camera – three good words

The first guests were already walking down the gravel path. Richter was waiting at the head, Angus next to him, laughing and grinning about something, slapping Richter’s back. Richter didn’t look too happy. Caden parked the car next to Matt’s and they all got out. Joan was all smiles for Richter, she basically loved him on first sight, straightening his tie and fiddling with his buttonhole as if Richter was Matt all over again.

‘My God, Tellis, thank God you’re here,’ Richter said once he got away from Joan. ‘Gus is driving me nuts, I don’t think he’s off whatever Matt gave him last night – I say, who’re you?’

Caden checked and saw Marla was actually right next to him, so he said, ‘Richter, Marla. Marla, Richter.’

Marla smiled politely and stretched out a hand, ‘Pleased to meet you.’ Richter took her hand and kissed it, he was worse than Matt sometimes.

‘My, my, Tellis, where have you been hiding this gem. What was your name again?’
‘Marla.’
‘There’s a singer out there isn’t there?’
‘Yes, but Marla’s just a nickname really.’

Caden almost said, ‘Since when?’ but Angus already joined them, laughing again, slapping Richter’s back before stopping altogether, staring at Marla and basically shouting,

‘Fuckin’ hell, you’re gorgeous! What’s your name, sweetheart?’

Marla looked nonplussed.

‘Gus, shut up,’ Richter frowned, annoyed. ‘I’m sorry, he has no manners. Please, come in – Gus, get off.’

Angus wasn’t listening.

‘Seriously, what is your name, gorgeous?’ but Marla already fled to Joan, not that Angus cared. ‘Fuck, Tellis, where’d you find that one?’ and in a lower voice, ‘Did you see those tits on her?’

Both Caden and Richter said, ‘Angus.’ together.

‘I’m just saying. Phenomenal. Does she have friends? Or sisters? Tell me she has a sister.’

Caden asked Richter, ‘How’s it been so far?’ Angus demanding, ‘She must have sisters. Tellis, tell me she has sisters.’

Richter sighed, ‘No meltdown yet, so we’re good. The flowers finally arrived so that’s a relief, and the padre’s here so we’re just waiting – Angus would you finally shut up?’
‘Seriously, Tellis, where did you find her?’

Caden moved to go inside, followed by Richter, but Angus wouldn’t have it, he actually held him back.

‘What?’
‘You and her. Is it serious?’
‘Hands off, Angus, I mean it.’
‘I fucking hate you so much. – Tell me that she at least has a sister.’

There was no point in fighting it. If he didn’t stop it now, the whole day would be like this, so Caden said,

‘She does and she’s in America with some tech-star fiancée, so forget it.’
‘She hot like yours?’
‘I don’t know, Gus, and I really don’t care.’
‘As if.’
‘So where’s Liza?’
Angus just grinned, ‘One dares to dream, Tellis, one dares to dream!’
‘She here?’
‘Of course she is. Up there somewhere getting manhandled by the stitches.’
‘Stitches?’
‘Steff’s bitches, they’re a whole hive.’

Angus grinned and Caden couldn’t help it, he did smile.

‘So how’s it going?’ Angus asked, sounding more like himself. ‘You’re place doing good?’
‘Yeah, it’s fine.’
‘How many bands d’you have signed anyway?’
‘A few.’
‘Richter said the last ones he heard were pretty good, where’d you get them all the time?’
‘They call, Gus, you know that.’
‘Just making small talk, mate, before the big man starts listening.’

They were in the church by then, the aisles slowly filling with guests, Marla standing a little to the side, scanning the windows and ceilings. Angus found out where he was looking and started again.

‘Fuckin’ hell, Tellis, look at that. Do me a favour will you, and fuck it up again.’
‘What?’
‘I want at least half a chance this time.’
‘What’re you talking about?’
‘What’s he on about now?’

That was Richter, coming down the aisle. Angus finally shut up.

‘Something’s on, Tellis,’ Richter said once he reached them. ‘Joan’s about to have a fit about something and I can’t make it out. By the way, are you bride or groom, your girl over there was a bit confused.’
‘Put me in bride otherwise I’ll never hear the end of it.’

Richter laughed, and before Caden could stop him, Angus ran off to Marla, all smiles once he reached her. Caden had no time to get irritated, he could already see Joan was… not pleased. Well, better get it over with now. He walked over.

‘Oh thank God, darling. Look at these flowers. Look at them. They’re dreadful! Who ordered this? Did that Richter woman start meddling again?’

Caden sighed, ‘They’re fine, Joan,’ but she wasn’t listening.

‘Pink! Pink roses! And those ghastly white things – oh, this is horrible –!’
‘Joan, they’re all right.’
‘All right? Flowers at a wedding aren’t supposed to be all right, darling, they’re supposed to be perfect, but apparently white was too sterile – sterile! That woman has no style –!’

It took him five minutes to calm her down, but he finally got her to see that the flowers weren’t the disaster she thought they were, so far no one had complained and Mrs Talbot-Hall had already told Richter how nice the set-up was. It was a complete lie, all he’d seen was the old crone look around and nod approvingly, but at least it calmed Joan down. With that sorted Caden went over to save Marla – except that Marla needed no saving. She was still standing where Angus found her, and they were laughing and smiling, Angus obviously gaining some decent ground. He’d have to warn her, but right then Sunny turned up right next to him, looking furious.

‘What?’
‘That. Woman.’
‘Which one?’
‘That mother of yours.’
‘Ok. What happened?’
‘She said she was glad I didn’t look like a prostitute this time. What a relief it was that you got me to dress well, she was already worried.’

Ah, yes. The old Joan vs. Sunny. Round five hundred probably.

‘I told you to stay away from her.’
‘She just turned up next to me, ranting about flowers!’ Sunny snapped.
‘You know how she gets at these things. Stay away from her.’
‘How’s that supposed to work if she just turns up like some harpy – oh, hi, Steve. Excited yet?’

Richter smiled at Sunny in a way Caden wished he didn’t. It was too obvious somehow. Caden had always had his suspicions, but he left it at that. It didn’t help to see them hug and kiss hello like that though.

‘So you came after all,’ Richter said after they finally parted.
‘Of course I came, I wouldn’t miss this for anything,’ Sunny grinned wide.
‘Sadist. She just came to see me slaughtered.’
‘You didn’t have to propose,’ Caden couldn’t help saying.

Richter laughed a loud, ‘Ha!’

‘Tellis, you mad? One more month and she’d have knifed me. It was life or death, mate, and I chose life. Come here, you, I need to put you somewhere before I start getting ideas.’

And off they went, Sunny giggling and Richter with that look that never meant anything good. They walked down the aisle and Caden turned around so he could legitimately say he had no idea where they went. Angus was still occupying Marla, but the pews were filling more and more, and the organ player had started a quiet solo to get people in the mood. There were hats and suits everywhere, people moving easily, steadily, filling up the space. The windows of this one were actually worth looking at, which reminded Caden of his camera, there was some seriously good light in here, and it’d be a great way to keep Steff quiet for a few months.

‘There you are, darling. I’m so glad you came.’
‘I hope we’re not late.’
‘Oh, not at all.

Caden leaned forward for the inevitable peck on the cheek. How was it that Joan not only managed to look it, but also smelled cool and composed? He never found out and wasn’t about to start now. And this was the woman who read books to him as a kid. A few pages before going to bed, asking, ‘Do you know what that means?’ and answering the questions he had. A few pages before she said good night, until they were through with whatever book she decided he needed to know about. It’s not that he minded though. That was their time, just him and Joan, who smiled more while she sat on the side of his bed with a book in her hand. It was when she laughed a real laugh, usually when she thought what he said was funny. He often felt that’s how it would have been with his own mother.

Looking at her now, he couldn’t put the two together, Joan then and Joan now. Sometimes he started doubting what he remembered. How she morphed into this icy blonde who cut anyone down who placed a fork wrong… that was something Caden still couldn’t put together. Something happened on the way, something he didn’t catch. It wasn’t as if Fred changed, he was still quiet, locked up in his office Monday through Friday, golfing on weekends and some pool on Wednesdays when Joan was off with her club. He was the same Fred as always, unmovable in his views, expecting the best as a matter of course. He talked about family like it was a fort, all the flags flying, all the gates closed, everything sealed up tight. Caden was just lucky that he grew up within the walls.

‘Where’s your young lady?’
‘Freshening up. Something about the dress.’
‘Ah, yes,’ Joan smiled politely.

Caden could see the subtext though. It was just like him to bring a woman who couldn’t get her wardrobe right. He’d come to think that that subtext was always there, it just took a while until he could read it.

Five minutes later Joan looked up and said, ‘There she is.’ The sub was a clear About time. Caden turned and stopped. That was… she was in something green, light green, all bust, no straps. It showed off her legs, long and firm like a runners. She did go jogging. She’d done something with her hair that showed off her neck, shoulders, very smooth. And those thin earrings you never saw until you were up close. She looked… Caden noticed he was staring, stopped and said the truth once she was with them. ‘You look good.’ Marla smiled, shyly, which just made it worse, as in better. There was something about her right then, something… glowing. He didn’t like that he noticed.

Matt walked up to them right then, ‘The car’s ready, are you coming?’ He looked Marla over and smirked,

‘You clean up nice.’
Marla frowned, ‘Pardon?’
‘That’s a nice dress,’ Matt nodded at her.‘A bit top heavy though, don’t you think?’

Caden saw the blush first, it spread all over her cheeks, her face, killing the glow. She started touching her dress like it might not be there. Caden felt the old urge to kick Matt, but just said, ‘We should probably go.’ Oblivious to the damage done, Matt grinned, ‘Round two.’ Joan said a stern, ‘Matthew,’ turned and walked to the cars. Caden looked at Marla, she was still touching her dress, so he said, ‘That colour looks good on you.’ She actually said, ‘You think so?’ looking down herself like he was lying. He never got that with women. ‘We really should get going.’ Marla just blushed more, but at least she stopped fidgeting.

He motioned her to the cars and they went down, Caden seeing for the first time that Marla had a small, very small star tattooed on her right shoulder, just above the hem of her dress. It was as if she put it there as a decoration. It was strange. He’d never thought Marla to be someone to get her skin inked in any way, she didn’t seem the type. It’s not that he didn’t like it, it softened her somehow, made her less that woman on the hill. It was still… unusual. And she smelled so good again, it was really hard not to notice. Why did they always smell so good?

They finally reached the cars, and Matt did the usual. He held the door open for Marla, even adding the ‘M’lady’ with that stupid half-bow, as if he was some kind of butler. It made Marla smile and shake her head. It surprised Caden time and again, he never remembered to expect it. Matt insulted them one minute, next they were smiling like he’d made the world’s greatest joke.

‘You know the way?’ Matt asked after closing the door.
‘Sure,’ Caden said.
‘It’s just down –’
‘I know, Matt. I was there yesterday.’
‘Oh yeah, right. See you there.’

They got into the cars, the sound of the doors closing sharp in the quiet. The sun shone bright on the tarmac, a smooth black, the grass glowing in several shades next to it, swaying in the light breeze. Caden turned and checked, yes he had his camera in the back. The light was good today.

They were on the road when Marla started talking.

‘Is he always like that?’
‘Who, Matt?’
‘Yeah. I mean… I’m sorry, he’s your brother and all, but he’s not very…’

Caden waited but nothing came. Instead she said, ‘Is he always like that?’ again, so he said,

‘Mostly.’
‘Was he always like that?’
‘Why’re you asking?’
‘Just curious. – So, he was?’
‘Matt’s always been Matt.’

Marla nodded there and brushed her hands down her dress again, crossing her legs, they really were endless. He noticed she was in green and gold. Green dress, those shoes, and her purse lying lightly on her lap. He’d always liked how easily women could pull that off, just looking good without much effort. It was nice knowing Marla was no different, never mind her work on the hill. He still wanted to know when she got that star on her shoulder.