~S~
Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, I was setting aside work and we were planning a courthouse wedding... Whatever she wanted, Lindsey and I had promised to help make it happen.
Thankfully, they weren't in any huge, huge rush to leave for New York. They gave us a little grace period... We had two weeks.
Only two until the wedding and then two days after that, they were planning to hit the road and head East.
And I would be lying right now if I said that I was happy... I wasn't happy. I was nervous, concerned, sad, but most of all, I was in denial, I think.
You know, the crazy this is, one day you have a baby, who is wearing tiny little pink ribbons in her hair and begging you to read another story before bed, and then it seems like the next day, she's in your kitchen, calling her friends on the phone to tell them that she's engaged.
I couldn't believe it and neither could Lindsey.
In fact, he was more upset and shocked then I was. He had called me one night, not long after she'd announced that they were leaving- I think it was super late that same night actually, and he apologized... for the tenth time and that time, I actually listened.
Things happen in life that seem super unpredictable and who are we to hold someone so accountable for their mistakes that it ruins things?
That's not fair.
I couldn't be mad at him forever, not when I knew that he would be a part of my life for the rest of it... I mean, he was such a huge portion of my past, I knew that no matter what, he'd been in the future... somewhere.
So we talked about it and I agreed that I didn't think it was the right thing for her, but we also knew there wasn't much we could do but support her.
If she wanted to leave for New York, then we would be there, sending her on her way.
~
"Austin's parents want to get the cake." She index finger met the piece of paper that I had sitting in front of me, silently telling me to write that on the list.
Glancing up over the edge of my reading glasses, I pursed my lips to the side. "Will you at least let us do a dinner party afterwards?" I wasn't trying to be bossy, or run the show... I wanted to give her something special.
I wanted her to have a wedding to remember, not one that felt rushed. She deserved to have a gorgeous gown, a room full of people that loved her and beautiful pictures to show her children one day.
I wanted to give her the wedding of her dreams.
"No." She shook her head, not even hesitating. "We can have dinner here at the house, but I don't want anything big." Lark's eyes spoke more than her actual words did.
I looked back down at the piece of paper as I nodded my head in agreement. "Would you like me and grandma to cook, or can I cater from that cute Italian restaurant?" I wanted her to let me buy a nice dinner at least, but I was leaving her options open... It was up to her.
"Whatever you want to do, I will appreciate it, mom." Lark reached out, giving my arm a soft, reassuring squeeze.
"How many people are invited?" My mother had gotten into town two days after I had called, ready to help and she was great at it.
She was so calm and collected, all the time... She knew what to say, what to do, how to act and she guided me through it with the same attitude, or at least she tried.
"Well..." Lark was standing on the other side of the kitchen island, holding a cup of coffee as she took a moment to think. "It'll be Austin's parents, his grandma, you, dad, grandma and grandpa, Karen, Lori and then just Suzanna and her husband." She shrugged a shoulder, eyes falling to the marble counter top. "And that's it." She added, which caused my heart to sink into the very pit of my stomach.
"What about-" I'm not exactly sure who my mom was getting ready to ask about, but I was so nervous to hear, I cleared my throat to cut her off.
"That'll be lovely." My gaze slowly traveled to my mom when Lark had turned her back, giving her an arched brow.
She rolled her eyes lightly, nudging my arm as she began to push herself up out off the barstool that she'd been sitting in. "What time is your dress appointment?" She then wondered, probably deciding it was best to change the topic after all.
I think the guest list was a weird thing for Lark. She had a thousand friends, so many family members and people that always supported her in life, but since there was such a weird drift in the family at that point, she only wanted people that she had really depended on to be in attendance.
"We have to leave in ten minutes." Karen was there, too... she was always there and she's still here, somewhere- doing something.
Anyway, after that, we were all rushing around to get out to the car and get down to Margi's storefront on time... She was used to me being late, but at that point, there was no room to be late for much of anything.
We only had ten days before the wedding and I was just thankful that she was understanding enough to squeeze Lark in for a fitting.
"I can't believe that she's getting married." I whispered as I slouched down into the leather sofa, after Lark had disappeared to try on some dresses that she had liked.
My mom slid over, wrapped her arm around my shoulders and kissed the top of my head as if I were still a little kid. "You're doing so well, baby girl." And believe it or not, even though I was almost fifty- that made me feel so much better.
