Dad unlocked the restaurant door from the inside and gave us jobs to do. First, we went around to all the tables, setting out the jugs of sunflowers Sheila had ordered. Next to the front door, we lined up little cards that told people where to sit when it was time for dinner. Sheila and I had drawn a tiny sun on each one. Then, in the garden, we opened folding chairs and lined them up in rows. Sheila showed us how to tie these big ribbons from the art store to the back of each chair, to make them look fancy. And we put one of Sheila’s song cards on every seat.

Our other job was to stay out of the caterers’ way. Dad said on his wedding day, someone else was going to cook.

It was pretty much the best afternoon of my life. In a way, I didn’t want anyone else to come. Not even Mom. I wanted just me, Sonia, Sheila, Angus, Lizette, Dad, and Jesse, making everything beautiful. I stood in the garden and took a deep breath. There was a breeze, and the sun made the chair ribbons shine. Angus was making Sonia laugh—I didn’t know how, and I didn’t want to know. Sheila and Lizette were dumping ice into some long coolers set up along the fence. I just stayed still and felt my happiness, the giant balloon of it.

Then Sheila said it was time for me and Sonia to get ready. We squeezed into Dad’s office and got our dresses on, and Sheila pinned daisies in our hair. I couldn’t believe it was all really happening, exactly the way we planned it.

When we opened the shoeboxes with our new sandals in them, I was glad Sheila hadn’t let me wear mine all week the way I had wanted to. The sandals were perfect. They reminded me of a Cinderella book I used to have. I looked at Sonia, and she smiled a real smile. I knew her smiles now.

Sheila stood us side by side and held out two little white boxes.

Inside were necklaces: gold chains so thin they looked like shining thread, each with a small gold sun hanging from it. It was the most grown-up thing anyone had ever given me. Sheila did the necklace catch for Sonia, and then she did mine.

We walked out together into the dining room, where everyone was waiting for us: Angus and Lizette stood there smiling, and Dad and Jesse started clapping. If they had gotten married right then and there, it would have been a purely wonderful day.

Let’s Do This