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The camera zoomed in unfocused over the shoulder of Jessica, in time to capture Pat loosening his cravat from around his neck. The camera continued to jerk around.
"Look, I'm not saying I don't like the bloke, I just don't think he's right for my daughter."
"What?! A-And you decided to tell me that now!" shouted back the vision in white.
"Well you know it's the Father's obligation to check their daughter's totally sure beforehand" he justified, as he turned to pour a glass of water shakily. His eyes trail back to meet the camera lens, "And since when did you hire the Chuckle brothers for the video?!"
"Dad! Don't change the subject, and anyway they're Chris's younger brothers, I could hardly say no." Jess said as if they weren't even there.
"See?, you're marrying into a family already demanding of you," he exclaimed as he reached out to the young Spielbergs and snatched the camera. Despite being now aimed at the church floor as Jim held it, it was still filming. Or more importantly still recording.
'You're young, you should decide these..."
"-Hang on!, a minute ago it was Chris himself, now it's his whole family?"
"You said it."
"No, you did, you've started all this, and you know what?, I don't think it has anything to do with Chris, I think you just resent him because I dropped out the year I met him."
"That's not true- I only blame you for throwing that away."
Realising, that what he said wasn't completely tactful he stood closer to Jess, "All I've ever wanted is for you to be happy. I mean look at me and your Mum, look how that turned out?"
"Dad, you celebrated your 30th last week"
Pat shrugged his shoulders, "Yeah, well, It's been 30 years of hell- you should know."
"But in your speech you said 30 years of bliss? So..."
"So everyone lies in speeches, you should see the one I've got planned for lunch" he winked.
But jess really wasn't in the mood for her Father's winks. She thought if anything he needed to open his eyes to what a wonderful man she was about to marry.
The red velvet curtain separating them from the aisle briefly pulled across to let the noise of the congregation escape and flood the candlelight holding area.
"Is everything ok?" asked the Vicar.
"Fine." Jess smiled sweetly back.
The vicar pulled in a deep breath and leaned back, book in hand, "Okey dokey then, lets get this show on the road."
Jess laughed weakly and Pat just sipped his water and gargled. Jess subtly elbowed Jim in the ribs mid gargle but continued to smile directly at the vicar. Pat choked and water flew out over his suit.
Jess acted surprised, "Whoopsy daisy! Don't worry Dad, I've got a tissue"
As jess dabbed the navy waistcoat with Kleenex the Vicar added before promptly leaving, "Oh, that reminds me. Do be careful when walking down to the altar, the fonts leaking and water's everywhere."
Pat slowly turned to Jess grumbling, "Well you would've thought they would've cleaned it up for the price we pa-"
Pat's face was met by his daughter's defiant stare and pose, with her bare fingers resting upon her beautifully dressed waist, and for a split second, maybe longer if he was honest,( maybe a lot longer in fact), he felt so so old.
"Now look Dad, you, whether you like it or not, you; my own Father, for once will shut up and do as he's told. You're going to walk me down this aisle and smile. Smile as though you are so proud of my choice, smile as though we never had this conversation, try to even force out a little tear, just a tincy wincy one would be great. You're going to give me away to Chris with a look of fondness, pause for the boys to focus the shot on you -and please don't move too much-they need all the help they can get and sit down with Mum. End of. Nothing more, ok? And if you don't, God help me, I WILL drown you off in the little holy water left in the font!"
"Erm..." answered Pat like a told off school boy.
"No! No! No!, no "erms", nothing. Just do it."
A little bridesmaid, no more than six, nervously leaned out to pick Jess's trail up, fearing for her life after witnessing Jess's rant.
Father and Daughter paused facing the curtain, ready for the wedding march to begin and the curtain to be pulled across.
Pat put the camera down on a little table next to him ready to start. On its side, the camera showed Pat's utter disgust with himself. That he had spoilt the beginning of his daughter's marriage. That she had to waste her last words before getting married putting an old man in his place. He looked down at his black patent shoes and up at his tall, slim, beautiful, porcelain white daughter. Jess continued to look straight ahead, the only movement of her pendant earrings swaying.
The silence broke, "Something's wrong." Jess whispered.
"Huh?" Pat was still dumbstruck.
"It's not right, this- it isn't right."
"What? No no!, honestly everything's fine now, I know what I have to do." pleaded Pat.
"No, it's not that dad, I can just feel it something's wrong, this isn't how it's meant to be."
"Listen to me, " Jim pulled Jess's thin torso to face him. "What i said before- complete rubbish. Chris is a fantastic lad, his brothers well..., " Pat rolled his eyes, "but, I really am so proud, and this, all this, is just my way of being showing that. I'm so sorry for ever doubting you. You always do the right thing and I'll miss you telling me what to do which is right. You're the one thing that kept me feeling young. You're that last of three daughters, this wedding was always going to be difficult for me. But I've made it and I never thought I'd see the day when I'd have to be convincing my Jess to do the right thing. And this is the right thing, and this isn't a speech so you know I'm not lying. I love you Jess, dearly."
A sincere silence set.
"No Dad, it doesn't feel right because..well, you're on the wrong side of me. You should be on the left."
"Oh..right." Pat fumbled with embarrassment as he switched sides.
The curtain swept across them and the organ began.
"But thank-you anyway."