Chapter 7
Text Negotiations
Thirty minutes later
Mateo
Alex texted me his grudging approval. We’re getting married!!
Holly
You still on board?
Mateo
Aye aye, Cap'n. Haven’t changed my mind since last night. We’re planning on next week, right? Unless you want to share a wedding with a holiday and have fireworks at our reception. *4th of July fireworks gif*
Holly
No thank you. I don’t need to celebrate our country’s independence while losing mine. *winky face emoji* A week from this Friday. Does that work for you?
Mateo
Anything to spite that piece of knotweed. Oregon or California for the wedding?
Holly
What’s a knotweed?
I’ve always dreamed of a California wedding.
Mateo
I don’t swear. I use weeds that are annoying to deal with as substitutes for curse words. Knotweed, Toadflax, and Bull Thistle are a few of my favorites.
California wedding? As you wish.
Holly
Did you just quote The Princess Bride at me?
We’ll revisit your weed cursing later.
Mateo
Who doesn’t like The Princess Bride? It’s a classic.
Holly
Okay, farm boy. California for the wedding. Who should we invite?
Mateo
Am I sensing you’re a Princess Bride fan?
My family, for sure. Mami would never forgive me if I didn't. With this short of notice, I think they’re the only ones I want to come and who will be able to. Who do you want to invite?
Holly
Probably just Alex, Reina, and Hudson. I don’t want it to be a big thing.
Mateo
Small works for me. Of course, we can’t forget Hudson. You’re his unofficial granddaughter, and I’m his other best friend (besides your brother). He’d never forgive me if he missed our wedding.
Holly
Hudson won’t let either of us forget him.
This feels crazy.
Mateo
We’re definitely crazy because we're getting married *winky face emoji*
Wednesday morning
Mateo
What else can I help plan?
Holly
Should we do a rehearsal dinner?
Mateo
We’re getting married in the courthouse, right? What is there to rehearse? My family loves to eat, though. So maybe we plan a dinner the night before for fun.
Holly
Let’s do that. What type of food do they like?
Mateo
They’re not picky, although I’ll warn you that if we go with Mexican food, Mami will compare it to her own cooking the entire time. How about Italian?
Holly
I’ll never say no to pasta.
Mateo
Writing that down in my notes for future reference.
Are we going to do bridesmaids and groomsmen?
Holly
Didn’t you just say we’re getting married in the courthouse? Plus, it’s just our families attending. Do we need a bridal party?
Mateo
Alex can be my best man. Reina can be your maid of honor? My sisters should be the flower girls. *gif of a witch cackling*
Holly
Aren’t your sisters teenagers?
Mateo
Cruz is nineteen and Nadia is fifteen.
Holly
They can’t be flower girls! Cruz is an adult!
Mateo
So? They’re still my little sisters. I think they should be flower girls.
Holly
No. They will be bridesmaids.
Mateo
As you wish.
Holly
Is this going to be a thing?
Mateo
If you wish.
Holly
Mm okay. I need to get back to work now.
Mateo
Bye, future wife.
Holly
Please don’t call me that.
Mateo
As you wish.
Friday
Mateo
One week until the big day.
Holly
Don’t remind me. I still haven’t cleaned the house yet.
Mateo
I can’t clean your house for you, but what can I help with today?
Holly
I don’t know. Also, what are you going to do while you’re here? Aren’t you going to get bored? I know you mentioned admin tasks for the farm, but will that take the whole week?
Mateo
I have a hobby I can work on. Is there space in your garage for a workbench and some tools?
Holly
There’s lots of space, considering it’s a three-car garage, and I only have one car.
Mateo
Wow. Okay, that works. I’ll drive my truck down to California and bring what I need. Can I use the extra spot to set up shop?
Holly
What are you going to do and please tell me spray paint isn’t involved?
Mateo
Woodworking. It’s a hobby of mine, but I sell pieces to make money on the side. I’ll clean up my mess, I promise.
Holly
Interesting. What do you make?
Mateo
You’ll see.
Saturday
Mateo
Happy 4th! Less than a week until the big day. Speaking of which, what should I wear?
Holly
Happy Independence Day! A suit. I found a dress for me yesterday that will work. It’s a simple white dress, nothing too fancy.
Mateo
Okay, a suit works. My sisters want to know what color dress they should wear.
Holly
Whatever color they want, it’s a courthouse wedding.
Mateo
Cruz says that isn’t how this works. The bridesmaids need to match and have a color. She also says you need flowers.
Holly
I really don’t need flowers. Let’s go with purple for their dresses. It’s my favorite.
Mateo
I had a feeling that was your favorite color.
Cruz wants to know what shade of purple.
Holly
Is she right there with you? Also, how did you know it’s my favorite color?
Mateo
Yeah, we’re hanging out before the town BBQ this afternoon. She started asking me questions, and I realized I didn’t know the answers.
You wore a purple dress on the red carpet, and you always seem to wear something purple.
Holly
Lilac purple would be perfect for bridesmaids' dresses. But any shade of purple works. It’s not like we’re posing for pictures afterwards.
I didn’t realize you paid attention that much to what I was wearing that night.
Mateo
Cruz says we need pictures. I told her a courthouse isn’t very aesthetic but she insists we need at least two pictures.
I pay attention to the important people in my life.
Holly
One group picture would be great.
Mateo
Mami will probably want more, but we’ll tell her two only.
Holly
Is she going to be mad?
Mateo
Nah, Mami Canela doesn’t get mad. She fakes it, but then gives you a hug and pinches your cheek and calls it good. She’ll be fine. This is our wedding. We get to make the decisions here.
Holly
I just don’t want your mom to be mad at me.
Mateo
She won’t be. You’re part of the family now. If she’ll be mad at anyone, it’ll be me future wife.
Holly
Oh my gosh, stop. We didn’t even have a real proposal.
Mateo
*makes a note to fix that later*
Cruz says I have to come play volleyball. She’s tricking Alex and Reina into playing, too. Wish you were here.
Holly
Have fun, and hit my brother in the face with a volleyball for me.
Mateo
As you wish
Holly
*eye roll*
Monday
Mateo
I’m driving down to California Wednesday night. Can I start moving my stuff into your house Thursday morning? Is that okay?
I’d love to spend some time with you on Thursday morning too.
Holly
I have an event Wednesday night. Alex should be available. He has a spare key to my house. He can help you move stuff in that night.
I took off Thursday and Friday to get everything ready. Thursday morning you and I need to sit down and fill out the marriage license information online and book the courthouse marriage ceremony.
Mateo
Sounds like a plan. I’ll stay with Alex and Reina until after the wedding. Is there anything else we need to plan?
Holly
Nope. That’s it. See you Thursday.
Mateo
See you then, future wife.