***
I pulled into Rick’s driveway just after nine o’clock. The kitchen light was on, so I hurried around to the back of the house and knocked. Rick answered immediately, standing back to let me inside with a worried look on his face.
“Are you sure everything’s okay?” Rick asked.
“Everything is perfect,” I said. “I just wanted to run an idea by you.”
“Okay,” Rick said slowly. “Go ahead.”
I quickly explained everything to Rick. I told him all about Sophie’s stress and how worried she’d been. When I mentioned the idea of moving the wedding up to tomorrow, Rick’s entire face lit up with excitement.
“That’s brilliant,” Rick said. “She’ll love it.”
“You think so?” I asked nervously.
“It’s exactly the sort of thing Sophie loves,” Rick said. “Spontaneous and exciting. She spent so much of her life afraid to venture out, afraid to have real experiences. Ever since she met you, that’s changed. She’s opened herself up to the world more than ever. I think a surprise wedding is exactly what she would want.”
“I’m so glad to hear you say that,” I said, laughing with relief. “I was worried you’d think it was a stupid idea.”
“Not at all,” Rick said. “It’s perfect. Now, what can I do to help?”
Rick sprang into action faster than either myself or Liam had. After just one conversation, he was completely onboard. It meant everything to me that Sophie’s dad approved of my plan. I knew he wanted his little girl to have the entire world, just like I wanted for Nina.
“I don’t know if it’s possible,” I said after Rick and I finished ironing out all the details. “I’m going to head back to the mansion and get things started.”
“Have you called Kaddy?” Rick asked. “She’ll be a huge help.”
“Liam called her,” I said. “Hopefully, she’ll already be there when I get back.”
“Should I come, too?” Rick asked. “I can help set up. You’re already going to be up all night.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “You’ve done more than enough already. Just pick up the cake in the morning, okay? And be there by seven.”
Rick nodded and smiled, a faraway look appearing in his eyes. I knew he was thinking about his late wife. Over the past year, I’d gotten to know Rick. It wasn’t uncommon for him to zone out and just remember Sophie’s mom.
“I’m sorry she’s not here for this,” I said softly, clapping Rick gently on the shoulder.
“She is,” Rick said with a sad smile. “In her own way.”
“You think so?” I asked. My mind turned to my own parents, and for the first time, I felt a horrible tug in my stomach. Planning the wedding had been so insane, and now, with only one night to do it all, it was even crazier. I hadn’t let myself think about my mom and dad. Until now.
“I do,” Rick said firmly. “It’s cheesy and a cliché, but the people we love never leave us.”
“Yeah.”
Rick smiled knowingly and patted my back as we walked toward the door. It was getting late, and I had a lot of preparations to complete before Sophie woke up. I needed to get home, and yet, I suddenly missed my parents worse than ever.
“They would be proud of you,” Rick said when we reached the door.
“Who?” I asked, blinking in confusion.
Rick just smiled and slapped my back again. It was like he could read my mind. I sighed and shook my head, feeling silly for being so upset.
“I knew your dad for years,” Rick said. “He was one of my closest friends. I promise, he would be proud of you. And your mother? Emily would have loved to see you with Nina.”
“I like to think so,” I said. “I know she would have fawned over Nina, but I think she would have adored Sophie just as much. Mom always wanted a daughter.”
Rick and I shared another moment of silent contemplation. I knew he was still missing his wife and that he always would. In those few minutes, I let myself feel my parents’ absence. I remembered their faces, their smiles. I could hear my father’s voice in my head, and my mother’s laughter echoed through my ears. It was as if they were standing right beside me.
“I should go,” I said. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
We said goodbye, and I hurried out to my car. The streets were empty as I drove back home. I cut off the lights before I turned into the driveway, hoping Sophie would stay asleep all night. The last thing I needed was for my car’s headlights to shine through the bedroom windows and wake her.
“You’re back,” Liam said when I stepped through the front door.
“I am,” I said softly. “Keep your voice down. If Sophie wakes up, this whole thing will be ruined.”
“She won’t wake up,” Liam said with confidence. “Everything will be fine.”
“Did you get ahold of Kaddy?” I asked.
Liam nodded and gestured toward the kitchen. I followed him through the swinging door, and sure enough, Kaddy was waiting for us at the table.
“Finally,” she said impatiently. “Let’s get this thing started.”
Kaddy flipped open a huge binder that was sitting on the table. I frowned and moved closer. The binder was full of wedding ideas, some seemed to be written out in gel pen. The pictures that were stuck in the book were beginning to peel at the corners.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“Sophie and I made this in sixth grade,” Kaddy said. “This is everything she wanted her wedding to be. And tonight, we’re going to make it happen.”