Then again, none of their family had been in Aspen Hill when they got married. Maybe things had gone the best they could under the circumstances.
But that slight regret aside Lewis was sincerely happy for his friends, and it was a good ceremony. The applause and cheering was polite but enthusiastic as the couple kissed for the first time as man and wife.
The reception pretty much began immediately after the ceremony ended. Lewis provided a decent digital camera so they could take couple and family photos, and he’d also volunteered to take pictures throughout the day. Although they didn’t have the equipment available to print the photos, at the very least he could transfer them over to his friends’ phones, which could be charged using the town’s solar panels, or the shelter group’s.
The line to congratulate the bride and groom circled around the meadow for over an hour, guests drifting between it and the potluck tables which had an equally long line. After getting in their own congratulations near the beginning Lewis and Jane wandered around, taking pictures and chatting with friends and neighbors. Or at least Lewis did, while his wife did her best to be present in a crowd that clearly put her on edge.
Children ran and played, darting around legs and roaming off up the slope above the meadow as far as they dared before parents called them back. A few of the teens led by Alvin and Wes started up some of the planned games early, tired of waiting for the adults to finish shaking hands and exchanging hugs.
As the eating and congratulations began winding down Chauncey got to work behind the sound system he’d rigged up, playing a classic song from the massive list Lewis had loaned him for the occasion so the couple could enjoy their first dance.
Alice had taken multiple dance classes growing up, and she’d obviously done a good job teaching Rick. They looked natural together, grinning ear to ear and unable to take their eyes off each other.
When the song ended they paused to more applause and cheers, along with Lewis snapping pictures. Then Chauncey began another song and couples flooded the dance area, packing it almost to the point where people were bumping into each other with every step. Nobody seemed to mind, and where there were collisions the response was usually laughter as opposed to complaints. Lewis kept to the periphery, taking pictures of the Watsons and their close friends for memories.
Although the current dance was a fast one Matt and Sam were dancing slow, holding each other close around her prominent belly. They seemed to be in a world of their own, enjoying the opportunity to relax and enjoy themselves together when so often their responsibilities kept them apart for a lot of the day. They didn’t even seem to notice the occasional jostle.
Lewis was surprised to see that Robert, the town’s new carpenter, had convinced Mary to join him on the dance floor. He knew his sister loved to dance, but her shyness made it awkward so she usually only danced with someone she knew. That was usually him or Trev or one of their dads.
Not this time, though; Robert led the steps with easygoing confidence, whatever he was saying making her smile and even laugh once. By the time the dance ended he’d teased a bit of conversation out of her, and they chatted as they waited for the music to start for the next dance.
He noticed Trev and Deb out on the floor. They were doing that sort of awkward, dancing by yourselves next to each other thing that seemed popular in high school dances or at concerts. Lewis wasn’t sure if that was because it was what they preferred, or if they were still tiptoeing their way around the brown-haired woman’s difficulty with physical contact. Either way they seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Lewis wasn’t the only one paying attention to the two. As he and Jane watched from the sidelines Hailey, the goat expert they’d invited into town, sidled up beside him. “So your brother and that girl,” she said out of the blue, “are they dating?”
Blinking, he glanced over at her. “Um that’s my cousin, actually. And not really, but they’re getting there.”
“Oh.” The girl looked embarrassed. “The way you two are around each other, I just figured…” She shrugged. “I guess “getting there” means he’s not available. Too bad.” She glanced around. “Any other suggestions for a partner? I love dancing.”
Lewis shared a somewhat amused look with Jane. Personally he was content to watch from the sidelines, since he’d never been a fan of dancing. And he knew Jane absolutely loathed it. Not the dancing itself; as far as he knew it was practically human nature that music encouraged people to want to move along with it. But she didn’t like the spontaneity and uninhibitedness it required to do in front of other people, and didn’t even want to make the effort. So it was hard to imagine going up to a near stranger to ask for a dance partner introduction.
Still, in the week Lewis had known Hailey, working with her a little with the town’s animals, he’d found her to be a sweet, lovely girl. If she wanted to be steered towards a good match he was happy to oblige.
“Come on,” he told her. “Let me introduce you to my friend Raul.”
Jane didn’t mind taking over snapping photos with Lewis’s camera while he led Hailey through the crowd, over to where Gutierrez was standing off a bit by himself. The former soldier was also intent on the dancing, although he didn’t seem as content about being on the sidelines as Lewis was.
“Raul!” he said, clapping his friend on the shoulder to get his attention. “Have you met Hailey Nelson yet?”
Gutierrez looked over, and a bit of his sour mood faded away. “I think we said hello back when she first arrived,” he said, offering his hand. Hailey shook it without a trace of shyness.
“Well I seem to remember you’re a pretty good dancer, and Hailey was hoping to get out on the floor.”
His friend finally smiled tentatively. “Sure.” He offered the girl his arm, and she happily allowed herself to be led out into the press.
Lewis was fairly satisfied with the introduction, but as he was circling his way back around to Jane Linda caught him. “Smooth matchmaking, cuz,” she said with a grin.
He shrugged sheepishly. “She was looking for someone to dance with.”
“You do know the reason Raul was standing there was because he was waiting for Mary to finish this song so he could cut in, right?”
Lewis blinked. “What?”
His cousin rolled her eyes. “Oh come on. You haven’t noticed the guy has a serious crush on your sister? He keeps on trying to work up the nerve to talk to her.” She suddenly smiled mischievously. “Oh. Or is that why you steered Hailey his way?”
He looked at her in befuddlement. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Linda rolled her eyes again and grabbed his arm. “Well come on. I know Jane doesn’t want to dance, and Wes and Alvin keep sidling up trying to find an opportunity to ask me. Be my knight in shining armor and take me through a few waltzes so I don’t have to be a heartbreaker.”
Lewis allowed himself to be led onto the dance floor, shaking his head slightly in disbelief at his cousin.
Gutierrez was interested in Mary, huh? He didn’t exactly have a problem with that, although the fact that the man had been in a relationship with Mandy Townsend wasn’t exactly a mark in his favor. At the same time Sam’s description of the way Gutierrez had broken up with that toxic troublemaker definitely made it easier to like him.
Besides, since the former soldier had defected from the raiders and joined the town’s defenders, then the volunteers, he’d become one of Lewis’s closest and most trusted friends.
Still, brotherly protectiveness and all. Especially where Mary was concerned, with her painful shyness. Lewis wasn’t about to get in a chest beating competition or anything, but he’d be on the fence about whether this was a good thing or not until he saw how his sister felt about it.