Sandra returns with a rolling rack. “We’re ready for the first few options. I’m going to pull one for each of you to see side by side. If you love something, you can try it on. Keep in mind that these are just ideas. We can change, add, or take away anything.”
We sit back and the first set she pulls out I’m pretty much sold. She pulled a navy coat with a train for Keno and for me, a deep blue, but the lapels, sleeves and… sides? I don’t know the proper names of pieces of clothing. Those pieces, while still the same color, are a shinier, more detailed fabric.
“Yes,” Keno says, his voice quiet. Almost in awe. “That’s it. Right there.”
Sandra smiles. “You want to see more?”
“Okay, but I’m not sure you’re going to beat those.”
He’s not wrong. We see two more options, but Keno, like me, is already set on the first pair. Sandra hands Keno his to try on just as my phone rings.
“It’s the venue,” I tell Keno, and he pauses as I answer.
The woman we speak to at the resort is Melissa. She’s handling our event. “Good afternoon, Mr. Yreka,” Melissa greets. “How are you today?”
“I’m good, thanks.”
“Is this a good time?”
“We’re right in the middle of trying on our gowns,” I say.
She laughs. “Okay, I’ll make this quick. This phone call is just a reminder that I need your number of guests attending and approximately how many will be staying on site so we can ensure you have the proper number of rooms reserved.”
“Number of guests,” I repeat, eyes meeting Keno’s.
“Yes,” Melissa says. “I don’t need your actual guest list. Just the number.”
“Fuck. We need a guest list.”
Melissa laughs again. “Yes, Mr. Yreka. You also need to invite them and make sure they RSVP so you have a close approximate number on how many to expect.”
I’m still staring at Keno. I’m not sure if he heard Melissa or maybe we’re just in tune because of the game we played where we kept giving the same answers. But together, we say, “Fuck.”
I’m thankful Melissa is not offended by word. “Give me a call when you have that information, Mr. Yreka. It’s not urgent but as soon as possible would be appreciated.”
“Okay. Will do. Thanks for the call.”
I hang up and Keno gives me a distressed look. We had skipped that to-do because it meant invites and we didn’t have a theme to do invites yet!
“Want to help us with the guest list when we’re done playing dress up?” Keno asks Sandra.
She grins. “I’m afraid that’s one area I’m not going to be much help in.”
I sigh.
“Your parents will probably be, though.”
Keno and I must give each other similar looks. Sandra laughs and then gestures for Keno to follow her to the dressing room.
CHAPTER 22
KENO
We knewour week off fell into the end of January, early February, so we’d booked a lot of wedding appointments for that week. The only thing we need to work around is conditioning and practice. Not games and travel.
We thought it was a good idea at the time, but now we’re planning impromptu trips home to talk to our parents and grandparents about family members and addresses and whatever. It’s fine. It needs to happen.
We agreed that since our parents and grandparents aren’t close by to help us with the wedding and to feel like they’re involved, we’d fly to them even though this could probably be done via email at the very least.
