Page 168 - Interior_SPRING SUMMER FALLING_2021

168 | FRANCESCA P E NN

“Well…” Tala begins. “I just received some wedding stuff from the
photographers. I wanted to show you some things to see if you want a copy.”
I furrow my brows. Is she serious? She came over on a holiday to talk about her
wedding!
“Trust me. It’s not as self-centered as it sounds,” Tala assures as she looks

around. “Is Henry here?”
“Yes, in the backyard with our families.”
“I’ll get him,” Carla volunteers right before she slips into the backyard. I study
Tala’s empty hands. She opens her purse and pulls out a disc.
“Is your DVD player in here?” She starts towards the den.
“Uh…yes.” I help her load the disc and switch the auxiliary on the television.
Henri filters in with everyone else. I guess they became curious when someone they
don’t know summoned him. I hand Tala the remote and sit down.
“Okay…” she beams excitedly. “I’ll show you, this and then we’ll be out of your
hair.” Henri sits next to me before she continues. “So, the film crew set up cameras
that recorded constantly. They made me compilation DVDs.” Tala ticks things off
with her fingers. “Funniest moments, sweetest moments, best dance moves, etc.
These are the top ten sweetest moments with one being the sweetest.”

I feel others settling on the couch. I lean over to Henri and whisper, “Did Carla
invite everyone in?”
He shakes his head. “No. All she said is Tala wanted to show me some stuff
from the wedding.”
“So, you don’t know what this is about either?” “Nope.” We watch Tala skip
things on the DVD.
“I think moment two is the most interesting,” she explains.
Now, I’m nervous. Henri squeezes my wrist; he feels it, too. I run the weekend
through my head and silently pray. Please no club footage. Please no club footage.
The DVD stops and flashes the number two.
“Here we go. The second sweetest moment,” Tala announces.
I breathe a sigh of relief when the video starts in the venue. My relief is short-
lived. It’s the clip of me singing the beginning of “Give Me One More Reason.” I
look sad. My hair is pulled back, my clothes are baggy, and my face is void of make-
up. My mom tisks her disapproval at my appearance.
“Ah, hell,” I hear Henri grunt under his breath.