The home office is as packed and chaotic as it’s ever been, with seemingly endless boxes of dishes, flatware, glasses, and other highly breakable items. I kind of waited until the last minute to get these items on order, so I’m pretty sure that’s why the home office is a temporary storage space. But Allison told me not to fret at all. Now that she’s in town, all I need to focus on is getting to my hair and makeup appointments at the right times, slipping into my wedding gown, and showing up.
Conner said all the suits are in the right hands, including those of his twin brothers, Daniel and George, who have just arrived in town all the way from Europe this afternoon. I asked Conner how he’d managed to fix his missed appointment and reschedule (really, I so thought we were doomed on this one!). He said that Chad ironically had been commissioned to do a mural for the shop owner a few months ago. A call in with a friendly favor and voilà, trouble be gone!
Things seem to be falling into place, and that’s really quite baffling when you take into account all of the ridiculous obstacles. Sure, I’m mowing across town in a big-ass truck. Sure, I’m already secretly married and therefore have little to no stress about this upcoming wedding. Sure, my insane family is trickling into town, as is Conner’s equally, if not more insane family. Everyone will converge together—all nearly three hundred guests—in one location for one very big day. And just when I feel my chest tighten and the wedding noose start to pull, all I have to do is look into Conner’s eyes, share a smile or a kiss or simply a silent moment, and know that it’s all worth it. It’s all worth marrying (for the second time) the man of my dreams.
“So how is the bride-to-be?” Allison asks as Lara and I join her at a corner table at The Cup and the Cake. I give a quick wave to Sophie, who’s rapidly wiping clean some tables and chairs.
“I’m doing fantastic,” I tell her excitedly.
“Everything’s going so well,” Lara says. “And poor Claire can finally get rid of this darn brace.” She points at my bandaged wrist. “You know how that goes, Mom.”
“Oh, tell me about it!” Allison empathizes. “Been there and done that. You feel like you’re half-capable.” She shakes her head. “But, of course,” she adds with a smile, “when you want something bad enough or really have to get things done, you don’t let some pesky annoyance like that stand in the way.”
“Totally!” I say.
“Bet you’re so relieved you won’t have to wear it at your wedding, though,” Lara adds.
I shrug. “You know, I don’t really care.” After all, I think, I did wear the eyesore for one wedding already. “Obviously, yes, I’m glad I won’t have to wear it, but brace or no brace, nothing can ruin my wedding day.”
“Glad to hear it!” Allison says with a clap of her hands. She rubs them together swiftly. “Now, let’s get down to brass tacks, shall we? I’m sure you’ll be wanting those boxes from the Emporium out of your hands ASAP. Consider them taken care of.”
Allison unbuttons her black, three-quarter-sleeved suit jacket. I stifle a small giggle, because Lara is wearing almost the exact same jacket, except hers has one button instead of two. Career women—like mother, like daughter.
“What do you say?” Lara asks, crossing her hands on the table and looking at me. “Mom and I can take the boxes off your hands when we’re done here?”
“Oh!” I exclaim. “Sure. Whatever. I’m flexible.”
Once we order our coffees, we immediately begin to chat about all of the remaining details: the rehearsal and dinner tomorrow, what time I can arrive at church to get ready, and the photo sessions, including a “first look” that Allison convinced me to do, where Conner and I will have a special “just us” moment to see each other before the wedding, and we’ll get to do our bride and groom shots.
Everything really does seem to be in control, and so long as Conner’s parents don’t run for the hills when they see the church, and so long as my dad doesn’t piss my mom off with whatever bimbo he’ll drag along on his arm, I think we’ll be good. Oh! That reminds me!
“The ring bearer!” I set my cappuccino down onto the saucer. Lara tries her best to stifle a laugh when I say the words, almost blowing out a stream of her coffee from over the lip of her teacup.
“Your Jack Russell, correct?” Allison asks.
“Yes. Conner says he’s been training him, but…” I cast an unknowing glance at Lara, and she’s still trying to keep from laughing. “I’m not so sure about it.”
“Because the church doesn’t allow pets inside?”
“Oh, allow or not, that’s besides the point.”
I’ve already made it abundantly clear that somehow Schnickerdoodle will make it into that church. He’s very well trained, so it’s not like the church really has anything to worry about. I know they have their rules, but I have my dreams. Schnicker has to walk down that aisle as our ring bearer—so long as Conner actually did train him.
Sophie then brings over a fresh black coffee and places it in front of Allison, taking away her empty cup. “Any teacakes?” Sophie quietly interjects. She makes a sheepish expression, sorry for interrupting. “On the house. My first batch here, so if you want to be my guinea pigs…”
“Pigs and teacakes,” Lara says, looking up and over her shoulder at Sophie. “Both in the same sentence? Might want to work on your sales pitch, there.” She gives Sophie a puckish smile. “But yes, bring out the cakes.”
“I’m game, too,” Allison says. “This is the most darling little café, by the way, Sophie. You must be so proud.”
“Well, all the help from the best friends in the world made it not so difficult,” Sophie says. “That’s a yes to some teacakes all around?”
I hold up my hand and tell her that I’ll have to pass. I know. Crazy! But I need to diet for my wedding, and two days before the wedding is still sufficient time to say that yes, I did go on a wedding diet.
Sophie pads off behind the counter, and I proceed to tell Allison that Schnickerdoodle is still expected to walk the aisle. “But as a backup, I think I’ll just have the best man hold the rings.”
“Great idea. Simple backup plan,” Allison says. “And if the church finds out about the dog being brought in there, then you’ll want that backup plan anyway.”
“Mom, you sure you’re not, like, going to get into serious trouble about signing off on this dog-in-a-church-against-the-rules thing?” Lara looks at her mom bemusedly.
“What’s the worst that can happen?” I say casually.
Sophie sets a plate of teacakes in the center of the table. “Ohhh, spend an extra couple of years in purgatory,” she answers, overhearing our conversation.
“Whatevs,” I dismiss. I sip at my drink. “Schnicker’s in. We’ll deal with trouble later if it presents itself.”
Sophie makes a tsk-tsk sound, hands on hips. “Well, suit yourself silly one.” She casts about the table. “Can I get anyone anything else?”
“I’m good,” I say.
“Me, too,” Lara says.
“Everything’s great,” Allison says, chipper. “Just send the bill my way, darling.”
“Allison,” I start.
But before I can say another word, she holds up a hand and says, “No client of mine is buying her own coffee.”
Hmm, I think. Maybe wishing for a Franck wasn’t that unrealistic after all.
“Well, thank you,” I say.
Allison withdraws a large, black day planner from her bag and pulls it open, revealing a rainbow of Post-Its and lines upon lines of reminders, appointments, and checklists. She begins to jot something down on one of the few blank lines.
I sneak a look at Lara, who’s looking at me over her teacup with eyes that say, “Now you see where I get my workaholic attitude from?” But also eyes that say, “You and your wedding are in good hands now. No worries.” And, well, I’m feeling pretty worry-free, I have to tell you.
Everything is going fabulously and nothing can dampen my spirits. I’m on cloud nine! No storm
can rattle—
Wait a minute! I drop by teacup onto its saucer, a clang reverberating in the air for a few seconds. No. Way!
“Lara,” I whisper, pulling myself as close and low to the table as possible. “That’s her!” I clap my hand to my cheek. “Her!”
“Who?” Lara’s eyes widen. “Who’s here?” She casts about but I rapidly tap her hand to get her attention.
“Don’t be so obvious,” I say in hushed tones. “She just came in.”
“Hi!” the familiar and grating high-pitched valley-girl voice rings out. I try my hardest not to gawp, but I can’t help myself. Of all the people. Of all the places!
“Who, who?” Lara hoots. Allison, now curious, joins in with the chorus of owl calls.
“It’s her,” I say, feeling myself beginning to seethe. “The wedding coordinator from hell.”
“Melissa?” Lara gasps in a whisper.
“That’s right.” I give a single, hard nod of my head. “The bitch!” I turn to Allison and add, “Pardon my mouth.” Allison smiles and shrugs it off.
“The bitch,” I then repeat, “who sued me!” I look back at Lara, eyes wide as saucers. “Sued me for breach of contract. Can you believe it?” My voice is beginning to cross the whisper level.
“You know,” I say after there’s a long pause. My eyes follow Melissa as she struts on her long legs across the café floor—my café! All right, not really my café, but, well, yeah! This is my hangout with my girls. Bitches are not welcome, definitely not the type who try to take you to the cleaners. “I’m going to give her a piece of my mind,” I say.
Melissa takes a seat at a table clear across the room, joining a spirited looking girl, about my age, with that familiar stack of bridal magazines piled high before her. Such a familiar (and heartbreaking) scene. This poor bride has no idea what she’s in for! I’ve got to do something about it! Not just in the name of getting even, or having my last word, or saying my part, but I have to give the best piece of bridal advice ever to a girl in need!
I push back from the table and stand up, Lara’s hand instantly gripping my good wrist. “Claire,” she says in a pleading tone. “Don’t do anything that’ll, you know,” she looks around, “be bad for business.”
“Don’t worry,” I say, shaking free from her grasp. “I know exactly what I’m doing.”
I take a deep breath, tug on my shirt, and stride up to the table where Melissa and the bride are in shared fits of giggles. Ugh! I think as I close in on them. It was like yesterday I was this poor sap.
“Melissa,” I say in a cheerful voice, smiling the broadest and most fake of smiles. “Funny crossing paths with you here.” I make a cursory survey of the room. “I thought for you it was Starbucks this, Starbucks that.”
Melissa looks like she’s seen a ghost. Her face has somehow managed to turn from its bronze-tanned glow to a ghastly shade of white, her cheeks developing a deep crimson color. She swallows long and hard.
I turn to the bride, who looks rather thunderstruck, and say, “Hi, I’m Claire.” I hold out my hand, smiling genuinely now.
“Mindy,” the bride says in a soft-spoken voice. She shakes my hand.
“I don’t mean to interrupt your meeting here,” I say to her, fanning my hands over her stack of magazines. “I used to be a client of Melissa’s, that’s all. Thought I’d pop on over.”
“Yeah,” Melissa blurts out in a frazzled way. “A—a—an early summer bride of mine. Yeah. So…erm…how was that honeymoon, Claire?”
I abruptly turn my head to Melissa and we lock eyes. I am not backing down, I tell myself.
“I used to be a client of Melissa’s, Mindy,” I say, my eyes still locked on Melissa’s. “Things seemed to be going so well. I was getting my dream flowers, the venues were getting sorted out, the invitations also sorted out…” I look back at Mindy. “But then something came in the mail and, gosh, let me say, I was a little surprised.” I give a ridiculously saccharine laugh and rest a hand on hip.
“The wrong invitations?” Mindy guesses. I have to cackle at that one.
“Oh, actually, come to think of it,” I say, drama thickly coating my words. “Those were fudged up, too. No, I’m talking about a little piece of paper from the Law Offices of Gipps, Bishop, Gildey, Gideroo…something or other.” I wave it off.
Mindy furrows her brow and her hands drop to her lap. “What…law offices?” Her eyes turn to Melissa.
“I don’t know what Claire’s talking about,” Melissa says, blinking like a nervous mouse.
Here goes, I think. I take a deep and steady breath. Here goes nothin’.
“Cut the crap, sorority sis,” I say quietly. I lean my good hand on the table’s ledge. “I don’t know what brought you all the way from Starbucks to this sweet little joint, but—”
“It’s where I’m getting my wedding cake,” Mindy pipes in timidly. “They make the best cupcakes here.”
“Well,” Melissa says. She pats Mindy’s stack of bridal magazines. “Well, we’ll talk about that later, Mindy. I have great recommendations who cut me a deal. Plus, this place has no credentials. It’s only just opened and, really,” she looks around the room, “I think it’s a little kitsch.” She elongates her neck, shrugs her shoulders, and a smirk coats her glossy lips. “It’s probably a little tacky for the style of wedding we’re planning for you.”
“That’s it!” I say, my cheeks burning. “Mindy. Let me share something with you.” Mindy nods eagerly, leaning on my every word now. “If we want to talk about no credentials then let’s take a peek at MC Design and Whatever’s portfolio. I was her bride. Her summer bride. Her August bride and,” I flash a fierce look at Melissa, “no, I have not been on my honeymoon. No, I have not had my wedding already.”
I take in another calming and deep breath, channeling my yoga state of mind, and say to Mindy, “This girl, Melissa, made a disaster of my wedding, charged my parents tons of money, and then what did she have the gall to do when I let her go?”
“What?” Mindy asks, eyes like a doe in the headlights.
“She sued me. Sued me!” I stop leaning on the table and stand up straight. “She’s bad news, Mindy. And while I don’t want to bad-mouth anyone, or come and ruin what should be a perfectly lovely time in your life…” I cross my arms and glare at Melissa. Her jaw is clearly locked and, I have to say, her soft and feminine features are kind of gone right about now. Right now she looks kind of monsterly, actually.
“What?” Mindy presses.
“No one knocks my best friend’s café,” I say proudly. “Mindy, The Cup and the Cake is the best café in all of Seattle. I’m getting my wedding cake done here. A whole table of desserts, actually! If I could give you one recommendation for your wedding, it would be to go with The Cup and the Cake. Sophie and her team here will rock your wedding.”
I give Mindy a smile, and, feeling an enormous sense of satisfaction, turn on my heels and take two steps towards my table, where Allison and Lara are eavesdropping, leaning way out of their chairs.
“Oh!” I gasp. I turn back around, Melissa’s mouth now agape and her cheeks really flaming. She even has a throbbing vein that’s starting to reveal itself along the side of her temple.
“There is one more thing, actually,” I add. “If you don’t mind the tip, Mindy.” Mindy nods. “Don’t plan your wedding with Melissa. A lawsuit is the last thing that makes your fairytale wedding come true.”
“You bitch!” Melissa cries, leaping up from her seat. She yanks her Louis Vuitton bag over one shoulder and kicks her chair aside, almost causing it to topple over and hit the girl seated behind her.
Mindy’s face goes long and she looks at me. Then, with a burst of laughter, she says, “Wow! Thanks for the advice. Melissa, I don’t think we’re going to work out.”
“Whatever,” Melissa says. She makes her way for the front door. “Your wedding wasn’t worth my time, anyway, Mindy. Your budget’s unworkable and…” She rapidly shakes her head and gestures wi
ldly about the room. She looks like a crazy person! “…And this crappy café will suit your budget just fine!”
With no more insults to hurl, the storm known as Melissa blows on out.
I thought I was feeling good and particularly perky earlier. Now I feel amazing! I’m on top of the world! I’m— Oh no. Oh no!
A scene. In the café. Sophie’s going to kill me.
I press my lips tightly together and, so very fearful, pan around the room. All eyes are on me and I can feel my stomach start to churn. Halfway through my rotation I spot Sophie across the way. She looks speechless.
“Wow,” Mindy breaths out, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Thank you, Claire.”
“Huh?” I mutter. I almost can’t believe I actually did this! Oh would everyone just stop staring at me. Oh dear…
“Thank you,” Mindy says again. She takes a magazine from her pile and folds the cover back. “I’m definitely not going with Melissa to plan my wedding! Crazy lady!”
Sophie begins to look more settled and she returns behind the front counter, slowly wiping down the espresso machine. I give her a shrug and mouth a sorry.
“It was my pleasure to help,” I tell Mindy. “I just wish it could have been done without causing such a scene.”
With a magazine in one hand, Mindy peels back the wrapper of her cupcake. “Scene or no scene, you saved me! Thank you!” She takes a bite. “Mmm. Besides,” she licks her lips, “not getting my wedding cake here was a definite deal-breaker. This café is definitely doing my wedding cake.”
A giant smile spreads across my face and I look over at Sophie, who’s also smiling brightly.
“They do wedding cakes here?” a new voice rings from the behind. I turn around and a twenty-something girl is standing up, arms akimbo. “I would kill for a wedding cake from here!” she exclaims. “The cupcakes are a-ma-zing!”
“I know, right?” Mindy chimes in. The enthusiastic girl from behind makes her way over to Mindy’s table; an instant bond forming over a mutual love for The Cup and the Cake’s scrumptious cupcakes.
I look at Sophie again and her smile looks as if it can be seen from outer space.
When Girlfriends Chase Dreams Page 36
