Free Here Come The Bridesmaids by Ann M. Martin Page A

Dad. I see them singing, joking, leading us in car games. At least, that's what I remember when I was a little girl.
    But I also remember the later rides, when I was older. Mom and Dad would try to be all nice and cheerful around Jeff and me, but they'd hardly say a word to each other. When they were looking forward, their faces were like stone.
    After the divorce, it was hard to picture my parents married to other people. I adjusted to Mom's remarriage, because I adored Mary Anne and her dad. But as for my dad? Well, for a long time I wasn't sure I liked Carol. She can go overboard, trying to seem young and cool. Not long after I came to California, she and Dad broke up. I think Carol was jealous of the attention Dad was giving me.
    I'd been jealous, too. Part of me was glad they split.
    But part of me missed Carol. And now, seeing the two of them on the drive to the beach, I knew why.
    Dad was like his old self. (Except for the
    nervousness. But I think getting married is a good excuse for that.) I could tell he was happy. I could see the way his eyes would dart over to Carol. And I could see how he relaxed when she put her arm around him.
    I was happy. Dad was doing the right thing.
    Believe it or not, he got us to the beach in one piece. Someone had cordoned off a bunch of parking spaces with traffic cones and blue-and-white crepe paper.
    In the center of the line of cars, near a large crowd of dressed-up people, was a huge space.
    Claudia, Maggie, and Sunny were standing in it. Claud started waving her arms. "Here! Here!"
    Dad drove smoothly in. The crowd began moving toward us, but I could see Kristy urging everyone back onto the sand.
    She did not, however, use her whistle. (Thank goodness.)
    Carol's face had changed. Her skin was pale. Her eyes were egg-sized.
    "How's my hair?" she asked.
    "Beautiful," Dad replied.
    "Did I sweat through my makeup?"
    "No, sweetheart."
    "Where are my flowers?"
    Dad lifted them off the seat next to her.
    "Right here." He threw us a wink. "How's our bridal party?"
    "Fine," I said.
    "Do I have to wear this tie?" Jeff whined.
    Dad chuckled. "After I kiss the bride, you can take it off and throw it in the air."
    Jeff’s face lit up. "All riiiiight!"
    "Okay, everybody," Carol said. "Let's go."
    I opened my door and stepped out. The air was cool, but the sun seemed pretty strong. I hoped Mary Anne had worn a lot of sunblock. Aside from the wedding guests, not too many people were on the beach (even in California, December isn't always beach weather).
    Mary Anne, Claudia, and Kristy had done a great job. The crowd had split in the middle. Just beyond them stood Reverend Gunness, a freckle-faced woman with a crinkly, welcoming grin.
    The members of the Baby-sitters Club and the We V Kids Club were hanging around together, all smiles. Off to one side stood a group of Carol's and Dad's friends. One of them started strumming a guitar. The others, who were holding sheets of paper, began to sing:
    " 'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,
    Tis the gift to come down where you want to be,
    And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
    'Twill be in the valley of love and delight. . . ."
    Their voices drifted across the beach. The song was so beautiful I almost forgot what I had to do.
    "Link arms!" Mrs. Bruen whispered to Jeff and me.
    I held out my left arm.
    Jeff looked as if I'd handed him a dead fish. "Do we have to?"
    "Yes!" said all the rest of us.
    With a disgusted grunt, he limply took hold of my elbow. Oh, well, we take what we get.
    To the sound of the music and the gentle waves, Jeff and I walked up the aisle.
    Some of the guests were wearing sunglasses, so I couldn't tell whether they were teary-eyed. But the others couldn't hide it.
    I caught a glimpse of Mary Anne. She wasn't teary-eyed. She was past that stage. Water was cascading down her cheeks. If she were any nearer the surf, she'd make the tide rise.
    I smiled at her and gave a little wave.
    Jeff and I stood on