Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 106839 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106839 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Not just the marriage, either. But all of it. The tents, the show, the characters. And the funny thing is, we don’t ever use fake names when we play out these fake stories. We always use our own names.
Maybe that’s why I’m having a clash of realities right now?
Maybe this is just… who we are?
“I think we’re circus people.” I say this right out loud and April and Bryn are the closest to me.
Both of them laugh. “Oh, for sure,” April says. “We might not be taming lions or flyin’ on a trapeze, but we nailed it with the big tent.”
All the girls start laughing. And then someone is talking about the last wedding we had for the Revival, which starred Lettie Gainer and Tommy Masters, the tractor mechanic down on Fourth and Rowan. There were bloodhounds involved in that and no one can quite remember why, so the conversation shifts as they try to recall details.
But I’m too stuck on my present to worry about anybody else’s past.
As we approach the tent my father steps out. He’s wearing a suit in the style of the Revival, a light brown instead of cream like Amon’s. And he’s smiling at me.
All my girls part and go their separate ways so when I stop it’s just me and him. “Hi, Daddy.”
He doesn’t say anything at first. Just stands there, grinning. Then he takes both my hands, leans in, and kisses me on the cheek.
Which makes me blush and kinda giggle. “Thank you, Daddy. That was nice.”
“My girl. I just can’t get over it.” He shakes his head. “You look just like your mother on the day I stood inside this same tent, in front of these same people, and said the same vows you’re about to say with Amon. It’s just… slipped by me, I think.”
I huff a little. “Daddy. It’s a show. Amon and I aren’t getting real-married. It’s just a date he set up with Jim Bob as part of our courtin’.”
But my daddy is shaking his head no all the while I’m saying that. “That might be the official reason for this wedding, but it’s not fake, is it? It’s real.”
I chuckle. “Well, maybe.”
“No maybe. He’s your one, isn’t he, Rosie?”
I sigh, then look past his shoulder where I can see Amon standing on the stage in front of Pastor Simon. He’s watching me and my daddy, squinting his eyes a little like he’s not sure what we’re gettin’ up to.
I look at my daddy again and nod. “I think he is. Yes. But we’ve only been at this a couple of weeks now, so this isn’t the real wedding no matter how real it looks. I won’t accept it.”
Which makes my daddy laugh right out loud. “As you shouldn’t, Rosie. As you shouldn’t. Because your mother will never forgive me if I don’t spring for the biggest private Revival wedding this town has ever seen. That woman gave birth to five children and only one of them came out a girl. You’re gonna give her every one of her mother-daughter milestones, even if they happen out of order. Now.” He looks me up and down and I can just tell that he’s proud as punch of me. “Let’s get you fake-married.”
Then he offers me his arm, and I hook mine in his, and the music starts. My daddy starts forward but I can’t seem to move. Everything catches up to me in this one moment and I’m suddenly confused. All my surety leaves me and even though I’ve been to dozens of Revival weddings and I’ve played my part for each and every one knowing it’s just a show, I can’t quite come to terms with what is happening.
We’re a little behind the music now, but still my feet won’t move and people are starting to whisper. Then a head pops out to the side of the aisle from the front row and I hear that voice. The one I know better than my own, the one I love the most, and the hardest, and the deepest. My son says, loud enough for everyone to hear, “You got this, Mom!”
There’s a smattering of applause and a couple of encouraging whistles. So I take a deep breath. And he’s right, I do have this. And the moment my daddy and I take that first step and start our walk up the sawdust aisle, everything about Revival stops being fake.
Maybe it’s a dream. Maybe it’s a lie. Maybe it’s just a fuckin’ circus.
But no one can deny that this really and truly is happening.
I’m watching Amon’s face the whole time and he’s wearing a look that I don’t quite have the right word for. Happy doesn’t even come close.
He looks like a man in love.
And the moment I realize this, I blush. Hard and hot.