Chapter 22
Marlise had a strange, hopeful kind of smile on her face when Jay walked in holding Rebecca’s hand on Saturday morning. It took a special kind of person to manage the extravagant dreams of the newly engaged and take the disasters as well. Though why Marlise could be hopeful in a situation like this was beyond him.
“Both of you, sit down.”
He’d tried to reassure Rebecca last night on the phone, but he could see the worry cutting across her face today. She hugged herself and stared at the professionally framed portrait of a happy bride hanging on the wall behind Marlise’s desk.
“The first thing I want you to know, Rebecca, is that I’ve refunded one hundred percent of your Grandmother’s money.”
Rebecca’s eyes shot to Marlise. “Why?”
“I don’t need her fighting my vendors for her money and I definitely don’t need the bad word-of-mouth she could bring to them or me. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have some sunk costs. Things like Winnie’s dress and ring are her problem. If she wants to go after Winnie for those, she’ll have to do it on her own.”
“I’m so sorry, Marlise.”
Marlise waved a hand to stop her. “I’m the one who convinced Jay to take her on. He warned me it was a bad idea, and I believe you warned him. I don’t hold you responsible for your family. That wouldn’t be fair.”
Rebecca stood. “You’re way too generous, Marlise. I’m ready to spend the day making phone calls or running errands, whatever needs to be done to fix this. I made a list, but I’m sure you have some kind of protocol for a canceled wedding. What would you like me to do first?”
Marlise smiled. “First, I want you to sit back down and look at Jay.”
Jay shrugged as Rebecca turned curious eyes on him and sunk back down in her chair. He didn’t know where this was going any more than she did.
“What I’m about to say is totally optional, but we have a small opportunity here and I thought I’d run it by you two before we start canceling everything.” Marlise took in a shaky breath. “Please don’t hate me. It’s just, I know what that little square bulge is in Jay’s pocket because I saw him take it out and stare at it last week.”
Jay’s face flushed hot as Rebecca’s eyes widened. He could tell she wanted to assume what Marlise was talking about, but she alsodidn’twant to assume.
Thanks to Marlise, it was time to show his cards, for better or for worse. He pulled out the ring box and knelt in front of Rebecca’s chair, shaking like a leaf. “This is not exactly how I planned to do this. Thanks, Marlise.”
“Yes!” Rebecca blurted out. She squeaked out a laugh and then threw her arms around him. “Oh my gosh, you’re shaking so bad. Stop that. Of course, I want to marry you.” She kissed both his cheeks and then his lips, simultaneously trying to pull him up off the floor.
The squeezing pressure in his chest deflated like a balloon and he reached up, caressing her cheek. “I didn’t even get to open the ring box, Becca.” He popped it open to show her and then carefully pulled the ring out to slide on her finger.
“Is this…?” Rebecca studied it. “Is this the ring I tried on a few weeks ago? You said you wanted to see if their staff had good customer service skills, so I should ask to try a few on.”
“Sneaky, Jay.” Marlise rolled her eyes. “So, about Monday… I have a friend in the county clerk’s office. She’d open early for you on Monday so you can get a marriage license.”
Rebecca squeezed Jay’s hand. “I don’t know if I could do that to Ian. Imagine attending your own wedding that’s now no longer yours.”
Marlise shrugged. “I wouldn’t worry about Ian. This hair-brained idea was actually his. He thought maybe his grandmother wouldn’t mind all the money lost if it went toward Rebecca’s wedding instead of his.”
Jay groaned. Ian was an idiot.
Marlise leaned in. “But Mrs. Scott is not paying for this anymore, and whether you two use the venues or we last minute cancel is a nominal difference in cost. Most were paid in full already. I’m okay with whatever you two decide. Truly.” She stood up. “Let me give you some time to think about it. If you need me, I’ll be at Dorothy’s desk calling Winnie’s friends and family and letting them know not to come.”
***
Rebecca paced in front of the door, stopping when Jay moved in front of her.
“What do you think, Becca?” He reached up and stroked her hair, and she threw her arms around him, not sure what to think, except a hug definitely was in order. Just pressing her face into his neck made her feel a hundred times better.
“I love you, Jay.”
“I love you, too.” When he pulled back, his eyes crinkled with worry. “Thisisa hair-brained idea. Let’s cancel everything and then we’ll plan you the perfect wedding.”
The perfect wedding.The words echoed in Rebecca’s mind. Was that what she wanted? “No. There is no perfect wedding. There is no such thing as a perfect wedding or a perfect bride or groom, and I don’t want to endlessly plan a wedding. Do you think you could get your parents to fly here tomorrow?”
“Really?” The way his eyes lit up confirmed what Rebecca already knew: Jay was on board with this idea, crazy or not. “You want to get married at the castle and then dance the night away?”
