Autumn's Embrace: The Wedding Season

Chapter 24: A Farmhouse Emergency

The morning before the wedding was supposed to be calm—a final chance to rest, reflect, and perhaps soak in the excitement. Instead, Lily and Elliot found themselves caught in a whirlwind as they prepared to host close family and friends for an intimate pre-wedding gathering at their house.

As they finished arranging a few final details, Elliot suddenly froze, tilting his head with a frown. "Do you hear that?"

Lily paused, listening carefully, and then there it was—a faint, steady trickling sound coming from somewhere nearby. Her brow furrowed as she tried to pinpoint the source.

"It sounds like... water?" she said, worry creeping into her voice. "Did we leave a faucet running?"

They followed the noise through the living room, each step quickening with growing urgency. The sound led them down the hallway and straight to the guest bathroom. When Elliot opened the door, they both froze, eyes widening at the sight. Water was pooling around the bathroom floor, creeping steadily under the doorway and into the hallway carpet.

"Oh no..." Lily's hand flew to her mouth as she took in the sight. "This cannot be happening today."

Elliot ran a hand through his hair, a mix of shock and frustration crossing his face. "A leak? Now?"

For a moment, they simply stared at the mess, neither quite sure where to begin. The peaceful start to their wedding day had suddenly taken a drastic turn.

After a deep breath, Lily straightened, determination settling over her. "We need to find the source and turn off the water—fast."

Elliot nodded, and they rushed into action. He located the shut-off valve under the sink, twisting it firmly until the water stopped. Lily grabbed a few towels, pressing them down on the floor to absorb as much water as she could.

The puddle had already soaked into part of the hallway carpet, and they worked together quickly, wringing out towels and laying them down again until the majority of the water was cleaned up. The bathroom floor still needed attention, and the carpets were damp, but the immediate crisis had been handled.

"Well," Lily said with a wry smile, catching her breath as she looked around, "I guess we're off to an exciting start."

Elliot chuckled, though his face still held a look of disbelief. "Looks like our first test as a team came a little earlier than expected."

Just then, Sarah, Lily's best friend and maid of honor, walked in, her eyes widening as she took in the scene. "What happened here? Did you two decide to go for a pre-wedding splash party?"

Lily laughed, rolling her eyes at Sarah's teasing. "Not exactly. The guest bathroom decided to spring a leak on us."

Sarah let out a low whistle. "Well, nothing says 'wedding prep' like an unexpected plumbing crisis. Need a hand?"

Elliot grinned, grateful for the extra help. "If you don't mind grabbing a few more towels, that would be amazing."

Soon, they had several family members pitching in, each grabbing towels, a mop, or a fan, working together to dry the hallway carpet and bathroom floor. The scene was far from the peaceful, reflective morning they'd hoped for, but as they laughed and chatted amidst the cleanup, a sense of camaraderie filled the house.

Elliot's mom brought in coffee and pastries, setting them down on the kitchen table and offering a sympathetic smile. "Well, this may not be what you had in mind, but you'll always remember this morning. And you have a whole team here to help."

Lily smiled, touched by the outpouring of support. "Thank you, everyone. We couldn't have handled this alone."

As they finally finished drying up the last of the water, the mess seemed less daunting, and their laughter and teamwork had softened the blow. They had come together, working as a team, finding joy in an unexpected turn of events.