"Hello?" Pt. 2

July 7th 2016

"The Delaney in London."

"What about it?"

"I've booked a private dining room there for Saturday evening."

"Ok."

"To announce our engagement. I told my grandmother and Samuel that we're meeting with Camille under the pretense that we need to discuss certain aspects of the charity event for The Courtenay Foundation. Because it's an informal dinner, partners are allowed."

"Right."

"You don't like my plan?"

"No, it's a good plan. Just one thing thought. How are you going to get my grandparents to come?"

"Which ones?"

"Both sets."

"Do we need them there?"

"Oh, sweetie, do you really want to not tell my grandma, Harlow, in person?"

"I don't understand the question."

"Harlow is , with the greatest of respect, a nightmare if she doesn't receive news first hand. Same goes with Jacqueline."

"So, basically, my plan won't work."

"It'll work. Tell you what, we'll announce it to immediate family first and then we'll call my grandparents. Are you, by any chance, close to your mother's family?"

"Please, now even she is close to her family."

"In that case, your family is mainly Connie and Samuel."

"And you. And Elias, Jen and Nola."

"Right, I've got it. Dinner at the hotel in London on Saturday, followed by a group call to Harlow and Jacqueline. Then we call all all our friends."

"Sounds like a plan. What about Emma and Adam, though?"

"Text?"

"You want to text your sister?"

"Wait! I've got it!"

"What?"

"The answer. I have it!"

"Want to share it with me?"

"Balloons!"

"Balloons?"

"I know this guy-"

"An ex-boyfriend, by any chance?"

"Him personally? No. His brother? Charlotte's ex. Anyway, there's this guy who has a party planning business and he has balloons. Now, you can purchase confetti filled balloons that have writing on the front. So, we can either get some that say, 'Sophie and Daniel are engaged!' or we can get 'Save the Date' ones. We just send them and be done with it. Simple, huh?"

"You want to send them balloons?"

"Alternatively, we don't tell anyone and we invite them to a New Year's Eve party and spring a surprise wedding on them."

"..."

"That was a joke."

"No, I like that plan."

"I'm dialling the balloon people on the other phone."

"But a surprise wedding would be brilliant!"

"No, it wouldn't."

"Why not?"

"Because my father will crucify you and my mother will crucify me!"

"I'd rather not get on my soon-to-be father-in-law's bad side."

"Glad we agree. So, shall we get red confetti balloons or save the date balloons?"

"Which do you prefer?"

"I'll ask if we can have red confetti filled save the date balloons."

"Ok. Just send me the bill."

"Nah, it's ok. I'll send the invoice to my dad."

"I don't think he'll be thrilled."

"Look, my father is Irish Catholic, ok? He's very set in the old ways, including the tradition that the father of the bride pays for the wedding. He'll be insulted if either of us tried to foot the bill."

"But it's our wedding."

"I know, but Dad won't take kindly to anyone else paying for it."

"But-"

"I'll send the invoice your way and then, when Dad finds out, you can explain it to him. How does that sound?"

"Unpleasant, but necessary."

"Hey, babe?"

"Yeah?"

"It was nice knowing you."

"Ha ha!"

"I'm not joking. Text me a list of who needs balloons and I'll get them done up tonight so they can be delivered tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

"Yep. That way we can send invites to the dinner on Saturday night and that'll give people time to fly in to celebrate with us."

"You're unbelieveable, Soph."

"I know. Now, text me that list."

"Will do."

"Great. Love you, bye."

"Love you, bye."