Untypically in Love: The Wedding - Part 5

Read the full story, chapter by chapter here.

Some names and events have been changed to protect the identity of certain individuals.

---------------------

Chapter Forty-Nine
The Wedding - Part 5
The Reception 

"He lost his ring where?" One of my cousins asked as we arrived at the restaurant. After hearing horror stories from other brides that regretted not picking food they actually wanted, Matt and I decided on one of our favourites; Rodizio Grill, a Brazillian steakhouse that was all you can eat.

"In the gutter at the cemetery," I laughed.

"Did he find it?" She asked.

"Of course, but we had to dig through a couple feet of snow. It's seriously luck that he found it cause it fell somewhere we weren't even looking." The ordeal didn't last more than five minutes, but by the time we got back in the car, our fingers were frozen and Matt decided to wear his wedding ring on a different finger, at least until we got it resized.

Family began to pour into the restaurant just as we were about to walk in ourselves. I stood outside a few minutes longer to show off my sneakers to several of my cousins who'd just arrived.


"Exactly how to you expect to eat steak in that dress?" One of my aunts asked. "Can you even sit down in it?"

She had a point. The hoop skirt I wore caused my dress to poof up anytime I sat down. I'd never get it to fit under the table. So I did what any other girl would do. Or at least, any other girl with no shame would do. I backed myself into a corner, unzipped the back of my dress until I could feel the ribbon the held the hoop skirt in place, and then gave it a good tug before zipping my dress back up. The hoop skirt fell to the ground and I stepped out of it, picked it up and hung it on the coat rack.

Half of my family looked away horrified, the other half applauded my genius.

The restaurant was packed. Despite not having many members of my family with me at the temple, many had shown up for the luncheon, so the room we had reserved was overflowing and needed extra tables added.

Every so often someone would walk by and ask if we'd like some grilled vegetables. After the fourth time we said no, Matt looked up and firmly stated, "If it didn't once have a face, we don't want to eat it." 

On my fourth or fifth turkey wrapped in bacon I realised that if I was ever to eat my wedding cake, I'd need to slow down on the food. So I backed off a bit, amazed that my dress was still white, and began visiting with my family, most notably my Dad who'd shown up with my step-mother and little brothers.

"I can't believe you're wearing a suit," I commented.

The only time I'd ever seen my father dress up, was for a Valentine's Day Daddy-Daughter dance he took me to when I was seven. Even then he'd worn his hair down and looked more like someone from a hair band than someone's dad. But now, at my wedding, he wore a suit and had his hair pulled back into a pony tail. Every male on my father's side of the family begins losing their hair in their early twenties, so most family photos are filled with top heavy women and men wearing baseball caps.

The fact that he didn't wear a hat, really said something.

"If you don't mind, I'm going to change before I go to the reception," he told me, clearly uncomfortable in the monkey suit.

"That's fine," I laughed. "Honestly, you looking all fancy is kinda creeping me out."

A few more rounds of steak and everyone pitched in their share of the ticket before we all headed back to the cars and to the Church where the reception was being held. I was exhausted, nearly falling asleep in the car and my curls were completely flat. Most of my makeup had been washed off by the snow, and what remained looked half done.

"Still pretty?" I asked Matt as we drove to the Church.

"Pretty as ever," he smiled back at me.

When we walked into the Church, a guest book had been placed in front of the doors on a table next to a large glass bowl that had tiny blue pieces of paper wrapped up with white ribbon. Once opened, I realised that a friend of our family, Jenny, had made them for us in place of sending out Thank You notes (which was good because we completely forgot to send any).

Once inside, I took my place as hostess and didn't sit down for more than a minute at a time. Though I did take several minutes to escape to the bathroom in order to fix my hair and makeup. I was followed by my two oldest nieces.

"Aunt Jessi, can I try your hair thing?" Sami asked and then a few seconds later Bell echoed.

For a few moments of peace, I was able to spend time with my little nieces, away from the gathering crowd. There were many hugs that needed to be given, congratulations that needed to be heard, and traditions that needed to be acted out. But right there, it was quiet and calm and reminded me of the peace I'd felt earlier in the day inside the temple.

It was an interesting feeling, having two families suddenly become one, especially considering how different the families were. Matt's family consisted of conservative Mormons, a tight knit family that consisted of a mother, a father and the kids (and of course Matt's aunt who came all the way from Michigan). While my family consisted of several parents, though not the typical mother and father pair. I had aunts and uncles, a dad and a step mother, half brothers and sisters who were actually cousins. I had cousins, cousins and more cousins, and when those cousins had all filed in I had second and third cousins. Few dressed up for the occasion, which was just how I wanted it to be. Nothing fancy, just like us.

"Time to cut the cake!" Debbie yelled. Since we hadn't hired a DJ, I asked Debbie to help conduct things to move the party along. While I loved my family, I was beyond tired from the day and was looking forward to a nice restful sleep.

Everyone gathered in front of the wedding cake that was made by a baker friend I knew from work. He promised the prettiest cake, though gave no mention to taste, which became painfully evident after the first bite. I've had issues eating fondant ever since.

"Smash it in his face!" One of my cousins yelled from the back.

I casually glanced at my mother in law who narrowed her eyes and mouthed, "Don't you dare."

It was a conversation we'd had in the past while planning the wedding. Matt's mother swore up and down that she would find someway to punish us if we started a food fight at our own wedding. Her threats made no difference. Though an extra cleaning charge for the tuxes did. Matt and I decided to play nice.

We poured some sparkling cider and handed out glasses. Matt's two best men, his brother and his best friend Joe, took turns giving toasts. My new brother in law talked about Matt and I when we were younger. How we'd met and how I became a part of their family long before anyone thought about a wedding. Joe echoed the sentiments, but also talked about how much we'd overcome. Our struggles, our hardships and how we'd beaten the odds.

Suddenly, the room turned to Tiffany, my maid of honor, who had very clearly forgotten that a maid of honor's duties, included public speaking.


"Umm . . ." She looked around the room nervously, completely unprepared. Eventually she sighed and turned to look at me, raised her glass saying, "Rock on sistah-friend!"

"Alright, all the single ladies get up here, it's time to throw the bouquet!" Debbie shouted, quickly realising that she was one of two - count them - two, single ladies. My cousin Emily being the second, stood up and narrowed her eyes at Debbie.


"You better catch it," Emily glared.

"I don't want the stupid thing, you're younger, you should get married," Debbie mumbled through clenched teeth.

"I don't want to get married!" Emily said, eyes wide.

"If either of you let my bouquet fall, you're dead to me," I added before turning around and tossing it high into the air.

Both women dove out of the way, hoping to let the other take the fall. When Emily realised that the flowers were going to hit the ground, and hard, she dove for the bouquet, catching it as the crowd erupted in applause and laughter.

"Do we at least have single men here?" Debbie asked as I sat down, ready for the garter toss.

Joe stood, not expecting to be the only one as he walked silently into the middle of the floor, completely singled out. "Are you serious?" He asked. "Can he just hand it to me then?"

"No!" I insisted. "You have to catch it. Besides, you played football, it would be embarrassing if you missed."

And he nearly did.

Just after the garter toss, I took a seat to relax. My feet were aching despite my comfortable sneakers, and I was drained from the days events. Looking at my quickly enlarging group of presents gave me what strength left I would need to keep going.

It was then I noticed that Matt was missing from the group.

Anyone seen Matt?" I asked his family.

"There he is," my sister in law pointed to the door as Matt and his brother stepped through, both looking equally uncomfortable.

"Everything okay?" I asked Matt as I approached him, watching as my new brother in law went back to his table.

"Yeah I . . . I just got the wedding night talk," Matt said, looking pale.

"Oh my gosh, that's hilarious," I laughed.

"Really wasn't," he shook his head.

"No, I think that's nice. Your brother did a really heartfelt thing. Why the heck has no one done something like that for me?" I asked and immediately stormed off to a table where my aunts had gathered with the majority of my female cousins.


"Hey, Matt's brother just gave him the wedding night talk, how come no one has done anything like that for me?" I asked them, hands on my hips.

Without blinking, one of my cousins chimed in. "Because we all assumed you knew more than we did." The hens burst into a roar of cackles.

Thankfully music began to play and I was pulled from a murderous rampage by my new husband who said it was time to dance. I was handed over to my father while Matt pulled his mom aside. By the end of the song I'd danced with my father, my husband and my father in law. Matt had his fair share of dance partners as well.

People began trickling out of the reception, saying goodbyes and congrats as they parted. I glanced over to the food where I realised that all of the cream puffs were gone and then made a mental note to have that be the first thing on my shopping list for my new home.

My new home with my husband.

A husband, which I now had.

If I had been awake enough to comprehend everything that had happened that day, I might have been overwhelmed, but I wasn't. I was teetering on the edge of exhaustion and ready for sleep. I was grateful that I'd taken the week off of work following the wedding, I was going to need the rest. It had been a long day and I wasn't the only one who was exhausted.

I stretched my arms above my head and let out a lion sized yawn.

"You're not tired yet," Matt insisted, gently tapping my face. "Wake up. You cannot be tired yet!" 

"I'm tired . . . " I whined.

"Get used to hearing that," one of my aunts commented to Matt as he continued to shake me awake.


"You have to be awake. Wake up," he left me for a few seconds to gather Debbie, who had planned on driving us to our hotel where Matt's parents had bought us a room for the night. "Debbie, we have to go now. She's falling asleep."

"Okay, okay," Debbie said rolling her eyes as she ordered everyone out of the room.

Family and friends piled our presents into different cars, all planned on heading over to our apartment. Matt and I made our way to the back doors where the car would be waiting for us. That's when we saw them. At least thirty of our closest friends and relatives with piles of birdseed bawled into their fists, ready for pelting.

Untypically in Love: The Wedding - Part 4

Read the full story, chapter by chapter here.

Some names and events have been changed to protect the identity of certain individuals.

---------------------

Chapter Forty-Eight
The Wedding - Part 4
Lost Rings and Other Things 

"I don't understand, how is Matt lost?" I asked the well meaning temple matron who seemed just as worried as I now was, despite her attempts to keep me level headed.

"Well, he's somewhere in the temple, we know that much. His escort forgot to sign in, so we don't know who he's with or where he is. But we've got a lot of people trying to track him down for you." She smiled sweetly before asking my sister to go upstairs and see if Matt had been brought out to meet with the family.

I sat there, in my big poofy wedding dress, waiting to see when my new husband would show up.

Countless people came in through the doors for their own temple visits, and each would stop and smile at me and say things like, "Oh look at the pretty bride!" while I tried to smile and not look slightly panicked. I didn't have much to panic over. It wasn't like Matt had ditched me. We were officially married now, so if he was planning on leaving me high and dry, he'd picked the wrong moment.

My panic was mostly over our schedule. We were already at least a half hour behind because the ceremony ran long and we still had pictures to take, a luncheon to get to and then a reception. I looked down at my feet once again thanking God for giving me the good sense to wear sneakers. It was going to be one really long day.


"Wow," I heard from down the hallway and I turned to spot Matt, looking super spiffy in the special tuxedo he picked out himself. I stood up and smiled, practically running toward him, though almost tripping over my dress in the process.

"You look so . . ." he paused to kiss me before continuing. "Beautiful. You're like an angel," he grinned.

"You're setting high expectations. Eventually I'll just be your nagging wife," I smirked back at him.

"Ready?" He asked, taking my hand as he lead me up to the doors where our family was waiting.

"As I'll ever be," I winked at him.

The photographer had arrived early, so with us being late I wanted to get right into the photos to not make her day any longer than it had to be. My family was busy ooing and awwing over my dress, most of whom hadn't seen it yet, and despite the snow that kept on falling, I was burning up fast.

Between my undergarments, my slips, my corset, hoop skirt, dress, muff and cloak I was buried in cloth and needed to get it all off of me. While I'm pulling off layers of my clothes, Debbie realised that she had forgotten my bouquet in her car and decided to run back to fetch it. By the time she arrived back in front of the temple, she was soaked from head to toe, carrying my bouquet in one hand and a parking ticket in the other.

"They gave you a ticket?" I asked, wide eyed. "But, they can't do that on my special day."

"Well I'll be sure to tell them that when I go to pay the ticket," Debbie huffed a little and then tried to dry her hair on a towel that the photographer had brought, just in case.

"Alright, let's get the boys up there," the photographer motioned, giving me a moment to have my hair fixed. The snow was getting everyone wet and the amount of hairspray Tiffany put in my hair that morning was now leaking it's way down my neck.

My poor nieces were freezing, and Bell began to cry. It was cue to give the family a moment to collect themselves while Matt and I were stolen away to take pictures of just the two of us.

Then came time for the family photos.

"Alright, who are the parents of the bride?" The photographer asked.

Instinctively, I turned to my aunts and pointed. "They are."

Debbie, Me and Paula (Motherly)

Tiffany, Me, Matt, Debbie and Paula

MIL, Matt, Me, and FIL

Joe, MIL, Matt, me, FIL, SIL and BIL

The whole brood

"Bout time to wrap this thing up?" Debbie asked. "We've got to get to the restaurant pretty soon."

I was busy thanking friends and family for showing up, inviting them to lunch while also seeing who was also coming to the reception. Matt was busy cleaning all the snowflakes off of his glasses.

"How about one more photo?" The photographer held up her camera and ushered Matt and I closer together while everyone else began to pack up and leave.

"I love you," Matt whispered.

"I love you too," I smiled.

"We're married," he grinned, eyes wide.

"How weird is that?" I said, just before he kissed me.

Everyone packed up in separate cars. Debbie went immediately to the restaurant to make sure everything was set up, Tiffany and her husband left with their kids, and Joe went with Matt's family. Matt and I piled into Paula's car and buckled in just as she turned around.

"I need to make a quick stop first," she said.

Within a few minutes I found myself in a very familiar place. Somewhere I'd known since I was a little girl but hadn't seen in quite some time. Paula pulled her truck up against the curb of the snow covered road, parking under a large tree that somehow helped keep the snow from completely covering the headstones in the cemetery where my aunt Kathy, my Grandmother and my mother were buried.


"You don't have to get out if you don't want to," Paula said as she stepped outside.

"No, I want to," I smiled and had Matt help me out of the car.

Walking over to the headstones, I sighed looking down. "You were there, weren't you?" I asked quietly before pulling three roses out of my bouquet and laying them down on the stark white snow. I reached, touching the grave tenderly, the same way I'd done since I was a little girl, and then I smiled. Not even the reminders of death could ruin my happy day.

"Uh oh," I heard from back near the car.


"What happened?" I looked up at Matt who was staring at the ground.

"My . . . my wedding ring fell off."

"Well pick it up and put it back on. We'll get it resized later." I said, crawling over piles of snow to get back to the car.

"No, honey, it fell in there." He said, pointing to a pile of snow nearly three feet tall, extending out past the curb another two feet.

"Well . . . let's start digging," I sighed and set my bouquet down on the hood of the car.

I Don't Even Know My Last Name

Matt and I got married in 2004 and a few months later when it was time to renew my drivers license in Utah, we trucked down to the DMV and I handed over my old license, my wedding license and BOOM - I was officially a Woodruff according to the government.

It wasn't until at least a year later when we moved back to New Mexico that I realised I had skipped a very important step. Matt's driver's license needed to be renewed, and I figured that I needed to change mine over to a New Mexico one anyways, so I went with him for the four hour wait.

After Matt got his license, I went up to change mine.

DMV Lady: We need to see your social security card and proof of a New Mexico residency.

Me: Here you go.

DMV Lady: Ma'am, your social security card says a different name.

Me: Well yeah, that's my maiden name.

DMV Lady: I'm sorry Ma'am, but we can't issue you a driver's license unless all forms of ID have the same name.

Me: I don't understand. Social security cards are like birth certificates. They always just say your maiden name.

DMV Lady: No, Ma'am, you need to change your social security card to show your married name.

Me: I don't see why you need to even have it. I am who I am. You can clearly see in my Utah drivers license that this is me - minus about forty pounds. I have my marriage license on me to show you how I went from my maiden name to my married name, how about we just use that?

DMV Lady: I'm sorry, we cannot use that. You need to change your social security card to reflect your married name.

Me: I don't get it! They didn't make me do this in Utah when I got my last license.

DMV Lady: Well this isn't Utah, this is New Mexico.

Me: Clearly I can see that by the Zia symbol on the outside of the building and the tattoo of a green chile on your chest!

Matt took the offense personally since he had thought for a whole year that I had shared his name, something we both agreed that we wanted. Unfortunately, because the social security office was in Albuquerque and we lived in Rio Rancho (and the only reason we ever went into Albuquerque was to go to the nice movie theatre) and because I didn't see the sense in getting a new license when my Utah one wasn't set to expire for another year or so . . . I decided to wait to change my last name "officially".

Around 2007 my license was getting close to it's expiration date and I knew I needed to speed things up. I was going to college in Albuquerque and found out that the social security office was just a few blocks away from my school. So one morning I left the house extra early and went to change my name. I waited for over three hours and had to call in late to school where I was scheduled for my internship shift. I handed the lady at the office my marriage license, and all other needed documents, and after a five minute discussion where she asked me three times why I'd waited so long to change my last name, she declared that I was officially a Woodruff.

I called the DMV to find out if I could now change my last name, but unfortunately they would need the actual social security card to be able to change my license - not just the receipt from the SS office saying I had changed it. So I thought, "No problem, I'll just wait two weeks until it gets here and then go change everything. That'll give me another week to get my license renewed and all will be well."

Except the SS card never arrived. And then my license expired and I had no way of getting anywhere.

I called the SS office and they informed me that for some reason, my name was still coming up as my maiden name, as if I hadn't gone in to change anything. I asked them to fix it, and they said they would be happy to . . . just as soon as I came in and went through the whole process all over again.

Pissed off and without a license, changing my name went to the back of my mind again. Planned for another day when Matt could take me downtown (never mind our schedules never matched up and the stupid place was always closed on weekends).

After a while, I got used to not driving, and fast forward five years later, if I were to get my license, I would have to go through everything all over again. I would have to take a class, take the written and the road test and pay for all of it. It was just one more reason to put off changing my name. Money.

Until last week when my mother in law and I were downtown taking a computer test for job application. I realised how close we were to the SS office and since we had to wait at least an hour to find out if we'd passed the test, I suggested we go over and change my stupid name - again.

The wait was barely fifteen minutes (amazing compared to the hours I'd waited five years earlier). And when I finally got up to the counter, the man asked for my social security number and I gave it to him.

SS Man: Alright, and your name?

Me: Jessica Crew.

SS Man: Nope.

Me:  . . . . I'm pretty sure I know my own name.

SS Man: Give me another name.

Me: . . .  . Jessica . . . . . Woodruff?

SS Man: There you go. What can I help you with?

Me: *confused* I ... I came here to change my name. I . . . I'm married.

SS Man: And what did you want to change your name to?

Me: . . . . Woodruff?

SS Man: *blinks*

Me: Oh my gosh! How is my name already Woodruff?! I called years ago when I tried to change it before and they said it didn't work! Who changed my name?!

SS Man: Well there must have been a delay in changing it or a computer glitch, but according to the system, you've been Jessica Woodruff since 2007.

Me: But . . . I never got my card.

SS Man: Well if you didn't get your card, you should have called in to ask for one to be resent.

Me: I . . . I did.

SS Man: Well sorry about that. I've gone ahead and reissued you a new one that should arrive within two weeks.

Me: I . . . my license . . . I could be driving right now.

SS Man:  . . . Is there anything else I can help you with?

Me: Clearly not.

So my new SS card arrived this week, and sure enough, I share my husbands last name and apparently have done so for the past five years. I now have proof . . . and just in time for our eight year anniversary.

In case any of my readers are getting ready for the big "I Do", here's what you need to do to actually change your name and not let your driver's license expire.

Untypically in Love: The Wedding - Part 3

Read the full story, chapter by chapter here.

Some names and events have been changed to protect the identity of certain individuals.

---------------------

Chapter Forty-Seven
The Wedding - Part 3
The Temple 

"I'm sorry we're running late," Tiffany sighed as she began to rush toward the temple, carrying my dress and other bags in her hands.


"It's okay, I kind of prepared for this." I walked casually behind her, no rush.

"What do you mean?" She turned around, moving her arm to try and hurry me along.


"I accounted for 'Tiffany time'," I told her. "I told you that we had to be here by eight, when really we don't need to be here until around eight-forty-five," I smiled as she stopped in her tracks to fully turn and face me.

"What do you mean 'Tiffany time'?" She asked, her eyes slightly narrowed.

"You know, Mormon standard time, meaning ten minutes late, plus five minutes per child. So 'Tiffany time' means about twenty-five minutes late."

"I can't believe you lied to me!" She exclaimed.

"Yeah well, you're the one who thought she brought me late to my own wedding," I pointed out and she dropped the subject immediately.


"You think Matt's already here?" I asked as I began looking for him.

"Depends on if he lied to his family about what time they needed to be here," I heard her mumble under her breath as we walked through the doors.

An LDS temple wedding has it's own traditions and customs. Firstly, the wedding takes place within a temple, which we consider to be the Lord's house. Only worthy members of the Church may enter certain areas of the temple, so often times, the whole family cannot attend the actual ceremony. This was the case with our wedding.

Matt's immediate family were all members of the Church, but aside from Tiffany and her husband, and a few long time family friends, my side was fairly empty. It didn't bother me though. Everyone was invited to the reception, as well as the luncheon that would take place right after the pictures were taken. As far as I was concerned, Matt and I were the only ones that needed to be there for the ceremony, and my family understood.

Unlike other weddings, the first time Matt saw me was not walking down an aisle in my wedding dress. No, the first time he saw me on our wedding day was standing in the foyer of the temple in my Church skirt. I turned around and saw him with his family and it took everything in my power not to jump into his arms.

"Hey beautiful, ready to get hitched?" He asked me with a grin.


"I'm surprised you showed up at all, you're the one that's getting a ball and chain," I smirked.

We went inside to sign our marriage certificate and then kissed once before we were lead separate ways to get ready. It would be the first time I would go through the temple completely. Blessings would be given, covenants made with God, and promises that family was eternal.

By the time it came for the actual wedding, we were running very late. Our family and friends had gathered together in a special room where Matt and I would be married for time and all eternity. Outside the room, the man who would marry us, took us aside for some private counsel.

His name was Paul F. Royall, a one legged man in a wheel chair with the biggest and brightest smile I'd ever seen. He told us that he was the only one in the temple who could perform a "royall" marriage.

During the ceremony, Matt and I both felt happier than we'd ever been. So happy in fact that we felt it wad odd that we weren't crying our eyes out. For at least five minutes, the two of us stared at each other, trying to force tears out of our eyes to no avail. By the time we were officially married, we were the only ones not crying.


"Here's your marriage license," Paul F. Royall said as he handed me the piece of paper. "You own him."

I grinned and immediately kissed my husband before my new in-laws pulled me in for embraces, one by one. Eventually we were greeted by three of our Bishops and their wives. The first being the Bishop from our singles ward, the second being the Bishop from the new family ward that we would be moving into, and the last was someone we knew very well. The Bishop who baptised me when I was just fifteen years old. Though he and his wife had moved away, they'd heard of our impending nuptials and made the trip just to surprise us.

Time moved quickly, and as many a bride will know, the day can't be spent enjoying a new husband. There are photos to take, people to meet, places to go and presents to acquire.

Tiffany and I excused ourselves to get ready. The bride room in a temple, especially one as large as the Salt Lake City temple, is massive. Many brides fill the room as they prepare for the big event, or in our case, prepare for the photo session.

"Oh no, it's a blizzard outside!" One bride screamed to her maid of honor.


"I'm going to fall on the ice in those!" Another cried as her mother strapped stiletto heels to her daughters foot.

Mascara was running like rivers as bride after bride realised that they had planned the perfect wedding, with one small exception. High heels and snow often end in the emergency room.

"Tiffany, will you hand me my shoes?" I asked as I primped one last time while looking in the large mirror.

The other brides around me gave me sympathetic looks as I asked for my shoes.

Tiffany returned from the bag with the baby blue and silver tennis shoes I'd picked out earlier with Debbie, and I slipped them on with a grin as the other brides stood with mouths open and eyes wide.

"How did I not think of that?" I overheard one of them say before I left the room, holding my head high.

The plan was for Matt and I to meet up at a certain spot in the temple where we would then walk up a few stairs to some open doors where our family and friends (including the ones who weren't involved in the ceremony) would greet us for congratulations.

Tiffany and I moved to a bench where our escort through the temple instructed us to wait. Because the temple is so big, on your special day you are given an escort as not to get lost. Each escort signs in, so at any given point people know where you are and can find you in case of an emergency.

"Excuse me?" An elderly temple matron approached us. "Sister Woodruff?"

I stared off into space, oblivious to her voice.

"Miss? Are you Sister Woodruff?" She asked, touching my shoulder.

It was the first time anyone had called me that. I was a Woodruff now. I'd completely forgotten. My eyes lit up brightly and I turned with a big smile to look at her and say proudly, "Yes, I am Jessica Woodruff!"

She smiled back to me, and then nervously uttered, "Umm . . . we've lost your husband."

"Lost?" I blinked. "But . . . I've only had him for ten minutes."