Page 58 of It Happened Duo
After a few more kisses, I called out. “Okay everyone, you can come in now.”
Through the curtains, our families emerged upon us, hugging and congratulating.
My mother, who adored Chelsea, was the first to come up to us. “Oh, Rex, that was so beautiful.” What a touching moment of Mom gazing upon me lovingly. But it only lasted a second. “Now, Chelsea, next week, I have an appointment set up for lunch with the city’s top wedding planner. The ceremony will be at the Fifth Avenue Church, of course. And I’ve already checked on dates at the Plaza Hotel for the reception. How do you feel about a Christmas wedding? I know it only gives us about ten months to plan but?—”
“Mom,” I warned. Chelsea had the deer in the headlights look, so I interrupted. “Do you think you can let my future bride and I just enjoy the day today? Save the planning fest for next week.”
“Oh, you’re right. I’m just so excited. We’re finally going to have a Buchanan wedding. And it’s going to be perfect, mark my words.” Miriam hugged us and moved on to talk to the rest of the family.
“Um. What did you just get me into?” Chelsea buried her face in my lapel.
“Don’t worry, sweetness. We’ll get through this together. You’ll see. I love you, you love me, and that’s all that’ll ever matter.”
30
MONEY, MIRIAM, AND MANIPULATIONS
CHELSEA
To most brides,this might be their dream—a blank check. I stared down at it in my hands, signed and written on the account of Miriam Buchanan-Astor.
“Whatever it takes, no matter the cost, we’ll plan the fanciest wedding New York City haseverseen,” Miriam said, and took a delicate bite of a petite cucumber sandwich. As far as future mother-in-laws were concerned, I imagined there might be worse.
I gaped up at Rex, my gorgeous groom, who grinned and nodded to the check, his eyebrow arching toward his fabulous head of dark hair. “And whatever Mom doesn’t cover, I will. You have carte blanche, Chelsea. Anything you want, it’s yours for our wedding day.”
I glanced around the afternoon champagne tea at the Palm Court restaurant in the Plaza Hotel, where people dressed in fancy clothes enjoyed tea, tiny sandwiches, and scones on fine china. The soaring stained-glass domeoverhead, a signature historical architectural feature here, let in bright light for such a late February day, making the emerald and diamonds in my engagement ring shine that much more.
It all seemed a bit surreal. Could this really be my life right now? A year ago, I was in Holly Creek managing Flora’s Diner for my mother. My life took an enormous turn in September when I moved to New York City, took over Uncle Doug’s deli, and met Rex.
“I don’t honestly know what to say. And I can’t imagine the wedding I’m thinking about costing much. My mother bakes the best pies, and we can fill a table with them at the reception. And there’s a quaint gazebo in Holly Creek I always imagined getting married at, but maybe we could find one here?—”
“Chelsea, dear…” Miriam cut me off, placating me with a pat on my hand. “Perhaps you need to thinkbigger.I’m expecting at least three hundred guests. How many should we expect from your side?” She asked with a raised manicured eyebrow.
The number struck me hard, and for a moment, I sat there dumbfounded, taking in Miriam’s exquisitely fashioned appearance for a mature woman. Then again, money probably made that easier for her. I’d yet to see her undone, with no makeup, dyed hair brushed out, or even with a pair of yoga pants on her thin hips. Was there ever a time she just let herself go?
“Oh, let’s see. There’s simply my close family of 4, ahandful of friends, a few work associates. Some cousins, maybe. Plus ones, um, maybe twenty?”
“Well,” a polite, polished, all-knowing grin spread across her face. “You see, there’s a Buchanan tradition to uphold. They have held all weddings at Fifth Avenue Church, as yours will be. And your reception will be here, at the Plaza’s Grand Ballroom. I’ve already secured the room.”
“Here?” I studied Rex, questioning him silently.
“Yes. You cannot possibly expect all my guests to travel to Holly Creek for the wedding, right?” She blinked innocently at me but with a hint of manipulation, as if she’d thought about this conversation well in advance and played me like a fiddle.
I was certain I was only imagining it though, as I knew her only concern here was making sure this wedding didn’t cancel, compared to her eldest son’s wedding a few years prior, an event that displeased her and embarrassed her among her high society friends.
“Of course, we’ll take care of all the accommodations for your family and guests to come to New York City for the wedding. We’ll put them up here at the Plaza Hotel.” Rex was quick to add.
“Okay, that’s kind of you.” A trip to the city for the holidays was always a nice idea and something my family and friends would likely enjoy. But money was a touchy subject sometimes with people from different backgrounds. I didn’t come from much, and I often floundered, bewildered at the enormity of the money Rex’s family possessed.
“The Plaza will be beautiful for our wedding, won’t it?” Miriam didn’t necessarily ask, more like stating.
“It’s just a lot to take in.” I worried at Miriam’s use of the wordour.
“I know, Chelsea, dear, which is why I hired Agnes Hightower, one of New York’s finest wedding planners.” She finished her glass of champagne. “She’ll work with us in putting all of this together.”
“Oh, yes. That’ll be very helpful.” The tension in my shoulders let up a little.
“Oh, there’s Pierre, the general manager of the Plaza, waiting to give us a tour of the ballroom. So finish up your tea and I’ll meet you right over there.”
