The Bridesmaid (24 page)

Standing behind her parents, Abby gestured at her sister. This was not right.
Abort mission!
she thought.
Abort mission!

Carol saw her and shook her head ever so slightly. Somehow, the girl was calm as the bay before a storm. She took a deep breath and looked at her parents. Abby wanted to close her eyes, but somehow she could not make herself do it.

“Mom . . . Dad,” Carol said firmly. “I’m not getting married today.”

Abby inhaled deeply and then, knowing that there was no going back, that her parents were about to flip out anyway, Abby took her chance, and blurted out the words that had been jamming up her throat for weeks.

“And I got a full scholarship to study in Italy next year,” she said. “I’m going to Italy!”

• 16 •

Sacred Vows

“What on earth do you mean, you’re not getting married!” Abby’s mother screeched.

“Italy! Who says you’re going to Italy?” her father shouted, red in the face.

“Dad, just let me explain,” Abby said. She was glad that her parents had two pieces of news to deal with and weren’t ganging up on her together. “Remember, like, months ago I told you about that exchange program Delila was doing and you said you didn’t have the money to send me?”

“Yes, I recall,” her father said. Carol and her mom were talking too, but Abby had to tune them out to pay attention to her father. “Did you win the lottery since then?”

“No. But I did find out that they have scholarships for this thing.
And
that Roberto Viola, only the most amazing soccer player in history, is going to be coaching there,” Abby said. “So I applied just to see what would happen and I got in! With a full scholarship.”

“So you’ve already applied and gotten funding. I’m sorry, when, exactly, were you planning on telling your mother and me about your plans to spend a year in a foreign country? Were you going to write us a postcard once you already got there?”

“Well, you guys haven’t exactly been the easiest people to talk to lately,” Abby shot back, her defense mechanism kicking in.

“Just because your mother and I are having problems, that’s no excuse for you to keep secrets from us,” her father said. “Especially not ones as big as this!”

“It’s not like I don’t already feel guilty about this!” Abby replied. “It’s not like I didn’t
want
to tell you— you’ve just been too preoccupied tearing each other apart!”

Her father’s face fell and Abby felt a pang in her heart. Had she said too much? Gone too far? Either way, the break in their argument left only one voice in the room—her mother’s.

“But all those people . . . ,” Abby’s mother was saying. Her mother sat down on the divan, her face pale and her hands shaky. She reached out to grasp Abby’s hand. “What’re we going to tell all those people?”

“You’re going to tell them that they’re still going to get to see a wedding,” Abby said. She sat down at her mother’s side.

“What? Please don’t tell me you and Noah Spencer are eloping,” Abby’s father said.

“Noah Spencer?” Her mother sounded even more confused. “Are you dating Noah Spencer?”

“Yeah . . . no . . . um, kind of ?” Abby said. “Maybe not.” She brought her hands to her head and looked at Carol. “A little help here?”

“Abby is not eloping,” Carol said. “She came up with this plan and if you guys agree, we both think it would be really cool.”

“Will somebody please tell me who is supposed to be getting married here?” Abby’s father demanded.

“You and Mom!” Abby blurted out. “Carol and I want you to renew your vows.”

Total silence ensued. Abby’s mom looked at her dad and they held each other’s gaze for a split second before her father looked away.

“Girls . . . while that’s a very sweet gesture . . . I really don’t think this is the time,” Abby’s mother said.

“Have either of you guys even seen the ballroom today?” Carol asked.

Abby’s parents spoke at once.

“I haven’t actually had time—”

“No, not since it was finished—”

Abby smiled. “Come on,” she said. “We want to show you something.”

Abby and Carol led their parents down the hallway and into the lounge, then through the double doors into the ballroom. Even though she’d seen it all before, the sight was still breathtaking to Abby. She had never seen the room look so beautiful.

“Oh my goodness!” Abby’s mother gasped, her hand over her heart.

Her dad was so shocked, he could only add, “Wow.”

They stepped to the center of the room, each of them turning around in the middle of the dance floor to take it all in. The beautiful array of colors, the crystal twinkling in the waning sunlight, the ribbons and flowers and candles. Over the years Abby’s parents had seen it all, but this was something new. Abby exchanged a triumphant glance with Carol. It was all coming together.

“You guys did this together,” Abby told her parents. “You didn’t even realize you were doing it. But, I mean . . . look at it.”

“You thought your two styles were completely different, but when they came together they made this,” Carol added. “It’s the most gorgeous wedding I’ve ever seen.”

Abby’s parents looked at each other and her mother smiled softly. And Abby could swear she saw tears in her father’s eyes. She took a few steps toward them.

“I don’t know if I’m right, but I think that you were each trying to plan the wedding you never had,” Abby told them softly. “I mean, how insane is it that two such wedding-obsessed people eloped? You guys never got to do it up the way you wanted, so you were trying to do it for Carol. That’s why I think you should have your own wedding, today, the way each of you always wanted.”

“So? What do you think?” Carol asked.

“The flowers really are beautiful, Phoebe,” Abby’s father said.

“And the colors . . . ,” her mom said. “The colors are amazing, David.”

“Abby’s right,” her dad said. “I think we were both using Carol to throw our own dream weddings.”

Abby’s mother looked sheepishly at the floor. “I’m the horrendous mother of the bride to end all horrendous mothers of the bride, aren’t I?”

“Mom, no!” Carol said, stepping forward to hug her. “I appreciate everything you tried to do.” She leaned back and looked at both of them. “But if you do it again when I really get married, you are so dead.”

All four of them laughed and Abby’s entire body relaxed. It was as if the last couple of months were being washed away.

“So, what do you think, David?” Abby’s mother said. “Wanna get hitched?”

Her father stepped forward, broke into a grin and took Abby’s mother’s hand. “Phoebe Beaumont, will you marry me?”

Abby and Carol grinned. They high-fived into a hug as their parents kissed.

“Christopher! Let’s go!” Abby shouted.

Christopher walked in from the hall, smiled at Abby’s parents and strode right past them out the back door.

“All right, people,” he shouted to the crowd. “We have a small change of plans here. . . .”

“Dad, you wait at the arch,” Abby said. “We’ve got to get the bride ready.”

Her mother giggled as Abby and Carol dragged her upstairs to Carol’s room. When they opened the door, Delila was already decked out in her bridesmaid’s dress. The gown her mother had loved back at the bridal shop hung on the closet door in all its lacy, beaded glory. Her mother’s mouth dropped open when she saw it.

“Oh, girls . . . ,” she said. She walked over to touch the fabric gently.

“You’re going to look just like a princess,” Carol told her. “Just like you always wanted.”

“And now, as I understand it, David and Phoebe have written their own vows that they would like to share with each other,” the justice of the peace said with a smile.

Abby glanced at Carol, who stood alongside her in her blue bridesmaid’s dress with Tessa, Missy and Delila. When had this vow thing been decided? And how had her parents had the time to think up something to say? Abby’s dad took both her mother’s hands in his own and swallowed hard.

“Phoebe, when we first got married we were just a couple of crazy kids with a dream,” he said, causing her mother to laugh and tear up at the same time. “We dreamt of being together. We dreamt of having a family. We dreamt of having a business. And now . . . look around us,” he said, glancing up at the Dove’s Roost and at Abby and Carol. “We have everything we always wanted and more. How many people can say that they truly love what they do? How many people can say that they have daughters who know them even better than they know themselves?”

Both Abby’s parents looked at her and Carol again and tears stung at Abby’s eyes. What was her father
doing
to her?

“I know how lucky we are, Phoebe. But most of all I know how lucky I am to have you. And so, on this day, I promise to love you always. To cherish you forever. And to remember every day what an honor it is to be a part of your family.”

Someone in the back started a round of applause and Abby shoved her flowers under her arm and joined in, the tears overflowing. Abby’s mother threw her arms around her father and hugged him.

“He took what I was going to say!” she shouted, laughing through her tears.

Everyone cracked up and it was one of the more cathartic moments of Abby’s life. She felt as if every emotion she’d felt over the past few months were draining out of her. She saw Carol and Tucker exchange a long, meaningful glance. Abby knew what they were thinking—that the two of them were going to exchange vows one day, too. The thought actually made Abby happy.

She couldn’t believe how quickly everything had changed. Three days before she had been certain that Tucker was cheating on her sister. Three days before her parents had been embroiled in a silent war. Three days before she was barely speaking to her best friend. Now, with the sun shining down on her, warming her shoulders and face, with practically everyone she knew cheering and blowing bubbles around her, Abby knew that everything was going to be okay. Her parents would work out their problems, and she could handle Tucker being part of her life. She could even handle Delila and Christopher dating—as long as they didn’t get all gross and mushy on her.

While the justice of the peace delivered his wrap-up speech, Abby looked around. The aisle was beautifully decorated with light blue and white ribbons. The arch was gorgeous, covered in blue, white and yellow flowers. Everyone looked absolutely beautiful. Abby took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She couldn’t believe she had pulled it off. It seemed she had actually become a wedding guru after all. Well, with Becky, Carol, Christopher and Delila’s help.

“By the power vested in me by the state of Massachusetts, I now pronounce you man and wife . . . again!” the justice announced.

Everyone applauded again as Abby’s parents kissed, no one clapping harder than Abby herself. It was one of those ideal moments. One of those rare blips in time where everything was totally perfect.

But even as Abby realized this, her heart twisted in her chest, reminding her that, in fact, all was not well. There was one thing missing. Clutching her bouquet, she turned to follow her parents up the aisle and saw him. Not missing after all. Noah Spencer was standing at the back of the ceremony area, his blue eyes focused directly on her.

• 17 •

Always a Bridesmaid

Abby swallowed back her fear and walked toward Noah. The rest of the guests were walking toward the cocktail hour on the flagstone patio behind the house.

“Hey,” she said quietly. Abby was so nervous she could barely look at Noah. She tried to concentrate on her bouquet.

“Hey,” he replied. “Sorry to crash. I felt guilty about sending the new guy over with the cake this morning and I wanted to make sure it all turned out okay.”

“Right. Well, it did. Thanks,” Abby said, forcing a smile.

“Johnny Rockets told me what you did for your parents,” Noah said. “I wanted to tell you I think it’s totally amazing.”

“Glad you think so,” Abby replied. Then she took a deep breath.

“Listen, about Italy,” she said. “I didn’t tell you because I wasn’t even sure I was going to be allowed to go. And I didn’t want to, you know, complicate everything. We were just getting together. We’d just said . . .”

The words died in her throat, choking her up. There was no way she was getting them out in the middle of all this.

“I love you?” Noah supplied.

Abby looked up and it was as if his eyes were burning a hole in her heart. Did he still love her, or had it fizzled faster than it had started?

“Look, I’m sorry for overreacting,” Noah said finally. “I just didn’t want to lose you, and the Italy thing combined with the Johnny Rockets thing . . . I don’t know, I guess I was threatened and somehow that made me regress back to kindergarten.”

Abby snorted a laugh, then covered her mouth with her hand. She had never heard a guy admit so much in one sentence.

“She laughs. I take that as a good sign,” Noah said.

“Everything’s been so crazy for so long,” Abby said. “Do you think maybe we could just . . .”

“Start over?” Noah supplied.

“Yeah,” Abby said hopefully.