Letters To Magnolia : A Maple Small Town Romance

Prologue

“God, I hate her!”

I hear the familiar voice of my sister in the kitchen of the building where my rehearsal dinner is being celebrated.

I hurried back here to make sure the cake was delivered on time. It was one of the last things unchecked on my list for the perfect night before my wedding tomorrow.

I freeze beside the door trim and listen to what Courtney is saying. Another familiar voice is heard; a male voice.

“It is all going to work out. I promise.” That male voice says to my sister and my heart rate accelerates as I realize who it is. Stephen, my fiancé.

I step out from the wall keeping me hidden and into the room. My mind is pondering why they are back here alone.

“What is going on here?” I ask them as I look around. My sister”s blonde hair is a little frizzy and one of her curls hangs out of place from where it was bobby pinned. She is bigger than I am in the chest area, and I roll my eyes at her strapless pale blue dress. She begged to have a strapless for her maid of honor dress, but I thought it would make her boobs look even bigger. I was right and I am thankful I put my foot down on the decision of straps.

The island in the middle of the kitchen keeps them separated but they both jump when they hear my voice. Neither of them says a word.

“Who do you hate, Court?” I ask my sister sternly.

She shuffles her feet before answering me, “Oh, um, the caterer. She was so rude when she dropped off your cake a few minutes ago.” She gestures to the box sitting on the island.

I feel myself relax.

Thank goodness it arrived on time. I walk over to Stephen and kiss him on the cheek. He never looks at me, but I just chalk it up to nerves since this is the last night I will see him before the wedding.

“Isn’t he just the best?” I ask Courtney and she smiles at me.

“Yes, he sure is, at everything he does.” She smiles and grabs her clutch walking past me and Stephen making her way back out into the main room. I notice as she walks away, her dress is bunched up around her back end and more curls are loose behind her head.

“Did no one tell her that her dress is on wrong, and her hair is a mess?” I giggle as I look at Stephen. He doesn’t laugh.

“So, I was thinking,” I start to say putting my hands around Stephen’s waist, “do I have to stay home? I can get a job. I would very much like to work.”

Stephen has told me from day one of getting engaged he wouldn’t let me work. I was to be a housewife and raise our future children while he worked. I always dreamed of working somewhere doing things I loved with the people I love. Like a family business.

Stephen huffs, “I’ve told you time and time again, no. Now drop it.” He pulls my arms out from his waist. He turns to leave me in the room alone.

“Oh, what were you telling Courtney everything would be okay about?” I ask following him out.

He rubs his hands through his hair, and I now notice it is messy and not as fixed as it was when we got here.

“I was just telling her not to worry about the cake and the caterer. She wanted to go after the woman for being so rude when she came by.” He walks away from me meeting some friends who were standing in the corner.

Huh?I thought to myself. That’s odd that Caroline was rude. She is always so loving when I come in to see her at her store or place an order. She may have just been having a bad day.

I take a deep breath and glance around the room. Everyone we know was invited. My parents, mostly my mother, made sure to make this a social event for her as well. I look down at my dress, it is ivory and silk. Simple enough for my taste. The v-cut in the front is just long enough to make it classy but a little revealing. My brunette hair is long and wavy, and my makeup is minimal. Although, if my mother had it her way, I would have had the most on.

Speaking of the devil herself, she glides over to me with a fake smile on her face.

“Ivy, Darling,” she kisses my cheek, “have you mingled with your guest and thanked them for coming?” She asks me, but I know it”s more like a warning. Our family image is everything to her.

“Yes, Mother.” I say tight-lipped, “I have.”

She smiles and I fake one back at her, “Ivy, I wish you would have bought the dress I wanted you to have. A little more lipstick would have been better, too.”

I ignore her as she stands beside me watching our guest, smiling as some pass by us. I watch as my father is in conversation with some men from his attorney office. He is one of the greats in the southern states. A terribly busy man I see little of. I know he loves us well as he makes sure to tell us often, but I miss the father I had growing up. Sometimes I wish he didn’t try to work so hard for my mother to keep up her lifestyle. She is the reason he does it I know but he loves her too much to tell her no.

This wedding tomorrow is mostly about her. Every list I have had, and every box checked, is for her. Disappointing her is like disappointing God himself. She will make sure you feel like you must obey her for if it were not for her, we would not have the life we have. Or so she tells us. It’s like my sister and I must constantly stay in her good graces, or she will make sure we are not a part of the family image anymore.

My sister, Courtney, and I are not that close. Though for my mother”s sake, I knew better than to leave her out of the wedding party. Courtney and I are just too different. She matches in with this lifestyle more than me.

I watch my sister eye Stephen as he talks to some colleagues and I wonder to myself, am I really seeing what I think I’m seeing?

In the kitchen earlier, I thought I felt a connection between the two. My sister and Stephen. I don’t know what to think anymore but as I watch her eye him something in my gut tells me to be careful.

“Excuse me, Mother.” I say and she nods.

Walking away from her I walk over to Courtney, “Is there a reason you are eyeing my fiancé right now?” I question her.

She laughs, “Oh Ivy, don’t be dramatic. I”m eyeing the guy beside him. Corey, isn’t it? He’s a hunk.”

I look over at the two men deep in conversation. I relax and look back at her, “It being our last night at home together,” I smile at her, “How about we do like old times and have one last slumber party like when we were kids?”

She huffs and grins at me, “Sorry Ivy, I have other plans tonight. I”ll see you at the wedding venue tomorrow!” She walks off from me slowly towards Stephen and Corey.

My father walks up to me and smiles getting my attention away from them, “How is my girl doing?” He asks me proudly.

I give him a big hug around the neck.

“Thank you for all you do, Daddy.” I smile to him.

“You are my whole world. I would do anything for you.” He hugs me back and tears fill my eyes as I cannot wait for my big day tomorrow.