Tonight was the last wedding of the season at Dawn Ranch in Guerneville. Even at the other catering company I work with, they’re effectively done for the season as well. The end snuck up on me, but it couldn’t have been a more wonderful wedding – the couple and their families were absolutely delightful. At the end of the night they were still giving speeches when my shift was up and I said goodbye to my coworkers who I’ll hopefully see next spring, but… you never know… So, I’m clearly feeling a little melancholy and nostalgic, and, of course, ghosty.

“Alright, will all the single ladies please make your way to the dancefloor for the bouqet toss!” the DJ announced as Beyonce sang that if you liked it you should have put a ring on it.

A dozen women crowded on one end of the dancefloor as the music returned to top volume. Most of the women were about the same age as the bride with a few older women being cajoled into the crowd. The bride, with her back to the gathering women, took her bouquet from the wedding planner smiling and nodding, their exchange lost beneath Beyonce instructing everyone to put their hands up, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

The music faded out quickly as the DJ came back over the PA, “Just a few more minutes now. If you’re a single lady, please head onto the dancefloor now!”

A few moments later, the DJ said, “Here we go, everyone! On three…” and all the guests chimed in to count it down, “Three! Two! One!” and then with a squeal the bride tossed the bouquet over her head behind her.

The flowers reached the zenith of the arc and began falling back to earth with the crowd of women surging forward to be the one to catch the bouquet. Suddenly, a pale dark haired woman split through the crowd, moved past the other women and caught the bouquet.

The entire room fell silent.

The woman now clutching the bouquet and smiling furiously wasn’t just pale – she was translucent.

The bride’s gleeful smile turned to a curious frown at the silence and she turned around to see who caught the bouquet and froze.

The bride stared into her same blue eyes framed beneath jet black hair. She could only manage to get out one word: “Julie?”

The ghost’s smile turned upon seeing the bride’s reaction. She let out a nervous little laugh and said, “Hey, sis.”

“But…” the bride stammered, “You’re…. you’re…”

“Dead,” Julie finished, sadly. Her eyes falling to the flowers in her hands. “I know.” Then she brightened and looked back up to her sister. “But I couldn’t miss your wedding!”

Tears welled up in the bride’s eyes. “I’ve missed you so much…” her voice cracked. “It’s been 15 years…”

“I know! I’ve been keeping an eye on you.”

“You’re… You’re old, too!”

“Hey now, sis, who are you calling old? We’re the same age!”

“I’m fifteen minutes younger,” the bride said reflexively, the words loosing the tears that started down  her cheeks.

The ghost laughed sadly.

“Stay?” the bride squeaked out.

“I can’t,” Julie said. “I wasn’t supposed to do this,” she gestured towards the bouquet in her hands. “But I… you know I can’t follow the rules.”

The bride laughed.

“I’ll be around…”

“I know…”

And the bouquet fell to the dancefloor.