Chapter 26
Lark
Create a spreadsheet that ranks Christmas ornaments and bridesmaids’ dresses on the same ‘vibe scale.’
—From Lark’s Christmas to-do list
Clearly, I have not given this enough thought. My heart refuses to slow down. I clutch at my wedding bouquet.
I’m in the waiting room next to the Town Hall chamber where the wedding will take place.
Harper bursts in, wearing the bridesmaid’s dress Rachel helped her choose. Her cheeks are flushed. She heads straight for the table in the corner, pours herself some water and downs it. Seeming to compose herself she turns to me with a bright smile: "How are you doing?"
"I’m fine. How are you doing?" I ask because Harper seems distracted. Maybe also, to distract myself from what I’m about to do.
"Good. I’m good." She fans herself.
"You seem flustered."
"Probably because I ran into my asshole boss out there."
"You mean—"
"James Hamilton." She turns on me. "Did you realize he's the best man?”
"I've been too distracted to ask Brody who his best man is," I confess.
She firms her lips. “I’m sure he won’t even notice me. James has a stick up his ass anyway. The way he treats me and the rest of his staff, it’s a wonder we don’t walk out en masse."
"So, why don't you?"
"Because he’s a freakin’ genius. Every hour I spend working with him, I learn something new.
As his sous chef, I have the most hotly contested job in restaurant circles.
I learn so much from him. If I stick it out for another year, I’ll have enough experience to finally start my own restaurant.
" She pours more water, this time, into two glasses, then offers me one.
I shake my head. "The last thing I want to do is pee in this dress."
"Well, that's what you have bridesmaids for." She laughs. "If you need to use the bathroom, one or both of us can help you." She takes me in, and her gaze softens. "You look incredible."
"Thanks." I look at the chair longingly. "I’d love to sit down and take the weight off my feet."
"Come on then." She walks over and takes the bouquet from me. She places it on the center table carefully, then holds up my short train. I walk over to the chair. She places the train carefully over the back of the chair and I sink down with a sigh. For good measure I slip off my heels. Their red soles give away the fact that they’re from a world-renowned brand. I couldn’t resist.
The door opens, and Raya enters with a warning look on her face.
"What—" I begin, then stop when my mother walks in after her.
She rushes over to hug me, and I rise to my feet. "Oh, my baby. I can’t believe you’re getting married."
I hug her back. “Mom, it’s so good to see you.”
It’s been five years since I last saw my mother in person. I call her often, out of a sense of duty, but I've kept my distance, worried that if I let her in, she’d be disappointed in my achievements.
Leaving home gave me the perspective to understand that my obsession with wanting to have the perfect life was less about what I wanted and more about being the kind of daughter I thought my mother could be proud of.
Cancelling the wedding was unthinkable because the idea of letting her down terrified me more than standing at that altar with a replacement for my ex.
But seeing her now, I realize, I’m getting married for myself. Because somewhere deep inside, it feels right to marry Brody. I want to be his wife because I'm in love with him. I fell for him the very first time I saw him.
Only, he’s never going to reciprocate my feelings. Because he doesn’t believe in love.
Unless I convince him otherwise. And I’m not one to back down from a challenge.
In trying to come up with the perfect solution to help me save face and keep my life on track, is it possible, I’ve hit upon what's right for me?
My mom looks me up and down and claps her hands together. "You look beautiful!"
"So do you." I take in her blush pink dress.
“Thanks to you.” She beams at me. “This dress is beautiful. And it fits perfectly.”
I wanted to get her a mother-of-the-bride dress that looked nothing like the usual, frumpy mother-of-the-bride dresses you always see. I think I succeeded.
"I don’t want to kiss you and spoil your makeup." She settles for blowing me a kiss instead.
"How was your flight?" Raya asks brightly.
"It was comfortable. First time I’ve flown in a private jet.” My mother’s eyes light up.
“Private jet?” What does she mean?
My father walks through the doorway.
"Dad!" My face lights up.
All the times he dropped me off at school or stayed up to make sure I was home from a date before he fell asleep, flash before my eyes.
He was crushed when he learned I was going to university in London, but he didn’t try to stop me.
He worked hard to make sure we had everything growing up.
And while he couldn’t stop my mother from being exacting with us, he, himself, never wanted anything from us.
He often told us that he only wanted us to be happy.
My mother, too, was nothing but encouraging when I told them of my plan to go abroad to study.
It’s because I didn’t want to let her down that I’m so driven. I owe my need to succeed to her.
I am very grateful to both of them. I am who I am because of them.
And now, I can make their life more comfortable by paying off their debts. A surge of relief fills me. I made the right decision in agreeing to marry Brody. I'm setting my parents up for a more comfortable life.
My father walks over and hugs me. "It’s so good to see you, honey." He releases me, takes a few steps back, and surveys me with pride.
“You look beautiful.”
He puts his arm around my mother’s shoulder.
"Can you believe this? Our daughter is getting married, Sheila."
My mom dabs at her eyes. "We did good."
"We sure did." My father’s eyes shine. "I have to admit, your man sending us a private jet to fly here was a surprise. But I’m not going to complain about it."
Raya gasps. "You think I could borrow the jet the next time I want to go on holiday?"
I ignore her and focus my attention on my mother.
“Brody sent you his private jet?”
"He must love you very much if he’s taking such good care of your parents." My mother’s eyes turn dreamy. “Can’t say I’m unhappy about you not marrying Keith. I wasn’t impressed when he cancelled on our family call at the last minute.”
“It’s not that I don’t trust your judgment, but marrying a man called Keith—?” My dad shakes his head. “Afraid I wasn’t too impressed.”
Not my dad, too? Gah! I fight for composure.
“Wait a minute! Are you both saying you didn’t want me to marry Keith? Why didn’t you say anything?” I huff.
“We want you to be happy, sweetheart,” my father says softly.
“And you seemed happy to be marrying him, so we didn’t say anything.” My mother’s gaze is soft.
Seems I dodged a bullet in more ways than one by not marrying Keith. And my parents seem to be taking this change in bridegrooms in their stride.
I could have called them in advance to warn them, but really, it seemed easier to let them arrive and then tell them about it. Besides, I calculated that seeing me in my wedding dress, about to get married, would temper their reaction.
Of course, I didn’t realize that Brody was contacting them ahead of time. And being picked up by private jet would make a big impact on anyone. They seem positively approving of Brody.
“I take it the two of you aren’t upset that I changed bridegrooms?” I look between them.
The two of them exchange a glance.
“What?” I frown.
My father half smiles. “We were surprised that you were marrying someone who is almost a stranger—”
“—except he’s not a stranger. Not anymore,” my mother adds.
I begin to rub at my temple, then stop myself. I don’t want to mess up my makeup, or my hair. “Can you please spell it out for me? I’m a little on edge, seeing as I’m about to get married and all?”
“Your fiancé called us and told us how much he loves you. And how he convinced you to break it off with Keith and marry him instead.” My father beams.
I sink back in my chair. “Brody called you?” I shake my head to clear it.
And he didn’t even let on to my parents that it was my ex who dumped me. That’s a level of thoughtfulness I hadn’t expected. My heart stutters. Warmth fills my chest. Then a thought strikes me.
“But…I never gave him your contact details.”
“I did,” Raya pipes up.
“What?” I jerk my chin in her direction. “You…met Brody?”
“I, uh…called him up after the dress fitting and insisted on seeing him to make sure his intentions toward you were right. Imagine my surprise when he dropped everything to meet me the same day. He explained that he loves you and can’t wait to marry you.”
He told her he loves me. Clearly, he said that to justify why we're getting married. And she believed him? Sweet sleigh bells. He must be a convincing actor.
My head spins. “Uh… I think I need some water.”
Harper snatches up the glass of water and offers it to me. I take a few sips and hand it back to her. When I feel a little more composed, I turn on Raya.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
She flushes. “I figured you wouldn’t be happy.”
“I’m not.”
She hangs her head. “I wanted to make sure you weren’t committing another mistake. You went from breaking things off with Keith to marrying your boss so quickly.” She hunches her shoulders. “I was looking out for you.”
“Right.” Some of my anger melts away.
“Of course, meeting Brody made me realize, you’re doing the right thing.”
“Oh?” I try to take in everything she’s saying.
“Oh, yeah.” She nods eagerly. “The two of you are in love. And Brody insisted he didn’t see the point in waiting longer. Most of the arrangements had been made anyway. It makes sense you're getting married. And this time, it’s to the right man.”
Damn. Brody’s done a number on them. He’s gotten on their good side. They believe this marriage is genuine. And they’re looking at me with happiness and pride. Like this is the perfect wedding for the perfect bride.
Wow. He really did pull it off.
I should be grateful to him. And I am, in a way. I don’t have to pull out the half-baked explanations I was ready to pull out when I saw my parents.
On the other hand, why didn’t he tell me he did this?
"You sure you’re okay?" My mother squeezes my arm. "You can talk to us."
"I’m fine, Mom, I promise."
My father puts his arm around her shoulders. "Leave the girl alone. It’s natural for her to be jittery on her wedding day. Let’s give her some alone time with her bridesmaids so she can compose herself."