Chapter 03.5

“May I?” I asked. He gave Jenny a slight bow and moved aside. I took her hands, and we began to dance.

“I want to talk to you,” I said, but the last word came out as a groan when she stepped on my foot.

“Sorry,” she smiled. “I’m not a great dancer.”

“Yes, you are,” I said—and she stepped on my foot again. I laughed. I tried to avoid her missteps, but she was unpredictable, stepping on my feet every few steps.

“I want to talk to you,” I repeated gently.

“Maybe next time, Jay,” she smiled just as Mickey stepped up from behind me.

“Can I ask my sister for a dance?” he asked. I stopped and stepped aside, letting Jenny dance with her brother.

I sat down, my feet aching.

“I won’t lie, she really punishes you,” Brian laughed. “Normally, they’d dance perfectly in sync,” he added, responding to the questioning looks around the table.

“I’m starting to feel sorry for you,” Amber laughed.

“I’d pay anything for her,” I said calmly, resting my aching feet.

Mickey and Jenny left the dance floor almost as soon as I sat down, and the song ended shortly after.

“Ladies,” the emcee called after a few dances, ”please step forward for the bouquet toss—all unmarried women, please.”

“Go on, sweetheart,” Brad nudged Amber forward, and Brian did the same with Mayoko. A decent-sized group gathered, but at least one bachelorette was missing. I scanned the crowd—and so did the emcee.

Jenny was standing by the dessert table near the stage, clearly not interested in joining. The emcee was about to call her over when Mrs. Julie subtly signaled him to leave her alone.

“That girl’s something else,” Dad grinned.

“I could’ve predicted this,” I smiled.

“Ladies, get ready—the bouquet is flying!” the emcee announced. Mrs. Julie tossed the flowers, and Brian started filming.

Several girls jumped for it—Amber and Mayoko among them—batting at the bouquet, but no one caught it.

The flowers landed near the dessert table. Jenny, with a pastry in her mouth, casually picked them up and placed them on the table. I was sure she hadn’t thought it through—it was pure instinct. I burst out laughing.

“Looks like we have a winner,” the emcee said, just as Jenny realized what she’d done.

With visible effort, she suppressed her embarrassment, smiled, and the crowd applauded.

“She couldn’t have done that before,” I whispered to Dad.

“Thanks to you, she’s learned to hide a lot more,” he whispered back.

“If I’m not mistaken, I have the pleasure of meeting the bride’s daughter?” a slightly too enthusiastic man stepped up.

“Yes,” Jenny replied, short and smiling, as always in these moments.

“And where’s the lucky guy?” he asked.

“No one’s caught the garter yet,” she laughed, and the crowd joined in.

“Well then, let’s move on to that part,” the emcee said, catching on.

“You going?” Amber asked as she returned to her seat.

“What do you think?” I stood and walked into the crowd.

All of Jenny’s admirers had gathered. I wanted to punch them all.

Dr. Cox aimed perfectly for my outstretched hand—but a tall guy, about my height, reached in front of me and snatched the little blue fabric. I nearly exploded. We all sat back down, while the guy stayed with the emcee.

“Congratulations, you caught it,” the emcee said as he stepped beside me. ”Can I get a name?”

“Benoît,” the guy said into the mic with a smile and a French accent.

He was led over to Jenny, who hadn’t moved from the dessert table.

“Dear Jane, here’s the other lucky winner—Benoît.”

Jenny smiled with clear relief. The guy kissed her hand, and the crowd applauded. A slow song began, and they started dancing. He chatted cheerfully; Jenny remained reserved, offering only the occasional smile. I couldn’t take my eyes off them.

“Don’t tell me that’s the French clown,” I muttered. Brian’s dad just smiled.

“Unfortunately, that’s him,” he replied. ”His parents are some of Adam’s newer clients.”

“Great,” I muttered. ”That was my one chance this weekend to talk to her.”

“Son,” Dad laughed, ”if looks could kill, that young man would be dead. At least blink once in a while.” Brian’s dad laughed too.

“What are they talking about?” I asked Mom.

“Sorry, sweetheart, I can’t hear from here,” she said.

The dance ended. The clown escorted Jenny back to her seat, where Daniel and Mickey were already chatting with him like old friends. Wonderful. He was already worming his way into the whole family.