There was applause and they started back. Taylor and Rita of course, holding hands, were first. Followed by Babsie (as the Maid of Honour) with Isaac.
"Don't trip." He teased her quietly.
"Hey, you try walking in this."
"No thanks."
Behind them, Kevin and Mary, Zac and Avie, then Zoe and Mackie.
They walked out of the door of the church.
What happened next occurred so quickly it's like a blur. Taylor saw a figure standing before he and Rita. A girl. And she had a gun in her hands.
Before you had the chance to blink, Taylor had pushed Rita out of the path of the bullet which shot from the gun in her direction.
It hit Taylor instead. Ripping through his tuxedo sleave.
On the fall down, when the bullet hit him, he twisted in midair and clutched at his arm. Instead of falling on top of Rita like he would have, he hit the pavement instead.
"Oh my gosh!" cried Babsie. "Hey you!"
Babsie tried running after the girl, but of course, you know the problems she was having with that 'damn dress'. Jason and Isaac ran after her instead while Babsie got up, stumbled over to Rita (who was sobbing miserably) and Taylor, who was out like a light.
"Is he, is he," but Zac couldn't finish the question.
"He's alive." Babsie replied, more to Rita than Zac. "But somebody call an ambulance just the same."
**********
Later that day, Rita (still in her wedding gown) was sitting by Taylors' bed in the hospital. She was holding his hand and barely noticing the tears dripping down her face.
Babsie (who wasn't still in her bridesmaid dress) glanced at her though the open door. She was there with the rest of the Hansons.
"Is he going to be ok?" Zac asked the doctor that approached.
"Well," the doctor replied casually, "we removed the bullet, but I'm afraid your brother is in a coma."
"Will he wake up?" was Zac's next question.
The doctor shrugged.
"He might. He might not. Only time can tell."
"Will he die?"
"I couldn't tell you."
On that comment, the doctor started talking to Diana and Walker in more detail.
"Damn it all." Babsie muttered. "I have to go back home in two days and if he's still like this... I just really hate to leave Rita in such a state."
"Don't talk like that." Isaac scolded. "He'll be fine."
"Yeah." Zac agreed. (although he sounded more like he was trying to convince himself). "He has to be. If he isn't then I don't get to hear you rip-off Whitney Houstons' 'I will always love you' at the reception."
"I don't think this is an appropriate time for jokes somehow Zac." Babsie replied, shaking her head. "Oh please let him wake up."