Wedding Plans

May 1947

"How's it going?" Hitch came up behind Isla where she was standing on a balcony of her parents' Manhattan home, wrapping his arms around her waist, and kissing her neck.

"Don't ask," she sighed. "I love my mother and yours very much, but I had to step away from all the planning for a while. Are you sure its too late to elope?'

"Yes," he replied kissing her ear, "we'd both be murdered for even thinking such a thing." She turned to face him, and they shared a kiss. "What's the latest conflict?"

"Oh, Tadpole, I know I agreed to let them have a part in the planning and I really do appreciate all their help, but I just feel like everything is getting out of hand," she put her head on his shoulder, and he held her close. "I just wanted a small ceremony in the church chapel and a small reception at home. I know that's what you'd prefer as well."

"Grab your hat and gloves and let's go for a walk while you tell me all about it," he suggested.

"I can't just leave them, or they'll add another 100 people to the guest list," she protested.

"Leave it to me," he said, leading her into the library where the two mothers were deep in discussion. "Mother, Moira, do you mind if I borrow my fiancée for a while? I need her to come with me."

"Of course, dear boy," Moira answered, and Nora echoed her assent.

"Don't go making any changes without us," he called playfully as he whisked Isla out the door. They walked to Central Park hand in hand, and she vented her frustration.

"At last count they were up to about 400 guests and the only thing stopping them from adding more is that's all the sanctuary will hold. I don't know half of these people and I don't understand why we have to invite them to our wedding."

"A lot of them are probably business associates of my father's and yours. I agree it's not what we wanted but we did decide to let them have some input."

"If they invite that many people, then the reception can't be at either house, so they've booked a ballroom at the Waldorf," she added.

"That's where I was planning we'd spend our wedding night, so it would be convenient," Hitch grinned.

"They want you and the groomsmen in tails," she caught his eye and watched his brow furrow in a frown. "I would prefer your uniforms."

"That would be better than tails," Hitch admitted.

"I'd like a jazz or Big Band combo but they're talking small orchestra," she continued, and his frown grew deeper. "And let's not even talk about my dress. We've been shopping three times and everything I like, they don't and what they like, I don't. It's really taking a toll. When I tried to explain what I really wanted to wear I thought they'd cry."

"Why?" Hitch was confused. "Were you wanting to wear slacks or something? A bathing suit? I'm sorry, Zu-Zu, and don't hate me, but isn't one wedding dress pretty much like all the others?"

"Oh, Tadpole, I thought you'd understand," she said sadly.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart, tell me more and we'll see if we can't come up with a way to limit their input," he said lovingly. She brought him up to date on the flowers, the reception, the decorations, the invitations, everything was getting out of hand. "Come on," he said and walked toward a phone booth. "It's time to call in the cavalry." After making a hasty call, he told her, "Come on, I'm taking you for lunch at the Russian Tea Room to meet with what I hope is the answer to our problems." He refused to say more.

They had settled into a booth when Granny Mac approached the table and Hitch stood, "Thanks for coming," he said helping her take her seat. "We have a situation brewing." She looked at their two faces and nodded knowingly.

"Your mothers aren't listening to you and going overboard with the planning?" she commented, removing her gloves.

"Yes," they said in unison.

"Please, Granny, can you help us regain some balance with all this?" Isla pleaded.

"Of course, after lunch, I suggest we go have a nice, calm, conversation with them and set things to rights."

"I knew I could count on you," Isla hugged her, and Hitch smiled, all signs of his frown gone.

"And will you help me convince them to at least listen to what I have in mind for my dress?" Isla asked sheepishly.

"Only if you tell me what it is." Granny Mac smiled. Isla quickly took a small notepad and pencil from her purse and began a rough sketch of her idea. Her grandmother was intrigued and following an enjoyable meal, they returned to the MacGregor's home where the two mothers got a dressing down from Granny Mac on not listening to the bride and her vision instead of pushing their own.

Since no one ever argued with Granny Mac for long, they realized the error of their ways and apologized for getting carried away. They asked questions and truly listened to both the bride and the groom as they outlined their thoughts for the wedding. They also found Isla's idea for her dress to be unique and made some suggestions on seamstresses who could work with the design and make it a reality. Granny was definitely the hero of the hour.

"How can we ever repay you for your help," Hitch asked kissing her cheek as she said goodbye.

"Just name a grandchild after me," she said with a smile, and he wasn't sure if she was teasing or not.

When Isla and Hitch were alone sitting on the sofa in the drawing room, he spoke, "Now that we have all of that worked out, I'm afraid you might not want to discuss the reason I came today."

"I'm sorry, Tadpole, I just thought you stopped by. I didn't realize you had something to talk about," she said. "What is it?" He left the room for a moment and came back with a cardboard tube. Removing some blueprints, he spread them on the table.

"I thought we'd better talk about any changes we'd like to make for the house so I can get to work on them," he explained.

"More decisions," she groaned. "Okay, right off the bat I will say more closet space and bathrooms."

"My thoughts exactly," he laughed, and they poured over the blueprints while he made notes.