He went to her and said, “You’re the one putting it off. I’m good for it to start today.”
She laughed and said, “That’s true. Speaking of which, I better start calling some family if we want to have this wedding by Friday.”
Kenstood next to the fireplace and looked out at the chairs set up in his future living room. He fingered the knot of his tie to make sure it lay straight. His gaze roamed over the cathedral ceiling with the wood beams and the light fixture that helped him design this room. His mother had hung tulle bunting on the second floor’s balcony and placed a green wreath with white flowers in the center of the swooping material.
He crossed the room and went into the dining room. Against one wall, the two-tiered cake sat on a square table. Valerie had utilized the built-in sideboard to set out the finger foods Calla brought over a couple of hours ago. He crossed into the kitchen. Through the open pantry door, he could see Jon filling a silver tub with ice. He knew sodas and beer would go into that.
His mom rinsed strawberries at the sink. She looked over her shoulder when he stepped onto the tile floor. She smiled at him and said, “The next time we have a wedding, a completely unfurnished house is the place to throw it.”
He smiled. “I’ll remember that.” Furniture would arrive Monday morning. They’d scheduled movers to pack Daisy’s house Tuesday so they could see what she wanted to keep from her home to bring into their home.
Jon carried the tub in and set it on the marble top of the island. “Is Alex coming?” his mom asked.
His eyes darkened, but he smiled at her. “No. Too much going on this weekend. She’ll be home next month.”
“Oh. That’s a shame. I’m sorry she won’t be here.”
“Me, too.”
Ken stepped forward. “Hey, mom. Did Daisy get settled upstairs?”
Focusing on Daisy instead of Alex, his mom smiled and wiped her hands on a dishtowel. “She did. Her mom and her cousin and sister-in-law are up there with her now.”
He’d anticipated marrying Daisy Tuesday morning. When she asked to change plans, he hadn’t missed a beat. But he’d had to push aside the romantic wedding night plans he’d already started formulating. The last few days had crawled by.
They had filled the days, though, with plans and details. She had worked out travel arrangements for her brother and family, food with Calla, and flowers with Camila. Daisy had gone shopping three times for dresses and shoes. A whirlwind of organization all came together, culminating in this moment.
Calla came through the back door carrying a silver hotel pan. “Last of it. This will just need to go into the warm oven,” she said.
Ken took it from her, using the two cloths she used as potholders, and carried it over to the oven. Once he slipped it in, he turned to her and said, “That smells good.”
“Stuffed mushrooms will be filling. Nice to have something hot along with the cold.” Calla shifted her glasses on her nose and said, “I’m going to run upstairs. I have a dress to change into up there. Ian’s parking and should be right in.”
Brad and Valerie came through the back door. Ken had instructed his brothers to park in the adjacent lot, leaving the driveway and street available for Daisy’s family members. “It smells so good in here,” Valerie said, walking up to his mom and giving her a hug.
“Calla’s been at it, even though I told her to keep it simple,” Rosaline said.
“She probably did keep it simple; we just don’t have the same definition of that word.” She turned her attention to Ken. “How’s the groom doing?”
He smiled and brushed his lips over her cheek. “Really, really ready.”
“I bet you are.”
He and Brad shook hands. Brad asked, “Anything left that needs doing?”
Jon came out of the pantry carrying a wooden box filled with soda bottles. “Nope. Your timing is impeccable as usual, Mister CEO.”
Brad chuckled. “I try really hard, you know?”
Ken left them in the kitchen and wandered back into the living room. Marcus and Diego stood talking near the fireplace. They both looked at him as he entered the room. Marcus asked, “Ken, can we talk for a moment?”
“Yes, sir,” he said, extending his hand. Marcus shook it, his grip strong. “Diego, glad you made it.”
“It’s good to see you, brother,” his high-school buddy said, grinning. The two men hugged.
“What’s up?” Ken asked Marcus.
“I think we need to go over the order of ceremony again.” He gestured at a box laid across two chairs. “Camila made the lasso. Do you understand how that works?” Ken thought about the flowered garland fastened into a loop that Marcus and Diego would put around him and Daisy as a symbol of becoming one in marriage. He nodded. “Great.”
