Then, she casts a sorrowful gaze at Iris. “I hate that you did so much work for nothing.”
Iris smiles. “I’ve already been paid. Someone will buy that first dress. That’s a given. And believe me, working on the dress you loved, for the wedding you want, was a dream.”
This appears to make Becca feel a little bit better, but she shakes her head and says, “There are so many people I’ve let down. Not just you, Iris.”
Everyone around the table disagrees with that statement.
“You’re not letting anyone down,” Quincy says gently. “You just need to do what makes you happy. Your wedding day should be about you and Nico, not about anyone else’s vision.”
I rub her back. “I’m proud of you for sticking up for yourself.”
“Thank you.” Becca sniffles. Iris pushes a plate with a warm biscuit and jam over to her.
“First, eat,” Iris says. “While you’re doing that, I’m going to talk to Maddie next door and see what she can whip up for wedding music. Beyond that, I’ll bet I can find lots of people who can help Quincy pull this together for you whenever you’re ready. We’ll all figure this out together.”
Ten
Becca
Mama made good on her word. All the vendors have been cancelled.
I personally called each and every person on the guest list.
Surprisingly, most people were very kind about it.
And most surprisingly, people wanted to talk to me.
Mama’s Aunt Linda up in Richmond, Virginia, for example, had a hard time figuring out who was calling in the first place, but then once she did, she’d said, “No offense, honey, but to be honest with you, these days I’m all about cancelling. Oh, I’d never be so rude as to turn down a wedding invitation if I had no plans in the first place. Your mama and I were just raised that way. But nowadays, I’d just as soon spend any given Saturday in June with my grandbabies. It’s so sweet of you to call personally. You must have your mama’s manners. I hope everything works out the way you want it to.”
Aside from Linda not clearly understanding what was actually happening, it was nice.
And so it went. It took well into Saturday night.
In the end, it sort of gave me a strange bit of hope that people do get over these things. And that most people do not judge folks about these kinds of things at all.
Most of the people on the list, upon hearing we were still planning to get married within the next couple of years, wished us well and told us to keep the gift. Only a small handful of my father’s business associates requested that we return the gifts for a chargeback on their credit cards.
I let Quincy know when the phone calls were done. She then turned around and started planning.
Now, Nico and I are spending our Sunday morning standing in the return line at the high-end department store in the city where Mama did our wedding registry, with our tower of boxes: crystal candy dishes, silver serving trays, and ornate china.
“This is absurd,” I hiss as we wait for the clerk to fetch a manager. “There’s no way we’re getting store credit for all of this.”
“You’re right. We should let the baby play with a gravy boat instead of getting a crib,” Nico whispers, making me laugh and prompting me to nudge him in the ribs.
By the time the returns are processed, Nico and I realize not only do we have enough for a crib, but also a stroller and car seat combo, as well as enough clothes to get through most of this kid’s toddler years.
Nico immediately grabs a buggy and heads toward the baby section. I put a hand on his arm. “Wait. We should wait. Until the second trimester, at least.”
“But if we get it all right now, then it’s done, and we can work on other stuff.”
I study his face for a moment. “What other stuff?”
“Things.”
“Does this have to do with your wedding gift?”
“No. Yes.”
