Elly smiled proudly, so desperately happy for her. “So that’s why you quit?”
Kim nodded. “I needed time to prepare, and I get so tired designing. I can’t be on my feet for very long. And I’m having problems remembering things. Like, the other day, I made three of the same corsage. They only needed one!”
Elly laughed. She had seen the corsages in the trash and wondered what that was about. Of course, she had blamed it on Snarky Teenager. Oops.
“Kim, I am SO happy for you. Have no fear - you are going to be the most incredible mother. I have no doubt in my mind about that. Besides my mother, I have never known a more loving or generous person. You saved my life, and your child is going to be very, very lucky.”
She looked up at Kim, her long toffee hair flowing over her tan shoulders, her blue-green eyes shimmering with tears. She had never been more radiant, and Elly wondered how she had never noticed this pregnancy glow before.
“Your child is also going to be ridiculously good-looking.”
“You mean your god-child is going to be ridiculously good-looking,” corrected Kim, and the two started crying all over again, each soaking her checkerboard napkin.
CHAPTER
NINE
Two days later, Elly was still basking in the light of what might just have been the best week ever. She had been kissed, Kim was pregnant, and Cadbury had only pooped in the house once. The dinner with Isaac had been spectacular. There had been music, perfectly cooked meat sautéed in wine, great conversation, candles and some serious snogging on the roof deck. Elly had never invited a man up there before. She had never imagined her roof deck to be a romantic place, but it turned out that the cool air, the plants and comfy couches made for the ultimate ambience. Isaac had played his guitar for her, and Elly lounged back on the soft fabric and watched his hair in the moonlight. A perfect night. A perfect kiss at the end. A perfect…..
“Look at this jerkbag!” Elly suddenly remembered that she was sitting in the car with Snarky Teenager, who was swerving all over the road.
“Look, I know you got your driver’s license, like, YESTERDAY, but try not to kill us on the way to the wedding!”
Snarky Teenager leaned on the horn. “Get out of the way, you FREAKS!” Elly covered her eyes, trying to forget that the Posies label was plastered on her back window.
In one hand she held Brooke’s bouquet – a breathtaking cascade, with cream gardenias, lavender sweet pea, periwinkle scabiosa, and rich purple ocean song roses that had blown open to perfect centers. Pearl acacia wisped over the sides. It was glorious…and it was swinging all over the place.
“STOP driving like a maniac. We’re almost there!”
Snarky Teenager pulled the van up to a screeching halt in front of the City Museum. The City Museum in St. Louis was another one of Elly’s favorite wedding venues. The main hall was an oceanic wonderland, filled with glistening fish scales of glass and resin. The room was dominated by colossal statues of twisting fish that hovered below a mosaic ceiling. It was romantic, different and beautiful in an edgy, urban way. Elly had enjoyed it for about two seconds before she heard the clattering of heels rushing down the hall.
Brooke was running towards her. Her eye make-up was smudged and messy, and her veil was hanging crookedly on her head. She was wearing a thin white tank top with the words “Bride” in rhinestones across the chest, with purple sweat pants that read “Mrs. Penkitt” across the butt. Several concerned bridesmaid were trailing behind her.
“Elllyyy….” she wailed.
Elly stuck the bouquet in front of her in a defensive measure. Brooke stopped dead in her tracks.
“Oh …it’s AMAZING! Oh my gosh, it’s so beautiful!”
All her bridesmaids circled around her making cooing sounds. “Is it real? What are those? It is so gorgeous.”
Brooke clutched it to her body. “Elly. It’s perfect.” She paused dramatically. “Too bad nothing else is!”
She grabbed Elly’s arm.
“The venue floor looks like it hasn’t been swept. They just told me that the minister is wearing a black suit instead of navy, and they ran out of jumbo shrimp so they are just serving regular size!” She let out a loud cry and leaned against Elly. Elly pushed her away with a gentle arm.
“Brooke. Where is your wedding coordinator?”
Brooke gestured to a young, alarmed looking woman. “This is my friend Tara. She’s my wedding coordinator.”
Elly glanced over Brooke’s shoulder. Tara appeared to be about fifteen years old and was wearing a very short bright red dress. She was obviously NOT a wedding coordinator.
“Okay. I need to get your flowers set up and ready. After I’m done, I will come back to your room and see what I can do. Does that sound alright?”
Brooke nodded frantically.
“Okay. Go fix your make-up and get into your dress. You are getting married today.”