?"

Rhonda frowned. "Yeah, and I don't recognize any of them."

Realization dawned as the bride appeared at the chapel entrance. "Psst," Beth hissed, waving her invitation in the air. "We're at the wrong wedding!"

Panic set in.

As the bride took her first step down the aisle, the friends bolted from their seats, causing a commotion as they scrambled past seated guests. In their haste, Karen tripped, nearly colliding with the bride, who halted in surprise. The guests' shocked gasps and murmurs added to the chaos.

"Sorry! Congratulations!" Sandra blurted out as they dashed towards the exit, their faces flushed with embarrassment.

*****

Bursting into the adjacent chapel, they arrived just as the officiant declared, "You may now kiss the bride."

The newlyweds turned, surprise flickering across their faces at the sight of the disheveled group. Undeterred, the friends joined in the applause, attempting to blend in.

Marilyn and Ulla stood at the door with baskets of rose petals. They quickly handed baggies to each woman and suggested they cheer and toss them in the air.

*****

The champagne bubbled over in delicate flutes, laughter filled the grand ballroom, and the bride and groom swayed under the soft glow of the chandelier. It was the perfect evening.

The girls nursed their drinks and tried to forget their earlier blunder. Sandra nudged Lorraine. "Have you seen the guys?"

She shook her head and glanced around the room.

Karen Cherry's radar was firing on all cylinders. Her eyes and ears were in high gear, and she wasn't missing a thing. As she passed Sandra and Lorraine, she paused and said, "Did I hear you ask about the guys?"

Lorraine laughed. "We're not looking for the ones you've killed off. These are live ones, or at least they were earlier today."

"Hey, back off." Karen flipped her fiery red hair over her shoulder and pursed her ruby lips. "I was just going to answer the question. But if you don't —"

Sandra smiled at Karen. "Take it easy! We know you're dying to tell us, so spill it, girlfriend."

Karen returned the grin. "Well, if you insist. Ric, Jacob, Michael, Doug, and Tim were enjoying free drinks in the bar. Their boisterous laughter caught my attention. Of course, I pretended to be ordering a drink when I overheard Ric telling the guys about his latest Las Vegas trip. He might have had more fun than even he had anticipated.

"Oh, what did he say?" Cecilia asked.

Karen twisted her hair around her finger and leaned very close. "Trust me, I've got the scoop. When a guy says he collected a few souvenirs, he doesn't mean he was in the gift shop."

"Oh, Karen!" the girls exclaimed.

Wendy, a people watcher, leaned into the girls, nodding toward someone she didn't recognize. "Karen, do you know who that is over there?"

The man blended in effortlessly, dressed in a crisp navy suit, sipping champagne. His salt-and-pepper hair was neatly combed, and a small smile played on his lips as if he belonged. Seeing the girls looking his way, he raised his glass and winked.

Beth raised an eyebrow. "Looks like trouble to me."

As the evening progressed, Wendy couldn't resist the allure of the towering wedding cake. "I'm just going to get a closer look," she told the group, thinking she might also get a closer look at the stranger.

As she weaved through the tables, she stopped to chat with Diane (Mrs. KT), Harry, Valda, Patricia, Barbara, John, Wayne, Debbi, Carol C., Carol H., and a few more FanStory friends. By the time she reached the cake table, she'd almost forgotten why she'd come.

As she leaned in to admire the intricate icing, her dangling charm bracelet with an engraved picture of Sunny caught on a decorative flower. In her attempt to free herself, the cake wobbled precariously. Wendy gasped, reaching out to steady it, but it was too late. The top tier slid off, landing with a soft thud on the table.

Friends sprang into action, quickly repositioning the fallen tier and attempting to smooth the icing. They stood in front of the cake, hoping to obscure any imperfections, just as the bride and groom approached.

"Everything alright?" the groom asked, eyeing them curiously.

"Perfect!" Cecelia replied a bit too enthusiastically. She grabbed the bride and groom's arm and steered them toward the dance floor. "I think they said they were playing this song for you. Better go dance."

Also hoping to distract any further attention to the cake, Pam discreetly turned her head and smiled at the stranger. "Who is he?"

Helen glanced over. "No idea. Maybe we should introduce ourselves?"

As they approached the mysterious guest, the stranger smiled warmly. "Ah, ladies, I've been waiting for you."

The friends exchanged puzzled glances. "Do we know you?"

The guest chuckled. "Not yet, but you will. Let's say I'm an unexpected plot twist."

His comment was like a red flag to Carol. She had promised to put away the detective stories tonight, but his talk of a plot twist had her mind spinning. She wondered what Eleanor would do, and a mischievous smile crossed her lips.

She hurried across the dance floor to the bride and groom. She tapped Jack's shoulder and hissed, "May I cut in?" Then she took Sally's hand and led her away.

Flabbergasted, Sally asked, "Has the champagne gone to your head, dear?"

Carol smiled, and suddenly, they were twirling across the dance floor, moving closer to the man. She leaned close to Sally's ear and said, "Listen, Philadelphia, we've got a wedding crasher here."

Sally followed Carol's gaze as Jack joined them. "Is that a friend of yours?"

"Can't say that I know him. I thought it was someone you knew."

Sally (alias Philadelphia) felt her stomach twist. A last-minute plus-one wouldn't have been unheard of in the blur of wedding planning, but something about the stranger unsettled her. He wasn't just attending — he was watching.

Having finished the dance, Sally grabbed her maid of honor, Debby. "Hey, do you know that guy? Over by the cake table?"

Debby glanced over, then frowned. "Weird — I don't think I've seen him before. Is he a friend of yours, Jack?"

"Nope. Never saw the guy before."

Curious now, Sally and Jack made their way toward the stranger. He smiled as they approached, lifting his glass in a toast.

"Finally," he said. "I was wondering when you'd come say hello."

Jack cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, but—who exactly are you?"