Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Julia and Ellis had until the end of the flight to quietly celebrate their engagement, just the two of them.
Then, what felt like the moment they touched down in Seattle, the entire world descended upon them, thrilled and hungry for every bit of news.
When was the wedding? Where would it be? What about the honeymoon? What did this mean for Julia’s movie? Ellis’s next album?
The questions went on and on and on and, to be honest, Julia didn’t have answers to most of them.
The movie would go on as scheduled. It would cost too much to change anything there. And they probably only had about a month left of shooting anyway.
Julia didn’t know what Ellis’s plan for his next album was, just that he was going to take a break for a bit. And as for the when, where, etc. of all of the wedding events? Julia wanted them to happen as soon as possible. She was ready for Ellis to sell his home and for the two of them to live together as man and wife. But it wasn’t just up to Julia, so she realized it was time for she and Ellis to have some serious conversations.
Too bad, thanks to the crazy pace of their lives, that wasn’t going to happen.
“They’re coming today?” Julia asked, her eyes wide as Wendy took a banana from the fruit bowl in the middle of Julia’s gigantic, white kitchen island.
Wendy nodded as she peeled her banana. “Apparently with Trip being here as well as all of the wedding planning that will need to be done, Mom and Grandma felt they were needed ASAP.”
Julia groaned. She loved her family. She really did. Even with their strained past and everything else, she wanted them to be a part of her big day. But coming now to plan something when Julia wasn’t even sure what she wanted her wedding to look like?
“They’re staying with me because they said it would be rude to inconvenience you during such a busy time,” Wendy said, before taking a giant bite of her banana.
“Really?” Julia’s brows went as high as they could go. If she had known all she had to do to have her family understand that she could be inconvenienced by them was getting married, Julia would have gotten married long ago.
No, that was a lie. She wouldn’t have married long ago unless the man she would have been marrying was Ellis. There was no other man on earth she would have wanted to marry.
“So now they’ll just squeeze into my box of an apartment and inconvenience me,” Wendy groaned.
“Do they know I’m staying here?” Trip asked, joining them in the kitchen. He followed his sister’s example and took a banana as well.
“No,” Wendy said, with a gleam in her eye. “If Mom and Grandma knew that they’d only want to stay here . . . ” Wendy glanced at her aunt. “But, I won’t tell them because I couldn’t do that to my favorite person in the world. So Trip, you need to come stay with me while they’re here.”
“Wait, what?” Trip’s hands flew in the air. “First, how am I not your favorite person?”
Julia had to admit she’d started beaming ever since Wendy had called her the favorite.
“You don’t even make the top ten. But Emily does,” Wendy said with a wink.
Trip threw his banana peel toward his sister but it fell short.
“Sorry,” Trip said to his aunt immediately, walking over to clean up his mess.
“You should be,” Wendy replied.
“No, I’m sorry to Aunt Julia and her kitchen. I wish I had hit you.”
Wendy harrumphed and Julia smiled more. She loved that she got to witness so much of their sibling relationship in recent days. She’d missed so much of their early years but she was grateful she got to make up for it now.
“And next,” Trip continued, “I am not staying with you. Why do I have to be punished because Mom and Grandma are flying in?”
Wendy crossed her arms. “So you’re going to repay Aunt Julia’s hospitality by letting Mom and Grandma know that you’ve been staying here, making them come here as well when we all know Aunt Julia is bursting at the seams with busyness thanks to her movie and her wedding?”
Trip pursed his lips. “I’ll pack my bags,” he groaned.
Trip left the room, leaving a smirking Wendy behind.
“You really don’t have to do that, Wendy. I have space for all three of them here.” Because Julia did have more than enough room in her home. It was the mental capacity to deal with her mom and sister day in and day out that she doubted she possessed, but she’d figure it out.
“And have them drive you up the wall? No way. If anyone knows how to handle my mother and Grandma Betty it’s me. You saw how well I did with Trip.”
Julia laughed. Wendy wasn’t wrong.
“So think of it as an early wedding gift. Because I really am so happy for you, Aunt Julia. You deserve a man like Ellis and he is so lucky to have you. And if the day ever comes that I find my own Ellis, you can take your turn saving me from relatives I love but am not always sure I like.”
Julia drew her niece into a side hug. “You’ll find him. Mine was a long time coming. I honestly felt I would never find my person. But sometimes one just has to be a little patient.
“And we all know how good I am at that,” Wendy remarked.
Julia laughed again before they fell into conversation about Wendy’s well deserved promotion at the bank.
“There was this whole drama because Phyllis thought she was going to get it. She has been working there longest. But we all know that she takes overly long lunches, comes in late, and almost always leaves early. She thought she was being sly about it?—”
Julia’s phone rang, interrupting her niece’s story.
“Get it,” Wendy directed so Julia picked it up.
She grinned when she saw the name on her caller ID. Even though Ellis had come home for the foreseeable future, Julia still loved each and every time she got to speak to him.
“Hello,” she answered, joy infusing her tone.
“You might not be so happy with me in a few minutes,” Ellis replied warily.
“Uh-oh,” Julia and Wendy said in unison.
Wendy had moved close enough to shamelessly eavesdrop on the conversation.
“Oh good. Wendy’s there. You’ll need reinforcements,” Ellis proceeded.
That sounded ominous.
“I was going to tell you before today but your schedule has been so full with the movie that I didn’t want to add anything more to your plate. I figured I could keep them under control and you wouldn’t have to know anything until you seemed not so crazy busy . . . but I severely overestimated my abilities.” Ellis paused, taking a deep breath. “My family came into town again.”
Julia sighed, trying not to feel premature exhaustion. Because she knew Ellis wouldn’t have kept this news from her unless one specific person from his family had come to the island. Krista and her mom and sister in town at the same time . . . again ?
“They said they wanted to celebrate our engagement. I couldn’t blame them, considering my mom has been begging me to get married for nearly three decades now.”
Julia laughed. Sarah did deserve to celebrate this moment nearly as much as she and Ellis deserved to.
“So I couldn’t help but send the plane down for them.”
Julia understood that. She wouldn’t have said no either.
“But somehow Krista finagled her way onto that flight and is now talking wedding plans and has basically stolen one of my cars to get to your place. My mom and Joy managed to jump in while the car was practically moving so that they can minimize the Krista effect, but they’re on their way. I’m right behind them, so you’ll have all of the backup, but I figured you could use fair warning. And , even though it isn’t necessary because you can do whatever you want in your own home, you have my full support to kick all three of them out whenever you’d like.”
Julia rested her forehead against her hand with another sigh.
“My mom and Lacey are coming into town as well.” She decided she’d better share her own news.
“Oh no,” Ellis groaned.
“Yeah, things should be getting interesting over here.” Wendy spoke when Julia didn’t.
She was just overwhelmed. This was supposed to be a happy time. And in so many ways it was, but this was her first afternoon off in over two weeks since she’d gotten back from Ellis’ tour, and she had to be back on set early the next morning. Her life was insane without people asking her about her wedding plans. She had barely planned the next day, much less her wedding day since she’d only gotten engaged two weeks before.
“We could just elope,” Ellis offered.
“Your mom would kill us,” Julia replied. As easygoing as Sarah was, Julia knew she would be heartbroken to miss any of her three boys’ big days.
And so would Julia’s family. They’d probably say it was just another way Julia cut them out of her life.
So eloping was impossible, no matter how appealing it felt right then.
“You guys have to do what is best for you . . . ” Wendy spoke her encouragement, a smile tugging at her lips as she added a caveat. “As long as you let me tag along to the elopement.”
Julia chuckled. She had a feeling that was how each member of their families would react. Not to mention their friends who had become family. No, they couldn’t elope.
“Maybe not elopement. But not a big wedding either.” Julia was just spitballing ideas, but each felt right. “I’m thinking my backyard. It’s coming into early summer and everything will be beautiful in the next month or so. The view down to the ocean . . . ”
“In the next month. Sounds like you’re quite eager to become Mrs. Rider,” Ellis teased.
Wendy had taken a few steps back and was now working on rearranging the display of assorted cookies Julia had out on the island so she could no longer hear what Ellis said.
“You have no idea.”
“I think I have some idea,” Ellis murmured.
Julia’s core heated.
“Is it too soon?” Julia asked.
“Not at all. So a backyard BBQ?” Ellis asked.
“Yes,” Julia said eagerly.
It might not be the wedding ideal to some, especially in their high society circles, but now that they were talking she wanted nothing more than to wear a simple white slip dress, her hair down, maybe dressed up with a few flowers, and she’d walk to a pergola she’d have decorated with possibly the same flowers she wore in her hair. There would be three, four rows of chairs for guests max. Just their very favorite people. An aisle made of white flower petals, leading her down to her handsome groom. He'd wear a white shirt, maybe a bolo tie, definitely a big belt buckle, and possibly his best pair of blue jeans.
The whole thing would be so relaxed. The ceremony might be followed by a meal of burgers, hand cut fries, and a million different salads. They’d have a tremendous dessert bar, since both she and Ellis had strong sweet teeth. But the guest list would be tiny, so each person would feel involved and special. It would be a small party to celebrate their big love.
Julia quickly described her emerging idea to Ellis.
“I love it,” Ellis replied instantly.
“Truly?” Julia asked.
“I’m sure most men would love this idea over a big froofy wedding. And the fact that I get to wear my favorite jeans? You are proving once more that I made the right decision.”
“Really?” Julia had to make sure.
“Really, Julz. And the cherry on top? We can plan this kind of party in less than a month. As soon as your movie wraps? We’ll be together forever.”
Goosebumps erupted all over Julia. It felt impossible that they’d just planned their wedding in a two-minute phone call, something she’d been dreading because it was going to be so much work. Could it really be done? It appeared so, especially because it felt so right.
“Then that’s it.”
“That’s it.” Ellis’ voice was full of warmth, telling Julia he really was as pleased with this idea as she was.
Julia’s doorbell rang. “Well, it’s perfect timing because your family just got to my door. I’m glad I have a gameplan since I need to keep Krista’s planning at bay.”
“Um, they aren’t at your door, Julia. I’m driving behind them and we’re still a good five minutes out.”
Julia heard thudding on her stairs, telling her Trip was on his way down with his suitcases.
So who was at her door?
“I’d better get it,” Julia replied.
“Check the camera,” Ellis reminded her. She often forgot about that little security feature she really should take advantage of more often.
“I will,” Julia promised before she clicked off of the call and opened the app to her security system. She closed her eyes for a moment when she saw the faces greeting her . . .
“It’s your mom and grandma,” Julia whispered to Wendy, feeling a bit lightheaded. She was supposed to have more time before they arrived, right?
“Their flight wasn’t supposed to land until 7pm. What are they doing here?” Wendy asked as she sauntered toward the door.
Julia followed a few steps behind, still in a daze.
I love my family , she chanted in her mind as Wendy opened the door and Trip joined them in the foyer, his bags behind him.
Julia knew there was something not quite right about their situation, something she needed to be more careful about, but didn’t have the brain power to figure it out, considering she was still mentally chanting that she loved her family and everything was moving too fast for her to stop and analyze.
“What are you doing here?” Wendy asked as Lacey and Betty entered Julia’s home.
“It’s nice to see you too,” Betty said as she hugged Wendy.
Lacey went straight to her son.
“I didn’t mean I wasn’t happy to see you, but you’re early. And how did you know to come here?” Wendy asked.
“We turned on location services on your phone the last time you were in Travers,” Betty revealed as she pulled away from Wendy.
Wendy shot Julia a look full of incredulousness at her grandmother’s audacity as Betty headed for Trip and Lacey went to her daughter.
Lacey hugged Wendy as Wendy muttered, “Well, I’ll be turning that off immediately.”
“Oh, don’t get so upset. It’s for your protection,” Lacey said before patting Wendy’s head.
Wendy cringed.
“Now let’s see that ring,” Betty said as she took Julia’s hand, mother and daughter forgoing the hugging even though Julia wouldn’t have refused an embrace.
Betty and Lacey oohed and ahhed as Julia wondered if maybe she had finally done something right in the eyes of her family.
“I knew Ellis would get the perfect ring,” Lacey said after some moments of intense scrutiny.
Well, at least Julia had chosen a man who could do something right in the eyes of her family.
Betty looked up from Julia’s ring and did a quick once over of her foyer. “Wait, why does Trip have his luggage here?” She pointed behind her grandson.
Julia groaned internally. That was what had felt wrong about the situation. It was too late to hide it now. Julia was about to come clean when Trip spoke up.
“Aunt Julia is letting me stay here while you guys are visiting. Wendy and I figured her place would be too crowded with all of us so I told Wendy I’d bite the bullet and miss out being able to stay with you guys. I wanted to let you ladies have a nice girls’ vacation.”
“Well, isn’t that the sweetest,” Betty said as Lacey said, “My considerate boy.”
Wendy scoffed. “Yeah, don’t give the girl housing you for the next few days any credit. It was all Trip’s generosity,” she mocked.
“Don’t act like that, Wendy. It isn’t an attractive look on anyone. Maybe that’s why you’re having a hard time finding a new boyfriend,” Lacey replied.
Julia’s mouth dropped open and she was about to step in to defend her niece when the doorbell rang again.
She’d have to leave saying something for some other time because she knew exactly who had joined them. She knew Wendy would prefer Julia keep the peace as well as her sanity instead of starting a fight right before Ellis’ family walked in the door.
Julia opened the door for Krista, Sarah, and Joy.
“Julia!” Sarah greeted, pulling Julia into a tight hug that Julia worked hard not to compare with her own mother’s greeting. But failed.
Krista kissed Julia on both of her cheeks, a surprising greeting, but Julia wasn’t opposed.
Ellis jogged in behind the group as Joy gave Julia a quick side hug.
“So we’re all here to plan the big day? How nice,” Krista said to the group at large.
“Maybe we should give our hostess time to invite us into her home before we start the wedding talk,” Sarah said in her kind way.
Krista looked at Julia expectantly.
Right.
“Please, come in,” Julia said, waving toward the opening that led to her living room.
Krista and Lacey vied for first place, scrambling toward the doorway. Julia wasn’t sure why that mattered but she wasn’t going to be the one to tell them walking into her living room first didn’t come with a prize.
Krista subtly elbowed Lacey, winning the advantage. Lacey’s scowl was impossible to miss. Oh dear. This was going to be fun.
The rest of them followed in a more normal manner and took seats around Julia’s living room. Thankfully Julia had four tufted, mint green couches that all faced one another, leaving ample seating for everyone . . . and no clear place of honor for Lacey and Krista to fight over.
Trip was the only one who opted to sit outside of the square, on a barstool next to the counter that separated the kitchen from the living room.
“The wedding,” Lacey declared as soon as she sat, unwilling to be upped by Krista.
“Yes, the wedding,” Krista repeated from the opposite couch, shooting Lacey a look that said, this conversation was my idea so back off .
“I don’t know that Julia and Ellis are ready to start planning. They just got engaged,” Sarah said, her voice soft but somehow still commanding.
Betty rolled her eyes. “Julia is old enough that she’s probably planned her wedding twenty times over. The last thing she has is time, considering her age. Better to plan now. Especially since it will be difficult to plan her wedding at such a distance.”
“Excuse me?” Wendy sat forward in her seat.
Julia was wondering the same thing.
“Julia has to be married in Travers. Everyone she loves is there,” Lacey answered for her mother.
Julia hadn’t even considered Travers as a possibility. The only people she loved in Travers she was more than happy to fly to Whisling.
“You mean that Ellis has to be married in Birmingham. It’s where all of his family and friends are,” Krista stated. “Do y’all have forty-five first cousins? Because Ellis does.”
“Ellis isn’t even from Birmingham.” Joy pointed out the obvious.
“Yes, but it’s the closest city that has the kind of events center that could host a celebrity wedding. I’ve already found a venue that can host three thousand,” Krista said proudly, waving her phone with a picture of some giant venue before adding, “And if you are ever hoping to be a member of this family? You’d better pick the right side, Joy.”
“I don’t think there are sides,” Wendy began when her mother cut her off.
“And if there were, we’d obviously win. The bride’s family makes all of the decisions in a wedding.”
“And where would you propose we hold the wedding of the decade—out on one of your quaint farms?” Krista said in a tone so condescending even Julia felt defensive of Travers.
“The wedding will be here,” Ellis said with the kind of finality that had the entire group quieting.
Except for Trip’s clapping.
“Stop it, Trip,” Betty snapped.
“So you expect all of us to fly here?” Lacey asked snidely.
Julia was no longer feeling defensive of her hometown but of her fiancé.
Ellis put up a hand to hold back Julia’s building annoyance.
To her surprise, it actually helped.
“I’ll send my plane. It fits fifteen plus people comfortably. I’d love to send it as many times as necessary to Travers,” Ellis moved his attention to his sister-in-law, “and home. Even though we won’t be bringing even half of those forty plus cousins, Krista. You know as well as I do how little we communicate with Dad’s side of the family.”
Krista pouted.
“What does the bride think?” Lacey turned to her sister as if she hoped Julia would defy Ellis.
“Exactly what the groom does. We’ve decided on a small, backyard affair with just our favorite people,” Julia said.
“Small!” Lacey reacted, blinking in outrage.
“Backyard?!” Krista blanched.
“With burgers,” Ellis said happily, drawing horrified looks from both Lacey and Krista.
Julia bit back her laughter.
“But this is your wedding,” Krista said to Ellis, probably hoping to remind him of who he was.
“I know. And I like burgers and backyards.”
Lacey glared at Julia but in this, she wouldn’t back down.
“And I like small and special. We’ve both done so many of those big events. I’ve been to countless of those giant weddings where it was more about who one wore than what was happening,” Julia said, trying to explain to the families why they’d made their choice.
“But we haven’t,” Lacey interrupted, a note of disappointment clear in her voice.
Krista nodded.
Of course they’d agree when it came to disagreeing with Julia.
“You are robbing us of our one opportunity to go to one of those weddings, while you’ve attended countless,” Lacey continued.
“Mom, that’s rich. After you’ve shunned Aunt Julia’s life and lifestyle for years now you’re telling her she can’t have the wedding she wants because of what you think you deserve?” Wendy spoke up.
“Shut up, Wendy,” Lacey said, standing.
Julia stood as well, ready to do something. It was one thing for Lacey to speak down to her, but to Wendy?
Besides, Wendy was right. It wasn’t Julia’s responsibility to supply the wedding of Lacey’s and Krista’s dreams on the one day that should be all about her and Ellis.
“Mom, uncalled for,” Trip defended his sister. Thankfully that was enough to help Julia not to feel quite as angry at her sister.
Lacey plopped back in her seat so Julia did the same. Julia wasn’t sure what she had been about to do, but evidently her actions had been worrisome enough that conflict-free Trip had gotten involved.
“If you’re worried about seeing stars, I’m guessing you’ll have your chance. Stars who will love a small, backyard BBQ,” Joy said as she leaned forward. “There is no way Ellis can get married without Blake Young in attendance and I’m guessing Julia will have to invite Aiden Christensen as well as Joshua Baker?”
Julia nodded. There was no getting around that. Not that she wanted to. She loved those boys, and their girlfriends even more.
“Aiden Christensen?” Krista fluttered as she waved a hand over her face.
“And do you know how annoying the paparazzi can be?” Joy asked. “I heard they ripped Alissa Jardin’s dress at that big premier last weekend.”
Lacey and Krista gasped in unison and Julia wondered how appropriate it would be to leap across the room and hug Joy.
“Maybe small would be better,” Krista mused.
“And outdoors can be very romantic.” Lacey had to add her commentary, not to be outdone by her rival in agreeing with Julia now that the wind had shifted directions.
“Quaint, sweet. I can already see the magazine articles,” Krista spoke over Lacey’s last word.
“And if there isn’t paparazzi at the wedding, we can sell our photos,” Betty said with a wide grin.
“After approval from the bride and groom,” Wendy said to her grandmother.
“Of course.” Betty waved off Wendy’s concern.
Julia was already silently making a note to confiscate phones at the wedding’s entrance. She’d tell Betty she could sell any of the photos she took on the disposable cameras Julia would provide to keep her mother from throwing a fit, but she also knew her mother would be too lazy to develop said photos on her own, leaving it up to Julia, so Julia would be able to see everything before it went out into the world.
“I guess your idea for your wedding might be okay then,” Lacey conceded.
“So glad Julia and Ellis got your approval for their wedding,” Wendy said snarkily.
Lacey seemed too happy about the way things had gone to get annoyed with her daughter.
“But we should discuss bridesmaid dresses while we’re all here,” Krista said.
Julia couldn’t help her groan.
“As the matron of honor I believe it is my duty to decide on those,” Lacey retorted.
Lacey thought she was going to be her matron of honor? Julia wanted to ask. If Julia had any bridesmaids the only women in the room she’d even consider would be Wendy and maybe Joy. But that would never go over well so instead she’d . . .
“I’m too old for bridesmaids,” Julia said.
Lacey and Krista glared at her. Twin faces of dissatisfaction.
“But I will decide on a color for the family to wear. A color no one else can wear and that way everyone will know you’re special,” Julia added.
The women appeared slightly appeased.
“And with that I’m calling it a day. Let’s head on out,” Ellis said, standing.
Julia was going to kiss him for that later.
Sarah came over to give Julia another hug before Ellis left with his family. Wendy stood as well, but Betty just scooted down on the couch to take the open seat next to Julia.
“I really am happy for you, Julia.” Betty patted Julia’s shoulder. That was the closest to affectionate touching Julia had had from her mom in a long time.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“I am too,” Lacey said from her spot on the couch across from them. “I know that conversation got pretty tense but I really just want your day to be incredible. Mine was and I want the same for my baby sister.”
Julia grinned, grateful to hear Lacey’s motives. This was Lacey’s way of having her back. Not the way Julia would have chosen, but she guessed family couldn’t be choosers.
Julia’s family would never be conventional. Betty wouldn’t embrace Julia with abandon and Lacey wouldn’t call Julia just because, but they were her family. And in their way, they loved her, and she loved them.
So despite what would come, because things would come, she’d love them and they’d love her. Because they were family.