That Wedding

I was fairly calm when I left the restaurant, but by the time I get home, I'm fuming.

I'm trying to figure out if I can sue him, fight him. I want the big wedding. I think he's right that my parents would want it. It's not his money, it's mine. Who does he think he is? And why was I so stupid? Why at eighteen did I tell them I didn't need that much money? Why did I let them put it back in the trust? What was I thinking?

That's it. I wasn't thinking.

My parents had just died.

I was under stress.

Or duress.

Or whatever it's called when you don't make the right decisions because you're temporarily not thinking straight. I'll hire a lawyer. I'll.......

I storm into the house and throw my purse against the wall.

Phillip's sitting on the couch. He looks at me with concern. "What's wrong?"

I plop on the couch next to him. "We're....we can't.....I don't......he said......" Then I start crying. I tell him how we had our dream wedding pla

Phillip holds me and lightly pats my back. I'm sure he wonders what the hell, but he never lets on.

"We'll figure something out, Princess. Don't worry," is all he says.

But it's enough.

Phillip always knows exactly what to say.

I lay my head on his shoulder and stop worrying. Phillip has that affect on me. He calms me down. I know we'll figure out something together.

Phillip and I have decided to elope. We're going to skip Vegas and get married on an amazing beach. We spent all last night looking at exotic locales. We haven't figured out where, but since it's just the two of us going, we're going somewhere really posh. Somewhere decadent. We narrowed it down to four places, and I'm going to call them this weekend and find out about their wedding packages. It's not what I dreamed of, but it's how it's go

Like Phillip says, All that matters is that we get married.

And I keep telling myself that he's right.

Even though it doesn't feel that way.

I'm sitting at Phillip's desk at work, sketching out some very rough ideas for the front of the new building. They've been floating around in my mind for a few days, and I want to get them on paper.

My cell rings. I don't recognize the number, but notice it's the KC area code. "Jadyn Reynolds," I say very professionally, assuming it's one of the realtors we've been working with.

"Miss Reynolds, this is Maggie from the International Hotel in Kansas City. I got your message the other day, and I wanted to let you know that we had a cancellation for our rooftop ballroom and wondered if you were still interested."

OH MY GOSH!!! OMIGOSH!!! Ohmygosh!!! I can barely breathe!!! The International Hotel is the dream spot!!! Rooftop ballroom overlooking the Lights!!! Can this really be happening??? Am I awake?

"Are you serious?" I ask.

But, shit. What happened? Why did it come available? Did some other couple call off their wedding?

Would it be bad karma to take their place?

Do I really care about karma?

"May I ask why the event got cancelled?"

"It was scheduled for an a

"Wow, okay." AHHHHH!! "What date is available?"

"Saturday, January the thirteenth."

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's like a bolt of lightening just flashed straight down from heaven into Phillip's office.

January the thirteenth!! My parents' a

"The thirteenth would be perfect," I hear myself say. I'm beyond thinking. I'm just doing. "Wait. Are the Plaza Lights still up then?"

"Yes, it's their last weekend," she says cheerfully.

"I'll take it."

I can't believe my luck, my being blessed, I'm not sure, but wow. I'm sooooo excited.

It gets even better when she says, "I don't know if you're interested, but the wedding and event pla

OMG!!! YES!!! A wedding pla

Thank you, God.

Thank you, Mom and Dad.

Thank you, whoever listened to my prayers and made this happen.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

"I'd love that," I say.

I do want a wedding pla

Then she says, "The company also had a block of rooms held. Would you be interested in those?"

Uh, yeah!!!

"Yes, it will be a destination wedding, so we'll definitely need the rooms."

Before I know it, I'm giving her my credit card number to put down a deposit, and she's faxing me over a contract.

This isn't just any venue that became available. This is the dream one. This is the gorgeous hotel with the view of the Plaza Lights. It has a rooftop ballroom, great food, and sparkly chandeliers.

All of a sudden, I can see my wedding again.

I know what I want. I know what colors I want, and I can picture it.

I hang up the phone and scream with joy.

Phillip comes rushing into the doorway.

I look at him and can't help it.

Happy little tears start trickling down my face.

I look up to the sky and say thank you again.

I'm pretty sure I just got a wedding gift from my parents.

I excitedly tell Phillip what just happened.

He tilts his head at me. "But that means we're go

SCREEEECCCHHHH!!!

CRASH!!

BOOM!!

I'm pretty sure the truck carrying all my wedding dreams just crashed into a brick wall, burst into flames, and blew to pieces on impact.

My heart drops.

Oh my gosh. He's right. I can't have this wedding. I'm going to have to call her back and cancel.

I cover my face with my hand. "You're right, Phillip. I forgot. I got so excited that I forgot I can't afford it. I'll have to call her back and say no."

Phillip pulls me into his arms. "Princess, you want the big wedding. You never let anything stand in your way of getting what you want. Why are you go

"You know why, Phillip."

"I talked to Da

"It's who they want me to do the counseling with."

He pushes my chin up gently, so I have to look at his gorgeous brown eyes. "What do you want?"

"I want the big wedding, Phillip. I really do."

"Then let's do it. We'll go to counseling, make everyone happy, and we'll have the wedding of our dreams."

"What if counseling breaks us up?"