A Shower of Tears

A Shower of Tears

          Rose stopped before she entered the hall where the bridal shower would be held for her best friend, Julie. She was to be a bridesmaid in Julie's wedding, and wondered if she should even be at this event. While standing at the entrance, there were other guests who entered with gifts for the happy couple. Rose had something for Julie, but it was a gift that she was sure Julie would reject.

         "Hi Rose. Did you just arrive? Why are you just standing out here; let's go inside to greet the bride," exclaimed a bubbly Janet.

          Janet and Julie were co-workers and friends. Janet would be a member in the wedding party also. There were to be six bridesmaids. Rose followed Janet into the hall and found a seat as far back as she could. Janet went to put her gift on the gift table and gave Julie a hug.

         "Has anyone seen Rose? I thought she would be here by now," Julie asked.

          "She's here. She came in with me," Janet quipped.

          Looking around, Janet spied Rose and pointed her out to Julie. Julie walked to the back of the hall to see if anything ws wrong with her friend. Seeing Julie approach gave Rose a sinking feeling. Feelling trapped, Rose had nowhere to go. She sat up and tried to be emotionless.

         Giving her a hug, Julie was puzzled as to why her friend was avoiding her. "Is there something wrong? Why don't you come up closer to the front to join in the festivities? I'll be introducing all of my bridesmaids to the guests later and I'll need your help with the games."

          Not wanting to make a scene, Rose dutifully followed Julie. Sitting near a far wall at an empty table, Rose remained quiet. Putting a smile on her face wasn't on Rose's mind right now. What concerned her more was the fact that by the end of the day, a lifelong friendship would be dissolved.


         Sipping on a ginger ale, Rose was gracious to anyone who came up to her to chat. Soon the table that she first sat at was being filled. Conversations were beginning among other attendees. Looking at the entrance, Rose wondered if Dan, the groom, would arrive. After a half hour, Dan showed his face. He walked over to the congregating women and greeted them, and seemed to be looking for someone. Slowing paning the room, his eyes fixed on Rose. He excused himself and began strolling toward her. The other women at the table stopped Dan from talking with Rose. They occupied him with idle chat and, to Rose's relief, took up his time.

          As the shower was about to commence, Rose excused herself and went to the restroom. Dan saw this and began to follow her. He touched her shoulder which startled her.

         "Why don't you want to see or talk to me?" Dan asked.

         "I don't want to tell you. I'm a liar being here after what you did. Now, leave me alone and let me go," Rose hissed.

         Clueless as to what Rose was talking about, Dan was left stunned. Waiting for her to exit the restroom, Dan paced the lobby. Soon Rose came out of the restroom. Seeing that Dan had not left, she walked in a hurried motion back to the hall and her seat.

          Following Rose back to the hall, Dan was perplexed as to her mood. Before he could talk to her, Julie took his hand and led him back to the head table. Her mother, Grace, asked for everyone's attention so the party could begin. As the noise lulled to a dull roar, Grace started to introduce the bridal party.

         "As all of you know, this is my daughter, Julie, the bride. She wanted to have a huge wedding. As per her request, there are five bridesmaids and her matron of honor. Julie will introduce them after the games and the meal. Without further interruption, let's start the games."

         The first game to be played was called "Scrapbook". Each guest was asked in their invitation to bring a photo of a memorable event that involved Julie and/or Dan. There was a box to collect the photos and the scrapbook would be put together and presented at the wedding reception. A description of the event was written on the bottom or back of the picture. Julie was to guess what the event was and who brought the picture. If she guessed wrong, that person would receive a prize. The first picture was displayed. Everyone started ooohing and ahhhing.

         "Ok, Julie, what event is this?", asked her sister Lori.

          Julie started to cry. "That is a picture of me with Grandma Keller, making Christmas cookies for the church pageant when I was eight. I really miss her."

         "We all miss her, honey," sighed her Aunt Carol.

         "OK, this one is for Dan. Dan, what event is this?," quipped Nancy, another future sister-in-law.

          Peering at the picture, Dan immediately began to feel hot and became as red and a tube of lipstick. "That is when I was dressed up for my first Little League game. And before anyone asks, I pitched and came up with a no hitter."

          Everyone applauded Dan's accomplishment. Next it was a turn for both of them. Rose walked over to the box and pulled out a picture. Rose was Julie's best friend since kindergarten. She knew this picture could and would sever their friendship.

         "This picture is for either one of you to guess. Do you know what it is?"

          Both Julie and Dan studied the picture intently. They did not know what it was of. Grace looked at it and was taken aback in horror.

         "What is a sonagram picture doing in the box? Are you pregnant, Julie?", a shocked Grace asked.

          "No, I am not pregnant, Mom. I do not know where this came from or what sick game is being played."

          Turning to Rose, Julie's eyes widened in wonderment. "Is this your sonagram picture, Rose? Are you pregnant?"

         Rose, on the verge of an emotional flood and about to faint, could not face her best friend. Julie tried to give her a hug and congratulate her on the impending birth of the baby. Rose ran from the room, in hopes of making it to the restroom in time. Julie followed her to make sure she was doing fine. Meanwhile, Dan sat at the table, dumbfounded.

          In the restroom, Rose was splashing her face and sitting down so she would not faint. Julie entered the room and knelt in front of her friend.

         "Are you doing ok?" she asked.

         "No, I am not. There is more to the story, but there are certain people who need to hear it besides you, Julie.," Rose sighed.

          Rising from the stool, she walked back to the hall. Everyone had their eyes glued on Rose. Some women were talking about the game's events. As she reached her place at the front table, Grace tapped her on the shoulder and offered the prize basket for her to pick from. Pushing the basket away, Rose went to the center of the table and raised her arms to gain the guests' attention.

         "I have something to say to everyone. The reason this particular picture was in the box was because I wanted my baby's father to know about him or her."

          Upon hearing her friend's declaration, Julie screamed and sat down. Holding her head in her hands and sobbing, she did not want to hear what Rose was to say next.

          "I am sure that most of you here can decipher that the father of my child is here. You are correct. Dan, you should stand and take a bow."

          As the guests's eyes bore on him, Dan wanted to defend himself, but did not have a clue as to how. Some of the women were getting up from their chairs to leave. Grace did not know what to do. She wanted to comfort her daughter, attend to the guest and try to have them stay, and her potential son-in-law had a great deal of explaining to do. She felt like a piece of taffy, being pulled in different directions.

          Grace looked at Dan and Rose with evil eyes. Her first instinct and priority was Julie. Both Lori and Nancy took over the duties of trying to salvage what was left of the celebration. Lori announced that due to what just transpired, everyone would be notified soon as to what would happen next. She apologized on behalf of the bride and groom and hoped everyone had a safe trip home.