Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Brad and I read through the details of our honeymoon, as noted in the email Barbara had sent me, and we replied with my emphatic “yes” to process my check and finalize the agreement. I didn’t need to remind him of “the two shall be as one.” To my relief, he seemed to know about it already.
“Shall we text your sister with our decision?”
He chuckled. “Knowing her, she’s probably waiting.”
I texted: Cancun it is!
She replied with a thumbs-up emoji, then a sparkling heart. We both laughed.
“Who else should we tell?” he asked.
“My parents, I guess. Are you ready for FaceTime?”
He gave an eye roll and rubbed his hand across the bristles on his chin. “Really?”
I laughed, pressing their number in my phone. Mom and Dad seemed to like connecting visually, and I enjoyed watching their expressions while we chatted.
My father picked up the call. “How are you doing, hon?” He looked happy to see my ecstatic smile.
“Great, Dad. Brad and I just wanted to check in and tell you we decided to go to Cancun for our honeymoon.”
“That’s great, sweetie.” He took a moment to tell Mom the good news. “Can you also use the trip for a magazine article?”
“Probably, but that’s not the point. We’ve decided that we should have a proper honeymoon.”
My mother leaned in. “It’s about time. Do you know where your father and I went for ours?”
“The Poconos,” I said firmly, knowing the few details they’d shared with me. “Dad’s friends crashed your private moments and Mom was upset about it.”
They both laughed. “That’s right,” Mom noted, “although I doubt you’ll have that problem.”
“We hope not,” I replied with a chuckle. I couldn’t imagine anyone traveling to Mexico to intrude on our honeymoon.
“That’s the good thing about choosing an out-of-the-way place,” Dad noted. “We should have done that, honey.” He offered Mom a crooked smile and she laughed.
We chatted for a while, mostly about seating arrangements for the reception and decorations for the tables.
They seemed totally relaxed to include Brad in the conversation, which made me happy.
He, too, looked engaged with my parents, and I wanted so much for them to get along well when they finally met.
“Do you remember,” Dad queried, “that we arrive on Friday afternoon? I’ll rent a car…”
“You know what, Dad? You can use mine while you’re here, and I’ll meet you and Mom at the airport.”
Everyone paused, staring at me—especially Brad. I wanted to hug him when he didn’t intervene.
“Are you sure, honey?” Mom asked.
“Definitely. Text me your arrival time and I’ll be there. I can hardly wait to show you around.”
“We’re looking forward to it, Jodie,” Dad replied sincerely. “And, Brad…” His voice crackled. “You must be pretty special for Jodie to go through all of this again.”
“He is,” I interjected. What was my father thinking? “We’re looking forward to your celebrating with us.”
We said our farewells, then disconnected. I leaned into my special someone. “They mean well.”
“I know,” he said as he reached for my lips. “Don’t worry, honey. I think we’ll all get along very well.”
I returned his kiss, then replied, “I surely hope so.”
Heather called shortly after Brad departed for the evening. “Am I interrupting anything?” she asked.
“Nothing important, other than cleaning up from supper.”
“It’s long past ten o’clock, in case you didn’t know.”
I chuckled softly. “I’m aware of that.” I finished washing my soaking pan and rinsed it, leaving it to drain. “How’s everything going?”
“So-so, although I’m not sure Alicia is ready to leave Rita’s apartment. She seems to like it there.”
“How does Rita feel about that?”
“She’s worried you won’t have a place to honeymoon.”
I paused, wondering how much information to disclose. After all, I didn’t want Heather’s daughter to take over my rental. She had her mother’s beach-front home, not that she seemed to have any interest in that.
“To be honest,” I said, “Brad and I have made reservations for our honeymoon in Cancun, so we won’t need Rita’s apartment until after our return.”
“Wow! Are you okay about going to Mexico?”
I wasn’t sure how to take her comment, but decided to let go of any undertones. “We’re excited! I’ll tell you all about it at the rehearsal dinner.”
“Will you be upset if we don’t make it?”
“Uh, yes. What’s going on?”
She sighed. “A little family drama. I shouldn’t have called so late, but I wanted you to know.”
“I’m so sorry, Heather, but your presence is important to Brad and me.”
She seemed to struggle for the words. “Things are going on that I can’t control.”
“Like what?”
“My daughter’s doing her utmost to ruin any chance of my relationship with Wyatt, so he left today for his own apartment. I can’t say I blame him.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said again. “Maybe you can stay with him until Alicia’s doctor appointments.”
“I hate to say she doesn’t seem sick, and Wyatt thinks she’s playing me, but how am I to know?”
I silently agreed with Wyatt, yet I understood why Heather needed to support her daughter. What a dilemma!
“I know this is difficult for you,” I said,” but I really wanted you to be at the rehearsal dinner and my wedding.”
“Me, too, Jodie, but Alicia comes first. Rita’s upset that she might miss your wedding, although I assured her that we’d make sure she’s there. I mean, she’s got the dress and all.”
“So do you,” I replied, feeling a heaviness in my heart.
“Right, and I’ll do everything in my power to be there. Still, if I can’t work it out, Rita wants to be with you. Can you come get her?”
Was she kidding?
I took a deep breath. “We’ll figure it out, Heather.” I had no idea how, but I’d try. I really wanted Rita to be with me. Heather, too, but she had sent out vibes I found disturbing.
“I’m really sorry,” she said.
“Me, too. I’ll call Rita in the morning and let her know she’s welcome here with my parents. I’m picking them up at the airport on Friday.”
“Good, and I hope you understand,” she said.
“I’m trying.”
I wanted to scream, but didn’t. I just needed to figure out how to make everything work.