Big A
Email from Gran
To: Arabella c.c. King Winston, Arthur, Tessa
Subject: RE: RE: Pre-wedding Getaway
What Big A (who’s being a big A, if you ask me) means is, “Of course we can make that happen and we’d be delighted to attend.”
Gran
P.S. Should I bring my doctor manfriend or would that be like bringing sand to the beach?
Email from Dad
To: Arabella
cc: Gran, Arthur, Tessa
Subject: RE: RE: RE: Pre-wedding Getaway
Mother, please. You’re eighty-nine, for God’s sake. Act like it.
And, yes, Arabella, have Mrs. Chapman contact Phillip with the dates. It’s been far too long since I’ve been anywhere, and the idea of going with the whole family is a welcome one.
Dad
Email from Gran
To: Arabella
cc: King Winston, Arthur, Tessa
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: Pre-wedding Getaway
I am acting my age—people so close to death have to drink in every last drop of life. So, suck it, sonny boy. I’m going to get my Caribbean freak on.
Mom
Email from Tessa
To: Arabella
cc: King Winston, Arthur, Gran
Subject: RE: RE: RE: RE: RE: Pre-wedding Getaway
Yes! A tropical vacay is just what we all need—especially Big A. We’ll be there, Arabella! ALL of us.
T
P.S. We should squeeze in some swimsuit shopping as soon as I lose the baby weight again.
Text from me to Will:Guess what?! My family’s on board for the trip! We’ll see you in Paradise Bay!!!
The last week has been an absolute blur, which is honestly my preference when it comes to times when Will has to be away. My brain has been swirling with decisions and meetings with Imogen’s team and the family advisors. Spoiler alert: the royal staff doesn't exactly love having unknown event planners trying to take over all the decisions. A wedding ‘war room’ has been set up in the mid-size ballroom, and let me say, there have been more than a few battles fought already. The teams are here, if not twenty-four hours a day, at least eighteen, which means the kitchen staff have been staying late to feed them. Between our lawyers, my family’s advisors, the network and their lawyers, the film crew, and the event planners, the entire thing amounts to a very tense, chaotic environment, and every time I do have to go down to make decisions (which seems to be at least eight times a day) I am a tightly-wound spring by the time I walk out the door.
This is all made far more difficult by what I'm now guessing may have been an ill-advised idea to pretend I'm the world's most calm and carefree bride because instead of saying, “Oh, yes, I love that!” to any of the choices, I say things like, “I don't know, which one is less expensive?” or, “Is one more environmentally conscious than the other?”
