Page 13 of Love Letter Lost
“Hey, Livvy. What’s up?” I flopped onto my bed and tried to ignore my growling stomach. I’d skipped breakfast in my rush to get ready for church and I could hear clanging pots in the kitchen. I prayed it meant Audrey was baking. I was going to need some serious sugar to combat my lack of sleep. And a Dr. Pepper.
“Mal, everything’s ruined!” Livvy’s voice caught for a moment as if she was fighting back tears.
“What are you talking about? What’s going on?” Even the clanging in the kitchen had stopped, as if my roommates could sense the importance of the conversation.
“Everything is falling apart. I’m getting married on Saturday and my reception venue is flooded, my bridesmaid’s dresses are a disaster, and my friend who was doing the centerpieces just backed out.” I could hear sharp, short breaths coming through the phone. “My wedding is ruined!”
“It’s not ruined.” I scrambled to reassure her, though it sounded like a mess to me. “Just take it one step at a time.” I racked my brain, trying to find one suggestion I could give that might help with the pile of disaster that was her wedding plans. “What about using a church building for the venue?”
“My mom’s working on that right now. They have a youth activity planned for that night, but she thinks she can get it moved.”
“That’s great. That’s probably the biggest issue. What’s wrong with the bridesmaid dresses?” Even though I was one of the bridesmaids, I had yet to see the peach dress that I was supposed to be wearing. Livvy had assured me that it was gorgeous, but I had my doubts.
“They’re the wrong color. Online it said peach, but they arrived today and they are definitely pink. I’m not having a pink wedding. My colors are peach and silver. This isn’t some tacky high school Valentine’s dance.”
I let Livvy vent for a moment as I processed the information. It had taken months for her to choose those dresses. Not to mention, shipping had taken an additional two weeks because Livvy’s seven bridesmaids were all different shapes and sizes and the store hadn’t had the needed stock at the time she ordered. Livvy’s chances of finding a peach dress that would fit and flatter all of her bridesmaids before the wedding were next to nothing.
“Okay. Fixing that will be tricky, but not impossible.” Maybe tackling the problem from a different angle would help. “What happened with the centerpieces?”
“Abby had a family emergency. Not only will she be out of commission as a bridesmaid, but she can’t make my centerpieces.”
For a moment I thought about pointing out the good news that Livvy would only need six bridesmaid dresses, but had the feeling now was not the time.
“They were supposed to be this combination of peach flowers and tea lights with a hint of farmhouse.” Livvy paused for a moment, and I was surprised by the sudden silence. I heard a small shuffling sound before Livvy gasped. “Abby was in charge of the flowers too. Now I have nothing and no one to make them. I have no time. I’ve got meetings with caterers, I’m moving, I have a final dress fitting. I’m supposed to be meeting David’s family for a special dinner when his grandmother’s flight lands. Not to mention going to the bachelorette party. What am I going to do?” Livvy’s breaths came in sharp, quick gasps over the phone, reminding me of the dramatic moment in cartoons when characters breathed into paper bags to keep from hyperventilating.
Everything Livvy listed was an essential part of the average Utah wedding. While I considered suggesting that she could skip the reception after the wedding, I had a feeling it wouldn’t go over well. Livvy had been planning her wedding for ages, and I doubted she would settle for anything less than perfection.
An idea began to form, but I pushed it away as I listened to Livvy spiral. I could help. My only plans for the coming week were to paint before my new flooring was installed and to try to stop the new apartment complex from poaching my future tenants. I could push my project back by a few days. I’d be cutting it close, but I had time. I could step up and save the day. But did I want to?
I picked up the notebook I’d scribbled my thoughts in last night, fingering its spine as I considered my options and the emotions I was battling.
Livvy had kept a huge secret from me in hiding that letter, and its reappearance had messed with my emotional equilibrium, stirring up memories I’d rather forget. However, I’d like to think if something in my life was falling apart, as long as it didn’t involve a past love interest reaching out, Livvy would step in and help fix it.
My phone buzzed and I glanced at it to see a text from my mother, no doubt trying to set me up with another date or panicking because my dad had finally told her about the fender-bender. I ignored it, turning my attention back to Livvy.
I considered my options, fidgeting with the notebook in my hands. It was only for a week, less than a week really, and then the wedding would be over. I could help Livvy, while also having a valid reason for dodging my mother’s texts and calls. After all, even she would be unable to say I had nothing going on when I was saving Livvy’s entire wedding. I would be too busy keeping things running smoothly to even have a date at the wedding, or so I’d tell her.
Helping with the wedding would be a ton of work and I had a feeling that this was just the first of many meltdowns Livvy would experience before the ordeal was over. But it could be exactly what I needed to finally shake my thoughts of Ridge and get my mother off my back. I took a deep breath as I returned the notebook to my nightstand. I listened to Livvy’s panicked rambling for a moment longer, building my resolve before I spoke.
“I’ll do it. I’ll make the centerpieces and flower arrangements. I’ll even help find the bridesmaid dresses.” Now I just had to figure out how to be crafty. And how to do all of this without a car.
CHAPTERTEN
As soon asI offered Livvy my services, she bombarded me with information. Livvy may not have had time to make everything herself, but she had a vision for her wedding. Considering that my floral arranging skills were nonexistent, I hoped that it wouldn’t lead to disappointment. The last time I’d tried to hot-glue something I’d ended up burning all of my fingers and my countertop, and I still shuddered when thinking about the glitter-glue incident during my first year of teaching. Maybe this time would be different. Or maybe I’d get third degree burns and be excused from the wedding altogether.
“I want it rustic but modern. A mix of wood and sparkle, filled with romance and lights. You know, something that totally speaks to my style,” Livvy explained. I decided she wanted something like every other wedding reception I’d attended for the last year or more, but in peach and silver.
Part way through the conversation, my phone rang again, indicating an incoming call. I glanced at my phone, and an image of my mother in all her feathered-hair glory filled the screen. I quickly ended the call with Livvy, promising to call her later to discuss everything further, and accepted Mother’s call.
She’d learned about the fender-bender.
“Why didn’t you call me? I would have been there to help. I could have—”
“Followed me to the auto shop and then driven me home? Mother, I was fine, and Livvy helped me take care of my car. There was nothing you could have done.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose, hoping the pressure would counteract the headache I could feel building.
“Yes, but now you’re carless, and Livvy definitely doesn’t have the time to drive you around with her wedding in a few days. I could come down and help—”
