Page 19 of Nightcaps at The Beach House Hotel

My heart thumped with concern. “Hello? What’s up?”

“I’m sorry to disturb you, but I think you’d better come to the hotel. Bernie’s here, but I think one of you owners should be too. A huge fight has broken out among members of the wedding party. I’ll fill you in when you get here.”

“Okay. No problem. I’m on my way. Is anyone hurt?”

“No. Some clothes may be ruined from being thrown in the pool but that’s it,” said Annette. “But now the party wants to cancel the wedding.”

“That can’t happen,” I said, wondering what in the world was going on.

###

I arrived at the hotel to find the pool area closed. Bernie was talking to Burr and his brother. Both gave him sheepish looks.

Standing aside both Elise and Janelle were looking furious.

“Hello, everyone,” I said, approaching them.

Elise and Janelle came over to me and each grabbed one of my arms and marched me away from Bernie and the boys. Only then did I notice Alyssa sitting on one of the lobby couches, surrounded by her two bridesmaids, crying.

“I’m furious with my boys,” said Janelle. “They should know better. The evening, everything is ruined.”

“I can’t believe Alyssa did this to me,” Elise said, trying not to cry. “This whole wedding is a fake. I’m not going through with it.”

“Let’s go to one of the private meeting rooms and talk this over,” I said calmly, though my mind was whirling as it put together a believable scenario.

We walked into a small boardroom and pulled chairs into a circle. Janelle handed Elise a tissue from her evening purse.

‘Okay, tell me exactly what happened,” I said.

Elise turned to Janelle and Janelle cleared her throat. “After dinner, we were serving nightcaps on the pool deck. I don’t know what my son, Adam, said to Burr, but Burr warned him to be quiet and when Adam shouted something about a baby, Burr pushed him into the pool. Adam grabbed him and soon several in the wedding party jumped into the pool, thinking it was some sort of game.” She twisted her hands. “I’m sorry.”

“That’s just part of the story,” said Elise. “When we questioned Burr, he confessed that he and Alyssa are already married because she’s pregnant.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “She should’ve told me. We could’ve done things differently. Now, this whole wedding is fake, just like someone said.”

Elise wiped her face while Janelle, looking ill, reached over and took hold of her hand.

“May I be honest with the two of you?” I asked. “I found out this afternoon from Burr that he and Alyssa were already married. I was shocked until I realized that they both wanted to give their mothers a beautiful wedding to remember, a wedding like you’d always wanted, but smaller.”

Elise bit her lip.

“For a young couple to have such love for their parents is very touching,” I continued. “Certainly, there are places in the world where a private ceremony occurs before one with family and friends. Why don’t you consider this an opportunity to celebrate not only a marriage but the birth of your first grandchild?”

Elise and Janelle remained quiet.

“We’ve had many weddings here at the hotel, but your wedding has stood out to us because there is such love and affection between both families. Use this time to make happy memories. I’m sure Burr was only trying to protect Alyssa. How sweet is that?”

Elise and Janelle gazed at one another.

“We have lovely plans going forward. The wedding is going to be beautiful, and the Sunday brunch for you and your guests will be delicious with the hotel’s famous cinnamon rolls.”

“I would love it if you’d say yes, Elise,” said Janelle. “We’ve wanted Burr and Alyssa together for a long time. And now we have a baby to think about?”

“It’s all happened so fast, but it wouldn’t do any good to cancel the wedding.” Elise’s breath hitched. “The fake wedding.”

“In simply talking to Burr and meeting Alyssa, I don’t believe it’s fair to call it a fake wedding. They are adorably in love.” I smiled at the two of them, unable to keep a tear from blurring my vision. “It’s a sweet story.”

Janelle opened her arms and Elise went into them. “Let’s go talk to the kids. Are you ready?”

Elise nodded, and they rose and left the room.

---