The Bridesmaid's Checklist: Laura's Wedding (BCL Book 1) (2 page)

BOOK: The Bridesmaid's Checklist: Laura's Wedding (BCL Book 1)
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Chapter 3


W
hat? Laura’s getting married? No way.” Denise sounded as incredulous as I first was when I heard the news.

“Yes way,” I assured my dark-eyed friend.

Denise was the oldest of us, although probably not the wisest. She married her high school sweetheart when they were way too young and excited, and it hadn’t been flowers and candy ever since. Not because they didn’t love each other, but because they had had a series of financial problems that had them constantly worried. The latest issue was her husband’s four-year-long unemployment. That’s right, it wasn’t completely easy when they decided not to go to college because they went ahead and got married. However, that didn’t deprive my friend of getting golden highlights in her long, straight hair.

“It’s hard to believe,” Natalie pitched in. “She hasn’t had a serious relationship since Julian.”

Of all of our friends, Natalie was the sweetest. She was the listener of the group, and there was no problem in the world about which she wouldn’t empathize with you. Unfortunately, that was as good as it got. You didn’t go to Natalie to find solutions or any bright insight. Plus, her innocent-next-door-neighbor look always made us feel comfortable around her. Her pixie-cut, platinum-blond hair and those big blue eyes were always there when we needed a shoulder to cry on.

“And she was having such a good time slutting around with you,” Marisol, the last of my best friends, added matter-of-factly.

“Hey, I resent that. I’m not a slut.” Why people always judged me because I was a strong, independent woman was beyond me. I simply assumed they were all a bit jealous.

It was no surprise for me that Marisol was the one pointing it out. If we ever wanted to hear the truth about something, we’d go to Marisol. She might be disguised now as a loving mother, but whoever met Sol before her little toddler was born knew she wasn’t the one to hide the awful truth. Even if she was the last to marry, she was the first to procreate. Sol, as we called her because of her shiny personality, now looked dull and exhausted. Apparently, children did that to a woman. The beautiful brunette with almond-brown eyes always wore a ponytail and comfortable clothes these days.

We’d met in Sol’s house, since it was more convenient for her and her little one. Plus, she always had healthy snacks and drinks. I rarely ate any of those, and I was sure they were meant for her son and not for her friends. Still, she always had a tray of offerings for us to munch on while we talked.

“No offense. Sorry.” Marisol really meant no offense at all; she simply wanted to point out what she believed was a fact.

“Well, your lifestyle might indicate otherwise.” Denise sounded resentful.

When had she become so bitter?

“Why exactly is my lifestyle being discussed at the moment?” I was the only one of my friends left unmarried, and by the way they all looked at the moment, I couldn't be more grateful.

“I guess ‘cause Laura was
livin’ la vida
loca
with you not so long ago,” Natalie chimed in without any sort of malice in her voice. If anything, she was trying to lighten the mood—as always.

“Exactly. And now she’s getting married?” Denise still seemed in denial, the first stage of loss and grief. Honestly, if anyone was entitled to suffer, it should’ve been me. They all had husbands they could turn to. I, on the other hand, enjoyed my single life plenty, but I’d just happened to lose my partner in crime.

“Concentrate, girls,” I told them all. “This meeting isn’t to discuss the
why
, but the
how
.”

“Well, we all know
how
,” Natalie pointed out. Silly observation, really.

“Natalie, you know what I mean.” Sometimes even her sweetness got me crazy.

“The
when
is more like it.” Marisol tried to sound smart. Well, she at least changed her mood enough to be sarcastic instead of bitchy.

“Thanks, Sol, for your wonderful participation,” I said. Could any of them just concentrate for five minutes so we could get this over with? Laura was going to call us anytime to hang out via video conference, and I wanted everyone to be ready so we could avoid any drama. “Let me talk, and you all just listen. Laura’s decided to marry Eddie,” I started. Once more, I was interrupted.

“Who’s Eddie?” Denise quietly asked Marisol.

“Who knows.” Marisol simply stated.

“Shh, Kassie’s starting to get all red,” Natalie warned.

Yes, even if my skin wasn’t light, it responded the same way when upset or embarrassed. My late parents had a modern marriage—one that didn’t see anything wrong with interracial relationships. Therefore, my heritage was African-Russian, giving me a wonderful combination of genes to create my beautiful self. Light blue eyes with caramel-colored skin, lips everyone envied, and wonderful brown-golden curls.

Paying no attention to their interruption, I continued. “They’re getting married next June in Bora Bora.”

“Oh, great! ‘Cause getting married in L.A. wasn’t fancy enough for her.” As expected, Denise was the first one complaining about the location. “Doesn’t she know money’s tight?”

I looked at her, since I completely understood her worries, and said, “We’ll discuss money later, Denise. The engagement party will be here in L.A.”

“Well, thanks a lot,” Denise said sarcastically now.

This time, I didn’t acknowledge her. “She wants us to throw her a bachelorette party in Vegas.” And that finished the plans I had so far.

“Yay, Vegas. Fun!” Natalie exclaimed.

“Fun, said the pregnant lady,” Denise and her sarcasm struck back.

Natalie was three months pregnant. I easily forgot since, first, it really wasn’t on my priority list, and second, she didn’t show at all.

“Fun for you. I hate going to Vegas,” Marisol added, her boredom more than obvious. She’d become such a drag since she became a mother. I seriously wondered sometimes how we were going to manage to stay friends.

“We haven’t been to Vegas in a million years,” Natalie continued.

“Regardless, it’s more money to spend.” Denise’s complaining apparently never stopped.

Seriously, the wedding planning barely started and we were already dividing because of it.

“Calm down, girls,” I said. I had to do some damage control before everything fell apart. “We’re going to do things right and plan everything from the beginning to get the best deals and spend the least possible amount of money. But, yeah, it’s true. Some money is going to be spent. Just as it was in all your weddings.”

Marisol hadn’t gotten married very long ago. Three years ago, to be accurate. And we had all spent money on every single one of their weddings. What were they expecting? Not investing a single dime on their friend’s big day?

“Easy for you to say. You don’t have a family to support,” Denise said. She was the worst about money. I guessed she married so long ago, and so young, that she was the first to complain when someone else got married. It was as if she didn’t remember how much we pitched in all those years ago, when she’d finished high school without a penny and we helped out so she could get married the way she wanted.

“You don’t have a family to support. You only have a husband,” Marisol finally told her. “I have a child. How exactly am I supposed to bring him to Bora Bora? Does he need a passport?”

Wow, another topic of discussion—the protective mother who needed to take her child everywhere she went. I know she needed a rest and time for herself. “It might be better if you leave your baby in the States. Think of it as a second honeymoon,” I told her gently.

“I haven’t thought about that.” Natalie’s brain seemed to finally get a grip on our conversation. “What about
my
baby? Which reminds me,” she added. “Can we have the bachelorette party after I have the baby? I’d like to drink something during our stay in Vegas.”

“You won’t be able to drink if you’re breastfeeding. Plus, you might be so tired with the long, sleepless nights that you might not be able to handle it. It might be better if we do it before your baby’s born.” Leave it to Marisol, the voice of experience, to break it to Natalie that drinking wasn’t in her future.

Poor girl must be suffering.

“Oh, great,” Denise commented, her voice unrestrained acid. “Who’s giving us a lap dance with a pregnant lady in our party?” Not a moment ago, she’d complained about money being tight and now she had a dollar for a strip club. I thought I might have to have another kind of conversation with her after all this madness was over.

“You might be impressed,” was my only response. I knew for a fact that plenty of men out there were willing. Pregnant woman or not. “So, what is it, Natalie? Before or after you have the baby?” I asked her.

“Apparently before,” Natalie decided, all the excitement gone from her voice.

“Great. How about February?” I put out for votes. “Does that give us enough time to recover from Christmas and New Year’s, but still far enough away from Natalie’s due date?”

“It seems so,” Denise muttered.

“If you say so,” Marisol said blandly.

“Sounds good to me.” Natalie sounded defeated, now.

With all this excitement, Laura might kill one of us soon.

“I’ll leave the engagement party date for Laura to choose. Probably soon. I’ll try to make her choose the second week of November, so we don’t struggle with Thanksgiving,” I said as I finished calendaring all the dates. “Sound good for everyone?”

“It’s only a month away.” Denise had done her math quickly.

“Would you rather have it in December?” I knew she felt things were going to start fast, but I also knew there were some extra expenses at the end of the year which complicated everyone’s personal economic situations.

“No, please. Not December. You guys know, well…not really, Santa and all that,” Marisol said, begging with her eyes. I’ve seen the Christmas presents she bought her child. She should start saving for his college education instead of investing so much in silly gifts. How much could a toddler appreciate expensive things? I’ve seen the little rascal eat a booger or two, myself.

“I’d rather have it before Thanksgiving,” Sol finally said.

“Although, it’ll be nice to take advantage of those Thanksgiving discounts,” Denise said.

“Relax with the expenses. I told you, we’ll get good deals.” I was going to do my best to ensure everything was perfect for Laura without affecting the rest of our friends, especially Denise’s fragile budget. “What if all of us pitched in for the engagement gift?”

“Sounds nice.” For the first time, Denise sounded a bit enthusiastic.

“And we’ll have time to plan the rest of the events.” I really needed their help. Laura was proving too challenging to please.

“I think it’s better if we leave all that to you,” Marisol said. “You’re the one with the special brain. The planning master.” Of course, she’d be the first to wash her hands of the whole situation.

I couldn’t believe it. It happened every single time. I knew that eighty percent of the population struggled with planning, and I also knew I was one of the privileged ten percent fortunate enough to be born with a brain that had no problem planning. I hadn’t ever even needed to learn any planning skills. But, come on, I wasn’t about to be left alone planning this wedding.

“Guys, I need your help. You can’t expect me to do everything on my own.”

“Well, you’re the one who’s single.” Denise then used their other weapon against me.

“So, just ‘cause I’m single, I’m supposed to plan everything?” I didn’t have a particular man to please, but I did please men. Probably more than they each of these women did, at least in the bedroom department.

“No, not really,” Marisol finally confessed. “But you sure have more free time than the rest of us.” She wouldn’t even let me have one tiny win.

As much as I knew they told the truth, they all still frustrated me so easily. Even at Sol’s son’s birthday party, she’d left me alone to plan the whole thing for her. It wasn’t fair. This time, it wasn’t an event for any of them; it was for Laura. But I knew that eventually they’d all need my help for planning something else, and if they didn’t help me out this time, they could all forget about involving me in their next planning charade.

“I’m really sorry, Kassie,” Natalie said. “I’ll help as much as I can, as long as my pregnancy allows it.”

That’s right Natalie, think about your baby shower. Who’s going to plan that for you?

“I’ll do my best, though planning is not my forte.” Denise might have been some help as the only one of my friends without children. Maybe I should get her husband to help, too. After all, he didn’t have much else to do. Besides looking for a job.

On second thought, that probably wasn’t a good idea. I didn’t want to give him the wrong impression.

I couldn’t help feeling more than a little defeated. I knew they all expected me to plan this on my own, and it hurt. Regardless, I wasn’t going to let it go. I would nag them until every woman gave in for just a little help.

After a few minutes, my phone rang. Laura’s name and photo flashed across the screen. It was time to talk to the bride-to-be.

BOOK: The Bridesmaid's Checklist: Laura's Wedding (BCL Book 1)
9.94Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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