Fiction | Romance | July Lift Prompt|

Not Always Out of Order

Wedding Speeches tell the story of this couple coming together

Verity looks beautiful today, her shining hair is so artfully arranged in soft curls caught with pearl pins that Helen of Troy would be envious. Her bare shoulders rise up out of the silk of her pale gown, reminding me of a mermaid from a storybook. In a minute I need to stand up and tell our story, about how we met. I’m quite nervous about giving speeches, but with Verity by my side, everything is a little easier. She makes me a better version of myself, which sounds like a Hallmark card, but the occasion of our wedding is a decent excuse to be schmaltzy.

Juno looks very kissable today! My eyes keep wandering to hir mouth, those plump lips look appetizing and I love the dizzy feeling I get when they’re pressed against mine. Is it crazy that I still get butterflies thinking about us together? I never dreamed I’d meet someone so right for me, so patient with my quirkiness, my mood swings, my huge enthusiasm for everything which, eight times out of ten, wears off just as quickly. Not Juno though, my interest in Juno was nil at the outset but it built … Hang on, it’s time for hir speech, they tell it best.

“I was property manager for Blakewater Gardens. This meant I had to do regular site inspections, making checks on garden maintenance and the state of the common areas. When I arrived at the block where Verity lived, the lift was out of order. I made a call to the repair company and booked an engineer.

“I have to check the decor on every floor and ensure people aren’t storing bikes or furniture in the common areas…”

[There’s a grumble from the wedding guests, a low ‘boo’ as if this was a pantomime! I press on.]

“Boring I know, but it’s a fire hazard. Anyway I was really quite out of breath when I reached the fourth floor, where Verity lives. I had to knock on her door because it was like Kew Gardens outside her flat.

“Hi I’m Juno, I work for PPL as your property manager,” I introduced myself.

“Hi — Verity,” she only peeped round the door, looking suspicious.”

[“Don’t blame her!”

That’s my Uncle Mick, thinks he’s funny. He’s probably going to heckle my whole speech, especially now he’s had a couple of glasses of Cava.]

“I needed to explain that Verity’s potted plants couldn’t live on the landing, but after four flights of stairs, I was hot and embarrassingly out of breath. She took pity on me and invited me in for a cold drink.

“Water ok?”

“That’d be lovely,” I was impressed with how she’d decorated the flat, with a very lifelike mural on one wall. “Did you paint this?”

“Yes,” she nodded.

“We both stood gazing at the glorious seascape she had created. It made me feel cooler just from looking, as if the wind might be blowing off those waves, carrying a salty tang.

“I hated to be a jobsworth, but I made my point about the plants on the landing and Verity agreed she’d remove them. I went on my way, I had other buildings to check on my rounds. But I couldn’t stop thinking about Verity, the beautiful girl with eyes as blue as the sea in her mural.

“Next time I visited Blakewater Gardens, I was looking forward to checking Verity’s landing.”

[“Is that what the young folk are calling it these days?”

Everybody laughs at Uncle Mick’s interruption, Uncle Mick hardest of all, unsurprisingly.]

“The landing was clear, I knocked on Verity’s door to thank her for complying with the rules. She had her jacket on.

“Hi Juno, I was just on my way out.” She stepped into the hall, deadlocking her door. “Thanks for getting the lift repaired so quickly.”

“She pressed G and, when the lift door opened, we stepped into the metal cubicle. We both stood smiling at each other as it made its ponderous journey down.

“Is it always this slow?” I asked when the lift judders, I hope it isn’t going to get stuck.

“Yes.”

“Verity seemed to be studying my face. I thought she was going to ask me if my conch piercing hurt, but instead she asked if I had time for a drink.

“That’d be lovely,” I replied, feeling thrilled.

“I should’ve checked the other two blocks at Blakewater Gardens. But I decided if anything needed repair, the residents would be quick enough to ring or send an email. I couldn’t pass up this opportunity.”

[“Too right!” Mick again.

I look up to see Verity gazing at me with love in her azure eyes. My heart flutters a little.]

“So after going for a drink, we exchanged phone numbers. Gradually we began to see each other and fall in love. And a year later, she agreed to be my wife.

“Please would everyone be upstanding for the toast to Verity: You complete me, my darling girl.”

All our guests scrape their chairs back and stand, raising glasses of bubbly and toasting my bride and me.

Juno looks mighty relieved that it’s all over, ze doesn’t really enjoy the spotlight. But there’s something I want to add. I stay standing but I motion for our guests to sit down. Oh dear, I’ve made Juno look nervous all over again.

“Hi everybody, thank you for coming, it’s lovely to see so many friendly faces here celebrating with us. I know it’s not traditional for the bride to make a speech, but you know I’m not very conventional.”

[There’s a general murmur of happy assent. I’m glad Juno’s Uncle Mick doesn’t see this as a moment to heckle.]

“I just wanted to raise a toast to the lift at Blakewater Gardens. If it hadn’t been out of order, well, Juno and I might not have talked.”

[“To the Lift!”]

Everyone agrees to my impromptu toast. Glasses are raised and people smile fondly at Juno and me as they drink to the catalyst of our romance.

I wrote this romantic short for the July prompt on Tantalizing Tales : Stuck in a Lift Jonathon Sawyer Lori Lamothe JF Danskin Danielle Loewen Matthew Donnellon does inspiration strike you? Link back & tag May More if it does ;-)

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