20 Groomed

She was sitting on a bench, a confused look on her face, staring at him like she had no idea what was going on. Trent hadn’t been looking for her, though he’d wondered a few times where she was at. Instead, he’d been out looking for Hank who’d just gotten into town a few hours ago and needed a chance to rest and get changed before he headed to the dinner. Still, with Bree sitting there, he’d killed two birds with one stone. Lilly hadn’t had time to go looking for her yet.

“Trent?” Bree said, as he walked over. “Uh… hi.”

“Hi, Bree. How are you?”

“I’m good…. How are you?”

“I’m hanging in there. You’re here for the dinner, right?”

“Yes. I mean… I think so. I was waiting for my college roommate, Lilly, to tell me where to go.” She looked at her phone and shook her head. “Do you know Lilly?”

He laughed. It seemed like such an odd question. Of course he knew Lilly. “Yeah. She’s inside. You wanna come in?”

“Yeah. Sure.” She stood but still looked apprehensive. Hank was almost there now, and he was sure their friend was going to be excited to see Bree, too. When he’d told Hank Bree would be at the wedding, after he’d asked him if he was nuts a few hundred times, Hank had become excited to see her. It’d been too long.

It’d been too long for Trent, too. She was so beautiful, standing there with that lost look on her face, her strawberry blonde hair wavy and glistening in the sun. The dainty bracelets she had on her wrist echoed her fragile exterior, though he knew that was a facade. Clearly, Bree was tough as nails, or she wouldn’t be there. “Are you okay, Bree?”

She scratched her head. “Yeah, I’m just a little confused. I wasn’t expecting to see you. I’m sorry--how do you know Monica?”

Then, it all became crystal clear to him. Trent had wondered why in the world Bree would agree to sing at his wedding, especially that song, which, while he had no proof, he had suspected she’d written for him. Maybe he’d gotten that all wrong. Maybe she hadn't written “Meant to Marry Me” for him at all. He started to answer her, but then, Hank arrived, and as usual, there was no way he could say what he needed to say to Bree.

“Oh, my God! Bree Matthews!” the big man said, launching himself at her. He scooped her up and swung her around. Bree laughed, but it was obvious she didn’t particularly like it. He set her down but didn’t let go. “How are you, gorgeous?”

“I’m great, Hank,” she said once he let her go. “How are you doing?”

“Not bad, not bad,” he said, nodding his head. “It’s so awesome you’re here. I couldn’t believe you’d agreed to this, but then, you always were a professional. You definitely surprise the hell out of me. Anyway, I’m going in to say hi to everyone else, but you’ll catch up with me later, right, Bree?”

“Absolutely. It was nice to see you.” She waved as Hank gave Trent a small wave and said he’d catch up later. The man was always motivated by food. Trent raised his hand and watched him disappear inside before returning his attention to Bree.

If she’d been confused before, it was even worse now after Hank’s comments.

“I don’t understand what he meant,” she admitted, returning her attention to Trent. “Do you?”

“About why you’d agree to do this?”

“Yeah. I mean… I don’t know Monica. Lilly was my roommate before she transferred for our senior year. We were very close. She called me and asked me to do it when that other singer backed out. It’s not really that odd to sing at the wedding of someone you don’t know, though.”

“Bree….” He wasn’t sure how to tell her the part she was missing.

She wasn’t ready for it yet, even though he had the idea she was getting there on her own. She continued, “I don’t know the groom at all. I don’t even know his name. Lilly never said, and I never asked. I probably should have asked. I wonder if he’s a serial killer or something. Is that what Hank meant?”

Trent chuckled, but in a way, he almost wished that was all it was. He ran his hand down his face. “Bree?”

“Yeah?”

He had her attention now. “You do know the groom.”

“I do?” She was puzzled and turned to look at the door where Hank had disappeared for a moment and then looked back at him. “It’s not Hank. He would’ve known where to go if it was him. So if it’s not Hank, but I know him, then….” She turned back to face him and all of the color drained from her face.

“Yeah, Bree.” Trent nodded his head slowly, no longer able to meet his eyes. “It’s me.”