“What? You think I am going to miss out on you guys getting ripped a new one?” I tell them as I strap myself in.
4
Phoenix
Kelly, the stylist I hired to bring us the bridal gowns, brought a good selection and each of us finds a dress we love. We all wear our new boots as well, and if I do say so myself, the result looks quite fabulous. It takes almost two hours to get us all ready and out the door to brave the crazy amount of traffic in downtown Nashville. I am sure we are quite a sight as we exit out of the white hummer limo onto a crowded Broadway. Six women wearing wedding gowns and full hair and makeup. Since the rest of us already are a few cocktails in and feeling pretty good right now, Raeva, who’s about seven months pregnant, is our designated “safe keeper” as we venture out into the great city of Nashville, Tennessee.
“What advice would you give a bride to be? What’s it like being married? Is it different?” Mikaela asks as she turns to all our married friends.
“Well,” Rae responds. “Marriage is a huge commitment and while it’s beautiful, it’s also hard. It can be messy and complicated and it ebbs and it flows. But that’s because marriage is alive and that’s what commitment is all about. You go through all the ups and all the downs and you still look at your spouse and continue to choose them, to be with them, share your life together, over and over again. Always. If you find someone you can share this commitment with, grab hold and don’t let go. Eric is this for you, I feel it in every fiber of my being.”
“You literally took the words right out of my mouth,” Jill agrees.
“Yes, damn Rae, talk about hitting the nail on the head,” Hannah adds.
Mikaela smiles big.
“I honestly look at all you guys and your relationships and I hope Eric and I can make it work like that. You all make it look so easy.”
Mackenzie starts to laugh first, and soon she is joined by all the other women as I curiously look on.
“Marriage, though amazing, isn’t always a walk in the park. It isn’t always rainbows and unicorns. Sometimes, you have to put in the extra effort that your spouse isn’t putting in and vice versa. But, if it is with the right person, even the crappy times are worth it.”
“Preach,” Jill adds.
“You guys are the best. And I adore you,” Mikaela says, a little misty-eyed.
It’s not by coincidence that the first place we venture into has karaoke going on tonight. I figured, how could we do a proper Nashville trip and not do karaoke? As I hoped, all the girls are excited, especially Raeva who squeals with delight.
“We’re going up together,” she announces.
She takes Mikaela by the hand and drags her to the DJ booth to get a songbook. I watch them disappear into the crowd with a smile. Jill Ushers us to a booth not too far from the stage and it isn’t long before Hannah shows up, followed by one of our security team who’s carrying a small tray with shots and a glass of cranberry juice for our pregnant gal. I glance over to my sister and sister-in-law and see Raeva slip the DJ a twenty-dollar bill. I suspect that they are paying to be moved up the list. I am proven right almost immediately when he announces their names the moment the song that’s playing ends. The intro to “Hell On Heels” by the Pistol Annies starts to play next, and Hannah, Jill, Mackenzie and myself start to loudly cheer them on. I’ve never heard Raeva sing before, and when she starts the first few notes, she absolutely blows me away. She has an amazing voice. It doesn’t take long for the rest of the crowd to notice as well, and once the two of them harmonize, the crowd erupts into loud cheers of encouragement. By the time they sing the last note, there are not a pair of hands in the place not clapping. As Mikaela and Raeva make their way back to the table, I notice that a few people try to approach them to compliment them, but our security isn’t letting anyone close enough for that.
“You guys were amazing!” I tell them as they reach the table.
Raeva beams. “That was so much fun!”
Raeva slides next to Jill and Mikaela slides next to me. Mackenzie hands Mik the shot she missed out on while they were choosing their song and Mikaela slams it back, no questions asked.
“That’s delicious. What is this?”
“No idea, the bartender recommended it,” Hannah replies with a chuckle.
“We should totally get another round,” Mikaela says.
“We should,” Mackenzie agrees.
“I think,” Raeva says. “That we need to see Phoenix on that stage and sing us a song before we do that. Besides, she is the one that dragged us here in the first place.”
That stirs a little panic in my core. Sure, I’ve sung in the shower, and sometimes when River plays the guitar, we mess around and sing some. But following the performance just given by my sisters…yeah that isn’t happening.
“Um, I think I am going to pass.”
Mikaela raises a brow.
“Isn’t this supposed to be my night?”
“Of course?” I reply.