"Have We Met Before?"

***

Judith was getting married! She'd been dating a med student for a few years, and he was about to start his pediatric practice in Kat City. Frank, a tall, handsome fellow from Buffalo, came from a large family and had three sisters. Judith said he knew how to treat a gal because of his upbringing.

"The wedding will be at the restaurant Maison Chere, a French restaurant run by the owner and chef, Marie. She's given us the place for four hours, and we're going to hold the entire event there," Judith said, smiling with her dazzling excitement.

"With your shop opening and a wedding! You are one busy woman," Natalie said.

"I want you to be my matron of honor."

"Oh, that's lovely, thank you." Natalie didn't want to attend anyone's wedding at the moment.

"I picked out a dress, and it's in a lovely shade of aqua, sea breeze, which is what the designer called it."

"When is this important event?"

"In one month," she said.

"Well, I'd better get myself pulled together for your wedding, my dear friend." Secretly, she knew it was a bad time for her to be at a wedding party, but she couldn't let her best friend down.

Natalie had lost weight, so she had to have the dress taken in at the last minute. She went to a hairdresser who gave her a new bob and to a makeup artist who enhanced her look. She was ready. Her heart was still heavy, but she hid it well. She couldn't disappoint Judith.

Natalie still wore her wedding ring and knew she had to take it off. It had taken a lot of courage to slip the diamond into a velvet box and hide it in her dresser drawer. She felt naked without it. She hated taking it off, but they were divorcing, and now she was standing in for her best friend's matron of honor. The irony was too painful for Natalie, but she gave herself pep talks every morning to get through the event.

The wedding day arrived, and Natalie was ready, with the dress altered and her flowers chosen, while Judith wore a secondhand designer Vera Wang white gown. Judith's parents were a successful couple from upstate, and her father was a businessman. Her mother, Lucille, looked just like Judith and was outgoing.

"Oh, Natalie, Judith talks about you all the time. How are you? You look radiant today," Lucille said.

"Thank you. I'm fine, and you?" Natalie tried to change the subject.

"I'm thrilled with my new son-in-law. Isn't he perfect?"

It was obvious that Lucille hadn't heard about Sam, so Natalie said, "I think he's perfect for Judith."

Natalie looked lovely in her seafoam dress, off-the-shoulder, nipped-in waist, full shirt. Her heart was still heavy, but she put on a happy face. Judith was her best friend, and she couldn't disappoint her.

The restaurant was not large, but it was big enough for the fifty people Judith had invited. The tables had been arranged along the edges of the cafe, the ceremony was set up in front, and a minister from a Unitarian church was ready to begin. There was also a small dance floor and a live four-piece band. The color scheme was seafoam green and white, and the tablecloths and flowers complemented each other. Leave it to Judith. She never missed a beat.

The restaurant was decorated with flowers, and the waitresses wore white uniforms with seafoam aprons. Judith had thought of everything. That's how she was, Natalie thought. The groom, Frank, wore a white boutonniere in his lapel. He looked handsome, a dark-haired, athletic man with horn-rimmed glasses. With his warm personality, he would make a wonderful pediatrician. His parents were gracious, as were his siblings, a brother and three younger sisters.

When the music started, the guests sat down, and the minister stood at the front. There was a best man, Steve, Frank's younger brother, and they were lined up. First, the groom's parents walked down the aisle, then Judith's parents, and finally the matron of honor.

Then Frank's sister, Elizabeth, was the maid of honor.

Then the two younger sisters were bridesmaids.

Then the best man, Frank's brother, ahead of the groom.

Then the groom, looking nervous.

Then the bride, beautiful and radiant.

Judith wore a lace-and-silk off-the-shoulder dress with a train. Her hair was pulled back into a topknot, so it fell on her back.

Please don't let me cry, thought Natalie. Please help me be happy for my friend. Oh, God, why now, why? This is real life. Nobody's going to stop their life just because your life and marriage are in shambles. Natalie took a deep breath.

The minister was a middle-aged man with a clean-shaven face. He read from the Bible, from Corinthians, and said, "Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends." To Natalie, this passage described love as an active, selfless choice, not just a feeling. Why couldn't Sam do that? Why, oh why... Dear God, tell me, she thought. Then the minister concluded, "This couple is here today to become man and wife. They are blessed and ready to begin their life together. Let us all wish them the very best."

After the ceremony, Judith and Frank kissed and hugged, and everyone clapped. They looked so happy, and Natalie hoped their marriage would last.

The cocktail hour was full of talkative people, and the hors d'oeuvres were canapés, French dip, and delicate French delicacies. Natalie tried to be upbeat, but it was hard. She really wanted to be home in her bedroom, rocking in her rocking chair, holding one of the twins. Her heart was broken, and she had little capacity for this festive occasion. But she couldn't leave yet. She had to participate, at least for a while. She felt like an actress in a play, and she wasn't a good one. Who was she kidding?

At one point, Judith asked her, "How are you doing?"

"Hanging in there," Natalie said.

"You look beautiful."

"Thanks, and so do you, like a movie star."

"Please taste the canapés. They're really yummy."

"Oh, I did. Yes, they're delicious."

"I must circulate," Judith said, leaning over and giving her best friend a kiss on her cheek.

Off she went, and Natalie spotted someone she knew, so she went over to make small talk.

The dinner was fine, with your choice of coq au vin or fish. The music was upbeat, and everyone was cordial. Natalie was sad and wanted to leave. At her assigned table, a friendly man struck up small talk with her.

"Are you the bride's bestie?" he asked.

"I think that's right," she said.

"I'm a friend of Frank's. We went to medical school together. Have we met before?"

"No, I don't believe we've ever met. What kind of doctor are you?"

"I'm going to be a surgeon. Hernias will be my specialty," he said.

"No kidding?"

"Yes, I want to be the best hernia doctor in town!" he said, smiling and looking handsome. He had dark red hair and blue eyes. "I'm headed to Beth Israel Deaconess in Boston. I'm very excited."

"Well, I hope you succeed. Why not?'

"My name is Joe, and yours?"

"Natalie. Judith is my dearest friend."

"Are you married?"

"I hate to say this, but my husband and I are going through a difficult period."

"I'm sorry. This must be a strange situation for you to attend and participate in at this time."

"Yes, it is, quite, but Judith is important to me. And you?"

"I haven't gotten hitched yet," Joe said.

"Well, I wish you luck with that as well," she smiled at him. "Perhaps up in Boston you'll meet a nurse and fall in love," Natalie said, adding to the subject.

"I hope so, and I can't wait to get there," he said.

"Yes, I've heard Beth Israel has an excellent reputation."

"Have you ever been in Boston?" he asked

"No, but I'd like to go."

"It's a great city. Lots of sports and culture."

"But it's a bit nippy there too."

"Not much different than here."

"Yes, I guess you're right."

Someone wheeled out the wedding cake, beautiful and decorated with fresh pansies, and everyone got a piece. After she tasted it, she decided she was ready to leave. She said goodbye to Joe.

"Nice meeting you and good luck in Beantown," she said.

"Hey, if you don't stay with your hubby, come see me," he said with a wink.

"Oh, Joe," she blushed and then walked over to Judith to say goodbye.

"I'm going," Natalie said. "It was a wonderful affair, Judith, but I must leave. Do you mind?"

"No, I understand. Thank you for participating under the circumstances. It was very brave of you." She hugged her friend warmly, then scooted off. Natalie grabbed her coat, called a cab, and headed home. She just wanted to crawl under her sheets and be alone. When she got home, she took off her dress, hung it in the closet, put on her pajamas, and checked on the twins. Abigail reported that they were fine and fast asleep. Natalie slipped into bed. "Please, please, make me better. I feel like I've been tortured, but I'll be okay, won't I? Of course. Of course."

After a few months, Natalie improved and started doing things like going out to lunch with Judith, going shopping, or going to the pediatrician for an hour.

At lunch with Judith, Natalie picked at her salad.

"How's married life?" Natalie asked.

"It's good. I'm pregnant already!"

No?"

"I'm as bad as you. It will be a boy. Frank is ecstatic."

"That's wonderful. How do you feel?"

"Tired, but well."

"That's a plus. When I was at your wedding, Joe, a fellow doctor and friend of Frank's, was very forward with me. Can you imagine? He said, "If your marriage goes south, please look me up in Boston."

"Oh, what a rake he is. The nerve! I wish you would come in with me at the shop," Judith said.

"I don't know if I'm ready."

"It will be good for you, and I could use a partner."

Natalie knew she needed to move forward. She had to push herself. If she went through the motions, her heart would catch up.

"Come see my shop and see what I'm doing," Judith urged.

After lunch, Natalie went with Judith to her shop, Better Than New.

Natalie walked through the store, examining the designer clothes labeled by brand. She checked the price of the Chanel suit. Everything was neatly hung in its proper place, clean and pressed. There was a hat rack, a section for shoes and bags, and even a lingerie section where she touched silk negligees and held them in her hand a moment too long.

"So many beautiful items. Who can resist?" Natalie said, touching each one and feeling its softness. Then she tried on a black hat with a feather and a veil, inspecting herself in an oval mirror.

"You always looked good in hats," Judith said.

Under the glass-front counter, jewelry was displayed. The storefront window featured a mannequin wearing a stunning suit and a French beret, carrying a Chanel purse.

"Who wouldn't want to look like that?" Natalie exclaimed.

"That's the point!" Judith said.

"I'm sold. When can I start?"

Before long, Natalie was coming into the shop three days a week. She enjoyed helping customers coordinate their outfits.

"Accessorize," said Judith. "It's the best way to add on to a sale," she added.

Natalie loved that part of helping a customer. She had a good eye.

"I think these shoes would be perfect with this outfit," she said as she brought over a simple yet stunning pair of Jimmy Choo high heels, or added a pair of earrings that perfectly picked up the colors.

Natalie was a natural, and she looked forward to her days in the new retail adventure. Her mood lifted, and she smiled at customers.