Page 132 of The Duke Who Saved Christmas
For now, I had to focus on the wedding.
I could think about all the uncertainties in my life when this was over.
If it ever ended.
I was starting to think that the wedding would truly never come.
“Sylvie, we have a problem.”
I flinched at the sound of my sister’s voice and turned to see her standing in the doorway.
Empty-handed.
“What now?” I asked, although I already knew by her sheepish expression and lack of decorations.
“The delivery of the decorations has been delayed.” She glanced away. “They’ll be delivered in two days instead.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose and tightly gripped the string of fairy lights with my other hand.
If I didn’t keep my hands busy, my sister was going to attend her wedding with a black eye.
“Hazel. What did I tell you about these decorations when you insisted that I let you handle ordering them?”
She coughed into her hand, staring at something off to the side. “I… Uh… Make sure I order them in plenty of time.”
“In what world is six days before the wedding considered plenty of time?”
“It was next day delivery.”
I dropped the string of lights and glared at her. “Say that again. Idareyou!”
“Sylvie…” Mum stepped towards me, reaching out. “Calm down, dear. Don’t speak to your sis—”
“No.” I held my hand up. “I can speak to her like this, and I will. I’m both her sisterandher wedding planner right now.This was theonething she begged me to let her handle, and I agreed, against my better judgement. I told her to make sure she had the decorations in hand two weeks ago at the absolute latest. I have been reminding her weekly for the past two months at her request, and now I have to hear that they were only just ordered on next day delivery? With this unpredictable weather?”
Mum hesitated, a flicker of guilt passing through her gaze. “She’s been busy, love, and—”
“This is why she’s like this!” I threw my arms out, finally turning fully towards her as anger pulsed through me. “Why are you making excuses for her all the time, Mum?She’sbeen busy? Do you have any idea what the last couple of weeks have been like for me with her flightiness? Her chopping and changing of every little thing? Her endless indecisiveness? If she weren’t my sister, I’d have dropped her as a client months ago! Not to mention shepromisedme last week that she had them ready to bring, and I trusted her. She lied to my face! Can you not look at this situation and admit that she was wrong for once?”
“Hey, don’t yell at Mum!” Hazel unwound her scarf, walking over. “What’s pissed on your cornflakes this morning?”
“You, you bloody brat!” I snapped at her. “Do you think I’m spending the next few days swanning around like some festive fairy princess? Do you think I have the luxury of flipping around my schedule because you screwed up?”
“Sylvie—”
“If your trees are nothing but lights and bows on your wedding day, know that you only have yourself to blame. It’s not just my time you’ve wasted by not doing the one thing you were responsible for, but everyone else’s here, too.” I waved my arm around. “Mum, Cassandra, Christina, Amy, Jodie, Danielle, and Layla… Everyone is taking time out of their lives to help us decorate because you refused to hire a professional company. Becauseyouwanted to handle it yourself to make it perfect.You’ve even got the Duchess of Castleton wearing reindeer antlers and bloody slippers over there, for God’s sake. And the one thing…” I threw the string of lights down into the box with a thud that echoed through the hall. “One thing, Hazel. This was theone thingyou had to do. That youaskedto do. Out of everything I’ve planned for your wedding, this… Jesus Christ. What have you been doing for the last several weeks? Months, even? This isn’t a surprise sprung on you at the last minute! Agh!” I finished on a scream.
Her lower lip trembled, and I shook my head, pressing my hand against my eyes.
I knew what was coming.
She’d cry.
She’d get her own way.
It would be ‘poor Hazel, it’s just a little mistake.’
And I’d be the mean big sister bullying her yet again.
