When Lightning Burns [COMPLETED]

Chapter 16: The Planner

           

As much as Julie dreaded anything, this was at the top of the list.

Kara bounced up and down. "I can't believe this! Isn't Ethan wonderful? He got me a wedding planner, just like in the movies!"

Julie shook her head. Her friend was easy to please. Kara pushed open the door to the nondescript brownstone. Inside, the walls had huge close–up pictures of bouquets and wedding cakes. It was worse than she had imagined. She didn't bother hiding her disgusted face. This is what everyone wanted for her. Kara was too busy flipping through albums of weddings to notice.

A tall man dressed in a suit that was obviously custom came up to them a minute later. His gaze traveled up and down them both, resting on Kara. "You must be Kara, the bride."

"Yes!" Kara said. "Isn't this all wonderful?"

"And what a beautiful bride you will be," he gushed, his brown eyes twinkling.

Julie rolled her eyes. They were probably twinkling with greed.

He turned to Julie, his eyebrow shooting up at her crossed arms and bored expression. "And you must be?"

"Julie, her maid of honor." She tried not to sound unhappy with the title.

"I see..." He trailed off, clearly not impressed with Julie. His words held such meaning in them that Julie felt offended. What exactly did he see? He turned back to Kara, clearly dismissing Julie from his immediate concern. "When Ethan called me and offered to pay the premium for a rushed wedding, I had no idea his bride was so lovely."

In other words, Ethan bribed him with so much money that he couldn't refuse.

The planner went on. "Do you see anything you would like? You understand with only one month to plan, we will have to make a lot of decisions over the next week."

"I think that I want pink and white. I've always loved pink!" Kara glowed.

"I see. If you don't mind my asking, what's the hurry—" He stopped as he noticed Kara place a hand on her stomach. "Oh, I see."

And of course Smidge showed up right then. "Mistress, that guy with the metal thing for the toilet showed up again. Do we leave him alone?"

Julie leaned down as if tying her shoe to talk to Smidge. "Yes, he's supposed to be there."

She silently prayed Pudge wouldn't do something drastic before Smidge did whatever she did to travel around so fast. It had taken a lot to get that man back in her apartment, and she didn't want to have a broken toilet forever. Taking turns going to Luke's or Rory's was not an option for more than a day.

Smidge bowed. "Yes, Mistress."

Someone cleared his throat above her. "I wasn't informed that minor Fey may be involved. Will they be attending? That one is a unique breed. I haven't seen one like her before."

Julie looked up at him, shocked. "What? You can see them?"

The tall man raised an eyebrow. "Do you think that anyone could pull off a wedding of a Fey to a human?"

"What are you?" Julie blurted out then realized it might be rude.

"A wizard, of course." He inclined his head. "I'm one of Ike's friends."

"Oh." Julie bit her lip. Wizard wedding planners?

He laughed at her face. "You should see your face. You know, not all of us want to run around freeing people or committing crimes. There are other careers that work for us. For instance, at my weddings, everything is always at its peak freshness. I can ratchet up the happiness to make everything seem perfect. What kind of power is that to fight crime or perform it?"

"Ah," was all she could think to say.

"I like these flowers." Kara pointed to big, pink roses shaped into perfect round circles, their stems wrapped with a cream bow.

"Good choice, Kara." The planner smiled at her. "Let's see what else we can decide before you leave today."

And Julie sat through another hour of photos, talks about colors, and wedding cake designs. It was hard to not look impatient when she had school work to do. But she forced a smile to stay on her face the entire time. Kara had been through so much and deserved this bit of happiness. Julie would not be the one to ruin it for her.

When it was all over, Kara walked out ahead of her, and the planner caught Julie's arm. "Does she really understand what's going on, what she's getting into?"

Julie brushed back some hair. "I don't know. I'm not sure I really understand."

"But you'll be there for her on the wedding day, to help her if needed?" His gaze pierced hers.

"Of course. I've promised. And she is my friend."

He let go of her arm. "Okay. Otherwise I wouldn't touch this wedding. But if you support them, then I will. And when you decide to get married, remember me, Queen. That will be a wedding." He rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

"Got to go." Julie ran out the door before answering. Had Ike said something, or did anyone connected to the Fey just know?

Her marriage. Ha! Someone would have to pin her down first.