“I can just imagine,” Megan said, trying to hold in her sarcasm.
“How many attendants in Kendall’s wedding?” Anna gave Megan a warning look, like she’d better start minding her manners.
“Six,” Mrs. Weis proclaimed. “Kendall’s three sisters—Kate, Kristin, and Kim—plus you three makes six. So we have a perfect seven with Kendall.”
“That is, if my sisters agree to be in it,” Kendall said as she and Lelani rejoined them.
“Of course they’ll agree. Weren’t you in all their weddings?”
“Sort of.” Kendall’s brow creased. “I was like six when Kim got married, so I had to be a flower girl. Then I was only thirteen at Kate’s wedding, so I was a junior bridesmaid. And when Kristen almost got married I was finally going to be a real bridesmaid, but the whole thing was called off.”
“Yes, well, anyway, I’m sure your sisters will participate in yours.”
“And they’ll be like the oldest bridesmaids ever.” Kendall laughed.
“And Kendall’s brothers, Kevin and Eric, will fill in for some of the groomsmen.” Mrs. Weis looked at Kendall now. “Did you and Killiki figure out the rest yet? We need to get those tuxes ordered, pronto!”
“Yeah, who are your groomsmen?” Megan asked.
“Killiki is bringing his buddy Aaron to be his best man. And Gil agreed to participate too.” Kendall looked hopefully at Anna now. “Do you think Edmond would be—”
“I think he might have his hands full with that bar mitzvah. He told his dad he’d help with some of the preparations.”
“Oh, right.” Kendall looked at Megan now. “And I suppose you can’t really say for Marcus.”
“Not really.”
“Well, I’m sure we can dig up a couple more guys,” Kendall said lightly.
“Oh, yes, of course,” her mother said, “just go out and dig them up.”
“Gil and I have lots of cousins,” Anna offered, “and some of them are pretty experienced at weddings.”
“Are they as good looking as Gil?” asked Mrs. Weis.
“Oh, Mom.” Kendall just shook her head and Anna made a funny face and Lelani started laughing.
“Maybe Anna can have them send portfolios with all their vital statistics and headshots,” Megan teased. When Mrs. Weis wasn’t looking, she winked at Kendall. Getting to know Kendall’s mom explained a whole lot. Or as her teacher-friend Harris might say, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” But at least Kendall had started to grow up.
Eighteen
Kendall
“I want to pull my hair out and scream,” Kendall told Killiki after they finished their online counseling session and were talking in private.
“Oh, but you were great tonight, Kendall. You did all your homework and everything.”
“Not because of that.” Kendall leaned back onto her bed and sighed. “That was the best part of my day.”
“Then why do you want to pull your hair out? And it’s such pretty hair.”
“My mother.”
“Oh, that.”
“Yes. That. She is driving me crazy with her wedding madness. And she’s driving everyone else crazy too.”
“That’s too bad. But you know what they say: What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, right?”
“But right now I feel like killing my mother.”
“Oh, Kendall, that’s not good.”
“I know.”
“We need to respect our parents.”
“What exactly does that mean? Am I supposed to respect her when she’s hurting my friends’ feelings? Or when she’s making the flower lady feel bad? Or when she’s acting like a spoiled brat because she can’t have the exact pair of shoes that she’s certain would be perfect with my dress, when I really don’t care that much?”
“Tell her you’ll go barefoot.”
“I cannot wait for you meet to my mother.” Kendall laughed. “I’m actually kind of thankful that you won’t get here until the wedding. She might make you want to run for your life.”
“She must be a good woman to have made a daughter like you.”
Kendall closed her eyes. “Oh, Killiki, I really don’t deserve you. When I think of all the stupid mistakes I’ve made in my life … when I think about how shallow I’ve been, and sometimes still am! Like you should’ve seen me flipping out when my mom said I couldn’t wear flowers in my hair.”
“She said no flowers in your hair?” Killiki sounded seriously disappointed.
“She said it was tacky and something a hippie from the sixties would do. So we got into it right there in the flower store, and I actually threw a temper tantrum. I said I would have flowers in my hair and no one would stop me, and if she didn’t like it, she could just go get in her motor home and drive it over the edge of a cliff.”
“You said that?”
“Yeah, I’m not proud of it. But the flower lady kind of liked it. She agreed that I should wear flowers in my hair.”
“So did your mother come around?”
“I’m not sure. I think we’re still at a standoff. I decided not to discuss it anymore, but I’ll order the flowers on the sly and when the time comes, I’ll get my way.”
“I think you’ll look beautiful with flowers in your hair. Or even without. I just wish your wedding preparations weren’t such an unhappy thing.”
“It wouldn’t be if my mother would back off.”
“It makes me wish we’d just gone with a simple ceremony over here, but I really want to meet your family. By the way, did your dad tell you we talked yesterday?”
“You did?”
“He seems like a nice guy.”
“He actually is. But he refuses to participate or take sides in any of these wedding conflicts.”
“Smart man.”
“I guess.”
“So maybe you should give yourself a break, Kendall. Why not take a day or two off from all this wedding planning? Really, how can there be so much to do for just one day?”
“I think my mom lies awake at night plotting new and improved ways to complicate this wedding so much that no one will enjoy it.”
“I’ll enjoy it.”
“I hope so.”
“But, seriously, Kendall, give it a break. If you were here, I’d say go hang at the beach and just relax. Float in the water and feel your baby swimming.”
“It’s been moving a lot lately. My OB doc asked if I wanted to know what gender it was when she did the ultrasound this week and I said absolutely not.”
“What do you want it to be?”
“Like I keep saying, just healthy.”
“I think a little girl like you would be nice.”
“How about a little boy like you?”
He laughed. “Well, it would be a real miracle if he looked like me.”
“Well, next time around then.”
“For sure.”
“But maybe I’ll take your advice and take a break tomorrow. I’ve been wanting another Nana Day.”
“Yes,” he said eagerly. “You had so much fun when you and Nana went to Paris. Why not do it again?”
“Only this time we’ll go to Rome.” Kendall thought. “Or Maui.”
“Wherever you go, make sure you call and tell me all about it.”
“Okay then. If I want to get up early enough to get out of here before Mom blows in, I’ll need to get some sleep.”
“Yes, it must be late there.”
“I love you, Killiki.” She smiled at the photo on her bedside table. It was of the two of them, taken on the day she left Maui. She still had on her cast, but she looked utterly happy. They both did.
“I love you too, my sweet mermaid princess. Sleep well.”
Unfortunately, Kendall slept a little too well. It was nearly nine when she woke up and hurried to get dressed. She actually took a couple minutes to pen her mom a quick note, which she planned to leave on the dining room table. Really, how could her mother fault her for going to visit Nana? Not that her mom was terribly close to her mother-in-law, but she should appreciate that Kendall was.
She was just about to put the note on the table when her mother burst into the house. “Good morning,” she sang out.
“Uh, hi, Mom.” Kendall put the note behind her back.
“What’s that?” her mom asked curiously. “A surprise?”
Kendall sheepishly held out the note. “I was leaving it for you.”
Her mother snatched the note and read it. “Oh, is that all? I thought maybe you and Killiki had decided to bail on your wedding.”
“No, of course not.”
“Your father said he sounds like a very nice young man.”
“He is.”
“I wish he could come over here sooner than just three days before the wedding.”
“He’s got work.”
“How busy can a plumber be in Maui?”
“As busy as anywhere. Besides, he already bought his ticket.”
“He could change it.” Her mom crumpled up the note now. “You won’t be needing this.”
“So you don’t mind then?” Kendall reached for her bag.
“I do mind. You’re not going anywhere, Kendall.”
“But I—”
“We have a whole list of things to do today.”
“A list?”
Mom reached into her purse and pulled out an actual list and handed it to Kendall.
1.Wedding veil
2.Shoes
3.Decide on cake flavor
4.Order embossed napkins in pink or fuchsia or both?
5.Decide on menu—chicken or beef to go with fish?
6.Order rental tableware—something sleek and elegant
7.Decide/order tablecloths in pink or fuchsia or both?
8.Orchids—we need orchids!
“This won’t take long,” Kendall said pointing to the list. “Item one, no. Item two, don’t care. Item three, vanilla. Item four, both. Item five, chicken. Item six, whatever. Item seven, both. Item eight?” She looked at her mom. “Why do we need orchids when we already settled on our flowers?”
“Because I just realized your wedding colors are like orchids, and orchids will be the perfect flower because they are tropical.” She smiled triumphantly. “You know, like Maui!”
Kendall brightened. “Oh, yes, that does make sense.”
“But it also means we need to go back to the florist and change our order.”
Kendall remembered the look on the petite Asian woman’s face. She knew she would not be pleased to see them back again so soon. “Why don’t we let that cool for a day or so?”
“Because orchids must be ordered in advance.”
“Then you take care of it while I go visit Nana.”
“You are not going to visit your grandmother, Kendall. Not when you have so much to do and to decide.”
“I just told you my decisions, Mom, and now I’m going to see Nana. She’s not getting any younger, you know.”
“Oh, that reminds me, we’ll need to find her something to wear to the wedding too.”
“That’s what I’ll do today,” declared Kendall. “I’ll take Nana dress shopping. She’ll love it. We can get her some shoes and—”
“No, if anyone is taking her shopping, it will be me. Besides, you’re not supposed to shop by yourself, remember?”
“I would be with Nana.”
“Fine, but you can do that later. Next week even.”
“I want to do it today!” Kendall felt a tantrum coming on.
“Don’t act like a child.”
“I am the child.” Kendall stomped her foot. “I want to go see Nana and you cannot stop me. I already answered everything on your dumb list anyway.”
“My dumb list?” Her mother was getting angry.
“Sorry, Mom. It’s not really dumb. I’m just tired of wedding stuff. And really, didn’t I answer all the questions? I can write it down if you—”
“But I left one thing off that list and it’s very important and it must be done today, Kendall.”
Kendall did not believe her. “What?” she asked with narrowed eyes.
“It’s something we both completely forgot. Hopefully it’s not too late, although Anna told me she’s already sent the invitations, but she can probably do an e-mail.”
“E-mail for what?”
“In our rush, we completely forgot to register you for china and silver and linens and all—”
“I don’t want china and silver and—”
“Of course you do.”
Kendall considered this. “Okay, I guess I really do. But do we have to do that today?”
“It’s less than four weeks to your wedding? Do you understand what that means?”
“That Killiki and I will be married and on our way to Maui.” Kendall sighed. “Four weeks feels like forever.”
“Kendall!” Mom bopped her on the head.
“What’s that for?”
“Welcome to reality.” Her mother jingled her keys. “Now let’s go.”
“I can’t believe you’re not going to let me see Nana today.” Kendall made a pout. “I’m going to tell Daddy.”
“You can’t. He’s golfing all day and I’m sure his phone is off.”
Kendall reluctantly followed her mom without speaking out to the little SUV they dragged along behind their motor home.
“You should be thanking me, Kendall.” Mom said as she drove toward the city. “We come all this way, go to all this effort, not to mention expense. And I manage to throw you together what promises to be a very nice wedding and all I get from you is grief. I don’t know how I managed to raise such ungrateful children.”
“I’m sorry, Mom.” Kendall felt guilty now. “I know you’re going to a lot of work. But the truth is, I never wanted a great big fancy wedding. I would’ve been fine with—”
“You would’ve been fine getting hitched barefoot and pregnant,” Mom snapped. “I know. How do you think that makes me feel? It’s bad enough that you got pregnant out of wedlock. But my friends told me I was old-fashioned to hold that against you. They said that’s what all the girls are doing these days, and that there’s no shame in it. And I’m trying to be understanding, but do you think it’ll be easy for me to see my big pregnant daughter waddling down the aisle, Kendall? With all my friends there, acting all PC yet chuckling among themselves at my expense? Have you any idea how I feel?”
“I do now.” Kendall slumped down in the passenger seat. “I’m sorry that I’m such an embarrassment to you, Mom.”
Her mom sat up straighter, holding her chin firm. “Well, I probably shouldn’t have said all that, Kendall. But I’m just trying to be honest with you. All this wedding planning comes with some hidden costs. It’s not easy on your father either. Oh, he may joke and act like everything’s peachy, but trust me, he’s embarrassed too.”
Kendall turned eagerly to her mom. “Do you want to call the wedding off?”
“Of course not. Why would we do that?”
“To avoid further embarrassment?”
“Look, Kendall, if you would just try to cooperate with me for this wedding, that might help us all to avoid further embarrassment. The key to smoothing these things over is to put on a good show. And that is exactly what we intend to do.”
“A good show.”
“Speaking of a good show, have you done that paternity test yet?”
&nbs
p; “No. It puts the baby at risk.”
“Nonsense. People do it all the time.”
“Maybe in movies and TV, but Lelani said—”
“What does Lelani know?”
“She’s a med student and she knows a lot. She said that …” Kendall struggled to remember. “The procedure is invasive and puts the baby at risk of a miscarriage. Do you want me to have the test, then miscarry the baby?”
“Of course not.”
“Why are you so concerned about a paternity test anyway?”
“Well …”
“Why, Mom?”
“I might’ve let it slip out that the father of the baby is a celebrity.”
“No way!” Kendall sat up straight. “Why would you do that?”
Her mom didn’t answer.
“Mom?”
“I don’t know, Kendall. Maybe it made me feel better about the situation.”
“Why?”
“Well, think about it. Your baby’s father is a movie star.”
“My baby’s father is a plumber,” Kendall snapped.
“Killiki is the baby’s father? But you said that—”
“Killiki is going to be the baby’s real father. His biological father is something totally different.”
“Yes, I know, but Matthew Harmon is the baby’s father? Right?”
Kendall turned away and stared out the passenger side window.
“He is, isn’t he?”
“What difference does it make?”
“It makes a lot of difference, Kendall.”
“I don’t see why.”
They were both silent as her mom exited the freeway. Kendall wished she’d stood up to her mom and visited Nana. Killiki had told her to take a break today. More than ever, she needed it. Well, tomorrow was her day to watch Emma. That in itself would be a break. Then tomorrow night, she would set her alarm clock to go off early, and she would get dressed and leave the house before her mother had a chance to corner her again. And then she would have a Nana Day. This time they would go to Maui. Kendall would scout out all the Hawaiian shops and restaurants, and maybe she’d even buy them both leis to wear.
Three Weddings and a Bar Mitzvah Page 16
