I probably knew these two men better than my mother did, but she had insisted. So like the good little daughter I am, I went with it. We’d been talking for some time; well, most of us had been. Brad mostly just sat there and glared at me over his beer. I thought it was the funniest thing ever. A couple times I stuck my tongue out at him like an adolescent child. He couldn’t help but chuckle at me. He never could control himself around me.
I asked the question that had been plaguing me all night. “Henry, how did you not know that Meredith was my mother?”
He cleared his throat and smiled politely at my mom. “In all honesty, this is the first time I’m seeing the inside of your mother’s house.”
I was taken aback by what he said. The first time being in the house. That was just crazy. I knew that my mother was a bit overprotective of this place, but damn, I didn’t think she was that bad.
“No way.”
He nodded. “Yes way. We’ve been staying at my house. She only comes here three to four times a week to keep the place aired out and clean of cobwebs.”
I looked at my mother who had a rose color staining her cheeks. “Seriously, Mom? He’s never been here? Did you even tell him about me?”
She cackled with laughter. “Of course, I told him about you, Gabriella.”
I was so confused. She just used my middle name. When the answer dawned on me, my eyes widened. “You little snake. You used my middle name this whole time? Wow, Mom … just wow.”
So that was how she did it. From the look on Henry’s face, he didn’t mind at all that my mother told a big, fat lie. In fact, he never looked happier. Wow, they were a real piece of work. If someone told me a lie like that, even if out of context, I would be pissed. However, the fact that she used my middle name was so far out in left field. I bet Brad had a kick out of my mom referring to me as Gabriella. He used to always pick on me for having a middle name like that. Where I was a petite white girl, that name just screamed Spanish heritage.
He drove me absolutely crazy with it when he found out. I could never make fun of his name, because he was named after his father. Bradley Shawn Titan. Where I respected Henry so much, I never dared make fun of it. He knew this and tortured me with the fact for months. When we finally made a truce, he did so very reluctantly. He would always make a reference to having two different girls at the same time. A Spanish rose and a spicy white girl.
“I know. I eventually told him that your first name was Claire, but he didn’t put two and two together.”
“But Brad knew who you were the entire time. So why didn’t he …” I stopped when it hit me. He knew all along that if this went great he would see me again. Oh, that sneaky little shit.
I rounded on a smirking Brad. “You devious little shit.”
He shrugged and held his arms out, a shit-eating grin on his face the whole time. “The heart wants what the heart wants. Who am I to get in the middle of those two lovebirds?”
I scoffed, taking a drink of my coffee. “Original, Brad. Simply original.”
We sat there talking about the wedding that I now knew would be held at Good Baptist, just up the road. It was a big church, with the most beautiful stained-glass window. It was the perfect site for a wedding. The church held more than two hundred people in its pews, the walls colored in a deep red, and hardwood flooring. I had to give my mother props for picking such a lovely location for the wedding. The reception, however, would be held at the local hotel ballroom—with a full wet bar. I loved the idea of this wedding happening more and more.
“Oh, before I forget… I need to get you your itineraries,” she squealed excitedly, getting up from the couch to jog down the hall.
I raised an eyebrow at that. “Itineraries?”
Henry chuckled. “Yes, dear. Your mother has everything scheduled out from tomorrow morning all the way until the reception on Sunday.”
I groaned. “You’re kidding, right?”
“I wish I was,” he said sympathetically.
I was about to open my mouth to object, but at that moment she came running up the hallway. Giving me a packet, I began reading it, my eyes widening with every word.
Titan and James: July 6, 2014 Wedding Itinerary
Claire: Maid of Honor
Friday: July 4, 2014
- Final Dress Fitting with Best Man: 8:30 AM Sharp
Details: Wear minimal makeup; as not to get stains on the dress. Hair needs to be in a bun, so if dresses need any last-minute alterations, hair is not going to be in the way. Shower needs to be taken before trying on dress, so no oil from skin seeps into it. Be sure to follow each instruction as they are important to not ruin the gown.
- Bonding Time with Family (Lunch) at Rossetti’s: 12 PM Sharp
Details: Wear a flowy summer dress; our dining area will be outside and away from others. Heels are a must; do not forget. Light makeup is required, hair should be kept in a bun.
- Waxing Appointment with Best Man: 1:30 PM Sharp
Details: Eyebrows and any facial hair. Legs, and toes as well. Bikini area; wouldn’t want to have a bush outline in the satin gown I chose. Last, but certainly not least, underarms.
- Hair Appointment with Best Man: 4 PM Sharp
Details: Your hair will be cut, dyed, and styled for dinner; this is a preliminary for our hair appointment on the wedding day.
- Nail Appointment with Best Man: 6 PM Sharp
Details: All nails will be done in a white French tip, squared at the tips. No exceptions.
- Bonding Time with Family (Dinner) Country Club: 8 PM Sharp
Details: Must dress in a gown, floor length if available. Emerald in color. Henry gave me a Black AmEx card for you; please pick this up before you leave in the morning.
That is all for Friday.
Was she being for real right now? I would be spending the whole freaking day with Brad tomorrow. Was she trying to kill me? There was no way I would be able to do any of this stuff with him being there. For one, I would be partially naked throughout the dress fitting. The second being the damn waxing appointment. Was she fucking crazy? I could not get my girl parts waxed with him there. I knew that he wasn’t going to be in the same room as me, but damn. Just him being in the same building as me while that’s being done is overstepping so, so many boundaries.
After I finished reading, Brad bellowed with laughter. I glared at him before pinning my mother with a death glare. “There is no way I am going to spend all damn day with that heathen.”
She sighed. “Claire, be sensible. It makes perfect sense. Your appointments are at the same time. So, why not? Just be a good girl and follow the itinerary word for word.”
I flopped down against the back of the couch, sulking. She was personally trying to send me to an early grave, I was sure of it. She knew that I wouldn’t be able to say no to her. I could see that she was still looking at me, waiting for an answer. I groaned, nodding my head. She clapped her hands together happily. I laid my head against the back of the couch, closing my eyes. This day was just getting to be too much. I really wanted a long soak in my bath and then pass out in my old bed.
I felt the couch dip, telling me that Brad was inching closer. I opened my eyes when he finished settling in. He looked at me and smiled. “Looks like you’re stuck with me tomorrow, Claire. I wonder what we can get into.”
I rolled my eyes. “Hmm. Probably our wedding clothes. That’s the only thing we’re going to be getting into.”