That night after replaying the date in detail I collapsed on the couch in sleep. Ms. Kiosk, Liza's mom woke us up before going to work, a six days a week workaholic, telling us not to get into trouble, no having boys over, if we broke anything we were to replace or fix it before she got home, and there was pancake mix in the cupboards for us. She knew us well
I love Liza's mother, she was nice but always kept out of our hair. So that morning we made pancakes and a mess. We gobbled them up in a way that made me think of Jared and then lined up six of our favorite movies to watch, Pretty in Pink, Harry Potter, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, The Little Mermaid, Only You, and The Breakfast Club, classics every one of them. We were almost through with How to Lose a Guy at the part where Katie noted just like every other time we watched it.
"Damn I love that dress, no to mention the rock!" When there was a knock at the door. "Oh I bet its lover boy, unable to stay away." I punched Katie in the arm as I went to get the door seeing as the other two looked glued into place. It was definitely not lover boy.
"Hey sweetie."
"Howdy Daddy…"
"You're mother told me to come and tell you she may never speak to you again if you don't come home to help tie up rice and Jordan almonds for tomorrow and stop sulking. She apologized and her hands are tied until this wedding is over. Your elder sister said to tell you her nerves are shot and they need your help and she will buy you a 'gosh darn Mercedes' if it gets you over there, obviously I edited the language."
"And you daddy, how do you feel?"
"Ah, of course, I am here to tell you that if you spend the day tying up satchels of almonds and rice I may never speak to you again."
I threw my arms around my father's neck and whispered "Aw Dad, I love you" into his ear.
After that he'd left us to finish our girl's day and told me if I didn't come home today I was at very least expected to be at the house at eight in the morning for hair and make-up.
"I am so proud of you for telling your mother how you feel and I am so sorry if you have very felt like you melt into the background. You know you're middle name sweetheart?"
"Marie?"
"Yes, that was my mothers name. When your mother got pregnant with your sister I told her I was going to give my mothers granddaughter her name. Your mother knew how much my mother meant to me before she passed when I was a boy so she was willing. When your sister was born I astounded your mother by refusing to name her Marie, she was our daughter and I love her very much, but she wasn't Marie. Ah but then you came, and when I held you for the first time and you smiled at me, even though everyone was insistent that it was impossible, I knew you had it. You would defy all the expectations of those around you, you would be kind, you would most certainly, and I knew you had it. You would defy all the expectations of those around you, you would be kind, and you would most certainly be beautiful. And I was right. What I am trying to say sweetheart is, don't think you blend in, don't let yourself blend in because just like your Grandma Marie, you are special." And then my father walked to his car and drove off. I knew that he meant everything he said, he is a man of few word and so his little speech meant the world.
The girls and I finished watching our movies and then played a round of Monopoly before hitting the hay. I had to endure my whole extended family tomorrow, after getting up at seven thirty in the morning. The only light at the end of the tunnel was the fact Jared and my friends were coming.
The next morning I crawled out of bed unwillingly. I didn't want to wake up Katie or Liza so I just left them a note reminding them to be at the church by ten in order to assure my sanity at the wedding. I reset the alarm for nine thirty so they wouldn't over sleep, made sure that Katie remembered to bring her dress over and then snagged a granola bar from the pantry and slipped out the door.
My house was about three miles away but my father had taken my brother over to Tibby's almost father-in-law's house to get ready with the rest of the men and I really didn't want to sit in the car with my mother or one of her cousins, I would have to get my license and a car soon.
When I reached my front door more or less a half hour later I took a deep breath before entering. The house was packed. My Aunt was there chasing Libby around, Libby's flower girl dress in hand, the three other brides maids were sitting around the dining room table with their hair being done, my mother was breathing down the hair dresser's necks obviously about to yank the curlers, blow dryers and ribbons from their hand and at the same time managing to yell to Tibby the exact location of her blue, borrowed garter. My grandmother was the one who made my presence know by causing me to burst into peels of laughter she was the picture of serenity, my Grandma Maize. She was sitting on the couch, her hair in a neat bun and her blight blue dress on reading Home and Garden, not hilarious unless you compared it to the scene of havoc going on around her.
"Kimberly keep your grandmother busy until these imbeciles are ready to do your hair, and if your sister needs anything you are to help her." My mother called over to me before snapping, "That is not a ringlet! That is a slightly wavy lock of hair." Danielle, the brides maid with the slightly wavy lock of hair, just yawned before turning the page of the copy of vogue resting on her lap.
I walked over to the couch and leaned my head against the cool leather. I was resting my eyes waiting for a classic Maize comment. To be totally honest if my father is my favorite my Grandma Maize comes close second, I just don't understand how she produced my tightly would mother.
"Isn't this just silly Kimberly?" She asked obviously rhetorically as she began her rant. "Back in my day unless you were royalty you had a quaint backyard wedding at most. The preacher and you're family were the only people in attendance and you spent your money on a home not a several thousand dollar gown! And your mother cooked the meal; we didn't bring in 'professionals' why would we? Humph!"
I just chuckled lightly as Tibby ran towards us in a frenzy. "Oh Kimmy! I am so glad you're here! I found my borrowed blue and my dress is new but I can't for the life of me find my something old! My shoes are just gone!"
"Relax Tib they are in my closet, remember? You put them there because mine has a lock and Libby kept trying them on… this ringing a bell?"
"Oh yes! How could I forget? Thanks Kim, Oh looks Like Delilah is ready to do you make-up and hair! Oh I am so excited Kimmy!" And with that Tibby ran off to do something, probably to shower.
It took half and hour of pulling, twirling, heating, and pinning my hair before my face was covered with powders and liquids of unimaginable varieties. By nine thirty all the girls were dressed and ready, even Libby had on her purple dress and had a basked filled with petals.
My mother, my sister, Jane, Olivia, Charlotte, and I all climbed into the limo that would take Tibby and her new husband David, to the reception and then to the airport to go off on their honeymoon. We arrived at the church, it was covered in bundles of pink and white roses and oodles, I kid you not this is the wedding planners vocabulary, positively oodles of baby's breath.
The groomsmen were already there and waiting as was my father. After my mother smoothed out non-existent wrinkles in my sisters dress she went to find her seat and those of us waiting to walk down the aisle found our partner, mine was a buddy of David's from collage. I was fifth to walk down the aisle and as I reached the end the wedding march began and my sister started down the aisle. I loved my sister really and truly, a lot of times I didn't like her, sure, but that didn't matter today. As she walked down the aisle beaming I knew she loved David and looking at him I saw her expression mirrored I knew he loved her too. The flowers and the doves didn't matter; with or without them this was one of the most beautiful moments of my life.
Corny ending to the chapter I know.
I just wanted to thank MrsBellaEdwardSwanCullen for making a great suggestion! I love that band and I hadn't even thought of them, so thanks a bunch.
I know some of you are waiting for Jared to 'spill the beans' and I feel like a total tease but right now she is scheduled to find out in chapter 27, and I promise it wont disappoint, so please just hang in there with me! I am going to work on the story for a while today and will be updating at least once (maybe twice) tomorrow.
SO, in other news, this is my longest chapter to date! I am proud of me I must say. Feel free to review and I hope you enjoyed it...