“Mrs. Cook, lovely to see you.” Cole hashis best smile in place to woo my mother. “As are the rest of you beautifulCook women and Laura, of course. Where did my grandpa go? I thought he wasgoing to spend the day with you?”
I shrug. “Alan wanted to give me sometime to catch up with my family, so he headed back to his villa.”
“To what do we owe such a greatsurprise?” Cole shows no signs of agitation, hopefully he’s not tooupset.
“Mom said they have a surprise for us.But wouldn’t tell me what it is. They want to tell us together.”
“A surprise, huh? I can’t wait to hearit.” Cole pulls me over to a side chair and sits down with me in his lap.
All there is, is silence. I stifle an eyeroll. “Well, tell us already. You came all the way here for it.” Cole gives mythigh a light squeeze, telling me to chill out. But I’m beyond chilling out.I’m ready to scream with annoyance. The last thing I expected when I woke upthis morning was to have the women of my family, along with my best friend,show up on my doorstep. My mother knows how much I hate surprises. I like toknow what’s ahead of me, always. “Please Mom, you know I don’t do surpriseswell.”
My mom smiles, pulling a white invitationenvelope out of her purse. “Okay, I can’t wait. The family feels hurt at notbeing able to be a part of your wedding. Your dad is still pouting and being agrouch about the fact he didn’t get to walk you down the aisle. Anyhow, I raninto Marilyn Reynolds at the grocery store last week and she told me herdaughter Amber called off her wedding that was supposed to be in two weeks.They had reserved The Vineyard, you know, that beautiful place just north oftown that has the big old barn and wine vineyard. She said they tried to gettheir money back, but they have a no refund policy. So we got thinking what agreat idea it would be to have a ring ceremony and wedding reception for youand Cole there. When I told your father, he jumped all over it. He didn’t evenflinch at the cost. So long story short…” She hands me the envelope. “On thethirtieth of this month, we are throwing you a wedding.”
I open and close my mouth several times,trying to form words. This is a joke. Right?
They want to throw us a wedding? Dopeople do that? “I think I’m confused—you’rethrowingus a wedding?”
“Just look at the invitation.” Anniebeams almost giddy.
With shaky hands, I open the envelope.Inside is a white and navy-blue wedding invitation. It says how pleased Rob andLuann Cook are to announce the marriage of their daughter Katherine Cook toCoulter Alan Prescott-Holt, son of Preston and Olivia Holt.Oh holy shit,they put Olivia as Cole’s mom. This cannot be real.Just wait until mymother meets Olivia. That’s one meeting I can wait for.
I breathe in through my nose, trying notto hyperventilate. The invite further offers the invitee to share in their joyby attending their, or rather, our wedding.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” Annie stands,snatching it from me. “I picked it out.”
“We sent them off two days ago.” My mombeams, proud of herself.
My temper flares. Oh no, no, no. “You didwhat?” I jerk up off of Cole’s lap.
“We had to if we wanted all the family tomake it. Although mom called most of them to let them know and plan on it.”Annie smiles defiantly.
“I—can’t—” Cole jerks on my hand,standing and wrapping his arm around me.
“I think this is a fantastic idea.”
My mouth drops open in shock. “You do?” Iwhisper turning to him.
“Yes, of course. So, you came to Vegas totell us and spend a day or two with Kate?”
“Oh no.” Oh great, it’s not a completedisaster until Jill gives her two cents. “We’re here for an entire week.”
So many emotions roll through me. I’m notsure if I should scream and yell in stark protest, or sit down and cry like ababy.
“An entire week,” Cole chokes out. Heglances up at Luke, who’s been lingering next to the elevator. Luke pushes offthe wall, putting his phone up to his ear, walking into a spare bedroom.
My mom rushes up to Cole. “We know howbusy you are with your business. But we thought it would be fun to help Katielook for a wedding dress, to find bridesmaid dresses, and firm up the rest ofthe wedding plans.” My mom winks at me. “And even maybe a bachelorette party,Vegas style.”
I raise my eyebrows at her, surprised.“Vegas style. Isn’t that booze and a strip club?”
“Well, alcohol free, of course, and nonudie shows.”
And there’s the mother I know and love. Idon’t even know where to start. How do I tell my mom that I came to terms withhow Cole and I got married, that it was whimsical and crazy and perfect. I gotthe guy, that’s all that matters to me.
But I watch my mom pull the bridal binderout of her bag, and I understand. This isn’t about me, it’s about my family.It’s about my mom helping me plan and pick out a dress, and it’s about my dadwalking me down the aisle. It’s about family. As much as I’d like to scream atthem and tell them no way, I can’t.
Besides, it might be fun to plan awedding, walk down the aisle. You know—all the usual stuff. I look at Cole for
some reassurance, but he’s mulling overthe invitation. Shoot, I feel bad about it. I would never have put Olivia’sname on it. I guess we will just have to have it out later, good or bad.
