But when we arrived in Harrogate at the City Hall for the wedding rehearsal, I was starting to feel very fazed.
“Avery,” Edward said, “we have a problem.”
“I don’t want problems. I just want solutions.”
“The solution is that you’re going to have to wear your grandmother’s dress to the reception, because your dress isn’t ready.”
“What? How?” I wailed.
“The seamstress’s daughter had a baby and is now running a few days behind. They said they just won’t be able to finish the alterations.”
“I wanted nice pictures,” I moaned.
Shirley patted me on the shoulders. “All that matters now is that you get married. At least your grandmother will be happy if you wear the dress, right? Look on the bright side: she’ll definitely give you the house.”
“But my wedding-planning business…”
“We’ll find someone, give them a discount, and put on the best wedding ever,” my friend assured me. “Let’s just make it through the rehearsal dinner. We have twenty-four hours to go, and then this will all be over.”
I straightened my back and forced myself to calm down as we walked the few blocks from our hotel to the City Hall building. The grand brick structure rose up at the end of the town square, ornate and imposing. In the lobby, my supersized wedding party was gathered, watching Hunter argue with Meg.
“There’s supposed to be a wedding; we rented the space,” he said.
“You rented it for tomorrow afternoon,” Meg countered. “The knitting expo has it through this evening. You’ll just have to come back tomorrow if you want to rehearse.”
“But the rehearsal is today. That’s why we have the rehearsal dinner planned, Meghan.”
“I’m sorry that none of you know how to use a calendar. Also, when did you start caring about weddings?” Meg countered. I didn’t dare look to Blade. I knew that the only reason Hunter cared about the wedding was because Blade had brought Hunter and Greg in on our secret, and Hunter wanted to win that Harris & Schultz contract.
“We don’t need a rehearsal,” Cassie said.God, she is always there to sabotage me at every turn.“It’s not hard. The groom goes first then the wedding party then the bride. Vows are said. Rings are exchanged. The end.”
“She’s right,” Ida said. “I’ve been in a number of weddings in my day. You can’t go wrong.”
60
Blade
“Are you upset?” I asked Avery as we went to a nearby restaurant I’d rented out for the rehearsal dinner. They graciously let us in early, and a large number of the wedding party headed straight for the bar.
She looked up at me. “The important thing is that we’re getting married.”
Since the two hours that had originally been planned for the rehearsal were no longer needed, they melded into the hour and a half I had budgeted for cocktails. People were blitzed by the time the restaurant had the appetizers ready for the official cocktail hour.
“I can’t believe your groom forgot to book the City Hall building for the rehearsal,” Cassie, Avery’s half sister, was saying loudly. “This is why you need a wedding planner. Honestly, what were they thinking?”
I gritted my teeth.
Avery signaled to the bartender for another drink as more out-of-town guests arrived. I hadn’t wanted to have the rehearsal dinner be only for the wedding party, especially since both of us had family coming in from out of town. Inviting everyone had seemed like the polite thing to do. Now the restaurant was packed. I was introduced to a string of Avery’s aunts, uncles, and cousins. She, in turn, was subjected to my half brothers.
“Maybe I went a little overboard with this,” I told her under my breath.
“At this point?” She shrugged. “Eyes on the prize, right?”
“Right.” But I wasn’t thinking about the contract or the watch. I was thinking about Avery.
The servers were finally setting up the buffet stations for dinner, which was good, because people needed something other than lobster croquettes to soak up all the alcohol. Avery and I continued to greet people and make small talk about our wedding.
“Yes, it is a short engagement.”
