Additional Note: This contains details of the hen party. I'm American, and I'd never heard that term. We have bachelorette parties and bridal showers. I looked them all up, and I'm going with these definitions: hen and bachelorette parties are about the same-raunchier and with lots of drinking. Bridal showers are classier, often for older friends and family members and sometimes include dinner. There may be drinking but its usually not a binge fest.

1684 Words

The Wedding: Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties, Chapter Three

Lester paced in front of Abby and Jess, listening as they ran down the details to the bridal shower.

"Abby's not a fan of overly girly things, so we went with a light blue and black color scheme."

"Black?" asked the director.

Abby nodded. "Incorporating different animal prints: leopard, tiger, reptile, zebra, but in blue."

"And different shades," said Jess.

"Interesting," said Lester. "It harks back to your love of animals as well."

"That was the idea," said Jess.

"I like it," announced Lester.

Abby smirked. "I'm so pleased."

"You're lucky, Miss Maitland, that your little stunt didn't backfire in all our faces."

"Stunt? Lester, you sent the minister's wife the invitation to my wedding. How is my invitation to the shower a stunt?"

"He's just grumpy that we didn't tell him," said Jess.

"Well, I am your superior."

"I hate to keep harping on this, boss," said Abby, "but it's my wedding!"

Jess stifled a laugh. "What do you think, Lester. We tried to plan an elegant affair...one worthy of you."

Abby laughed.

"Nice butt-kissing, Miss Parker. Yes, I approve. You've done splendidly."

"Thank you," said Jess. "Um, your wife hasn't RSVP-ed."

"Really? Didn't I tell you? She's coming. How does it feel to be un-informed?"

Abby rolled her eyes, but Jess laughed.

"You will let me know if you invite the minister's wife to anything else, won't you?"

"Of course," said Jess.

Abby smirked. "Oh, does that include the email I sent her about the hen party—with the strippers, plastic penises, and condom gift bags?"

Lester turned red as Jess yelled, "Abby! You'll kill him! She's joking, Lester, I swear!"

Lester slowly took in deep breaths. "J..joking?"

"I promise. Abby, tell him."

Abby's eyes were tearing, she was trying so hard to keep from laughing. "Yes, it's a joke."

"Well, the email is, we are having that kind of hen party, a few days after the classy shower," said Jess

"Do...not...invite..."

"We won't! Promise," said Jess, dragging Abby out of the office. "That was mean."

"He started it. It's my wedding," said Abby.

"Remind me to never make you mad."

Abby laughed. "You think he'll be alright?"

"He's pouring himself a scotch, so yeah, I think so."

Jess and Abby told Emily and the men about Abby's joke on Lester.

The guys were literally rolling on the floor laughing.

"Why didn't you call us?" asked Matt, through tears.

"Yeah, I wanted to see Lester do a tomato impression," said Connor, hiccuping from the excessive laughter.

Becker crawled off the floor. "Did you at least snap a photo?"

"No. It wasn't that funny," said Jess. "I thought I was going to have to call the medics."

Emily sat demurely on the edge of a canteen table, but she was smiling. "Poor Lester. I cannot imagine how upset he must have been at the idea of the minister's wife watching young men remove their clothing."

Connor started laughing again, between hiccups.

"I'm really sorry we missed it," said Matt, breathing deeply.

"Well, we won't embarrass Lester. The shower will be wonderful," said Jess.

"I have to admit," said Abby. "It's very nice. I balked at the idea at first, but Jess has made it very me. I think of pink bows and ribbons and teeny sandwiches when I hear 'bridal shower,' but Jess has re-educated me."

"Thank you Abby."

"So what are you having instead of teeny sandwiches?" asked Connor.

"The menu is exquisite," said Jess, "It's brunch, with quiche, smoked salmon with bruschetta, pancetta stuffed mushrooms, several green salads, fresh fruit, and for dessert, raspberry lemon cheesecake squares and chocolate fudge petits fours."

"I didn't understand half those words," said Connor.

Jess laughed. "Quiche is an egg dish, bruschetta is grilled Italian bread, pancetta is Italian bacon, and petits fours are tiny cakes."

"I noticed they're chocolate," said Becker with a smirk.

"Well, I am the matron of honor. I'm not getting paid, so..."

Abby laughed. "Chocolate cake, I'm getting off cheap."

"You are, Abby," said Jess.

"The menu is superb," said Emily. "Lester agreed?"

"He did," said Abby. "I think he was surprised."

Jess scoffed. "It's like he thought we'd serve sausages and crisps," she said, slightly offended.

"It sounds like you ladies did a good job," said Matt.

"It was mostly Jess," said Abby.

"No, it wasn't, but thank you."

"So, when is it?"

"Next week. We're still working on the hen party," said Jess.

"No invitations just emails, texts, and shouts," said Abby.

"Lots of ARC gals are coming," said Jess.

"Cool," said Coonor. "So, you hired the strippers?"

"Not yet," said Jess. She looked at Becker, "If anyone would like to audition."

"No, thank you," said Becker.

Jess giggled.

"Would you want your man to take off his clothes in front of other women?" asked Emily. "I do not."

Matt smiled. "Thanks," he said, and she smiled back.

Jess frowned. "Good point. Never mind, Becker."

Becker laughed.

"Have you guys finished your party?" asked Abby.

Becker and Matt nodded.

Becker looked at Jess. "You know, you were there when I hired Ce Ce, maybe I should help you hire your dancers."

Jess smirked. "That's very considerate. Somehow, though, I don't think you'd make it through the auditions."

"You're joking right?" he asked. "You're not really auditioning half-dressed men?"

"Becker, you've seen Ce Ce dance. I'm sorry, but I've never actually seen a male stripper. I need to see them...in action."

Becker turned pink. "No."

Connor stifled a laugh.

"Excuse me?"

"I said 'no, Jess. You aren't seeing any bloody male strippers in action!"

"Don't you tell me, no! Any way, aren't you the one who asked me if I trusted you? Well, back at you. Do you trust me?"

Becker sighed. "Yes."

"Fine."

"You're still not auditioning strippers."

"Why?"

Matt answered. ""Cause he doesn't trust them."

"Right."

"Abby, Em, are you hearing this?"

"I am," said Abby. "I'm appalled. Connor doesn't have a problem."

"Right," said Connor, draping an arm around his fiance and smiling smugly.

"Connor's an idiot."

"Why? Because he trusts her?" asked Jess. "Thanks a lot, Becker!" She stormed out of the canteen.

"Nice one," said Abby, scowling.

Becker crossed his arms. "I don't care. I don't want her ogling men in a private audition."

"But you'll let her watch them at the hen party?" asked Connor. "Dude, that makes no sense."

"Lots of people will be there with her."

"Becker, she will be fine, even alone," said Emily. "Unless you do not trust her."

Becker sighed, and left to find her.

"Jess!"

"Go away!"

He ran up and grabbed her before she got onto the lift. "Look, I'm sorry. We haven't been together long, and I do trust you. I'm just..."

"What?"

"Jealous."

Jess smiled.

"I don't like the idea of men gyrating and wiggling in front of you. It's not about trust. It's about...well, if anyone's going to...you know...do that...it should..."

"What?"

Becker closed his eyes, and said, "Be me."

Jess gasped. "You'd...strip for me?"

He was pink. "No...maybe...I dunno. I do know though, that I definitely don't want you that intimate with anyone that's not me."

"Oh, Becker," she said, jumping up to kiss him. "You're in trouble now, though."

"Jessica," he said, cocking his eyebrow. "I'm not saying I will ever...dance...for you."

She smirked. "That's what it sounded like to me."

He sighed. "It's just...I really don't like the idea of semi-nude men that close to you."

"Unless..." she said, with a smile.

He laughed. "Unless it's me."

She kissed him again. "So you will strip for me." She smiled.

He turned pink again and look exasperated. "No. I...don't know. Jess, you're asking a lot, even if I did open up this whole sorry subject."

Jess laughed. "I am, I know. It's very personal and intimate. I'm sorry. We haven't even...you know."

"I know. We're taking it slow."

"And I want to, Becker. I do. This stripping thing, it's just a show, and it's not even for me. It's for Abby. I won't even look at them during the hen party, if you don't want me to. I can excuse myself. I will, if you ask me to."

"You would do that?"

"For you, yes. But, as the maid of honor, it's my job to hire them. Emily isn't even sure what they are."

"OK," said Becker.

"You mean it?"

"Yeah."

Jess smiled. "Thank you for trusting me."

"I do." He sighed. "You don't have to excuse yourself at the party, either. They're just doing a job, like Ce Ce."

"Right. They're no danger to you at all. Like Ce Ce."

Becker smiled. "I'm sorry."

Jess giggled. "It's OK. I like you jealous, but..."

"You're not going to let it go are you?"

"You...stripping...for me? Nope."

Becker smiled. "I am in trouble."

Jess giggled. "Tell you what. If you can make yourself do that for me, then I'll return the favor."

His eyebrow went up. "Seriously?"

"Yeah."

"Parker, you have a deal."

She giggled.

Becker was getting ready for bed that evening when Jess phoned.

"I changed my mind about the stripping."

"No way, Jess. Sorry, but you've got me on board now. I strip, you strip."

She laughed. "Not that. I'm looking forward to that. I'm talking about the auditions. I want you to come with me."

The color drained from his face. "What?"

"I've never been to a strip club, and I'm nervous. I don't want to go alone. Abby can't come. I want the dance to be a surprise, like for Connor. Emily would die at a private audition. I can't ask Matt, I'd die."

"What about asking Lester?" asked Becker with a smirk.

"Are you insane? Please, come with me?"

Becker turned red. "I really don't want to watch men strip."

"I need you to help me. I'm...embarrassed."

Becker laughed. "That's cute. I'm really sorry about earlier, now. I was an idiot."

"You were. You owe me."

He sighed. "I can't believe I'm saying this..."

"Yay! Thank you!"

"The things I do for you, Jess Parker."

End of Chapter Three