Chapter Nine #2
Carson and Harper each looked at their own selections, then at the other’s, and started laughing.
“I just chose the things I wanted to give away,” Carson said. “It came naturally. My mind always goes straight to the beach.”
“Me, too.” Harper grew introspective. “I always wanted a traditional wedding. I’m drawn to the formal weddings in bridal magazines.
And when Prince William and Kate got married, I was glued to the television.
” Harper looked at her sisters, her expression perplexed.
“I don’t know what to do for a beach wedding. ”
“Then why are you having a beach wedding?” asked Carson.
“It’s what Granny James wants.”
Dora said, “But, Harper, it’s your wedding.”
“I know, but it makes her happy to plan it. She’s been so generous with me. I owe her this much. Besides, I’m getting married to Taylor, which is all I really want.”
Dora wasn’t buying it and gave Harper a look that told her so. “That’s hooey. No one who does this much research and collects this much stuff doesn’t care.”
Harper blushed. “Okay! I admit it. I want a plantation wedding complete with an elegant wedding gown, live oaks dripping with moss, winding creeks, scented candles in mason jars.” She put her hands to her face.
“Carson, I want the wedding you’re having.
The Legare Waring plantation has so much lowcountry history and tradition.
That’s more who I am. I guess I always thought I’d get married some place like that. ”
“I know what you mean. I always saw myself getting married on some beach. Just him and me and a few people I really cared about.” Carson wiggled her brows. “Preferably in Hawaii.”
Dora scratched her head. “Hold your horses. Let me get this straight. Carson, you want a beach wedding, but Harper is having that. And, Harper, you want a plantation wedding, but Carson is having that.” Dora crossed her arms, pointing her fingers at each of them.
“You two are having each other’s wedding? ”
Both brides looked at each other, then giggling, nodded.
“How in heaven did that happen?”
Harper leaned back against the chair. “That’s what comes of letting someone else plan your wedding.”
“Or not caring enough to get involved,” Carson said.
“But that’s just crazy,” Dora argued. “These are your weddings.”
“Not really,” Harper said with finality. “It’s a family wedding. That’s what weddings really are. And as such, they are events filled with compromise.”
“Well, look on the bright side,” Dora said.
“You both wanted a lowcountry wedding and that’s what you’re both getting.
Carson’s having the lowcountry plantation wedding.
And, Harper, you’re having the lowcountry beach wedding.
You’ve got the lowcountry wedding theme covered.
It’s too late to change venues now, anyway.
Money’s been put down and the invitations have gone out.
So we might as well have fun helping plan each other’s wedding. ”
The baker, Mr. James, returned to their table with a flourish of smiles. A slender man, he had well-trimmed, longish hair and was stylishly dressed in slim black pants and a crisp white shirt. Dora couldn’t imagine how a man could bake cakes for a living and still be so slender.
“So, ladies,” Mr. James said, a polite smile on his face, “do you have any questions before you make your selections?”
Carson told him she was undecided, but Mr. James wasn’t the least flustered.
He focused his attention on Harper. He sat at the table with sketch paper and discussed with her the wedding themes and colors and tossed around ideas for design.
The women clustered around him as he sketched his ideas for Harper’s wedding cake right in front of them.
Harper clasped her hands together at the sight of a three-tiered cake with Tiffany Blue icing and long, arching sea grass, shells, and coral. “It’s perfect. That’s the cake I want.”
“Done! Now it’s time to celebrate.” At Mr. James’s signal, a waitress carried out a tray with three glasses of champagne. “For you!” he said gaily. “Congratulations!”
“None for me, thank you.” Carson held up her hand.
“Me neither,” Harper said. “Thank you.”
“I’ll have some!” Dora exclaimed, taking a glass.
The waitress carried away two flutes of wine.
“Coffee then?” Mr. James asked. When Carson and Harper nodded, he said, “Very good. I’ll be right back.”
Carson watched him leave the room, then gave Harper a long, searching look. “I know why I’m not drinking wine. Care to tell us why you’re not?”
Harper shared a glance with Dora.
“Okay,” Carson said, catching the look. She sat straighter. “Tell me.”
Dora pinched her lips tight under eyes shining with knowledge.
Harper spread out her arms in announcement. “We’re going to have a baby.”
Dora could not be contained. Even though she’d already been told, fresh tears filled her eyes and she fluttered her hands in the air like butterfly wings. “We’re having a baby!”
Harper looked searchingly at Carson, who sat wide-eyed and speechless. Dora felt a flash of worry Carson might take the news poorly in light of her own miscarriage. Dora needn’t have worried.
Carson yelped with joy and wrapped her arms around Harper. “Congratulations! Wow, I didn’t see that one coming. When are you due?”
“Not till the fall. Late September.”
Dora counted back on her fingers. “Someone had a merry Christmas . . . ,” she joked.
“Does Mamaw know?” Carson asked.
Harper shook her head. “Only Taylor. Dora. And now you. I’ve been waiting till Granny James gets here.
Two birds with one stone and all that. But I’ll need your support.
I’m not sure how they’ll respond to my being pregnant before I’m married.
Them being from another generation and all. Do you think they’ll be upset?”
“I can’t speak for Granny James,” Carson said, “but I don’t think it will be an issue with Mamaw. After all, it wasn’t when I was pregnant. All she cared about was my health and happiness. She stood right by me.”
“I agree with Carson. Times have changed. Besides, honey, what do you think they can say? Cancel the wedding? Ship you off somewhere? You own your own house! Your only worry, frankly, is fitting into your wedding gown. Though I have to say, I’m relieved I’m not the only one with that on my mind.
” Dora peered past the table to Harper’s midsection.
“You had me fooled with those loose tops. I never would have guessed.”
“Everyone will guess by the time the wedding arrives.” Harper frowned and cried in a forlorn voice, “I’ll be that pregnant bride.”
“You’ll be beautiful,” Carson said. “Don’t worry.”
“I’m happy . . . but I’m kind of pissed, too. All my life I dreamed of my wedding day. Now I can’t eat the tuna tartare or sushi I like or drink champagne. I can’t even drink much caffeine. And if all that’s not bad enough, I don’t think my dress will fit.”
“Aw, poor baby,” Carson teased while pretending she was playing a violin.
Dora took Harper’s worries seriously. “Can they let the dress out?”
“They can try. But the way it’s constructed . . . I have my doubts. I actually thought about canceling my wedding and just having a quick ceremony.”
“No!” Dora blurted out. “Don’t do it. Who cares if you have a baby bump? Besides, it’s too late. We’re tasting cake, for heaven’s sake. The invitations went out!”
“No, it’s not too late,” Carson fired back. “She can cancel anytime she wants. Even the day of, if she wants to.”
Dora was at a loss at Carson’s emotion on the topic.
Dora had struck a nerve and it made her wonder about her runaway-bride sister.
So Dora tempered her comments to restore peace: “Of course she can cancel.” Then Dora turned to Harper.
“But only cancel if you don’t want to get married at all.
Not because you’re pregnant. Lots of women get married with a baby bump. ”
“I know,” Harper said dejectedly. “I must’ve read every blog on the topic. Most days, I’m confident that I made the right decision to keep the wedding in place. But there are other days I’m not sure. Like when I see models in wedding dresses looking so gorgeous with their tiny waists.”
“Don’t worry. You can always get another dress,” said Carson.
“But the wedding is in two months!” Harper cried with exasperation. “What choices will I have?”
“Hey, take it easy. I haven’t found a dress yet, either.”
Harper scowled at Carson. “Who’s fault is that? At least I had a gown. You waited till the last minute, then tried on every gown in the last two shops we visited and still rejected them all.”
Carson picked at her nail. “I didn’t feel like any of them were right.”
“You looked beautiful in every one of them.” Dora sucked in her rounded stomach. “Damn you both.”
The girls all shared a laugh, and the tension was broken.
“You know what I read in one of Harper’s magazines?” said Dora to Carson in a know-it-all tone. “A bride who cannot choose a wedding dress often has some underlying issues and she may not want to get married.”
“You read that, did you?” Carson asked mockingly. “You just keep on reading your magazines. You’ll find an article saying that everyone should just get off the bride’s back and let her find a gown she likes.”
Dora barked out a laugh.
Harper clapped her hands. “Let’s stay positive.
We’ve got the cakes done. Granny James arrives in two days, and we’re going to dress-shop with the grandmothers.
I’m meant to show them the final fitting for my gown.
” Harper looked at Carson sternly and pointed her finger.
“You have to stop stalling and choose a gown. Do you understand?”
Carson’s lips twitched. “I do.”