Mostly I remember feeling so happy that she had this moment—that we all had this moment together. The love between Josh and Ginny was clear to everyone on that patio, and I noticed several people brushing aside tears. I looked out and found my mom in the crowd, sitting next to Ginny’s parents. My mom smiled at me and I was shocked to see Ginny’s mother crying. I hoped she’d allow some of that emotion to show when Ginny was around.
The ceremony seemed to fly by. Before I realized what was happening, the officiant was pronouncing Josh and Ginny man and wife and they were kissing, holding each other tight. A cheer went up from the audience and, next to me, Annie was whistling. Danny shifted in my arms, waking, and I patted his back, whispering to him. “Your mommy and daddy are married now,” I said. “And the three of you are going to be so happy.”
Ginny turned to us, her smile radiant, and Annie and I blew her kisses. Then Josh was leading her back down the aisle and the ceremony was over.
“I need to go check on the food,” I said to Annie, and she held out her arms for Danny.
“Good luck,” she said as I dashed through a side door to the kitchen.
I peeked into the ovens and was happy to see that everything looked pretty good. I could hear the guests drifting back into the main room outside the kitchen doors, the staff members Kiki had sent over bringing in the chairs to be used for dinner. I crossed my fingers that the party would go as smoothly as the ceremony. The sound of Ella Fitzgerald’s voice began softly over the speakers and I could hear people requesting drinks from the bartender directly outside of the kitchen.
When I was satisfied that the food was coming along, I slipped back into the main room. People were milling about with their drinks, talking and laughing. Over in the corner, Ginny and Josh were standing in front of a long line of well-wishers as the photographer wandered around taking pictures.
“It’s perfect,” Annie said, coming up next to me.
I turned to her, smiling. “I can hardly believe we got it done.” I noticed her arms were empty. “Where’s Danny?”
She pointed toward Beth, who was holding Danny’s hand and letting him toddle around the room. “Ginny asked her to be babysitter for the evening,” Annie said, and I nodded. “Seriously, though, Jen,” Annie continued. “You did a wonderful job. It looks perfect in here.”
“Thank you,” I told her. It was quiet between us for a moment. “Thank you for forgiving me, Annie,” I said, my voice quiet.
She merely reached over and took my hand.
“What made you?” I asked. She looked at me. “Forgive me,” I clarified. “What made you forgive me?”
She didn’t speak for a moment. “I thought of another way this whole mess could have been avoided,” she said finally. I raised my eyebrows at her. “I could have asked you, months ago, when Kiki’s wedding was.” She turned and faced me fully. “It was the biggest professional event of your life. We should have been more supportive of you. I watched you killing yourself for that job and all I could do was complain about it. I should have asked you about it, helped you more. If I would have just talked to you, we would have figured this out ages ago.”
I had no response for this. Across the room, I watched my mom and Lou greeting Ginny.
“Did you tell her about all of this?” Annie asked me, obviously watching my mother too. I shook my head. I had let my mom know we needed to change the venue, but I left the reasons vague. “Good thinking.”
“She would be really pissed if she knew I was skipping the rehearsal dinner,” I said. “That would disappoint her much more than the fact that I screwed up Ginny’s whole wedding.”
“Your mom had a hard time,” Annie said slowly. “I know that. And that’s given her a screwed-up view about work. You don’t have to be like that, Jen.”
“I know,” I whispered, even though I still felt my stomach clench slightly at the thought of her disappointment. I figured it would be a long time before that went away.
“Ginny and I are so proud of you,” Annie said, putting her arm around my waist. “Really, really proud. The only thing that would make me prouder is if you would give yourself a break once in a while.”
I squeezed her back. “I’m working on it.”
“Girls!” Ginny called from across the room, waving at us. “Let’s go outside and get some pictures!”
I gave Annie one last squeeze and we headed over to the bride.
Chapter Twenty-eight
It was a great party. The food, to my immense relief, was a big hit. Even my mother could find nothing disparaging to say about it. After the plates had been cleared (I said a silent prayer of thanks for Kiki when I saw the massive piles of dishes in the kitchen), Annie cranked the volume on the sound system and switched it over to more upbeat music. I went to the bar for provisions, then met Annie and Ginny on the dance floor.
“I come bearing pinot,” I announced, handing them each a glass of white.
“Cheers, girls!” Annie cried, and the three of us clinked our glasses as we got busy dancing.
We had a fantastic time. The dance floor was full and Annie had carefully picked music to keep everyone dancing. Danny loved the music. Beth brought him out to the floor where he demanded to be picked up. We took turns passing him around, bouncing him in our arms and spinning him around. He was in heaven.
During one of the slow songs Annie had scattered in the playlist, I picked Danny up and swayed with him gently. He laughed and tried to pull on my earrings. Across the floor, I saw Ginny and Josh wrapped in each other, barely moving, clearly oblivious to everyone around them. Behind them, Annie had her arms wrapped around some guy I’d never seen before—a friend of Josh’s probably. I smiled down at Danny. “Your auntie Annie is a shameless hussy,” I told him.
“Could I have the next dance?” a voice behind me asked.
I spun around to face Matt. I gasped involuntarily. “What are you doing here?” I asked, shocked.
Matt smiled. “The rehearsal was done so I figured I’d come see the fruits of all our hard work.”
“What about the dinner?” I demanded. After the rehearsal, the wedding party, along with Kiki and Eric’s families, were supposed to have a sit down dinner at the Barker’s house.
Matt shrugged. “I’ll be spending plenty of time with them tomorrow,” he said. “Besides, Kiki and Eric are sneaking out early, too. They want to stop by.”
“Can I take him, Jen?” Ginny asked, appearing at my elbow and holding out her arms for Danny. “Nice to see you again, Matt. Thanks again for all your help. This is perfect.”
“Congratulations,” Matt said, smiling at her.
Ginny took Danny from me. She raised her eyebrows at me slightly, smiling, then she was gone, leaving me alone with Matt.
“So,” he said, holding out his arms. “How about that dance?”
I stepped into his arms, still feeling shaken that he was here. I’d been dancing for an hour and I was sure I was looking sweaty and disheveled. “I can’t believe you’re here,” I blurted out.
“To be honest, I wasn’t that concerned with how the wedding turned out,” Matt said, looking down at me. “I knew it would be perfect. The truth is, I wanted to talk to you.”
Something about his tone caused my heart to speed up. “About what?” I asked, my voice shaking on the last syllable.
“I was talking to Kiki after the rehearsal,” he said. “And she asked me why on earth I hadn’t made a move on you yet.” I blinked in surprise but he continued before I could respond. “You see, it’s been pretty obvious to just about everyone that I’m head over heels for you, Jen Campbell.”
I felt my stomach flip. Could he actually be saying what I thought he was?
“So I explained to her that Jason and I had a nice chat that night in New York. He saw me leaving your room and told me to back off.”
“He did what?”
Matt nodded. “He told me you were his girlfriend.”
My mouth dropped open and I spu
ttered for words. I’m sure I looked very attractive, but Matt just smiled at me. “But…that was a lie!” I cried. “How dare—”
“I know,” Matt said, placing his thumb gently on my lips. “Kiki told me tonight. She said you weren’t dating him.”
I shook my head. “I did see him,” I said quickly, feeling ashamed. “A few times. But not until after New York. After you…” I trailed off.
“After I was such an ass?” he finished for me. “Sorry about that. But put yourself in my shoes. I had just had the most amazing night with the most beautiful girl I’d ever known. And I let myself think that maybe she felt the same way about me. But then I ran into that little weasel and he told me, ‘Nope, sorry, loser, she prefers me.’”
“What you must have thought about me,” I said, shaking my head.
He shrugged. “I tried to convince myself you were shallow and obsessed with getting ahead and I didn’t want to be around someone like that anyhow. I’d been down that road before, you know.” He shifted a little, uncomfortable. “That’s why I was always a little…standoffish when we first met. After Emily, I promised myself I wouldn’t ever put myself in that position again.”
I flushed. It was just what I had always imagined he thought about me…but then he tightened his arms around my back. “The problem was, I couldn’t get you out of my head. And the more time I spent with you the harder it was to convince myself you were that kind of girl. I felt like I knew you, Jen.”
It was getting hard to breathe.
“Finally,” he said, his voice low, “I decided I couldn’t stay away. I kept hoping that maybe if we spent time together, you might realize that I was better for you then that jerk. This last week has been torture for me. Being so close to you but not being able to tell you…”
“Tell me what?” I whispered.
“That I love you,” Matt said simply.
I stared at him in amazement. Could he really, possibly love me?
“You have to say something, Jen,” he finally said, his voice pained. “If you don’t feel the same, that’s fine. We can be friends. But I need to know—“
Before he could say another word I grabbed his face, pressing my lips to his, kissing him hard.
It was every bit as good as our first kiss—better even, because I felt free. I didn’t have to worry about work, or being professional, or what anyone thought about me. Matt loved me!
He pulled me tighter, kissing me back, pressing his lips against mine so firmly I could barely breathe. Suddenly, I had to pull away—my smile was just too big. Matt looked down at me, a somewhat dazed look on his face, and I started laughing.
“What?” he asked, smiling in a confused sort of way.
“I’m so happy!” I cried, kissing the corner of his mouth. “I can’t believe anyone could feel like this!”
He laughed, kissing my forehead, my cheeks. “Does that mean you feel the same way?”
“Like, totally, Matty, oh my God,” I said, doing my best Kiki.
“Stop that!” he demanded, pulling me closer and resting his forehead against mine. “Tell me, for real.”
“Fine,” I said, meeting his gaze. “I love you, Matt.” I was surprised to find a lump forming in my throat.
“No more tears,” Matt said, kissing me softly. “We’re going to be happy, Jen. Both of us, happier than we’ve ever been.”
He kissed me again, harder this time, and I let myself go, melting into it, loving the feel of his arms around me, his body pressed against me. Seriously, Matt was ridiculously hot—and an amazing kisser.
“Oh my God!” squealed a familiar voice. I started to pull away but Matt groaned. “No,” he said against my mouth. “Come back.”
I laughed, kissed him lightly, and pulled back to see Kiki and Eric hurrying toward us. “It’s about time, you guys!” she cried, pointing at us.
I smiled at her. “Hey, Kiki.”
“I told you,” she said, throwing her arms around me. “Remember? That first day you guys met I said he would be perfect for you. And I was, like, totally right!”
“Yes,” I said, smiling. “You were right.”
Kiki clapped her hands together. “This is so amazing!” she cried. “Now the four of us can hang out all the time! Oh, my God, we’re going to have so much fun together!”
Over her head, I saw Annie and Ginny, standing together, looking at me. I grinned at them, feeling the most amazing feeling of joy rushing up through me. I grabbed Matt’s hand and smiled at Kiki.
“Come on,” I told them, starting to pull Matt over to where the girls were standing. “Let’s go dance!”
Chapter Twenty-nine
“Holy shit,” Annie said, staring around the tent with wide eyes. “This is a serious wedding.”
I covered Danny’s ears. “Don’t swear in front of the baby,” I told her. “Or I’ll make you give me a dollar.”
“And you did all of this,” Ginny said, ignoring me.
I nodded happily, bouncing Danny on my hip. “I did.”
“Girls, girls!” Kiki cried, rushing toward us. “I’m so glad you could come!” She hugged Annie and Ginny, then Josh for good measure.
“This is gorgeous,” Ginny said fervently, Annie nodding behind her.
“It’s all Jen,” Kiki said, throwing her arm around my shoulder. “Totally her vision. If I had been left on my own it would have been completely tacky.”
“That’s not true,” I argued. “Look at all the work you did for Ginny’s wedding. You have a great eye for this stuff, Kik.”
Kiki looked thrilled at my compliment. “That’s so sweet!” She turned back to the girls and Josh. “Last night was so much fun,” she gushed. “I hope my party is half as good.”
Kiki and Eric had stayed with us until the end of the wedding the night before, even going so far as to help load wedding gifts into Josh’s car. Kiki had insisted that the girls, Josh, and Danny join us for her wedding, saying that she wanted them to see all the hard work I had put in. Since Ginny and Josh weren’t leaving for their honeymoon until the following morning, they readily agreed. I was glad the girls had come; I was proud of this wedding, and I wanted them to share it with me. Plus, it gave me a warm feeling to see how well they got along with Kiki—even Annie admitted she was much cooler than she seemed at first glance, and that “her enthusiasm kind of grows on you.”
“Kiki, dinner’s going to start in twenty minutes,” I told her, looking down at my watch. “Cocktail hour service ends in ten. You better go grab some food if you want to catch it before it’s over.” I’d been with Kiki since eight o’clock that morning and I had been trying in vain to get her to eat all day. Her lack of appetite wasn’t from nerves—rather, she was so excited about the wedding that she literally couldn’t sit still long enough for more than a bite or two.
“Oh, I do want to try all this yummy food,” she said, looking around. “Here’s Eric, he’ll go with me.” She scurried off, promising she would see us after dinner.
“I think we’ll go grab some more food too,” Ginny said, taking Danny from my arms. “That seafood station was amazing.”
“Yeah, I can’t even imagine what dinner will be like if the cocktail hour is this good,” Annie said, taking another look around the tent before following Josh and Ginny out onto the grounds where the rest of the guests were milling about, enjoying the cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and appetizer stations I had so painstakingly planned.
Alone now, I looked around the tent, where dinner would soon be taking place. I felt restless, like I should be working. But there was nothing to do. The tent was perfect.
I had taken the enchanted garden theme of Kiki’s engagement party and raised it up a notch. Live birch saplings were scattered around the space, each dripping with twinkle lights and hanging crystals. We had designed the lighting to consist mainly of light purples and rosy pinks, which reflected in the crystals and made the entire room feel like it was pulsing with a warm glow.
Garlands of pink
tea roses and yellow lilies were draped along tables and around the support columns. At the center of each table was a distressed silver urn filled with a riot of roses and wildflowers. Tall birch branches stretched up from each bouquet, dripping with even more crystals.
Forget the enchanted garden—I had built an entire forest, perfect for Kiki the fairy queen.
“What are you thinking right now?” said a voice in my ear. I felt Matt’s arms come around me, and I smiled.
“Honestly?” I asked, turning a little in his arms so I could look up at his face. “I’m thinking in five hours this will all be over and I can go to sleep.”
Matt chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest. “Just think,” he said. “A whole week of freedom.”
I snorted. “Yeah, right. I may have a week off, but I’m gonna be watching Danny, remember?”
“I’ll help you,” he murmured, kissing the back of my neck. I shivered a little.
“I have work to do,” I told him, my voice weak.
“No you don’t,” he said softly. “Everything is perfect. Everything is done. The bride and groom are thrilled. Their parents think you’re the greatest thing that ever happened to them. You can relax for minute.”
I decided to listen to him. I needed more relaxation in my life. I turned fully, wrapping my arms around his neck.
“You look great in a tux,” I told him.
Matt rolled his eyes. “I hate these things,” he muttered.
“Well, then, it’s a good thing you also look great in jeans and a t-shirt.”
Matt kissed me softly. “Did you eat?” he asked. I shook my head. “Eat at dinner, okay? You need to take better care of yourself.”
“I will,” I promised. Then I sighed. “Speaking of which, I really do need to check in with the caterers; dinner will be starting soon.”
Matt sighed, but released me. “Five more hours?”
“Five more hours,” I agreed.
Three Girls And A Wedding Page 20