The Bridesmaid

Chapter Two

Chapter Two:

                                                              JANE

                “So I think I’m only going to have one bridesmaid, which will be you, of course, Jane,” Cynthia said as she sat around a table with Grant and I at Café Grind.

                “Well then, I guess I’ll only have one groomsman, right?” Grant asked innocently in a charming British accent. Both Grant and Cynthia were only-children and didn’t have any close family members to put in the wedding party.

                “Yes, sweetheart,” Cynthia replied kindly, “and who do you want that to be?”

                Cynthia was writing frantically in a pink, spiral-bound notebook with the word ‘WEDDING’ written on the front in black, permanent marker. Cynthia was all business when it came to this wedding.

                “It’ll have to be Finn Gray. He’s my best mate. It’d be blasphemy to leave him out!” Grant said enthusiastically.

                “Ok then. Cindy Singleton told me that since we’re having a beach wedding, everything should be elegant, yet simple,” Cynthia said as Grant and I rolled our eyes in unison. Cindy Singleton was Cynthia’s wedding planner. To Cynthia, Cindy was a beautiful fountain overflowing with matrimonial knowledge. To everyone else, Cindy was an obnoxious, middle-aged woman with a tendency to be a nagging, know-it-all.

                “Where do you know Finn from, Grant?” I inquired.

                “Finn and I grew up together in London. Our fathers were both into the business scene there. We were roommates at St. Benedicts up until graduation. He studied at Cambridge while I came here to UCLA, but after the wedding he’s moving to L.A. to take over the U.S. branch of his father’s company, just like me.”

                Cynthia and I knew from the beginning that Grant wasn’t exactly hurting for money. Well, who are we kidding? He was filthy rich, but was never arrogant about it. Like me, Cynthia grew up in a middle-class suburb of L.A. and didn’t like it when people flaunted their money. Cynthia was impressed that Grant never boasted of his bulging trust fund or the fact that he would take over the U.S. branch of Ritter Enterprises, his father’s company, after college graduation. Grant was charming, no one could deny that.

                “Well, I wish I could have met this Finn before the wedding,” Cynthia said wistfully.

                “You’ll have plenty of time to get to know him before the wedding while we’re in Jamaica. By then, the pair of you will probably be the best of mates, too!” Grant replied optimistically.

                “Cynth, have you finished the guest list?” I asked her.

                “Yeah. It’s down to you, me, Grant, Finn, my parents, your brother, your dad, Grant’s parents, and Cindy Singleton. I decided to keep it small.”

                “Great! And have you booked the flights for two weeks from now?”

                “Already done! I’m so excited! This wedding will be like a vacation for all of us!” Cynthia exclaimed.

                As I looked at my dearest friend, I couldn’t help but smile at her obvious excitement. Come to think of it, a small glimmer of excitement had formed in me as well.