Worth It

Country clubs

Patrick adjusted the cuffs of his sleeves, and looked in the mirror. Everything was just fine. He wore a blue button up with a grey tie, and grey slacks. All had been picked out by his fiancée, Jillian, of course.

"Patrick, I told you to put some product in that hair of yours," Jillian entered the walk in closet with a tsk, looking him up and down. Patrick put a hand in his raven curls, feeling the sheer amount that he had. Jill was right, he needed product to make it more divided and straightened into waves. But he didn't want to cave into her demands. She needed him to have product for tonight, the dress rehearsal dinner. The stupid dinner.

"Yes, dear." Patrick replied, going to spray a glob of mousse into his hand to lather up. Jill stepped over after checking her lipstick.

"Honestly Patrick. Let me." She took the glob from his hand and lathered it herself, her hands yanking on his curliest strands. Patrick let out a breath, watching the mess in the mirror. She had made it look nice but at the cost of her nails in his scalp, and her hands pulling too hard at his curls.

"Jill come on. We don't want to be late." Patrick tried to urge her to keep moving so she wouldn't find anything else to say about him before they left. Jill tugged at his cuffs, looking at his cufflinks, making sure they were the right ones.

"Fine." She replied to him, leaving him in the closet as she went to make sure the rest of the party was ready. Patrick let out a deep sigh, walking to make sure Jillian had grabbed her purse, he didn't want her running back into the room in a panic. This entire night didn't feel right, and he knew it. Deep in his gut he was starting to rethink the entire wedding, but they both had families in town for this.

"Do you have the list of all the waiters and waitresses who know what we'll have served, and when?" Jill poked her head back in, double checking. Patrick picked up a slip of paper on the desk in the bedroom.

"I will call the list, you go down and entertain everyone." He lied, getting Jill out of the room. A plan had occurred to him and he needed her gone. It wasn't really a plan as more of being helpful. Patrick held the phone up to his ear, listening to it ring.

"Please answer ...please," He whispered, closing his blue eyes.

"Patrick? Why are you calling? I'm-"

"I have a job offer for you. It's for tonight and tomorrow, waitressing. I'll pay you not the country club but for my rehearsal dinner. Look I want you out of the club, as soon as you can. Take a night off, I'm sure Daisy can take over." Patrick cut Ellen off as he explained what he was offering.

"What the hell? Patrick, you're nice and all and the casting agency is amazing but it's in New York and I have the club here and I can't just leave." Ellen replied, she was caught off guard.

"You wanted me to save you and I'm committed to that. I'm saving you by getting you a decent job where no one demeans you, come on Ellen." Patrick said, watching the door for Jill. Ellen was silent on her line for a few minutes. She finally answered,

"I can fake sick pretty well to get a free sick night off, but so this is rehearsal? Should I be wearing a dress, slacks and a blouse, or jeans? What kind of country club?" Ellen asked. Patrick licked his lips,

"A dress or slacks but white button up works. " Patrick replied, reading the address to her. "Be there ASAP and tell the manager you are a personal addition by the party. "

"You know thanks for this. I mean seeing you again is um I want to. Thank you Patrick." Ellen said before hanging up.

"Patrick! Let's go! The flower girls and the ring bearers are already antsy-I need help down here- we'll be late!" Jillian came up the stairs, hollering about being late. Patrick sighed, putting his phone in his pocket. He walked downstairs into the mess that was going to be his wedding party.