Page 99 of All the Ugly Things
“I might try to talk to our florist, see if she can find some blue flowers for my bouquet.” She tapped her chin.
“Whatever you want, dear,” Brandon mumbled over a bite of bread.
“When’s the wedding?” I asked.
“December twelfth. We wanted to be back from our honeymoon for Christmas.”
“Wow. That’s coming quick. Are you ready?”
“About six weeks and yeah, it’s overwhelming. There are tons of things to do over the next few weeks. Final dress fittings, menu finalizing before we start getting the RSVPs returned to do the seating charts…”
She trailed off, eyes glazed as if still running through her mental to-do list.
“New flowers, too? Again?” Brandon asked.
“No. I was joking about the blue. They’d clash with the dresses my girls are wearing.”
“Of course, and we can’t have that,” Hudson said, chiming in.
“Men.” She rolled her eyes and focused on me. “They don’t get it. Amiright?”
I shrugged. Men weren’t exactly in my expertise wheelhouse. Neither was wedding planning. Instead of answering, I asked, “Where are you going on your honeymoon?”
“Fiji. We have this incredible private villa right over the water. White sandy beaches, gorgeous blue water. I can’t freaking wait. It’ll be amazing.” Her eyes lit up and she smiled at Brandon.
“I did a pretty good job planning it, didn’t I?”
“Yes. You could take directions very well from me printing out the three places I wanted to go with specific resorts.” She rolled her eyes again at him, but then fell into his shoulder with a happy sigh. “I can’t wait until we’re married.”
“Me either.” He kissed the top of her head and draped his arm over her chair, curling her more snuggly against him.
The move was so sweet I looked down at my plate. What would that feel like? To have someone love you so much?
I blinked until the emotion receded and cleared my throat.
“What about you, Lilly?” Brandon asked. “Were you able to give your notice at Judith’s on Friday?”
“I was.”
“And then she was fired,” Hudson said.
“What?” It came from a chorus of all three of them. “Why? How?”
“It’s fine.” I gritted my teeth and glared at Hudson. “She had me finish the weekend shift like I usually do. But that’s okay.” Somehow, sitting with the three of them, asking for an early start didn’t feel right. Definitely not professional. If I could have kicked Hudson under the table for putting me on the spot, I would have.
“You can start early.”
“That’s not—”
“In fact, I insist,” Brandon said. “Why don’t you start on Wednesday? Take tomorrow to rest and then we’ll get you up and going in a few days. That will give me time to work with Sandra on what she wants to train you on first.”
“I don’t mind waiting.” Although my wallet would empty faster than a bursting water pipe.
“Wednesday,” Brandon replied. “It’s no bother to have you there early. I’m sure Sandra will appreciate it anyway.”
I would have preferred to have handled it myself. Hudson wasn’t always going to be there to help me out, but I was also learning that when this family wanted something, they didn’t give up.
“Thank you.”
