Cataleya
The scent of roasted chicken and freshly baked bread filled the dining room as my mother placed a steaming bowl of arroz con pollo on the table.
The soft clinking of silverware and the quiet hum of conversation made the evening feel warm, familiar, exactly the way family dinners should be.
It wasn’t often that we all sat together like this anymore—life had a way of keeping us busy—but tonight felt different.
There was a certain energy in the air, an excitement that I couldn’t quite place.
I glanced across the table at my older brother, Craige, who had barely touched his food.
That alone was enough to set off warning bells in my head.
He was never one to sit still, and yet he had been shifting in his chair all night, a grin playing at the corner of his mouth as if he was waiting for the perfect moment to speak.
His girlfriend, Melanie, sat beside him, her fingers curled neatly around the stem of her wine glass, her own smile barely contained. They were up to something.
Craige cleared his throat, placing his glass down with a deliberate motion. "Alright, everyone, I have an announcement to make."
The room quieted instantly. My mother, always the first to demand information, set her napkin down and raised a brow. "If this isn’t about a job promotion, it better be something big, mijo."
Craige let out a chuckle, shaking his head. "It’s bigger than a job, Mom. Melanie and I are getting married."
For a split second, there was silence. Then chaos erupted.
My mother gasped, clutching her chest dramatically before pulling Melanie into a tight hug.
My father, more reserved but no less pleased, stood to shake Craige’s hand, his expression one of quiet pride.
My cousins cheered, a few of them already reaching for their phones, probably to spread the news before the night was even over.
Someone—most likely Tía Rosa—popped open a bottle of champagne without hesitation.
I stood quickly, my chair scraping against the tile as I rushed to hug Melanie. "Oh my God, congratulations!"
She laughed, squeezing me back. "Thank you! I still can’t believe it myself."
I pulled away, reaching for her hand to admire the ring. A stunning solitaire diamond, simple yet elegant, just like her. "It’s beautiful," I said, my heart swelling with happiness for them.
"When did this happen?" I asked, glancing at my brother, who was looking far too pleased with himself.
"Last weekend," Craige admitted. "We were in Napa. Perfect sunset, great wine. I figured if she said no, at least I’d have something good to drink afterward."
Melanie rolled her eyes but smiled as she nudged him. "It was perfect. I couldn’t have said no if I tried."
I grinned, my chest warm with emotion. My brother was getting married.
It felt surreal, but also completely right.
He and Melanie had been together for two years, and it was clear to anyone who saw them that they belonged together.
She was patient where he was impulsive, soft where he could be rough around the edges.
She balanced him in a way that made me believe in the kind of love people wrote novels about.
My mother dabbed at her eyes with the corner of her napkin. "Mija, you are officially part of this crazy family now."
Melanie smiled. "I wouldn’t want it any other way."
The conversation naturally shifted into wedding talk—venues, dresses, dates. My event planner instincts kicked in before I could stop myself.
"Have you two thought about what kind of wedding you want?" I asked, already mentally running through a list of potential venues.
Craige groaned. "Not you too."
Melanie, however, perked up. "We were thinking something in late spring or early summer. Nothing over-the-top, just elegant and intimate."
My mind immediately started organizing details. "That’s perfect. And I’d love to help plan it."
Melanie’s eyes widened. "Really?"
"Of course! Weddings are kind of my thing." I shot my brother a look. "And let’s be honest, Craige is hopeless when it comes to organizing anything more complicated than a grocery list."
Craige held up his hands in surrender. "Fair point."
Melanie clapped her hands together. "That would be amazing! I was already feeling overwhelmed just thinking about all the details."
I smiled. "Don’t worry, I’ll handle everything. You guys just enjoy being engaged."
Craige reached over, squeezing my hand. "Thanks, Cata. Seriously."
I squeezed back, feeling a wave of pride settle over me. This was exactly what I was meant to do—bring people’s visions to life, make moments special. And if anyone deserved a perfect wedding, it was my brother.
The conversation flowed easily from there—discussing guest lists, color palettes, even a potential outdoor ceremony. Everything was falling into place so smoothly. And then Craige had to go and ruin it.
"Oh, and Wade will be involved too," he said casually, reaching for his drink. "He’s my best man."
I blinked, the name vaguely familiar but not entirely registering. "Wade?"
Craige nodded. "Yeah, Wade Perry. My best friend from college. You’ve heard me talk about him before."
I frowned slightly, trying to recall. The name had come up before in passing, but that was about it. I knew he and Craige had been close for years, but beyond that, I knew nothing about the man.
Melanie smiled. "I haven’t met him yet, but Craige talks about him all the time. He must be great."
Craige nodded. "He is. Just… a little difficult at times."
"Difficult how?" I asked, tilting my head.
Craige hesitated for a second before shrugging. "He’s a good guy, but he’s got a lot going on. He’s been through some stuff, and let’s just say he’s not always the most reliable person. But he’s brilliant, and I wouldn’t want anyone else standing next to me on my wedding day."
I processed that information carefully. I wasn’t sure what to make of it. A best man with a questionable sense of reliability wasn’t exactly ideal, especially when we’d be working closely together to plan the wedding.
"Well," I said finally, "as long as he doesn’t get in my way, we’ll be fine."
Craige chuckled. "That’s the spirit."
I offered a tight smile, but something about this Wade guy left me feeling unsettled. I didn’t know why, but I had a feeling that things weren’t going to go as smoothly as I hoped.