by Cindy Bell
“Celeste, this is ridiculous,” Anne said. She was clearly exasperated. Wendy braced herself as she was sure all of Anne's pent up frustration would explode.
“Excuse me?” Celeste snapped. “Are you speaking to me in that tone?”
Anne stared at her with hatred in her eyes. It was surprising to see, considering that Anne had been so accepting and calm previously. Wendy assumed she had finally had enough.
“Rowan, aren't you going to do anything about your mother?” Anne asked as she looked at him. Rowan stared between the two women with a grimace of fear.
“Well, I don't know, Anne,” he stammered. “Beverly did do a good job on the flowers for Suzette and Chris' wedding.”
“Are you serious?” Anne spat out.
“Calm down, Anne, you're making a scene,” Celeste offered a fake laugh and cleared her throat.
“That's it!” Anne suddenly shouted. “I don't care about the flowers, or the dress, or the cake! I don't care about any of this. I'm not sure if I can marry a man who can't stand up to his own mother!” she spat out her final words in Rowan's direction.
“Anne, wait!” Rowan said desperately and started to go after her. Anne charged off through the door of the banquet hall. Celeste grabbed her son by the arm and pulled him back.
“Let her go, boy,” she mumbled. “She's just having one of those pre-wedding meltdowns, she'll be fine once she has her little tantrum.”
“Tantrum?” Rowan snapped and shook her grasp off his arm. “You know what, Mother, you are a horrible person. I am not going to lose my wife because you can't mind your own business!”
With that he stalked off after Anne. Wendy cringed. Celeste grasped at her scarf and fiddled with it nervously.
“Well, I guess tantrums aren't reserved only for brides, grooms can have them, too,” she muttered and shook her head. “I'm sorry you two had to witness such an ugly scene. But you heard Anne, she doesn't care about the flowers. So, Beverly will be handling them. Really, Lisa, you're the one that caused this entire fight. If you had just taken my direction and admitted that you were in over your head, then no one would have needed to get upset.”
She shook her head and walked out of the banquet hall. Lisa was left staring after her, slack-jawed with tears of confusion in her eyes.
“Lisa, I'm so sorry,” Wendy said with a frown. “Please don't worry, I'll talk to Anne about the job and make sure she stays with you.”
“Don't bother,” Lisa shook her head and snatched up the flowers she had left on the table. “You couldn't pay me enough to be in the same room with that woman again.”
She stalked off. Wendy was left alone in the banquet hall. She felt as if she had just been hit by a truck. Not only was she going to have to deal with an entirely new florist, the wedding itself seemed to be in jeopardy. Wendy knew that she was going to have to work some of her magic if the wedding was going to go ahead as planned.
***
By the time Wendy left the hotel her nerves were on edge. She felt as if she was losing control of the wedding, and that disaster was inevitable. She needed a chance to clear her mind. She drove back to her condo and parked. As she was stepping out of her car her phone began to ring. When she saw that it was Brian calling she answered it right away.
“Hi beautiful, how is your day going?” Brian asked in his charming but slightly gruff tone.
“You will not believe the day I've had,” Wendy nearly exploded into the phone. “I'm sorry,” she said quickly as she realized how harsh she sounded. “I just have never had this much difficulty with a wedding before.”
“Is your client giving you a hard time?” he asked with sympathy.
“It's not even her,” Wendy sighed. “It's the groom's mother. She's driving me up the wall. She's the most spoiled, self-centered, judgmental, cruel person I have ever met,” she huffed as she took off her shoes. She hung them lightly from one hand and held her phone with the other. She needed to feel the sand beneath her feet to calm herself down a little.
“I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time,” Brian said. “I was going to see if you'd like to go to dinner, but I'm guessing that's not the best idea?”
“Honestly, I have to figure out a way to get this entire family on the same page or this wedding is going to fall apart,” Wendy sighed. “I would love to go to dinner with you, but I won't be able to relax and enjoy our time together if I'm worried about the wedding.”
“I understand,” Brian replied. “Try not to let it get to you too much, Wendy. You do an amazing job, but you can't expect every wedding to be perfect.”
“You're right,” Wendy said softly. But as she caught sight of the waves crashing against the sand, and as the laughter of people enjoying the beach carried through the breeze, she knew she was lying. She did expect every wedding to be perfect. In her mind it should be the one perfect day in everyone's life. She was certain that with a little bit of togetherness she could make it happen. After she said goodbye to Brian she took a few minutes to observe the rush and retreat of the waves. Then she headed inside to set her plan into action.
Chapter Three
Anne had decided to have a rehearsal lunch, even though a dinner was more traditional, as she wanted to be fresh on her wedding day. The rehearsal lunch was two days away and Wendy knew that everyone's schedules would be tight, but she hoped her emergency invites would gather all of the family members together. First she called the caterer to see if she could add a dinner the next night. Then she called Anne.
“Hello?” Anne said tearfully.
“Anne, are you okay?” Wendy asked swiftly.
“I don't know,” Anne replied honestly. “I can't believe this is happening.”
“Just take a deep breath, Anne, don't make any big decisions while you’re upset,” Wendy advised. “I've just heard from the caterer who would like to host a dinner for just the family members before the rehearsal lunch. Do you think you would be up for that tomorrow night?”
“A dinner before the lunch?” Anne hesitated. “I don't know, Wendy, everyone is pretty upset.”
“Trust me, Anne,” Wendy said gently. “Sometimes the best way to deal with our problems is just to air them out.”
“I know that Rowan and I can be there,” Anne said. “We talked about what happened today, and things are thin but better than they were. I can't promise the same for Celeste though, neither of us have heard a word from her.”
“What about your father?” Wendy suggested. “Would he be able to be there?”
“I think so,” Anne answered. “I will check with him.”
“Thanks, Anne,” Wendy said appreciatively. “Try not to worry too much, okay?”
“I'll try,” Anne replied shakily. After Wendy hung up the phone with Anne she dialed Celeste's number. Wendy fully expected to have to leave a message, but Celeste answered on the second ring.
“Well, if it isn't Wendy the Wedding Wrecker,” Celeste said in a nasty tone. “What can I do for you?”
Wendy narrowed her eyes but kept her voice friendly. “Celeste, I'm calling to invite you to a special dinner that the caterer would like to host for just the family tomorrow night. Do you think you could make it?”
“What's the point?” Celeste asked. “We both know that this wedding isn't going to happen.”
“That's where you’re wrong, Celeste,” Wendy said as calmly as she could. “I know that this wedding is going to happen, whether you are part of it or not. Can you really say that you would rather miss out on your son's wedding than come to a simple dinner?”
“What time?” Celeste asked. “I can't promise anything, but I'll think about it.”
Wendy gave her the details of the dinner and then hung up. Part of her wished that Celeste would not bother to show up, but she knew better. Celeste needed to be in control, no matter what. Wendy finished making the calls to the groom's brother and his wife. Once she had everything arranged she settled down at her desk and began making a plan of action.
She knew that whatever happened, everything would have to go off without a hitch at this dinner, or Celeste might be proven right, there might not be any wedding to plan.
***
When Wendy arrived at the banquet hall the following evening, she found that the caterer had put together exactly what she had requested. With a little bit of research Wendy had been able to find out some of the family member's favorite drinks and foods so that the meal could set a jovial mood. However, this did nothing to melt the icy glares that Celeste and most of her family, as well as Anne, were exchanging as they arrived.
The one bright spot was Arnold Max, who was Anne's elderly father. Anne had been a late in life baby for her mother who had passed when she was in her teens. He was sweet, and flirting with the waitress as well as teasing his daughter about her future as a wife and mother. He seemed oblivious to the anger that was circulating through everyone in attendance.
“Thank you all for coming,” Wendy said as she welcomed them. “I know this was last minute, so it means a lot that you were able to come. Now, I know there are some kinks to work out in the wedding plans, but tonight is not about the wedding. Tonight is about two families joining together. It's a chance to get to know each other a little better, share some delicious food and wine, and relax.”
Celeste rolled her eyes as Wendy expected, but everyone else seemed to be warmed by her speech. Still, the tension was thick in the room as everyone sat down at the table. There was not even a whisper of greeting amidst the group. Wendy felt her stomach twist. It wasn't often that she had to fight against such a cold family, but she knew that she could fix things with the right effort. She gestured to the waitress who brought over what Wendy knew to be Celeste's favorite wine. It had cost her quite a penny, but she hoped that it would help the woman to relax a little and be a little kinder.
“What's this? Wine?” Celeste asked instantly as the wine was poured. “Well, how very insensitive of you, Wendy,” she growled.
Wendy had just sat down at the table. She lifted her eyes to meet Celeste's, absolutely stunned by her words and her demeanor.
“I thought you would like it,” she managed to get out.
“Sure, it's my favorite,” Celeste said knowingly. “But Suzette is an alcoholic, out of respect for her, we shouldn't have wine at the table.”
“What?” Suzette cried out with fury. “Celeste, I am not an alcoholic!”
“Oh, sweetheart, being in denial doesn't make it any less true,” Celeste said and rolled her eyes. “We are all just trying to help you.”
“Chris?” Suzette said as she looked over at her husband. “Do you hear what your mother is saying to me?”
“I do,” he mumbled and glanced over at Celeste. “Mom, give it a rest, will you?”
“Enabling,” Celeste sung out and took a big swallow of her wine. Suzette followed suit by downing half of her glass. Wendy was still reeling from the interaction.
Anne made a small noise of disapproval in her throat and turned in her chair so that she was only engaged with her father. Rowan and Chris were both scowling at their mother, and Suzette seemed to be in a race to polish off the first bottle of wine.
As the sniping and arguing continued to escalate, Wendy decided she needed to alert the security staff that there might be some problems.
“Excuse me for a few moments,” Wendy said as she pushed her chair back from the table. No one seemed to notice as they squabbled amongst each other. Wendy grimaced and hurried out of the banquet hall.
The security office was near the lobby, set back from the main hallway. Wendy knocked lightly on the door and then opened it. She was greeted by a bank of monitors, as well as a burly man sitting behind a semi-circle desk. “Sorry to bother you,” Wendy said as the man turned to look at her.
“No problem,” he replied with a kind smile. He nodded his head towards the camera that was recording the banquet room. “Looks like things are getting a little iffy in there.”
“Yes, that's why I'm here,” Wendy explained. “I just wanted to let you know we might be needing some security guards in the banquet room if things keep getting worse.”
“Family,” the man shrugged with a short laugh. “It always brings out the best and the worst in us.”
“I guess so,” Wendy frowned and shook her head. “I'm going to try to cool everyone off, but I just thought I'd give you a heads up. I didn't realize that there was a camera in the banquet room.”
“Oh yes, we recently upgraded the system,” the man explained. “We've got cameras in every hallway, and every public area. Obviously not in the guest rooms,” he explained. “But no one can really get anywhere in this place without being recorded.”
“Good to know,” Wendy frowned. She didn't actually like the idea of being constantly recorded, but she could understand the hotel's need for the precaution.
“If you need anything, just let me know,” the man said and offered his hand. “My name is Marcus, I'm the security expert around here.”
“Thank you, Marcus,” Wendy said as she shook his hand in return. “It's good to know that I'm not the only one keeping an eye on the situation.”
“I'm watching over you,” he assured her with a warm smile.
Wendy made her way slowly back towards the banquet hall. She was fairly certain she would have to pull people apart when she stepped through the door. She opened the door and stepped inside to the sound of a roar. But the roar had nothing to do with anger, and everything to do with laughter. Stunned, Wendy looked over the people at the table. Everyone was laughing, even Celeste.
“And that's how I finally got that pig to stay in the pen, whether she liked it or not,” Arnold chuckled and winked at Wendy. Wendy winked back, even though she didn't know what the story was about. Whatever it was had broken the tension at the table, and for that she was very grateful. As she sat back down at the table, Arnold eased himself up out of his chair. He leaned on the table for a moment, and then straightened up so that he could speak clearly.
“I have something for my little girl, and her future husband,” he explained. “I would like to present to you something that has been passed down through our family for generations,” her father said with a fragile smile. “I know your mother would have wanted to be the one to give it to you, as she was the one who received it from my mother, but unfortunately she can't do that,” he frowned. Anne dabbed at her eyes with her napkin. “So, your old man will just have to stumble his way through it,” he muttered. “After the vows are said, after the ceremony is over, we have the celebration. Cutting into the cake for the first time, is like opening up that celebration of the rest of your life. This cake-cutting knife,” he held the box out to Anne, “has been part of our celebrations for so many years. It is filled with the love and hopes of many couples, and now it belongs to you and your soon-to-be husband,” he smiled warmly at Rowan.
Anne opened the box and pulled out an antique silver cake-cutting knife. It glinted in the lights over the table. It had intricate swirls engraved on it.
“Oh, Dad, it's beautiful,” Anne said happily as she looked up at him. “Thank you so much.”
“Yes, thank you,” Rowan said with a kind smile. “It will be something very special that we can pass down in our own family. I look forward to it being part of our tradition,” he added.
“I'm glad, Rowan,” Arnold smiled in return. “I know that Anne's mother would have been very proud of the woman she's become, and the man she is about to marry.”
With the warmth at the table growing, Wendy began to relax. She felt as if a crisis had been avoided, but not because of her actions. Arnold was the one that should have all of the credit. Just as she was raising her glass of wine in a toast to Arnold's words however, Celeste began to speak.
“Yes, that is a lovely gesture, Arnold,” she said with a slight frown. “But I'm afraid I've already ordered a set to be used at the wedding.”
Wendy locked eyes with Celeste. She had talked to Anne about ord
ering a set but Anne knew about the knife, and had hoped that her father would be passing it down to her, and so she had refused to order anything.
“That's very kind of you, Celeste, but this one has sentimental value, I'm sure you understand,” Anne said cautiously.
Wendy could tell that Anne, like her, was worried about everything blowing up into an argument once more. In fact everyone at the table seemed to be bracing themselves for Celeste's reaction to Anne's words. Celeste picked up her napkin and lightly dabbed at her lips, which did not have a crumb on them.
“Of course I understand, my dear,” Celeste said softly, then set her napkin down. “All families have traditions,” she added and reached out to lightly pat the back of Anne's hand. “I would never dream of interfering with that.”
“Thank you,” Anne said with relief. As their glasses of wine were refilled, the laid-back energy of a few moments before returned to the table. Even Celeste seemed to be having a great time. As the dinner wound down and the waitress began collecting the dishes, Wendy was beginning to get excited for the wedding again. If they could just get through one more day without any huge disaster then everything would be fine. As everyone was leaving the hotel, Wendy was careful not to let Celeste and Anne be alone together. She had a feeling that Celeste wasn't as understanding as she was pretending to be. She didn't want any blow-up to occur.
“Goodnight, Anne,” Celeste said and kissed her cheek. “I look forward to the rehearsal lunch tomorrow. I'm sure that you'll love the arrangements that Beverly made.”
“Beverly?” Anne asked with surprise. “But Lisa was the one providing the flowers,” Anne frowned.
“Well dear, you said you didn't care,” Celeste reminded her. “Remember, when you were throwing your little fit?”
“Good night, Celeste,” Wendy interrupted quickly before things could escalate. “I think Anne needs her rest, don't you?”
“Hmph,” Celeste shrugged and walked away. Once she was out of earshot Anne turned to Wendy.
“I'm so sorry, I didn't know that she had actually brought Beverly in, I could just…”