by Lynn Stevens
After showing them where to go, I got back to the lobby in time to see Lily letting the delivery guy in. It was one of the guys we graduated with. His name was Todd or Tim. You’d think I’d remember, but I’d blocked out anyone who tortured me the last four years.
“Hey, Lily,” he said as he set the large fake tree with flowers down just inside the door. “How’s it going?”
“Great, Todd,” she said, glancing at me out of the corner of her eyes. A slight blush crept on her cheeks. I just raised my eyebrows.
“I’ve got three more of these in the truck.” He didn’t take his eyes off her.
But that didn’t matter. I glanced at my clipboard. “You should have six, not four.”
Todd’s gaze snapped to me and narrowed. “Slut.”
“In charge.” I raised my eyebrows. “You want your boss to know you called me that?”
“Todd,” Lily said, stepping in between us. Her voice dropped from flirty to furious. “That was uncalled for. Apologize.”
“No.” I stared at him. “I don’t want his apology, Lil. I just want the order to be right. Nobody’s going to screw up my sister’s wedding. Let me see your order form.”
Todd handed it over, but his disgust of me didn’t fade from his expression. I checked his clipboard against my receipts. His was wrong. Shaking my head, I pulled my phone out and called the store as a second person entered with another plant.
“Wedding Designs. This is Ashley. How may I help you?” a super perky voice answered.
“Hi, this is Miranda Reynolds. Your delivery drivers are here, but there’s a slight problem,” I said as sugary sweet as possible. “I’m looking at their manifest and comparing it to the receipt. We’re missing two items.”
“For the Reynolds Ford wedding?”
“Yes.” I kept my voice firm, despite feeling like an idiot since I didn’t say that.
“The order was for six fake banana trees with white lilies. Is that correct?” Ashley asked too happily.
“Yes, but Todd said there are only four plants on the truck,” I hitched up my voice, trying to sound like my father when he’s upset something isn’t quite right.
Todd and the other guy went back outside and came in with two more plants. I put my hand over the receiver, but Lily beat me to the punch. She pulled Todd out the door, mumbling about checking the truck.
“Oh dear, let me check with the dock. Do you mind holding for a moment?” Ashley didn’t wait for my answer before I heard terrible hold music that crackled in my ear.
Lily came in a moment later, shaking her head. Todd followed with the tulle. I waited while more was unloaded. This was bordering on a nightmare. The music switched from something unrecognizable to an electronic version of a classic 80s song I could only guess at. I knew the tune, but I wasn’t sure what the name was.
“Miss Reynolds?” Ashley asked. It was like she hoped I’d hung up after waiting forever.
“Still here.”
“I am so sorry to tell you this, but there was an error on our end.”
No shit.
“The order couldn’t be fulfilled. It appears that information wasn’t relayed to Mrs. Reynolds. We’ll be happy to refund the money—”
“Not good enough.” I wasn’t about to let their mistake ruin my sister’s wedding.
“I’m sorry?”
“What can you replace the other two trees with as well as refund the money?” I was definitely channeling Dad now.
“I don’t—”
“If you don’t know, put someone on the phone who does. It’s very simple, Ashley.” I puffed out my chest as if she could see me standing firm. “Your company accepted an order, failed to notify us that it couldn’t be fulfilled, failed to fulfill the order, and now your only answer is to refund the money for those items the day before the wedding. Now, I accept the refund, but you’re going to need to replace the two trees with something suitable. I’ll wait while you check your supplies.”
“P-p-please hold,” she sniffled.
I grinned in satisfaction and turned around only to see my father standing there with a firm expression.
“That was great,” he said before kissing my forehead and walking through the lobby to the theater.
If I hadn’t been on hold, I would’ve probably danced and screamed with joy. Lily bounced back inside, looking happier than she had a right to. Then again, Lily always looked happy. I shook my head and sat on the steps that led to the balcony. We’d have to cordon those off, so nobody tried to get a bird’s eye view of the wedding. I’d dusted up there, but I hadn’t cleaned. Everyone had to sit on the main level.
“Miss Reynolds?” Ashley said with way less perk.
“Still here,” I repeated.
“We can have two cherry blossom plants sent over. They’re a little taller than the banana plants, but they’re white so it will go with the colors.”
I grinned and didn’t hide my joy in my voice. “Thank you, Ashley. That will suffice. I need them today.”
“The owner said he would deliver them himself.” Her perk was back, and that was fine.
“Great. I’ll see him soon.” I hung up and did a little dance. Lily joined me.
“Why are we dancing?” she asked almost out of breath.
“For once, something went my way.” I hugged my best friend and laughed.
Things were looking great for a change, and I didn’t want that to end.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
I worked all morning getting the theater ready. Mom had to drag me away from my mani-pedi and hair appointments. Lily took over and texted me any questions she had. It was killing me not being there to make sure everything was perfect, but I had to trust Lily. And she was the one person outside of my family I did trust.
Dad had a cabin set aside for Carly to get ready, but the rest of us were at my house. Nena and Ivy chatted as if they’d never been apart. Chloe jumped in like she’d known them all her life too. That just left me as the odd man out. Story of my life.
I sat in the kitchen in my light coral dress. Each of us had a different shade of coral on, lightest being mine until darkest which was Nena. The men had ties dyed to match the dresses. It felt weird that I would walk the aisle with Tagg. Chloe should be the one doing that. They were great together. Luke stood behind Tagg, and he’d get Chloe’s arm. His leg was in a cast from foot to thigh, but he said he wasn’t missing Carly’s wedding. A wheelchair was positioned in the lobby off to the side.
“You okay?” Chloe asked as she sat beside me.
I stopped staring at my phone and flipped it over. “Yeah.”
“Bullshit.” Chloe turned my phone screen up. My home screen was a pic of me with Aiden. “He’s hot. Boyfriend?”
“He could’ve been. I kinda blew it.” The ache of not talking to him came back. I’d kept myself busy since he went home to Houston, so busy the only time I had to think of him and the mess I made was at night when I couldn’t fall asleep. So every night.
“Text him.” Chloe pointed to the phone. “Tell him how you feel. Or at least tell him you miss him. If he doesn’t respond, then you’ll know. If he does, well… hope.”
“I don’t think it’s that easy.” But I picked up my phone anyway.
“Nothing worth having is easy.” Chloe tucked a stray piece of my hair back into my updo. “Look at the shit Carly and Gracin put each other through. Look at me and Tagg. He was so in love with your sister for two years, even when it was clear she couldn’t love him the way she loves Gracin. Tagg held out hope until he graduated. He hid it well from Gracin, but I saw it. Once he was away from school for a while, it was easier for him to see things differently.” She smiled wickedly. “Thanksgiving last fall, that’s when we got drunk and hooked up. Best mistake of my life.”
“Mistake?” I gave her a funny look.
“At the time, I thought it was. He was in love with my best friend. And he was one of my best friends. How could I not see that as a mistake?” She
laughed and her eyes lit with delight. “Of course, thinking it was a mistake didn’t stop me from doing it again. And again. It took us a while to admit there was more going on than friends with amazing benefits.”
“Ew, I do not want to hear that about Tagg,” I said, but I laughed as I shuddered.
Chloe waggled her eyebrows. “You’re no innocent angel, Miranda.” She pointed to Aiden. “Was he worth the naked mambo?”
I shook my head. “We never. All we did was make out.”
“Good for you. Jumping into bed with a guy can be both a good and bad thing.” Chloe’s shock was both insulting and appreciated. My reputation proceeded me.
“No, it wasn’t like that. He wanted to take things slow, but he didn’t want to wait for me to … let Eddie go.” I set my phone down and dropped my head into my hand. “I’m an idiot. A great guy wants to treat me like a queen, and I shit on him because of some stupid obsession with a boy who never loved me. I thought I knew what love was, Chloe. I thought I loved Eddie, but I loved the idea of being with him. Aiden, I didn’t get a chance to find out. Not really.”
“Sometimes that’s the way life goes,” Chloe said. She pulled my hand away from my face and inspected my makeup. “And sometimes we circle back to the right guy. I almost didn’t hook up with Tagg after that first time. It was easier to ignore my feelings than to admit to them. I circled back. Maybe Aiden will circle back to you. Or maybe he was just meant to show you that there’s more to life than Eddie fucking Blake.”
“He really should make that his middle name,” I said with a half hearted smile.
“I thought it was.” Chloe hugged me, and I was so grateful Carly brought her into our lives.
“Do me a favor, when you marry Tagg, invite me,” I said once she let go.
Chloe cocked an eyebrow. “First, we’re not engaged. Second, I don’t know if he wants that. Third, you’re my little sister. When I get married, you’re going to be there.” She smiled and pulled me to my feet. “Let’s go. We have to watch the most sickening display of love ever to cross our paths.”
“They are kinda sickening at times,” I laughed and brushed down my dress.
“And totally perfect for each other.” Chloe straightened her hair and grinned. “They give me hope.”
That was true on so many levels. If Carly and Gracin can get their happily ever after, there was definitely hope for the rest of us.
The theater looked phenomenal. Lily did a great job following my directions with the real flowers after I had to leave for my appointments. The banana plants stood at each side of the entrances to the theater. White and silver tulle draped in even dips above the doors. The podium with the guest book took up the center of the lobby with live ferns on each side. The ushers, friends of Gracin’s from Nashville, handed each woman a single white rose before leading them to their seats.
When I walked down the side aisle, I took in every detail. The tulle hung from the balcony in waves of silver, and the blue flower bouquets I added at the last minute only brought out the silver more. The cherry blossoms on each side of the stage were the perfect balance to the banana plants in the lobby, and they added more elegance to the event. Tulle hung from the walls and along the seats, blocking off areas and inviting seating in others. Everything was magical. I was so proud of being a part of making it that way.
I stood on stage, staring toward the doors Carly would enter at any minute. I could only imagine what was going through her head. Gracin fidgeted nervously opposite me, and Luke just grinned like a proud brother. He wasn’t supposed to be on his feet yet, but he wasn’t going to let that stop him. Tagg stood close, making sure that Luke didn’t tip over. The guys wore white tuxes with ties that matched our dresses. It was surreal to see Gracin in all white. Tagg looked amazing, too. Chloe’s gaze kept glancing over to meet his. Yeah, they’d get married eventually.
Cami and Dylan stepped to the center with their guitars. They began to play “No Regrets”, the song Gracin wrote for Carly. He never recorded it or tried to sell it.
Dad stepped out with Carly, and the entire world stopped for my sister. Her dress was totally her. Smooth satin with a deep V in the front and thin satin straps. It was eloquent in its simplicity, and it was perfect. Her hair was half pinned up in a blue and silver comb, and the other half of her blonde locks drifted down her shoulders. Carly didn’t wear a veil. She said she wanted to see everything with open eyes.
Cami began to sing, and Carly began to cry. I did, too. When I glanced at Gracin, tears streamed down his cheeks as he smiled at my sister. Dad’s eyes were also damp. I had a feeling if I looked around, there would be more people crying. Before the preacher could ask who gave the bride away, Carly dropped Dad’s arm and threw her arms around her soon-to-be husband. Dad laughed and shrugged, which brought a range of laughter from the crowd. Carly stepped back, grinning like a woman in love and extraordinarily happy. I never loved my sister more than in that moment. Knowing she was going to spend her life with someone she loved that much, and who loved her back just as deeply, made everything in my world seem insignificant and hopeful.
The ceremony wasn’t long, but it was perfect. After they each said their tearful I-do’s, Cami and Dylan played them off with the same song. I looped my arm with Tagg’s, and we followed them.
“Ask her,” I said halfway down the aisle.
“What?” His arm tightened against mine.
“You love her. She loves you.” We stopped in the lobby by the podium. “Ask her. Don’t waste any more time.”
Tagg smiled and pulled a box out of his pocket, then slipped it back in before anyone else could see. He raised his eyebrows and then put a finger to his lips. I almost started laughing.
I knew Chloe would say yes. And I knew they would be happy.
Just like I knew one day I would be too.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Tagg didn’t ask Chloe until the day after the wedding. She came over to the house to show us her ring. Gracin and Carly showed up after noon for lunch, drunk on happiness. They were leaving for Nashville early the next day.
I just listened to their joy. It was infectious. I wanted to feel that way too. Maybe I would. Some day.
“Miranda, how did you pull that off?” Carly asked, snuggling next to Gracin. He pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head.
“What do you mean? You guys had everything planned, I just moved it to a different location.” I shrugged as Mom put a plate of freshly grilled chicken on the table. My stomach growled, but I didn’t want to be the first to dig in.
“Don’t sell yourself short, honey,” Mom said. She took her tongs and put a piece on my plate. “That took a lot of work.”
“Yeah, finding the place was a miracle.” Gracin shifted, pushing Carly off him gently. She didn’t seem to mind. “You saved our wedding.”
My cheeks burned. It wasn’t that big of a deal.
“You made sure the place was spotless,” Chloe added, tapping the table with her newly ringed finger. “You called your friends.”
“And people you don’t even consider friends,” Tagg pointed out. He popped an almond in his mouth.
“You called the florist when the order wasn’t right.” Dad leaned back in his seat with a grin. “You should have heard her. She got the cherry blossoms for the stage at no cost. It was pretty brilliant.”
“Really?” I asked. Dad had never used that word to describe me. He nodded.
“I saw the clipboard. You had everything rearranged and planned to the minute,” Carly said. She reached across the table, stole my chicken and winked. “That was the best piece.”
“Don’t do that. Winking is creepy.” I smiled anyway. Carly always said that. It was totally valid.
“I know.” She laughed and turned to Gracin who winked at her. That only made her laugh harder.
“You should go into event planning,” Tagg said before popping another almond.
“Yeah, I’d hire you but we’re eloping.�
� Chloe scooped a huge helping of potato salad.
“We are?” Tagg raised his eyebrows.
“You want a big wedding?” Chloe’s eyebrows furrowed as she looked at Tagg. “I always wanted to get married on the beach.”
“A beach would be nice.” Tagg leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “We’ll figure it out.”
“Together.” Chloe touched his jaw.
“Always.” Tagg leaned in to kiss her but Carly fake gagged.
“Seriously. And you guys made fun of us when we got engaged.” Carly pointed at each of them, and Gracin laughed.
My mind was going a million different directions at once. I had fun organizing everything at the last minute. It didn’t feel like work. I did it for my sister most of all, but I enjoyed it.
Dad tapped my arm and I turned toward him.
“Miranda, you really did a great job.” He glanced at his plate and pressed his lips together. “I have an idea, but I’m not sure if you’ll be interested or if she can help.”
“What’re you talking about?”
“My cousin Gillian in Seattle. She’s an event manager at a hotel.” He smiled and tapped the table. “Maybe she could use an intern for a few months.”
“An intern?”
“I can call her.” He raised his eyebrows.
Seattle? I’d never been there. It could be an adventure. And I needed a change. Getting out of Branson, that was exactly what I needed to do.
“Okay. Call her, Dad. I’m ready.”
Two weeks after the wedding, my plane landed in Seattle. I’d never flown alone before. Hell, I’d never even met Gillian, but she was cool with me coming to stay and work with her. I had no idea how to find her. After getting my luggage, I headed toward the exit. That’s when I saw the sign. It was huge pink poster board with my name spelled in white flashing lights.
The woman holding the sign was almost six feet tall with straight brunette hair hanging down her back. I wanted to emulate her style immediately. Her white crisp shirt fitted her perfectly with no bulging, and her sleet black slacks were tailored to her tall frame. I even wanted her black patent leather heels.