Chapter 35: Wedding Plans Part 2
******Where We Left Off******
"Why don't you call your dad and just ask him what he thinks?" Thea suggested.
"I love practical people!" Veronica exclaimed, smiling at the idea. "Will you guys excuse us?" She grabbed Logan's hand and dragged him to their bedroom to make the call.
"Hawaii would be loads of fun, but I see that as more of a honeymoon spot," Parker said. "When I get married, I want every single person I love to be there. When you plan a wedding so far away, you'll pretty much guarantee a lot not being able to come."
"That's true," Duncan said. Longing filled him as he looked at her. Then he realized she was probably thinking of her wedding someday with Piz, and he looked away from her.
"Beaching weddings are pretty, but I wouldn't want my bridesmaids all barefooted," Thea said.
"Yeah, walking on heels in the sand would be pretty impossible!" Parker agreed.
"I think a beach wedding would be nice. However, I'd want a place that could have another inside alternative in case the weather didn't cooperate," Mac added.
"Don't forget about the reception. There's gotta be a place for that," Wallace said. "We gotta get our party on!"
"That's why the yacht wedding is perfect!" Dick said.
Mac looked up and laughed. "Dick, you get seasick, remember?" she reminded him with a fond look.
"I won't if I drink enough tequila!" he insisted with a wink.
"You'll be upchucking the entire time," she said knowingly. He gave her a sheepish smile.
Mac and Trina continued to look through various venues while their friends chatted.
"Where would you want to get married?" Duncan asked Daisy.
Jason gave them a sharp look. Duncan seemed pretty casual, so he relaxed slightly.
"There's no way my family would let me get married anywhere but a Catholic church," Daisy said in resignation.
"Mine, too," Jason agreed.
"My parents wouldn't care as long as enough money was spent to show off their only son," Duncan said.
"I think chapel weddings are nice," Wallace said. "They're intimate but almost churchlike without being overly religious."
"True and you can get your minister to perform the ceremony," Thea added.
"I've seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding," Dick said. "Does the guy have to convert? 'Cause I can't wait to see Wally baptized in a tiny pool!"
Wallace gave Thea an embarrassed, panicked look. Daisy laughed. "He'd be adorable," she said.
Thea reached out and squeezed Wallace's hand. "Don't worry, dear. I'm not planning any wedding," she assured him. When he looked relieved, she couldn't resist adding, "But I can't speak for my grandparents!" When his mouth fell open, she laughed. Then she looked at Dick. "You only have to convert if you wanted to get married in the Greek Orthodox Church. It's the same for a Catholic wedding. If you want to be married in the Catholic Church, both have to be Catholic."
"Like I said, chapels are nice," Wallace said airily, causing his friends to laugh.
Veronica and Logan reappeared. "Okay, I talked to Dad. He pointed out that it'd be nice to invite some of his longtime supporters like his deputies and some of the firemen. They've been really good to us. If we did a Hawaiian wedding, a lot wouldn't come," Veronica said. "So Logan and I decided Hawaii would make a great destination for our honeymoon."
"Nice!" Wallace said, high-fiving Logan.
"Not to mention, I was looking, and there would be no way any Hawaiian venues would be available this late. Winter weddings may be less common, but we can't book one in three weeks. Not unless you want to wait until next New Year's Eve," Mac said.
"No way!" Logan said firmly.
Veronica sat back down next to Mac. "What else have you come up with?" she asked.
"We were thinking Catalina Island," Trina said.
"Oh, we loved the weekend we took there!" Veronica said eagerly.
"However, most of the beach locations require you to rent out the condo-units. We probably won't find any available," Mac said.
"And people would still have to do a bit of traveling," Trina pointed out.
"Hey, Dad's still got a lot of pull in the hotel industry," Dick said. "Some of the big hotels have beach locations, and they have ballrooms to party in. Guests can stay overnight and not have to worry about traveling back home so late. If the weather sucks, it'd be easy to take it inside."
Logan smiled at the suggestion. "Best man steps up to the plate! That's a great idea!" he enthused.
Mac did some looking. "Does he know anyone at the Hyatt Regency?" Mac asked.
Dick shrugged. "I'll go call him," Dick said, pulling out his phone and stepping away.
"Newport Beach is great, and they have the Hyatt Regency that pretty much handles all the details!" Mac said excitedly. "You just have to decide colors, flowers, and food."
"Now that sounds perfect!" Veronica said, looking. "We can drive there and to the Wayfarer Chapel this weekend."
"Getting availability would be the biggest issue," Trina said.
"Well, if we decide on the one we want, and it's not available, we can resort to bribery," Logan suggested.
Veronica rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to spoil someone else's wedding because you have more money to throw around!" she said firmly.
"We can bribe the bride and groom. Maybe offer to pay for their wedding if they select an alternative date," Logan said smugly.
"Fine. It's your money to waste!" she replied.
"I don't consider making our wedding perfect a waste," he told her.
She smiled at him. "Good answer," she said.
"So what about songs?" Parker asked.
"How about 'I've had the time of my life'?" Logan suggested, giving Veronica an adoring look.
She sighed happily. "Well, I do love that song, but our courtship hasn't exactly been without major catastrophes," she reminded him. "How about Enrigue Iglesias's song 'Hero' 'cause you have definitely been mine."
Weevil snickered, so Veronica glared at him. "That song is perfect!" she insisted.
Weevil held up his hands and didn't comment. When he got married, he didn't care about the details. His bride can do whatever she wants. He couldn't help but hope that he and Jazmin got to that place someday.
"It is sweet," Daisy agreed with a romantic sigh. "I love his voice. However, it's also a great first dance song."
"Good point," Mac agreed. "'I can't help falling in love with you' is also beautiful."
"Elvis is king," Logan said. "I do like that one."
"What about Michael Buble's 'Sway'?" Veronica suggested.
"You like that song. I don't," Logan said, shaking his head.
"Meatloaf's "I will do anything for love'?" Trina suggested.
"That is true. I will," Logan said, kissing Veronica on the cheek.
"Fisher's song 'I will love you' is beautiful," Thea said.
"Piz has a song by the Fight Dragons that he sings really well, 'With You'. It's a beautiful love song," Parker said.
"Have him bring his guitar by and sing it to us," Veronica said.
"I don't want Piz singing a love song to me!" Logan protested.
"You'll love this song. I promise," Parker said. "It's not gushy like some of the love songs."
"Well, whatever you don't play during the actual ceremony you can play at the party afterward. Slow dance to it," Trina said.
"We need to find you a hot date!" Dick said with a leer.
"I think I have one," Trina said, looking pleased.
"Really?" Veronica asked with interest. "Who?"
"This guy I reconnected with back in New York," Trina said.
"Trina, all your exes are losers!" Logan said in annoyance.
"Not this one. This guy was not an actor or aspiring director. He's an investment banker and has a job on Wallstreet," Trina said with a smug smile.
"Seriously?" Logan asked in surprise.
"We went out that one semester I went to NYU," Trina said.
"Wow!" Veronica said, impressed. Then she got worried. "Please, don't decide to move to New York and take Richie!"
"You can move. Just leave little dude," Dick added with a grin.
"Hey, I said a date. Not a serious relationship," Trina clarified. "Winters in New York City are brutal. He may actually enjoy coming to a warm place for New Year's Eve."
"We'll totally find you a slutty dress to wear," Daisy said.
"Jason, will you let me know what Jazmin says? I'd love to have her join us next Saturday for as long as she can," Veronica told him.
"Sure. I'll call her now," Jason said. He stepped away to make the call.
"Did you get a hold of your dad?" Veronica asked Dick.
"Yes. He said he would check and get back to me," Dick said.
"Send him a text and about the Hyatt Regency in Newport," Trina ordered. Dick nodded and pulled out his phone.
"How many people do you see coming?" Trina asked.
"I have just a few people that were friends with my mom I'd like to invite," Logan said.
"We have to invite some parents of our friends," Veronica said. "I want to invite Jason and Jazmin's grandparents. His grandmother was so good to us last summer."
"Too bad we can't get her to cater!" Mac said with a grin.
"You'll have to invite their parents, too," Logan pointed out.
"And Nico," Weevil added.
"And your grandmother and Wallace's dad," Veronica added. She looked at Duncan and sighed. "I guess we have to invite your parents, too, huh?"
"Well, my mom already hates you, so you don't have to invite her," Duncan said with a grin.
"She doesn't hate me!" Logan reminded her with a smug smile.
"That's something to brag about," Veronica said sarcastically.
"You don't know my parents, so you don't have to invite them!" Parker added, smiling.
"Or mine," Daisy reminded her.
"We'll invite Chip," Veronica said. Then she gave Dick a warning look. "You cannot invite all your frat brothers to my wedding. I mean it, Dick. I will kill you if you turn my wedding reception into a kegger!"
"Hey, some of those guys have had Logan's back a time or two!" Dick reminded her.
"And you can invite them all to your wedding some day or throw a back-to-school party the Saturday before the new semester starts," Veronica suggested.
Dick's eyes brightened at the suggestion. "Hey, I haven't thrown a party at my dad's in years! That's a great suggestion!" he exclaimed, liking the idea.
"Focus, Dick," Logan said before Veronica could start yelling at him. The wedding planning was starting to stress her out. "We should get a guest list from your dad. See if he can get it to us by Monday."
"With addresses," Trina added. "We can pick out the invitation style and mail them off by Wednesday."
Veronica groaned. "Addressing envelopes? Not my favorite chore," Veronica said. She did that a lot when she worked for her dad.
"Well, I know a few of my sorority sisters that love doing that kind of thing," Thea said. "I'll get some hands for you."
"Will they still be in town?" Veronica asked.
"Our sorority house doesn't empty out as quickly as the dorms," Thea said.
"That'll be great!" Trina said. "I don't particularly like addressing envelopes either."
"Thanks, Thea!" Veronica told her, pleased. She looked at her stepbrother and said, "You better hold on to this one!"
Wallace gave Thea a sheepish smile and put his arms around her shoulder. "That's my plan!" he said.
"We can just use the computer and print up labels," Mac suggested.
"Now that's a good thought! I'm all for anything that makes a detail easy!" Veronica said.
"My sisters tell me handwritten invitations are more meaningful," Thea said with a smile.
Veronica rolled her eyes. She was so glad she never pledged. "If we can get helpers, fine. If not, we'll do the labels!" she said with a grin.
"So are we done?" Weevil asked, bored.
"Is my wedding boring you?" Veronica asked him with icy sweetness.
"Your wedding planning is boring me," Weevil clarified. "I'm willing to do anything you need to help—you know that. But I'm sure whatever you decide will be fine."
"He's got a point," Dick said.
"You are best man. You will listen to every boring detail!" Veronica informed him with a grin.
"Well, we got a good start. We need to check out the venues and compile the guests list. We have several songs to choose from," Trina said. She'd been writing down the various suggestions.
"I really appreciate you guys coming to help plan. Once we pick the spot for the wedding, we'll let you all know," Veronica said.
Jason reappeared. "Jazmin said she'd love to see you and go dress shopping. She said next Saturday would work, but our dad will expect you to come to the Christmas party that night," Jason said with a smirk.
"That's fine," Veronica said. She looked at Thea. "When are you going home to Chicago?"
"Thursday. So I'll have time to make those arrangements to help you with the invitations," Thea said.
"Can you join us shopping Saturday?" Veronica asked.
"I can join you for the shopping, but I can't join you for the party," Thea said.
"It's not fair. They get to see you next weekend, and I don't," Wallace complained.
"We can Skype," Thea offered, smiling.
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder," Dick told him.
"I don't recall you thinking that when Mac spent a month in Italy," Wallace reminded him.
"That's the great thing about getting married. From now on, we'll take all of our trips together!" Logan told Veronica.
"Now we just have to pick which island we want to go to on our honeymoon!" Veronica said excitedly.
"I've already got the choices bookmarked!" Mac informed her with grin.
"So anyone up for a movie? It's not too late," Duncan suggested.
Daisy gave Parker a calculating look and said, "I am. How about it, Parker?"
Parker's mind went blank, and she couldn't think of a single reason to refuse. "Well, I.."
"A movie would be fun," Thea said smoothly, catching on to Daisy's plan. She knew Parker needed some help.
Parker gave her a grateful smile. "You and Wallace can come?"
"Sure," Wallace said. "As long as I get extra butter on the popcorn."
"I'll text Piz and see if he can meet us," Parker said, hoping desperately he'd be able to.
"Thanks for coming by," Veronica said. "Don't forget to talk to Piz about the song," she told Parker.
"I will," Parker said.
Weevil watched Jason stare glumly at Daisy. "Did you want to go?" he asked him.
Jason shook his head. "Why torment myself? She'll just flirt outrageously with Duncan," he said knowingly.
"That's probably true," Weevil said, grinning.
When everyone left but Dick and Mac, Veronica turned to Logan and asked, "Logan, have you thought about inviting your brother Charlie?"
"Dude, I totally forgot you had a brother!" Dick exclaimed.
"I don't. Not really," Logan said, frowning.
"Maybe this would be a good opportunity for you to reach out to him again," Veronica suggested. "A wedding is a good excuse. No pressure."
"I don't know. He was pretty mad about the publicity. I was dumb enough to get fooled by that reporter," Logan said in disgust.
"I cleared the air with my mom," Veronica reminded him. "Now it's your turn."
"I think inviting him in person would be better," Mac said. She looked at Trina. "You should go with him."
"Why would I do that?" Trina asked. "I'm adopted."
"Yes, but you're an Echolls. Your dad adopted you. That would be his dad, too," Mac pointed out.
Logan latched on to that. "Yes, Trina. He's your brother, too!" Logan said with a smirk.
"Fine. Whatever. I can be nice," Trina said, "especially if you give me your American Express card for our shopping spree in Chicago!"
"Don't you have your own?" Logan asked.
"Yes, but I don't have to pay your bill," she said smugly.
"Mac, will you look up the best places to shop for bridesmaids' dresses and wedding dresses in Chicago, so we can save time? We need a game plan since we will only be there a short time," Veronica advised.
"No problem," Mac said, typing the keys on your laptop.
"Where's little dude?" Dick asked Trina.
"Mary's watching him. I need to go get him here in a bit," Trina said, checking the time.
"Can I go? I want to see the little guy," Dick offered.
"Sure. You can drive," Trina said, getting up.
After they left, Mac continued doing her thing on the computer. Veronica put her head on Logan's shoulder and her arm around his stomach. "I can't believe we're really going to pull this off!" she said with a happy sigh.
"Now you can't escape without lots of legal maneuvering!" he said with smug satisfaction.
Veronica smiled. "Do you think you might want to ask Charlie to the wedding? If you don't want him there, then don't," she said.
Logan shrugged. "I don't know. It'd be nice to have more family there. I'll think about it," he said. He had Dick and Duncan. He didn't feel a real loss not knowing his brother. However, he knew from watching Mac with Lauren that there were some things that were in the blood. It might be nice to find out what part of him was genetics and what part was how he was raised. Then again, Logan wasn't sure he wanted to be rejected again by his big brother.
******Chapter End******