Page 26 of The Wedding Twist

Kassie sniffed, then wiped her nose with the sleeve of her pajama shirt. “I’m okay. Just nervous,” she said. She rolled her big, lashy eyes, which filled again with tears. “I know—so pathetic, right?”

Celeste perched on the arm of the other armchair that was facing Kassie. “I don’t think that at all. Did something happen?” For a moment, a scene flashed in her mind of her having to tell the groom and the rest of the guests that the wedding was off. Canceling the catering. Figuring out what to do with over eight thousand dollars’ worth of anemones, dahlias and sweet pea.

This needed delicate handling, and Kassie didn’t seem like the type who needed too soft of a shoulder to cry on.

“No. I just…” She stopped and blew her nose, a far louder honk than Celeste had expected coming from such a slight person. Celeste scanned the room and retrieved another tissue box. “Thanks,” Kassie said, pulling five out and laying them neatly on her lap. “Jeff is perfect. I love him so much, and I know he loves me.”

Celeste waited. Jeff’s devotion clearly wasn’t the reason for Kassie’s tears.

“It’s just that my parents got divorced when I was little, and I saw what it did to them, and I just keep thinking—” She stopped again and dipped her head down, her shoulders shaking silently.

“You’re worried that even though things are great now, they won’t always be,” Celeste said quietly.

Kassie nodded.

“I get it,” Celeste said. She paused. “I think that no one can ever predict what will happen five years, ten years, fifty years down the line. But you’ve seen what can happen when a relationship isn’t properly tended to. And something tells me you’ll keep that in mind for your own marriage.”

“Yeah,” Kassie said. She wiped her nose with the tissue.

“I think it’s a leap of faith. And you’re making it with all the right intentions and with all your heart. It’s clear you really love Jeff. And I’ve seen how he looks at you.”

Kassie took a deep shaky breath. “He’s obsessed with me. Like, in a good way. I’m his queen.”

Celeste nodded vigorously. “You totally are. You’re his queen. And I think you two have many, many years of happiness ahead of you.”

A small smile spread across Kassie’s lips. “Thank you,” she said. “I think so too.”

“Now, no more crying,” Celeste said. “You don’t want puffy eyes tomorrow. But I’ll make sure we have some cucumber slices in the fridge just in case. Come on,” she said and extended her hand. Kassie allowed Celeste to pull her up, and before she could move, Kassie engulfed her in a surprisingly bone-breaking hug.

“Thank you again. I’m going to bed.” She picked up her tissues and straightened her pink silk robe.

“Just call if you need anything,” Celeste said. “Good night, Kassie.”

Kassie’s vulnerability had surprised her, but the woman truly was a queen, and she’d be perched high on her social media throne tomorrow—that was for sure.

Kassie disappeared upstairs, and Celeste cleared the tissues and glasses and bottle, sliced up some emergency cucumbers and placed them in a bowl in the fridge, then glanced at the clock in the kitchen—one o’clock.

Leap of faith?

She closed her eyes, remembering the sensation of Jack’s fingers tracing the sensitive skin at the back of her neck as he’d kissed her. He was a gorgeous man. And not only that but he was also a really good one too. Maybe she needed to take her own advice.

Chapter Nine

Harris/Grant Wedding Day Rundown

Morning:

•6:30 a.m.: Begin prep coffee/mimosa/cinnamon bun trays for room deliveryx 14 rooms (+ floral arrangement on bridal suite & MOB tray)

•7:30 a.m.: Floral delivery due (note—bouquets/boutonnieres to back fridge, calla lily arrangements to gallery for brunch tables, all others on fold-outs in kitchen—make sure to request emailed invoice)

•8:00 a.m.: Tray deliveries to rooms, check brunch setup in gallery *signs out for GF/DF

•9:00 a.m.: Extra coffee/tea/pastries in great room (bride provided playlist for ambient music through lodge—cued up on Spotify)

•10:00 a.m.: Brunch

In the quiet of her kitchen, before heading to the lodge, Celeste clipped the four individual lists onto her clipboard, one for each segment of the day: morning, wedding prep, ceremony/reception, and takedown. She always kept itineraries in sections, on separate pages. One thing at a time. Having individual lists for each part of the day as its own compartment kept things from getting overwhelming.

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