“Sixty-five.” She paused. “I want something normal. Something I’ll want to tell my kids and grandkids about.”
“Are you saying you’re changing the plan for the reception? Changing the venue?” Surely not. “The wedding is in less than a month.”
She sighed and turned off the engine. “I know. It doesn’t make any sense, does it? But Mari, I just don’t think I can justify a show-offish wedding. I’ve never been that sort of girl. I’m the ‘Let’s go to a third-world country and take care of orphans’ kind of girl, you know?”
“True.”
“When I went to Haiti last summer, I saw all those kids living in poverty, and it broke my heart. I promised myself I’d come back a different person. I don’t like being a spoiled-rotten brat.”
“You’re not. That’s not you.”
She sighed. “I know. I’m just weak. I can’t say no to Phillip’s parents. But I need to get past that. I need to be who I really am, on the inside. And I’m not the kind of girl who throws away money on a ridiculously expensive reception just because she feels pressured.”
“So, you’re changing . . . everything? You do know your wedding is in three weeks, right? And the guests already have their invitations with the address for the country club.”
“I know, I know.” She groaned. “It’s too late, isn’t it?”
“Maybe.” I glanced around to make sure no one else was listening in. Off in the distance, Gillian gave me a wave as she got into her car. I waved back, doing my best to look nonchalant, and then turned to my sister. “So let’s talk about this. What’s really troubling you?”
She leaned forward and put her head on the steering wheel. I could barely make out her words as she said, “I feel like I’m trapped, Mari. I have to do what his parents say. Mostly his mom. She’s so forceful.” Crystal’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Oh, it’s all couched in Southern sweetness—honey this and sweetie that. I even heard it at the shower today. ‘Crystal, dear girl, don’t you think the bridesmaids’ shoes should be dyed pink to match their dresses?’ But it’s still manipulation, just the same. And I’m afraid it’s just the first of a thousand times that’s going to happen in the next thirty or forty years.”
“So what you’re really worried about is not being able to stand up for yourself.”
“Yeah.” She sighed and lifted her head.
“Have you told Phillip that?”
She shook her head. “Ever since our breakup—and his mom was the one who put doubts in his head, by the way—I’ve been scared to tell him what I’m really thinking or feeling.”
“Because you’re afraid of losing him?”
It took her a moment, but she finally nodded. “And because I don’t want to stir up animosity between him and his mom. She’s so strong willed.” Crystal rolled her eyes. “You get my point.”
“Then it’s more important than ever to have a heart-to-heart with him. Maybe it’s not really his parents you’re upset with. Maybe it’s him. You’re trying to please him because you’re scared your relationship will fall apart if you don’t.”
My sister released a sob so quickly that it startled me. Seconds later, she was crumpled over the steering wheel, tears flowing. I knelt down next to the open door and let her cry it out. Then I gave her the best advice I could by whispering, “I’ll be praying, Crystal. I promise I will. But don’t do anything rash, okay? Maybe the wedding is just the tipping point. You know?”
Crystal nodded just as her cell phone rang. She fished it out of her purse and looked at the screen, her eyes growing wide. “It’s Phillip. I . . . I can’t talk to him now.” She pulled down the visor and checked her appearance. As if he could see her.
“You don’t have to talk to him right now. Wait until you’re calmer. Pray, and then call him back.”
She nodded just as the phone stopped ringing. “Okay. I will.”
“It won’t hurt him to wait an hour or two, Crystal. Send him a text and tell him that you’ll call him back in a while.”
She blew out a slow breath and then did just that. I stood and gave her an encouraging smile. “I’m going to pray that God gives you a peace in your heart when you come to the right decision about the wedding. Until then, just rest. Don’t over think it. Don’t worry about Dad or the venue or anything. Just pray.”
“I will.” She gave me a woeful smile. “Thank you, Mari. It helped so much to get that off my chest. You have no idea.” A little pause followed as she glanced up at me. “You’re my go-to person once again.”
“I like being your go-to person. I hope I can still play that role, even after you’re an old married woman.”
That got a chuckle out of her, the first I’d seen in a while. Still, I knew my sister had a lot to think and pray about. I would keep my promise and pray too. Surely the Lord would calm troubled waters and this wedding could move forward as planned. I hoped.