The Wedding Planner

by Pavan Kaur

  I move my head to the side of her and whisper in her ear, "Payback is always fun." Pulling away from her, she shakes her head and smiles. I'm safe. I know she won't give me away.

  Pete is standing there watching it all unfold, but you can see the smile that he’s hiding from Amie. The shouting has calmed down a bit, Marc is still holding Tanya, and Blake is talking to Donna, trying to get her to stop what she is doing. It all looks and feels so real.

  "What's going on here?" We all turn around to see who is talking and it's my friend Joe dressed up as a cop.

  “That fucking psycho is smashing my car up,” Tanya says as she points at Donna.

  "Psycho? Psycho? I'll show you psycho," and before we can say anything Donna smashes the side windows in. The car is a wreck. Windows, lights, and the doors have all been broken or dented. "That cow has been sleeping with my boyfriend, so she's getting what she deserves," Donna shouts at her.

  “What’s your name?” Joe asks looking at Tanya.

  "Tanya and you better get her the fuck away from my car or I'm going to lose my shit." You can hear the annoyance in Tanya's voice.

  “Now Tanya, if you swear like that again I’m going to have to make you sit in the back of the car to calm down.” Joe looks over at Donna standing there.

  Tanya breaks loose from Marc and approaches Joe. “What? You’re joking? That bitch smashes my car up and you say I have to sit in the back of the car to calm down,” she says as she pokes Joe in his arm.

  “That’s it. Turn around.”

  Emma goes to move, and I pull her back. Amie power walks up to Joe protesting that Donna is to blame for all of this, as she is the one that smashed the car up.

  I look over at the guys, knowing that none of us can hold it any longer and burst out laughing. I’ve got tears rolling down my cheeks. Amie and Tanya just look at each other while Emma is covering her mouth with her hand.

  "What the hell is going on?" Amie says while looking at all of us. Donna walks past Joe, giving him a pat on the back, while Tanya stares at her with her mouth hanging open. Donna makes her way over to me and gives me a high five, then over to Marc and Blake as we continue to laugh.

  Finally, the penny drops. "Oh my God, you've got to be shitting me. No way. No fucking way," Tanya doesn't sound annoyed anymore. Amie still looks confused by what's happening,

  “What?” Amie asks.

  Tanya starts laughing. “It’s their fucking prank. Why did I not think of that? Were you in on this too Em?” Tanya and Amie look over to her.

  “No, I just sort of figured it out while all the shouting was going on.” I wrap my arm over Emma’s shoulder.

  “Well, I will give you this Ocean, it was a good one, but remember payback is a bitch. I’m sure you once said that to Amie and I,” Tanya says as she starts to laugh along with us.

  “What about my car?” Tanya and Amie look at us, and on queue Luke drives it back over to us. I point to it and they both turn around.

  “Ocean that was a good one, and the fact you got Pete to go along with it too,” Emma tells me.

  “I thought after everything you and Tanya have done to him, he needed to be in on this one,” I watch Tanya and Amie walking over to all the guys, hands on their hips.

  “Before, it was only Ocean. Watch your backs, we’re coming after you all now,” Amie tells Blake and Marc, and we all burst out laughing.

  "Pizza and beer in the apartment," I tell them all, and we all make our way up there still laughing at what just happened.

  Emma

  One Year Later

  So much has happened in the year, a lot more than I would have thought. Ocean and I have been so busy that it's been nonstop for us both. This was the year we both wanted to work hard and save. We have saved every penny we could. We both have a plan and we've a year to stick to it. Two weeks ago we moved into our very first house.

  “Hi buttercup,” Ocean hugs me from behind and gives me a kiss on the neck.

  "Hey, you're back early today." I look over at him as he sits on the chair next to me and looks at the wedding invites that I've been working on. I have a Christmas wedding this year and the couple is amazing. Ocean is making the cake for me, he always does. He loves working on all the wedding cakes for me, and I think we make a good team.

  “Yeah, Jake said he will close up for me. How is the wedding coming along?” Ocean starts looking through my craft box.

  “Good. I should have the invites done soon, and then I can work on other things with them.” I put the invite down that I’m working on and look at him for a moment. “So, what did you work on today?”

  "Well, a stripper is leaving her workplace, so we are making a very interesting cake for her," I start laughing just imagining what that cake is going to look like.

  "Are we still going out for dinner with everyone?" I ask. Ocean told me about dinner tonight about a month ago, and keeps reminding me not to book anything with my couple. He said that his parents have planned this dinner every year, and it will be my first time attending. Last year I was so busy with the new office, he said it was okay to miss it.

  "Yeah, we will go over around seven, if you're all done," Ocean looks at my computer, as I have my Pinterest page up for ideas I've liked at weddings. I have one for the business, I made Ocean one for the shop too. He didn't want one, thinking it would take too much work, but he's got a few more customers since then.

  “I’m done. When you get home, I’m always finished for the day,” leaning closer to him, I give him a kiss. “So, what can we do before we have to leave?” I ask rubbing my hands on his legs.

  “I was thinking of something very exciting, something that would make us a little tired,” Ocean pulls me off the chair as he stands up, wrapping his arm around my waist. “Something that might make us sweat a little too,” Ocean gives me a wink as I smile.

  "This sounds like something I most definitely want to do." I’m moving my hands up his shirt.

  “So, I think you need to get your shoes on,” taking a step back from him, Ocean starts laughing. “I thought we could go for a walk, a long walk.”

  “Well, not what I was thinking, but I suppose I’ve been in the house all day.” I walk over to the front door to put my shoes on. “Ready,” I turn to Ocean as he hands me my coat.

  It's been raining every day this week. Today has been the first day that it's been nice. "Where we going?" I grab the umbrella as we leave the house.

  "Let's just see where our feet take us," Ocean takes my hand in his, and we start walking. We start talking about the group and Blake's new girlfriend. How she might be the worst he's ever dated. Ocean doesn’t like most of Blake’s girlfriends but they've been friends so long now, he just smiles.

  Walking along the park, I turn to ask Ocean a question and the words get stuck in my mouth at the view in front of me. Ocean is down on one knee.

  “Emma Cox, the moment you said you wanted to punch me in the face, I haven’t stopped thinking about you. You’re the reason I smile every day, and I hope I’m the reason you smile. I can go on forever telling you the reasons why I love you and why I’m about to ask you this question.” I watch Ocean putting his hand into his jacket pocket. “Emma, will you give me one more reason to love you, will you marry me?”

  “Yes, yes a thousand times, yes.”

  Ocean stands up and pulls me in for a kiss. I can feel my body shaking with excitement. He takes my left hand and puts the ring on. I can’t stop staring at it. It’s perfect, perfect for me.

  "I hope you're going to be planning our wedding?" Ocean asks, making me laugh. "I hope you're ready for a celebration dinner."

  “Yes to both.” I have planned my wedding so many times I know everything I want from start to finish. I can’t wait to share all that with Ocean and say I do.

  Bonus Chapter

  Emma

  I have spent years planning other peoples’ weddings, but for the first time, I've been planning mine, ours. Ocean and I have been working reall
y hard to make this day just how we want it. For most of it, he kept telling me to plan what I wanted, but I've always wanted my husband to look back and be happy that he was a part of the planning too. Once Ocean knew that, he was happy to be a part of everything. He only had one wish, that he be in charge of the wedding cake. I can't see the design until the day, and I agreed. I know Ocean is going to make the best wedding cake of his life for us, so I knew I had nothing to worry about.

  I stand in front of the mirror as Amie and Tanya zip my dress up for me. “You look…”

  "Beautiful." I look at my dads' reflection in the mirror as he walks over to me. "You are the most beautiful bride I've ever seen."

  "Thank you, Dad," I say as I look over at the door as I hear a knock.

  I have never wanted a big wedding and when I spoke to Ocean about my ideas, he was surprised this is what I wanted.

  I've been friends with the owner of this place for some time, and the moment he showed me around I knew this was where I would be getting married one day. Thirteen acres of open space and some of the most beautiful wedding rooms I've ever seen. When Ocean and I came to see this place, I had butterflies in my stomach with how excited I was. Ocean could see how happy this place made me and after ten minutes of walking around Ocean said yes.

  "Are you ready? Are you sure about Ocean?" My dad looks at me, and I can't help but smile. "I'm joking, Ocean is a great guy." My dad walks over to me and just stares at me.

  “Dad you better not cry, or…”

  "I know, don't worry sweetheart. I remember your list of no's for dads at weddings. I want this to be the best day of your life." I love my dad so much and I know he will want this day to go amazingly for me. He has even been good with my mum. They have both spoken to each other without fighting, that alone is the best wedding gift in my eyes.

  I look in the mirror at my wedding dress. I went with the Kate Middleton look for my dress, but mine is backless. I went with long lace sleeves, just what I wanted. I got Tanya and Amie little pink dresses and purple flowers to match mine. That was the color theme for the wedding. Blake, Marc and Neil are also wearing little pink ties to match the theme.

  I look over at the door. “I will get it,” I hear Tanya as she walks over. She’s talking to someone, but I can’t see who it is. “Someone has a gift,” Tan hands me two boxes. “I already know it’s going to be something perfect for you.”

  Putting the boxes on the table, I take the note off the top.

  To the soon-to-be Mrs. Rivers,

  I'm not nervous to marry you. I'm counting down the seconds to say I do. Looking for the perfect wedding gift for you is the hardest part of today because I will give you the world, but what do I get to make this day special? So I went with two things, and I hope that they make you smile. You can open box number one.

  Putting the note on the table, I open the box and smile. Miss Dior perfume. Picking up the note, I read on.

  I know that you have been wanting this perfume for a very long time, but have always said you want it to be special to you, as it is one of the scents that you will remember forever. So, I hope that when you smell this perfume, you will never forget today, and smile with fond memories of this day.

  You can open box two.

  Pulling the ribbon, I get excited as I lift the lid off, and read the poem that Ocean has put in a frame.

  Today is a day we will always remember. The greatest day in anyone's life.

  We’ll start the day just two people in love. And end it as one.

  It will be a brand new start, one that I cannot wait to spend with you.

  Moments to cherish, memories to make.

  There will be moments that we both disagree, but I know there will be few.

  I will bake you a cake, just to see you smile.

  I hope to see nothing but love in your beautiful eyes, from the moment we say ‘I do’.

  I will tell you I love you every morning and every night.

  You are my world, my life.

  Together we make the best team.

  Today is the day I marry my best friend.

  Today is the day we start a new adventure.

  I can’t wait to say I do.

  Rereading the poem once more, I look at Amie giving her a nod, to let her know that she can take my gift to him.

  Ocean

  We have been planning this day for months, and it’s finally here. I’m about to marry the woman I love. Every step of this wedding we have worked as a team. Planned it to the last detail and now it’s the big day. I’m not nervous, I’m excited. I’m excited to say I do, and call Emma my wife.

  The only thing Emma had no input in was the cake. I wanted to surprise her with it. I have to admit I didn’t have a clue what I was going to do. I wanted to see what the wedding was going to be like, what our theme was, what colors we were using, and the more Emma and I spoke about it, the better my idea was coming in my head. The cake I made is a tall two-tier cake with pink marble effect on the bottom with cream frosting. Roses from the top tier swirl down to the cake board. Gold leaf on the side of the cake from the top tier to the bottom. I hope she loves it, just as much as I enjoyed making it.

  “You know it’s not too late to back out.” I look at Blake as I put my cufflinks on. “I mean one woman for the rest of your life, are you sure?”

  “Never been so sure about anything in my life,” I tell him as Marc helps me with my cufflinks.

  "Knew you were going to say that, and Emma is a great girl to marry," Blake tells me, as he walks around the table to pour us a drink. For being my best men I got Blake, Marc and Neil a bottle of whiskey, personalized for them all. "You know I'm going to know if this is cheap," Blake starts laughing.

  Shaking my head at him, "You are a dick." I look back at the mirror to make sure my suit looks good. "And if I were going to buy you something cheap, I would have left it in the cheap bottle," I counter, taking the drink from him.

  "To a new life," Marc says bringing his glass in the middle, and Blake and I say it at the same time and bring our glass in and click with each other, then down the whole drink.

  “Come in,” I shout as someone knocks on the door. “Wow, you look beautiful,” I tell Amie as she walks over to me and I can give her a kiss on the cheek.

  "And you look just as handsome as Tan and I thought. Your bride has sent you this," Amie hands me a rectangular box with a letter on top. "See you at the altar, don't go running," Amie gives me a wink as she leaves the room.

  Walking over to the bed, I open up the letter.

  To Ocean,

  I’ve been staring at the paper for over an hour now not sure how to start this letter, so I’m just going to say what it is I feel.

  Today we will stand in front of our family and friends, and we will promise to spend the rest of our lives together. It is a promise I will keep because I'm so excited to spend the everyday with you.

  I will be there for you always; when you're feeling weak, I will be there for you; when you're upset, my shoulder will always be there for you; when you're under the weather, I will bring the sunshine to make you smile.

  When I'm with you, I feel loved, and that makes me happy. I feel like I've found something special with you. No matter what happens if I have a good day, a bad day, or feeling a little less myself, you love me, and that makes me happy.

  I love you, every single part of you. You inspire me to be better, no matter how busy you are, you will always find time to call me just to say I love you.

  I’m looking forward to spending the rest of my life with you. I can't wait to see what the future holds for us.

  Now I shall let you get ready, and I will meet you at the altar, and become your wife, you will become my husband, never been so excited.

  I love you Ocean Rivers.

  P.S – I had a gift for you, but I changed it, and I thought this was something a little more special. I know that today is already a day that nerves kick in, and you sit there thinking ‘have I made
the right choice? (I hope you have). But when you open this gift, I hope that it doesn’t scare you away. I hope you get excited just as much as I was. See you at the altar.

  Putting the letter on the bed, I open the box, staring at it for a moment not sure what it is. Picking it up, I look at it for a moment. I see something else in the box. Lifting the baby grow up I see the words - Baby Rivers coming 2019.

  Wiping the tears away, I look up at the guys smiling at me. Looking back at the baby grow I shed another tear.

  Not only am I marrying the woman I love, but I'm also marrying my best friend, the woman that has given me the best gift in the world, and our life is going to be amazing.

  THE END

  Acknowledgements

  To the readers, for taking the time to read The Wedding Planner, without you I wouldn’t be writing, I wouldn’t be enjoying what I do every morning.

  Jackie Barton, for working so hard with me while I was writing this. She was reading along as I was writing, and telling me what didn’t sound good, and helped me make it better.

  Chez Freeman and Heather Cox, for reading through this once I was done and telling me how the story was.

  My editor Emmy Hamilton, for working so hard on this.