When Girlfriends Chase Dreams (46 page)

“Yeah,” Melissa blurts out in a frazzled way. “A—a—an early summer bride of mine. Yeah. So…erm…how was that honeymoon, Claire?”

I abruptly turn my head to Melissa and we lock eyes.
I am not backing down,
I tell myself.

“I used to be a client of Melissa’s, Mindy,” I say, my eyes still locked on Melissa’s. “Things seemed to be going so well. I was getting my dream flowers, the venues were getting sorted out, the invitations also sorted out…” I look back at Mindy. “But then something came in the mail and, gosh, let me say, I was a little surprised.” I give a ridiculously saccharine laugh and rest a hand on hip.

“The wrong invitations?” Mindy guesses. I have to cackle at that one.

“Oh, actually, come to think of it,” I say, drama thickly coating my words. “Those were fudged up, too. No, I’m talking about a little piece of paper from the Law Offices of Gipps, Bishop, Gildey, Gideroo…something or other.” I wave it off.

Mindy furrows her brow and her hands drop to her lap. “What…law offices?” Her eyes turn to Melissa.

“I don’t know what Claire’s talking about,” Melissa says, blinking like a nervous mouse.

Here goes,
I think. I take a deep and steady breath.
Here goes nothin’.
 

“Cut the crap, sorority sis,” I say quietly. I lean my good hand on the table’s ledge. “I don’t know what brought you all the way from Starbucks to this sweet little joint, but—”

“It’s where I’m getting my wedding cake,” Mindy pipes in timidly. “They make the best cupcakes here.”

“Well,” Melissa says. She pats Mindy’s stack of bridal magazines. “Well, we’ll talk about that later, Mindy. I have
great
recommendations who cut me a deal. Plus, this place has no credentials. It’s only just opened and, really,” she looks around the room, “I think it’s a little kitsch.” She elongates her neck, shrugs her shoulders, and a smirk coats her glossy lips. “It’s probably a little tacky for the style of wedding we’re planning for you.”

“That’s it!” I say, my cheeks burning. “Mindy. Let me share something with you.” Mindy nods eagerly, leaning on my every word now. “If we want to talk about no credentials then let’s take a peek at MC Design and Whatever’s portfolio. I was her bride. Her summer bride. Her
August
bride and,” I flash a fierce look at Melissa, “no, I have
not
been on my honeymoon.
No,
I have
not
had my wedding already.”

I take in another calming and deep breath, channeling my yoga state of mind, and say to Mindy, “This girl, Melissa, made a
disaster
of my wedding, charged my parents
tons
of money, and then what did she have the gall to do when I let her go?”

“What?” Mindy asks, eyes like a doe in the headlights.

“She sued me.
Sued me!
” I stop leaning on the table and stand up straight. “She’s bad news, Mindy. And while I don’t want to bad-mouth anyone, or come and ruin what should be a perfectly lovely time in your life…” I cross my arms and glare at Melissa. Her jaw is clearly locked and, I have to say, her soft and feminine features are kind of gone right about now. Right now she looks kind of monsterly, actually.

“What?” Mindy presses.

“No one knocks my best friend’s café,” I say proudly. “Mindy, The Cup and the Cake is the best café in all of Seattle. I’m getting my wedding cake done here. A whole table of desserts, actually! If I could give you one recommendation for your wedding, it would be to go with The Cup and the Cake. Sophie and her team here will rock your wedding.”

I give Mindy a smile, and, feeling an enormous sense of satisfaction, turn on my heels and take two steps towards my table, where Allison and Lara are eavesdropping, leaning
way
out of their chairs.

“Oh!” I gasp. I turn back around, Melissa’s mouth now agape and her cheeks really flaming. She even has a throbbing vein that’s starting to reveal itself along the side of her temple.

“There is one more thing, actually,” I add. “If you don’t mind the tip, Mindy.” Mindy nods. “Don’t plan your wedding with Melissa. A lawsuit is the
last
thing that makes your fairytale wedding come true.”

“You bitch!” Melissa cries, leaping up from her seat. She yanks her Louis Vuitton bag over one shoulder and kicks her chair aside, almost causing it to topple over and hit the girl seated behind her.

Mindy’s face goes long and she looks at me. Then, with a burst of laughter, she says, “Wow! Thanks for the advice. Melissa, I don’t think we’re going to work out.”

“Whatever,” Melissa says. She makes her way for the front door. “Your wedding wasn’t worth my time, anyway, Mindy. Your budget’s unworkable and…” She rapidly shakes her head and gestures wildly about the room. She looks like a crazy person! “…And this crappy café will suit your budget just
fine!
”

With no more insults to hurl, the storm known as Melissa blows on out.

I thought I was feeling good and particularly perky earlier. Now I feel
amazing!
I’m on top of the world! I’m— Oh no. Oh no!

A scene. In the café. Sophie’s going to kill me.

I press my lips tightly together and, so very fearful, pan around the room. All eyes are on me and I can feel my stomach start to churn. Halfway through my rotation I spot Sophie across the way. She looks speechless.

“Wow,” Mindy breaths out, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Thank you, Claire.”

“Huh?” I mutter. I almost can’t believe I actually did this! Oh would everyone just stop staring at me. Oh dear…

“Thank you,” Mindy says again. She takes a magazine from her pile and folds the cover back. “I’m definitely
not
going with Melissa to plan my wedding! Crazy lady!”

Sophie begins to look more settled and she returns behind the front counter, slowly wiping down the espresso machine. I give her a shrug and mouth a sorry.

“It was my pleasure to help,” I tell Mindy. “I just wish it could have been done without causing such a scene.”

With a magazine in one hand, Mindy peels back the wrapper of her cupcake. “Scene or no scene, you saved me! Thank you!” She takes a bite. “Mmm. Besides,” she licks her lips, “not getting my wedding cake here was a definite deal-breaker. This café is
definitely
doing my wedding cake.”

A giant smile spreads across my face and I look over at Sophie, who’s also smiling brightly.

“They do wedding cakes here?” a new voice rings from the behind. I turn around and a twenty-something girl is standing up, arms akimbo. “I would
kill
for a wedding cake from here!” she exclaims. “The cupcakes are
a-ma-zing!
”

“I know, right?” Mindy chimes in. The enthusiastic girl from behind makes her way over to Mindy’s table; an instant bond forming over a mutual love for The Cup and the Cake’s scrumptious cupcakes.

I look at Sophie again and her smile looks as if it can be seen from outer space.

“Oh, and if you need a wedding planner I have another recommendation,” I say offhandedly to Mindy. “Logistically I don’t know how it’ll work for you, but I’d totally be happy to give a recommendation.”

I return to my table, Allison and Lara whispering to each other and sharing a laugh. “Well,” I say with a sigh. I plunk down into my chair. “Now, let’s get back to business.”

Taking a small sip of my drink, I pull up my shoulders in a comfortable and satisfactory shrug.

Sometimes a girl’s just gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. Butterflies are whirling about my stomach, but not because I’m nervous or anxious or even a tad embarrassed over the scene I’ve made—because I’m really excited. I glance at my sparkling wedding ring and my smile, despite my lips poised at the brim of my teacup, grows. I’m getting married. I’m having a wedding. And everything’s going to be just the way it’s supposed to be!

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Are those church bells I hear ringing?

Yes, they are!

The
day is here. The
big
wedding day!

Rehearsal went smoothly yesterday. Really smoothly…er…so long as you don’t count the number of times my mom leaned over next to me at our table to comment on how short my dad’s girlfriend’s dress was. Or how large and, what did she say? “How plastic-y
they
were.”

It was really easy-going if you ignored the high-pitched giggle (more like cackle) that Conner’s stepmother let out every time someone said something mildly amusing during a speech.

It was a super smooth rehearsal if you could never mind the photos of Russian beauties, of what happens when you’re stoned in Amsterdam, and of dumb-ass things to do in Barcelona when you’ve had one too many pitchers of sangria, that Conner’s twin brothers
 
couldn’t stop sharing.

Overall it was a great rehearsal! Look, there may have been some moments during dinner that made me turn a deep shade of crimson, but looking back it was in every way memorable and ideal. It was a Conner and Claire rehearsal. What else can I say? Classic.

Since I’m feeling quite like my old self again, calm and letting things easily slide off my back, and always trying to look at that glass half full, I didn’t let the bumpy morning yesterday rattle me very much, either. The rest of the day’s events went by in a flash, and I knew I could either enjoy them or grouse about the few things that weren’t exactly perfect.

I woke up yesterday morning feeling not at all very rested. I had major puffiness under my eyes, but I knew I’d read somewhere that there’s a curious solution to morning eye puffiness. The solution, of course, I couldn’t remember, so Lara came to my rescue. She told me that all I had to do was pick up a tube of Preparation H. I argued with her on that one, but she insisted, and thank God I heeded her advice. Puffiness be gone!

In the end, despite the minor aches and pains that seem to come with being a bride, the rehearsal was a smashing hit, and I know the wedding, only hours away, will be the same!

Allison’s been texting and calling me throughout the morning and afternoon, on the occasions she’s not with me, letting me know that things are going well, or reminding me of where to be next. She’s a serious godsend.

All of the girls and my mom have been so helpful, and they look great, I must say. The blue dresses are lovely, and I had to thank Maggie for diverting me from the green. (Although I’m sure they’d be lovely, too.)

Everyone’s excited, sipping on Dom Pérignon that Jackie surprised us with, compliments of her and Andrew. She even made sure our suite at the church, where we’ve been spending hours getting ready, was supplied with a catered lunch. There was even a masseuse waiting for any of the girls who were starting to feel tense and needed a little neck or back or hand massage. Crazy luxury!

Erika’s just finished applying my makeup and it looks
just
the way I want it—very natural. Conner will love it!

My hair is done up in a chignon, but with lots of curly tendrils spilling out all around. It’s the perfect up-do for my veil, which Robin has taken the honors of fluffing one more time.

“Perfect,” Robin says, hugging her arms to her chest. “Oh, I have chills, Claire. You look beautiful.”

I can feel myself blushing, and not only because of her compliment or the sentimentality of the day, but because I know in only a matter of minutes I’ll be seeing Conner. He’s finally going to get to see me in my dream Vera Wang gown.

“I’m going to cry,” Mom says, waving a ceremony program at her face. “Oh no. The mascara will run.” She waves more rapidly.

“Waterproof,” Erika says, snapping closed her makeup kit. “Here’s a backup tube.” She walks across the room and hands the mascara to Allison who’s standing with a walkie-talkie and a sheaf of papers in one hand and a cell phone in the other, pressed to her ear. Allison takes the tube and sticks it in the front pocket of her black apron.

“And these,” Erika shows me a collection of various makeup products. “All backup samples to apply if you need touchups later.” I nod and look back as Sophie arranges the folds and pleats of my gown’s skirt.

“Claire,” Allison calls out, holding the cell phone away from her mouth. “Photographer says you’re on for the first look in five. Let’s get you out there.”

I steady my breathing and look at my mom, who, probably because she now knows the mascara is waterproof, is crying. She’s dabbing at the stream of tears cascading down both her cheeks with the light blue hankie of hers. It matches the one she gave me—a tradition among the women in my family, passed all the way down at least from my great-grandmother. These two hankies have been in the family for quite some time, judging by the look of them. I’ve tucked mine in my brassiere-corset—the perfect way to get my “something blue.”

“Okay,” I say, “Mom, come on. Pull yourself together.” I rub her arm.

“Oh,” she cries, dabbing her tears. “I’m just so happy. My baby girl is getting married.”

I’m about to tell her to relax, that I’m already married, but I think better of that one quickly.

This is a very special time, and I’m sure it’s almost just as special for the mother of the bride as it is for the bride herself, though for different reasons and in different ways. Maybe someday I’ll know—someday when Conner and I have children. Ohh! Listen to that! Oh, the thought of having a family with him someday. Goodness. All of these fun and big life changes are almost too much to bear.
 

“I love you, Mom.” I pull Mom in for a warm and tight hug. “Thank you so much for everything you’ve done for my wedding. Thank you.” I kiss her softly on the cheek, not wanting to smear any of her lovely makeup job. Erika definitely hit this one out of the park. Everyone looks fantastic!

“I love you, Claire.” Mom firmly presses her lips together, trying to quash a flood of tears. “I’m so happy for you. So proud of you.”

“Show time!” Allison says, taking me by the hand. Sophie gives another fluff of the back of my dress, and when she says everything’s in place, I follow Allison out to where Conner will be awaiting me for our first look.
 

“Allison,” I say, looking up at her, “thank you so much. For everything. You’ve done a really great job.”