1. Persona non grata
2. How little do you know me after all these years?
3. A question of perspective
4. The people who weren't allowed to attend the ceremony in the temple
5. You can't choose your family

• (character chart)

1. Young Women's
2. Youth Conference
3. Saturday's Warrior
4. Brigham Young University
• Gratuitous Love Scene
5. Polygamist
6. Temple Wedding
7. Orem High
8. Bordeaux Mission
9. Exmo Conference

"Well we saw Dad this morning, and he said he'd spent the day yesterday with Matt's family," said April. "He told us he got the strong impression from them that they would feel more comfortable if Susan didn't attend the reception."

"That's awful!" I said.

"I know," said April. "But Dad told us that since this is Annette's special day, we should think of her rather than of ourselves, and quietly accept this without making a scene and ruining her reception."

"So Dad was saying that Annette didn't want Susan there?" I asked.

"No, he didn't say that," said Susan. "I got the impression that he was uncomfortable enough about the whole thing that he didn't even want to bring it up with Annette."

"We'll see what happens when we talk to him then," said Rex. "After all, we're 'living in sin' as they say, so perhaps I'll be persona non grata at the reception as well." He smiled.

"Nope," said Susan, "in fact we specifically asked him that. It turns out that they're okay with you -- not thrilled mind you -- but not offended by your existence."

"We tried to pin Dad down and get him to give us a straight answer as to why Susan in particular should stay away when the reception is an open house that Matt's family invited their entire ward to attend. But Dad just seemed to regard all these questions as painfully uncomfortable, and just kept repeating that we should think of Annette on her day."

"I am absolutely livid about it," said Susan. "Who is going to reimburse me my plane ticket? It wasn't free, you know. And have you ever flown in a plane with a toddler on your lap? It's no small task! But I did all of this willingly so I could be there for Annette on her special day. And now this!"

"Then to add insult to injury, Dad said that they would be willing to let Susan help take care of the kids during the ceremony in the temple," said April.

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"Yeah, he said it like it was some sort of great kindness that the members of the family would be willing to allow someone like me take care of their kids. I didn't know what to say! Already it had taken some doing for April to explain to me that we shouldn't take it personally that we aren't allowed to attend the actual ceremony, and how it's a Mormon thing that only temple-worthy, full tithe-paying adults can attend and that it's always like that. She convinced me not to be too offended by that. But Jesus, not to even let me swing by the open house! I'm sorry, but in my book that's just going a little too far."

"So what are you going to do?" I asked.

"We haven't decided yet," said April.

"I think that you should talk to Annette about it," I said. "She has never had a problem with your orientation, and I can't imagine that she wants you excluded like that!"

"You're probably right," said April. "Still, she's so busy with preparations that I hate to bother her with our little problem. Plus, if it's her in-laws who have made the request, I hesitate to put her in a position where she feels pressured to make a big stink with them on her wedding day."

"I think what we'll probably do is just have April swing by for any family portrait obligations, and for the rest of the weekend just consider this to be a little weekend getaway with as little contact with the extended family as possible."

"That's awfully noble of you to just bow out like that," I said. "If it were me, I'd talk to Annette."

We finished our dinner and went back to the hotel. On the ride to the hotel, little Judy fell asleep in the car. Since Susan said that Judy was a good, sound sleeper, we decided that we would all go back to April and Susan's room to hang out and chat while Judy slept.

April and Susan had a few bottles of wine and light snacks in their room. They put on some familiar music from our younger days, and we all hung out and chatted about life some more.

It was late by the time Rex and I got back to our own room and got to bed.

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