Crystal gave us all a warning look. “I want you to treat Derrick the way you’d treat any of the other guys. Okay?”
As I nodded along with the others, my heart did that strange fluttering thing again. Try as I might, I couldn’t really think about anything except the twinkle in Derrick Richardson’s eyes as he’d stolen the spoon away from me. Treating him like any of the guys . . . well, that might be a little harder than I wanted to admit.
I spent the next three weeks waiting for Crystal to come to her senses and ask me to help with the wedding. I could tell she was stressed, and it broke my heart. Finally, I could wait no longer. I would offer my services and pray she accepted.
“I hope you don’t mind, Crystal, but I’ve done some research on the web. Wedding planning basics, that sort of thing.”
“You have?” A look of sheer relief passed over her face. Oh, good.
“Sure. I know this wedding means a lot to you, and I want it to be perfect. So I put my research into a spreadsheet. Everything from the bridal shower to wedding guest list protocol—that kind of stuff. And Cassie and the other girls want to help too. Even Grandma Nellie, but you might not like some of her ideas. One of them involved a pi?ata.”
That got a smile out of Crystal. For a minute, anyway. “I’ve been so overwhelmed. I mean, Mrs. Frazier at the church is technically supposed to be my wedding coordinator, but she’s so busy right now. Her daughter just had a baby.”
“Right. I heard. A girl.”
“Yes, but even when she’s not distracted, we didn’t quite agree at our first meeting. Her ideas are a little . . . outdated. I haven’t decided how to handle that. And I’ve been so worried about things not getting done. We’ve only got three months left, you know? There’s just so much to do. Almost nothing’s been taken care of yet.”
“Yes, it has.” I laid my spreadsheet on the kitchen table in front of her. “I’ve put together a plan by date. Everything is listed in order, so you don’t have to get overwhelmed. It’s kind of a step-by-step process.”
Crystal looked over my spreadsheet, and then looked at me. “Mari, what would I do without you? I mean, I’ve done what I could, and so has Phillip. We purchased some invitations we found online, but . . . ever since their engagement party for us, Mrs. Havenhurst has been asking questions—”
“What other things are left undone?” I glanced at my spreadsheet, spurred on by that revelation. “Be specific, so I can make sure they’re covered on the spreadsheet.”
“Well, things Sienna’s supposed to be doing, for instance.”
“Ah.” I cringed as I heard the infamous maid of honor’s name.
My sister sighed. “I mean, usually the maid of honor helps plan the bridal shower, but I talked to Sienna this morning and she seems a little, I don’t know . . .”
“Out of it?”
“Yeah. Maybe I’ve asked too much of her. She’s not terribly focused.”
I reached for an apple from the fruit bowl in the center of the table and rolled it around in my palm. “Crystal, I hate to say this, but Sienna’s never been focused.”
She nodded. “Right. I guess I just thought she would take this wedding more seriously. I mean, a bride pictures her maid of honor being really excited. But Sienna’s a little . . .”
“Disengaged?”
“Yeah.” My sister’s eyes took on a faraway look. Just as quickly, she snapped to attention. “Anyway, she’ll pull it together. I know she will. It’s only the middle of February, after all. We have until the middle of May. And to her credit, Sienna is going with me to look at flowers. Her aunt Catherine is a florist.”
“That’s nice.”
“Yes, and I’m grateful. Her aunt is even giving me a discount. So I shouldn’t be complaining. It just helps so much to know you’re taking such an interest, and you’re organized to boot.” Crystal glanced back down at my spreadsheet. “You have no idea how much better I feel, just looking at this. It makes everything seem . . . doable.”
“I love this kind of thing. And remember, I’m only working thirty hours a week at the bank right now and my schedule is pretty flexible.” I took a bite of the apple and leaned back in my chair. For the first time since the conversation began, I noticed a hopeful look in Crystal’s eyes.
“We are getting one thing done today. Are you busy this afternoon at four? Phillip and I have a cake tasting appointment set up at the bakery. We want to get more opinions than just ours. I mean, it’s the guests and wedding party who actually eat the cake. The bride and groom are so busy at the reception, they barely get a nibble. Sienna and Derrick were supposed to come with us, but she’s tied up at work and can’t come.”
“He’s still coming?”
“Yes.”
“Does Sienna know Derrick is going to be there?”
Crystal shook her head. “I don’t remember if I told her that.”