Offices and Orchards (A New Adult Sweet Romance)

Chapter 25

Autumn dragged herself from the confines of her warm but empty bed, her phone already showing 8 text messages from the bride, three picture messages and one very long voice message. She gathered up her things before heading into the bathroom to shower.
Adriana had bought everyone in the wedding party matching yoga pants and hoodie outfits to wear while they got pampered. Autumn had been surprised and a little touched when Adriana had presented her with hers the night before. Once she was dressed, bags in tow, she fired off a text to Harvey who had left earlier in the morning, and left their hotel room. Adriana was staying three floors up. The Staffordshires had reserved the entire top floor for the wedding party. One of the suites was for the bridal party, and the other was for the newly married couple that night and other rooms were for family members from Brazil. As she approached the door, Autumn could hear the sound of laughter permeated by Portuguese. She knocked politely, jumping back when the door was thrown open by a statuesque dark-haired woman with piercing green eyes. "You Autumn?" Autumn nodded, "Good, Adriana waiting." Before she knew what was going on, she was being dragged into a cavernous suite. Clothes were thrown everywhere. Hanging proudly at the side of the room was Adriana's bridal gown, still zipped and safe in its transparent garment bag. "Autumn, you're here." Adriana was sitting in a dining chair, her hair pulled back as a gruff looking woman massaged her shoulders. "Juliana, more mimosa please..." Another girl came hurrying from the kitchen, two fine crystal flutes in hand. "That's my sister, Juliana. The other girl," She pointed a perfectly manicured finger to the one that had opened the door, "Is my best friend Isabella from Brazil, when I was a kid. She doesn't speak very much English."
In all, there were eight women that made up Adriana's bridal party, some of them actually were models - Adrianna had done some modelling when she was a teenager- all of them beautiful.
The morning began with mimosas, heavy on the champagne. At 9am, a knock on the door announced the arrival of breakfast. Two carts, laden heavy with food were pushed into the room. Adriana was never shy about food, unlike some of her other friends, who picked lightly at fruit salad, she dove right into a stack of fluffy pancakes drenched in syrup. "My last few moments as a single woman," she proclaimed. "Oh, I'm so nervous. If I trip walking down the aisle..."
"You haven't tripped down a runway in years, Ade," another model told her. "Well you haven't been on one for years,"
"And what do you do if you do trip?" added a third.
"Only you know, remember Florida?" they all burst into laughter.
"You're marrying William Staffordshire, nothing can bring you down today, remember?" The maid of honor was a British woman named Alexa, also a journalist.
"So, Autumn," Alexa asked, "How is it dating Harvey?"
"It's good,"
"For your sake, glad to hear it," there was coldness in her words, as if she knew something Autumn didn't. Not sure how to respond, Autumn drained her glass of mimosa.
"You did that!" Adriana exclaimed. "And these last few weeks would have been so terrible without you. I know I can be difficult. You stopped me from making some disastrous changes." Adriana shook her head. "The pinecones are so great, don't you think?" she said, referring to her bouquet.
After breakfast everyone was herded to another suite for hair and makeup. They spotted the groomsmen outside on their way. "I'm so happy that you forgave him." Autumn's eyes met Adriana's, her brow furrowing, "What do you mean?"
"William told me, you know...about Australia, and that other thing," Autumn went cold, knowing that there was some bad news coming. "What do you mean?"
"Just about how they offered Harvey Australia, and he turned it down, so you could go," Autumn swallowed, torn between getting more information, and the fact that it was Adrianna's wedding day."And the other thing?"
"It's nothing, I'll tell you after I get back from Bora Bora...did I tell you where we're staying?" Adrianna made her voice as light as possible. Autumn took a deep breath, ignored Adrianna's distraction tactics and made sure her voice gave nothing away,
"I'm sure it is nothing, but I'd like to know," She forced a smile onto her lips, "It was so long ago, I figured you knew by now. It really isn't a big deal," The ones in the room who spoke English were silent, staring at the bride.
"Adriana."
"Okay, I'll tell you, but you really don't need to get upset. Ok?" She took a deep breath herself, telling Autumn that it was actually a big deal. "There was a bet..."
"A bet?" The ones whose English was less advanced had now stopped their chatting, realising that something was wrong. The room was silent.
"A bet at work."
"At my work?"
"It's not all that bad. There was a bet among some of the staff, to see if any of them could get you or Amber to date them, something like that. Just like in the movies." Adrianna smiled hopefully. Autumn did not move a muscle for a long moment. "How long have you known about this?"
"I only found out last night, and as I said, I thought you knew," seeing Adriana fight back tears distracted Autumn from her own anger. "You're right," Autumn said, again not wanting to give anything away, "It is no big deal,"
"I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned it," Adriana recovered quickly.
"No, seriously, it's totally fine. Was there anything else?" Seeing how Autumn had reacted so calmly and nonchalantly to two pieces of bad news made Adriana think she should finish the story. "Not really. Just that the bet was worth $10,000. He turned it down though, Harvey, if that makes you feel any better."
"So, he didn't take it? The money?"
"Well, he turned it down the first time," Autumn's head was swimming. "The first time?"
"Yeah, before Canadian Thanksgiving, but he was offered it again, and he took it eventually, something like that at least," Autumn swallowed. Feeling her sandpaper mouth, she grabbed another mimosa, taking a long draught from the beautiful drink.
"Okay, as long as that's everything, that's fine." Adriana stared at her. "Really, don't worry about it. It's your big day. I'm not mad." She gave her friend a big hug, who seemed to be happy with the secret off her chest, or that Autumn had not been bothered to learn of it. Autumn stepped outside into the hallway to catch her breath for a few moments. Between this and Amber getting Australia, it was too much to bear.
When she re-entered the suite, Adriana was glowing with happiness while the makeup artist finished up her already stunning face. She looked like an angel.
"Sim, Mama," Adriana's mother and sister were lowering her gown onto her body. Adriana's mother had already pulled Adriana's hair out of place twice, forcing the stylist to have to readjust it. Adriana roughly took the bouquet from her weeping mother, "Please wait until after the photos Mama," The woman smiled at her daughter, and Autumn watched as they carefully embraced.
It was twenty minutes before the ceremony, everything was going smoothly: they were ready to go. Autumn grabbed the train of Adriana's dress and ordered everyone out, knowing it would take twice as long as it should to get everyone downstairs. "Move it, move it," she herded the bridesmaids as if they were sheep, taking their flutes out of their hands before they left the suite. Keeping herself busy was good. It was also good that she was not in the bridal party and that Harvey was: that meant they would not have to sit together.
When Adriana walked down the aisle, despite her own anger, Autumn felt true joy, if only for a moment. Everyone could see the happiness and love radiating from both the bride and the groom. William had tears in his eyes, watching her walk up the aisle. Adriana seemed relaxed, smiling confidently and enjoying every second of her walk and the ceremony. Harvey had not ruined the entire day, because even if their relationship was, so much had come from the little time they had spent together. For a brief moment, Autumn had felt a slice Adriana's happiness: Autumn had met Adriana through Harvey, and apple picking was something she had grown to love and would continue without him. And her love of Fall, the one she shared with her Dad, had come back.
The ceremony proceeded without a hitch and Autumn avoided eye contact with Harvey the whole time, looking away immediately if they did happen to glance at one another. She was so upset she could not fully enjoy the ceremony, but she would make it through the day though, for her friend's sake.
Once she was Mrs. Staffordshire, Adriana burst into happy tears, the most beautiful smile on her face as the photographers took their picture. When the couple went into the side room to sign the wedding register and certificates, Harvey tried to get her attention – he could see that something was wrong with her. He realised I haven't even asked her about Australia! She must be so upset about seeing Amber here.
Amber gave Autumn a thumbs up sign, raising her eyebrows in question. Autumn ignored her, still feeling the betrayal of her so-called friend.