"How much longer?" I groaned, standing in the back of the church.
"Hang in there, Zac," coaxed Ike.
"I don't remember your rehearsal being this bad," I said to him.
"Yeah, well, I didn't have a five-year-old flower girl and a six-year-old ring bearer who hated each other's guts."
It's true. Throughout all forty-five minutes of rehearsal, Maddy and her cousin John had been fighting non-stop. Laura's mom made the mistake of suggesting that her grandchildren hold hands as they walk down the asile. No sooner than those words were out of her mouth did an all-out war erupt. I just hoped they got it out of their system before the actual ceremony tomorrow.
"Don't touch me!" shrieked Maddy.
"Don't touch me!"
"I wouldn't. You're gross."
"Well, you're ugly."
"You're ugly."
"You're stupid. OWW!!"
Ike and I bit our bottom lips to keep from laughing. Madeline had given John one good, swift kick in the balls. He was now lying in the middle of the asile, doubled-over in pain. "You know," I said to Ike. "If he keeps this up, he'll be sterile by the reception."
"Who are you kidding? My money's on Maddy killing him before the ceremony tomorrow."
I did my best to not laugh as the two cousins were repremanded yet again. "Taylor's been teaching Maddy to play soccer. Nice to see she's utilizing the skills she's learned."
With that statement, Ike lost all self-control and burst out laughing. As he tried to stifle his laughter, I heard giggling from about three pews in front of me. I looked for the source. It was a brunette wearing an oversized sweatshirt and baggy jeans. "Who's that?" I asked Ike, pointing to the girl who's back was now turned to us.
He shrugged. "Beats the hell out of me. Probably from Laura's side."
"Oh."
"Hey, guys! You ready back there? We're gonna take it from the top," shouted Tay.
"Yup," said Ike and I, pairing up with Pam and Nikki respectively.
As Laura took her father's arm behind Ike and Pam, she apologized. "I'm sorry this is taking so long, guys. I swear, my nephew embodies all that is evil. And if he ruins this for me, I'll have him castrated."
I snickered. "Bet Maddy beats you to it."
She smiled. "Probably."
As I stood up in the front of the chruch walking though rehearsal, I scanned the pews for the brunette. I spotted her. But as soon as we made eye contact, she looked away.
"You may want to wipe your chin, Zac."
"Huh?"
"You're practically drooling over the brunette," Ike whispered to me as the priest babbled about something.
I shrugged. So what if I was? She had laughed at what I said earlier. Anyone who finds what I say funny is worth getting to know. Right?
"Are we done yet, Daddy?" Maddy asked, tugging on Taylor's pants leg.
"Yeah, Sweetie. We're done."
"Finally," I muttered under my breath.
Since Taylor was busy keeping Madeline from killing John, I decided to do a little detective work. I tapped Laura on the shoulder. "Who's that?" I asked, pointing to where the brunette was.
"Who's who?" Laura asked, confused.
I looked in the direction in which I had been pointing. The pew was empty. "Nevermind," I said.