Authors: Kate Vale
“Hello, Mr. Wilson. Sara.”
“Call me Parker,” he offered. “No need to stand on ceremony. After all, we’re family now. Almost.”
Gillian nodded.
Let’s hope,
and shook his hand.
Sara gave her a bleak smile, her handshake weak and slightly damp.
She’s probably as nervous as I am.
Gillian hoped her returning gaze was encouraging. “I’m taking Trudi to the rehearsal. We don’t want to be late, Quinn.”
“I’
m driving these two in my car,” Quinn explained. He leaned closer and muttered under his breath. “I got them a room as far as possible from Trudi’s. Different wing, different floor.”
Gillian nodded. “Good thinking.
Give me a couple of minutes to leave.” Then, louder so Bianca’s father and wife could hear, “You’d better get going. I’ll see you there.” Gillian reversed direction and hustled out to the cab, eager to get away before Quinn escorted Bianca’s father and his wife outside.
“We can
go now. Thank you for waiting,” she said to the cabby, who nodded and pulled smoothly away from the hotel entrance. Gillian let out a little breath of air. Mo patted her hand, as if to calm her nerves, the last of which was still quivering, sending her stomach into spasms.
A
t the fellowship hall, Bianca rushed up and breathlessly announced, “My mom invited a friend. I never knew he was coming. Can we squeeze in another seat at the dinner?”
“
I’ve already heard. Not to worry. I’ll take care of it.” She looked around. “Has Quinn arrived yet? He was driving your father and Sara.”
“Oh, gosh. Sara. We
have
to keep my mom away from her.”
“
Bianca, take a deep breath. It’ll be okay. I didn’t know your mother was bringing a male friend. A boyfriend, perhaps?”
“
I don’t know.” Bianca’s hands fluttered like birds caught in an updraft. “She never tells me anything about her love life. As if I’d want to know. There’s Quinn.” She rushed off in her fiancé’s direction.
Gillian turned in time to see a
strange man enter the room. Except that he had heavy jowls, was much shorter, and probably weighed close to a hundred pounds more than Mr. Wilson—call me Parker—Gillian would have had trouble telling them apart had she seen pictures of their faces alone. Did Parker have a twin?
My goodness!
Trudi had divorced the better-looking Parker and taken up with
him
?
Maybe she likes to stay warm at night.
Gillian stifled a giggle that threatened to erupt as she imagined nose-in-the-air Trudi snuggled next to the man who’d waddled into view.
Mo was still talking with
Trudi when she spotted the overweight man. She abruptly broke off her conversation with Mo and strode over to him. “Diggy, dear.” Taller than him by at least a head, she kissed him on his forehead before grabbing his arm and pulling him toward Bianca who was approaching with Quinn at her side.
Gillian glanced at Mo. His eyes were
sparkling dangerously again, the corners of his mouth twitching. He patted the right-hand pocket of his suit coat. Had he brought those hypodermic needles he’d mentioned? Gillian looked away and covered her mouth to prevent any untoward outbursts sure to offend Bianca’s mother.
“
Trudi filled me in while we were waiting for you. His name is Parsifal Digby,” Mo whispered. “Don’t laugh. She said he’s on a diet and she’s worried he’ll fall off the wagon at the dinner. Especially if we’re having any kind of pasta. Are we?”
Gillian sucked in a quick breath. “
It’s one of the choices. We have to put Sara where Trudi won’t be looking directly at her. Bianca is freaked that her mother will scratch that poor woman’s eyes out.”
“I’ll
sit with her near the back of the room during the rehearsal. Why don’t you grab Parker and get him out of danger?”
“You’re afraid
Diggy will sit on him?”
Mo didn’t dignify her comment with a reply, but his shoulders s
tarted to shake as he strode toward Sara, who was looking lost.
“
Mr. Wilson,” Gillian called to him. “Could I speak with you, please?”
Bianca’s father smiled benignly at her. “
Parker, remember? How can I help? I told Bianca whatever she wants I’m here to provide.”
“Good.” Gillian cleared her throat. “Bianca said your ex-wife isn’t all that happy about Sara being here.”
“Not surprised.” His previously cheery demeanor slid into a worried frown. “But she’s my wife and there was no way I was going to marry off my daughter without my beloved here, too.”
“
I understand. I asked Mo if he would sit with Sara.” She waved a hand in the general direction of the far corner of the room.
“
Oh, good. I’m sure Trudi will insist on being in the thick of things.” Parker gave Gillian a wry grin.
“Yes, well, I think they’r
e waving for you. Looks like the minister wants to get things started. Here comes Bianca.”
Gillian stepped aside while Bianca hugged her father, looking tearful. They walked together toward the back of the room set up to resemble the setting for tomorrow. At
the minister’s instruction, the two of them began to walk slowly up the make-shift aisle. Gillian wandered to the side and slipped into the row where she expected to sit as mother of the groom. Quinn winked at her from his position near the minister.
Gillian quickly texted the restaurant, asking for two more seats in the private dining room.
Bianca proceeded up the aisle on her father’s arm. He seemed to be doing his best to calm her down. They stopped at a point near where Trudi was sitting. She was alternately scowling at her ex and smiling at her daughter. Parsifal was whispering in Trudi’s ear. She rose from her seat. “I really think I should walk her down the aisle, Parker. With you.”
U
h-oh.
Trouble in Toyland.
Gillian rose from her seat and glanced toward the back of the room. Mo was standing and leaning forward, as if readying to gallop to her rescue.
The minister intervened.
“Ms. Wilson—”
“Wilson-Sauer. I took back my maiden name.
Only kept the Wilson because of Bianca.”
“
Ms. Wilson-Sauer. Your daughter made clear her
father
is to escort her down the aisle. You know, the way it’s usually done, following tradition. Isn’t that right, Bianca? Now, if we could continue. I have another event to go to this evening.”
Quinn’s shoulders rose and fell. His jaw was clamped tightly, and he looked to be
attempting to maintain a serious mien. Unsuccessfully.
The minister spoke again.
“Mr. Wilson. Here is where you sit down. Next to Ms. Wilson-Sauer.”
“Oh no, he doesn’t! And not with that
… that hussy.” Trudi ignored Bianca and erupted from her seat, as she lunged in the direction of Parker, who stepped back into Gillian’s side of the aisle, almost falling into her lap when he collided with her.
“Daddy! M
other! Please!” Bianca angled between her parents.
Quinn broke ranks with the minister and rushed toward Bianca.
Gillian stepped away from the donnybrook in the making. She looked up in time to see Mo making a fast dash down the aisle. For a man his size, he could move. He pulled Trudi away from Parker, gave Quinn a reassuring nod and said in a commanding voice, “Trudi. Your job here is to
sit
until Bianca comes down the aisle. Then you
stand
, but you do
not
attack your ex-husband, the
father
of the bride.” He angled his head slightly in the direction of Trudi’s man friend. “Mr. Parsnips, er.” He shook his head as if trying to recall the correct name. “Your job is hang on to Trudi. Keep her in her seat. Make her behave. Got that?”
Trudi
was fuming. “His
name
is Parsifal Digby. And how dare you grab me like that?” She jerked her arm away from Mo as she retreated in the direction of her recently-vacated seat. To his credit, Diggy took her hand in one of his and appeared to be following Mo’s orders.
Mo straightened his tie and addressed the minister. “
My apologies, Reverend. Now, let’s get on with it. Dinner’s waiting.”
Quinn gave a little snort
. “Good point. Thank you, Mo.” He looked away from Bianca who was now staring daggers at her mother.
“You’re welcome.”
Mo ambled back to resume his seat next to Silent Sara, who had not moved from her chair.
Parker took a seat behind Gillian. “I know it’s not regulation, but discretion requires that
perhaps I should sit behind you tomorrow. Sara and me.”
“Or in the row behind
Trudi,” she replied. Gillian then glanced in Trudi’s direction a second time before turning to watch as Quinn walked forward and took Bianca’s hand. After the vows were reviewed and little changes Bianca and Quinn requested had been noted, the minister announced, “I think we’re good to go. I’ll see you all at the venue tomorrow. Three o’clock sharp.”
Quinn
shook his hand. Bianca nodded. Gillian and Parker joined Mo and Sara at the back of the room. “I think we’ll let Bianca and Quinn take care of Trudi and Diggy,” Gillian announced. She glanced at Mo. “Not Parsnips, for goodness sake.”
“Sorry.
Got confused.” Mo chuckled. “That woman is a piece of work.”
“I have to agree,” Parker added. He leaned over and pecked Sara’s cheek.
“How I managed to live with her for twenty years, I can’t imagine.”
“You
are a saint, that’s how,” Sara murmured, her English accent enhancing her endearment.
“Well, it’s time to be saintly again. Let’s hope we can ge
t through dinner without a food fight,” Gillian added.
“That was interesting,” Mo observed drily as he, Gillian, Parker and Sara drove to the restaurant.
Only Sara did not crack a smile.
“When we get to the restaurant, let me go in first,” Gillian requested. “I want to make sure the seating is … shall we say… safe.”
“How exactly are you going to arrange that?”
Mo pressed his shoulder against hers.
“The more distance we can put between
Parker here—” she patted his small hand, noticing that his nails were manicured—“and Trudi, the better.”
Parker
angled a smile in Sara’s direction and then Gillian’s. “Good luck with that. Dear Bianca has told me how much she appreciates your help, er, intervention.”
“I
t was my pleasure. Tomorrow she’s going to be my daughter, too. I hope you don’t mind if I think of her that way. I’ve never had a daughter.”
“I’m thrilled you think
so. Trudi never was all that maternal. Bianca could use a loving mother in her life.”
Gillian choked up. “Well, s
he has me now. If you could just give me a minute to make sure everything is arranged correctly.”
Mo chuckled. “Go do your thing. We’ll
join you in a few minutes.” He stepped out of the cab and helped Gillian out. “Parker, let me show you and Sara our view from here. Then you’ll see why Bianca chose this place.”
Gillian trotted into the restaurant and looked for the manager.
“You got my message about two extra people?”
“All is arranged. Let me show you.”
Gillian entered the private dining room, festooned with gold and silver streamers, Bianca’s chosen colors. The outside lights were beginning to twinkle in the gathering dusk, lending a gentle glow to the table, where several tea lights had just been lit amongst the clusters of ivy curving around the center of the table.
“Lovely.
Let me check the place names.” She wandered down the table, beginning with where the bridal couple was to be seated. “Bianca, Quinn, Trudi, blank space holder, Mo, me, another blank place holder, and Parker.”
Oh dear.
Trudi would be staring directly across the table at Parker. Gillian wrote Diggy’s name on the first place holder, repositioned it next to Quinn’s place setting, and moved Bianca next to her mother, then Mo between Trudi and Sara—Gillian penned her name on the other place holder—with Parker next to her. Now Gillian would be across from Trudi. If Sara remained quiet—she’d been a mouse thus far—perhaps they could get through the rehearsal dinner without a homicide.
Gillian looked up as
Quinn escorted Trudi into the room, followed by Bianca, who was holding tightly to both her father and to Sara. Diggy lumbered in, looking like the odd man out. Where was Mo?
Gillian walked outside.
Mo was huddled in a corner talking on the phone. A patient? Now he was shaking his head. “I’m sorry, I’m tied up this evening. I’ll have my partner call you. Okay. Thanks for your understanding.”
“A problem?”
“Nothing that couldn’t be solved. I’ll be right with you. How’s the seating?”