Fighting for us

For a Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic

B R I T T A N Y

It was the first time we were meeting with the wedding organizer, Mary, since our last venue fiasco; it's not that I don't like Mary, she just always makes googly eyes at Taylen every chance she gets and it rubs me the wrong way.

I sat in the living room watching the food network while the mothers were in the kitchen making cucumber sandwiches.

I told them it wasn't necessary, but moms being moms they had to keep their hands busy or they would go crazy.

I had a feeling Mary would make a comment about Taylen's absence but her face immediately dimmed when she didn't see Taylen sitting with me, and that immediately put a scowl on my face.

"Hello Mary, Rachel and I have been looking at the venues you've recommended." My mother said sliding the binder on the coffee table that separated us from her.

"And, did they measure up to your standards? Do we have a decision?" she fired off question after question.

If Taylen were here she would take her sweet time speaking and writing.

"Well they were...Interesting." Rachel filled in.

I rolled my eyes and leaned forward to flip open the binder and turn the laminated pages, "no, these venues were absolutely dreadful and that's not just me being a bridezilla, it's the truth. The first one we went to was trashed, looked like a park that's been abandoned for ten years."

"I was just working off of the description you gave me, you wanted an outside wedding in a garden and I pulled out the best venues for the occasion." Mary defended.

"Bull. I went out the other day and looked for myself and I found a beautiful location in the Broad View Gardens, oh and those peonies that you claimed were "so unavailable" I also found those at a better and cheaper florist than you suggested." I said, my face heating the more I spoke.

"Well what's the point of a wedding organizer if you're just going to do everything yourself?" Mary asked with a slight sneer.

"You know what? Good question, and my answer is I think it's best we go our different ways." I said standing up.

I wish it was an empowering moment, but in all honestly I struggled to stand up and after an awkward moment of me trying to maneuver around my belly, my mom finally reached out to help me stand.

Flustered and sweating, I stood with my hands on my hips waiting for her to gather all of her stuff.

She looked ready to argue but before she could get a word out of her poised lips, the door swung open revealing a profusely sweating and exhausted Taylen.

Mary instantly perked up and her hands stilled over the large binder.

"Oh, hello Mary." Taylen said pleasantly after planting a kiss on my cheek.

"Hi Taylen, hard day at work?" She asked breathlessly.

I swear my eye will get stuck if I roll my eyes one more time.

"Yeah," he says hesitantly while glancing at me, "but it seems yours is worse. What am I missing?" He asked putting his arm around my waist.

"I've relieved Mary of her services." I said with my chin held up.

"And I was just about to tell her she can't fire me if you and your mother hired me." Mary says with a self satisfied smile.

I look up a Taylen, who was already looking down at me in confusion.

T A Y L E N

I could feel the tension the minute I walked into the house.

There was so much estrogen floating around I felt the need to go do something manly, even though I was tired as hell already.

I stared into Brittany's blue eyes and scrunched my eyebrows, "what happened to cause this?"

"I don't feel she is doing her job to her best ability, and her crush on you is super unprofessional." Brittany said.

I didn't know what to say so I rubbed the back of my neck and looked at the love seat.

"'Mom?" I asked.

"What do you think son?"

Well that was no help, thanks mom.

"Whatever Brittany wants, Brittany gets and if she believes in her head of hearts that she no longer needs to be here. I agree." I say squeezing her hip.

My mom looked between Mary and Brittany and walked to the door.

"I think it's time for you to leave Mary." She said with a sweeping gesture to the open door.

Mary was stunned into silence, but that didn't last long.

Her face slowly turned red and she furiously packed all of her binders and mumbled angrily to herself.

Brittany collapsed exhaustedly on the couch as she stomped her way to the front door and slammed it behind her.

Then Brittany burst out into tears.

I rubbed my face with my hands, this is honestly the last thing I wanted to come home to.

"What's wrong?" I asked rubbing her back.

"What are we gonna do? We won't find a planner this late! It's mid weeding season." She sobbed.

I once again, didn't know what to say, luckily our moms came to the rescue.

"It's okay sweet cheeks, we've got it."

"Yeah, your mom and I can take it from here; we've got venue, flowers and caterers. The rest is a piece of cake, quite literally seeming as though we don't have a cake yet." My mom assured.

"Are you sure?" She asked sniffling.

"Anything for you." Her mom replied.

"Isn't that a lot of work though, I mean you both have full time jobs and I don't want you to have to spend your days off doing stuff, you guys should relax and-"

"Brittany, I assure you I would love to do this, I'm an old lady who has an empty nest. I crave things to do on my days off, trust me."

"Only if you're sure."

"Of course." They reply in unison.

Brittany rubbed her face free of tears and struggled to stand.

I reached out to give her a hand, but she pushed it away and used to arm of the chair to haul herself up.

She stood breathing heavily and wrapped her arms around both of our mothers.

Now for me to find somewhere to pass out.