Toss the Bouquet (26 page)

“Of course! I've been dreaming about my wedding for years.” She released me from the hug and then listed several friends, cousins, and other relatives as possibilities,
covering eight or nine people in the process. With each name, my heart felt a little heavier.

Hello? Did we forget someone?

“But I've limited it to five. One sister—”

Yes!

“—one cousin, and three best friends. One from high school, one from college, and one from church.” She turned and faced me. “I think that number is just right. Don't you?”

“Yes, but one of them”—I paused and gave my sister a pointed look—“will technically be a maid of honor.” I cleared my throat and prayed she'd take the hint. “Right? So it's really four bridesmaids and a maid of honor.” I squared my shoulders and waited for Crystal to confirm what I already knew in my heart.

“Right.” She nodded. “The maid of honor handles a lot—the bridal shower, a bachelorette party, and quite a few things on the actual wedding day. So choosing the right person is key.”

“Of course. And I—”

“I know Sienna will do a great job.”

“Oh, thank you, I—”

Wait. Did she say Sienna?

Crystal reached into her purse and came up with a piece of paper with a bunch of notes scribbled on it. “I know Sienna might seem like an odd choice, but I've known her since we met at camp as little girls, and she's been my best friend ever since. Besides, I owe her. She's the one who introduced me to Phillip, remember?”

“Well yes, but—”

“I know, I know.” Crystal gripped the note in her hand. “I can guess what you're thinking.”

“You can?”

“Yes. She wouldn't have been your first pick.”

“I . . . well . . . no.”

“She wasn't really mine, either.” Crystal sighed and then took a seat on the sofa. “If you want the truth, Phillip's mother suggested it. Sienna's mom is one of her best friends.”

“You don't have to bow to Mrs. Havenhurst's wishes, Crystal. She's not even the mother of the bride, and it's your wedding.”

“I know.” My sister didn't look convinced. She glanced at the note and then looked my way. “But I don't like to stir the waters. I never know what to do when Phillip's mother starts giving me her . . . opinions. Sometimes it's easier not to debate her, you know? She doesn't have a daughter, so she's been kind of planning her son's wedding for ages, I guess.”

“Well, yes, but again, it's your wedding, not hers.” I took a seat next to her. “You should be able to have anyone you like stand next to you.”

“It's okay, Mari. Really. Sienna is a little, well, self-centered and spoiled, but she's a good friend, and she'll do fine. I hope.” A little sigh followed. “But I know what you're thinking. You would've picked Gillian, right?”

“Gillian?”
Um, no.

“It's true that I'm closer to her these days. We work together at the hospital, after all. I see her every day. I toyed with the idea of asking her. And I even thought about Cassie.
She's my favorite cousin, and we got really close on that last mission trip. And Brianna, of course, was my college roomie, and we certainly bonded over all those all-nighters, studying for exams. I just have so many wonderful people to choose from.”

What am I, chopped liver?

Crystal leaned back against the sofa and reached for a throw pillow, which she hugged to her chest. “But Phillip's mom convinced me Sienna's the right choice, and I agree. I mean, she was there for me through the breakup with Phillip, and I've shared my deepest, darkest secrets with her.”

Well, hello. You've shared them with me too. Remember? Who talked you down from the ledge just three months ago when Phillip put the brakes on your relationship?

Crystal's eyes pooled with tears. “Oh, Mari!” She tossed the pillow aside, grabbed my hands again, and gave them a squeeze. “I'm so excited.”

“Me too.” And I meant it. In my heart of hearts, I meant it. Even if it took brushing aside any crumbs of bitterness from my heart. My one and only sister was getting married. I needed to be there for her.

“I do need to ask one special favor of you, Mari.” She gave me a pleading look. I recognized the pouty lip, of course. I'd seen it a zillion times before.

“What's that?”

“Well, you haven't met Phillip's cousin, Tyler.”

“Ooh, he has a cousin?” Potential love interest, perhaps?

“Yes.” Crystal's nose wrinkled, and I could read the
concern in her eyes. “See, here's the deal. Tyler is only fourteen.”

“Fourteen?” I swallowed hard.

“He's going to be a groomsman, of course. I mean, they're cousins, after all, both of them only children. I know, technically, the two aren't close in age. And Tyler is, well, socially awkward.”

“Socially awkward?”

“He's always telling goofy jokes at the wrong time, interrupting people when they're talking, dressing oddly just to get attention. Stuff like that. You know the type, right? I think some boys just go through this when they're sloshing their way through puberty.”

“I'm confused. What does this have to do with me?”

“Oh, I'm sorry.” Crystal giggled. “I got distracted. You know how the bridesmaids and groomsmen are paired up. Well, Tyler will need a partner for the ceremony.”

“You're pairing me up with the socially awkward fourteen-year-old?” At this news, I leaned back against the sofa cushions and pinched my eyes shut. What was she thinking? After a few slow breaths, I opened my eyes and looked at my sister. The happiness in her eyes almost made me think I could handle all this.

Almost.

“I knew you would understand, Mari! Oh, and don't worry . . . he's just your height. Of course, that would make him a lot shorter than the other boys his age, but, if you don't count the acne, he looks a lot older.” Crystal's nose wrinkled once again. “As picky as Mrs. Havenhurst is, I'm surprised she hasn't insisted her sister-in-law take him to
a dermatologist. I mean, it's not really my business, but in a roundabout way, it kind of is. You know?”

No, I didn't know. And I didn't care to, thank you very much. She'd lost me at the words
fourteen-year-old
.

“I knew I could count on you, Mari. You're the sweetest person I've ever known. Of course, with you and Tyler both being five foot two, you guys will be at the end of the line, but I knew you wouldn't mind that part. You know, his coloring is even a lot like yours—sandy blond hair, blue eyes.”

“Wait. End of the line?”

“Well, sure, Mari. I mean, you're”—she paused and her nose wrinkled for the third time—“petite.”

“You mean short.”

“Well, five foot two is a great height . . . for you. But the other girls happen to be taller. So I'm putting everyone in order according to height. That's another reason Mrs. Havenhurst suggested Sienna—she's five nine, the tallest in the bunch. Cassie's five seven, so she'll be the first bridesmaid. We'll work our way down from there.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“I didn't mean it that way.” She gave me a puzzled look. “Are your feelings hurt, Mari? Please tell me they're not.”

I couldn't really answer without lying, so I hesitated before finally coming back with, “Just having kind of an off day.”

“Well, get back on again, okay?” Crystal clasped her hands together at her chest and released a girlish sigh. “I'm counting on you to stay focused. We have a wedding to plan!”

So my sister did want my help. Maybe I should just stand back and let Sienna perform her job as maid of honor,
and wait for Crystal to tell me what she needed me to do. I certainly didn't want to overstep like a certain future mother-in-law already had.

And from the look of sheer joy in Crystal's eyes, I'd better snap out of my bad mood and focus on the bride to be. This was all about her, after all. With a forced smiled, I made up my mind to do just that.

Less than a week after their announcement, Crystal and
Phillip invited all the bridesmaids and groomsmen to our house for a Saturday afternoon BBQ. As much as I hated to admit it, my jealousy toward Sienna tainted the event for me.

I'd known the buxom blond since childhood. Of course, she wasn't buxom as a kid. Then again, she wasn't shapely as a teen, either. The drastic change in Sienna's physique had only come about recently after a so-called week of vacation in the Caribbean. A week at the plastic surgeon's office was more like it. Still, I tried not to focus on her Double D's, though tonight's ensemble—a bright-pink and lime-green fitted dress with low-cut bodice—made that difficult.

“Suck it up, Buttercup.” Dad's voice sounded to my right.

I startled to attention and turned to find my father standing next to me, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief.

“I'm sorry. What?”

“I said, ‘Suck it up, Buttercup.' ” He nudged me with his elbow, then leaned down and whispered, “I know what you're thinking.”

“You do?”

“Yep. You can't stand that girl. You've hated her ever since she stole your sister's boyfriend in sixth grade. I never cared much for that Joey O'Shea, anyway.”

“Me either, but
hate
is a strong word. I just can't stand that she always draws so much attention to herself.”

“Let's get real.” My father chuckled. “We both know why the guys can't look away.”

“I know, I know.”
And those Double D's aren't even real.

Still, it bugged me. Even Tyler—the socially awkward fourteen-year-old—had been rendered speechless by the effervescent and curvaceous Sienna. Then again, the gawky stare might be Tyler's norm.

“That's not the only reason you're upset, is it?” Dad gave me a sympathetic look. “I see what your sister's done to you. You and that gangly kid with pimples have been coupled up for this shindig, right?”

“We're
not
a couple. Ew.”

“Right, right.” He slung his arm over my shoulder and pulled me into a bear hug. “Well, you get my point. And you have two choices: either you can spend the next four months moaning and groaning about it, or you can suck it up and do the right thing.”

“That's the point. I
always
do the right thing, and look where it's gotten me—standing at the end of the line.”

“At least you're in the line. Did I ever tell you the story
about my older sister eloping and leaving the whole family out of her big day? Broke my mother's heart. Mine too.” Dad's carefree expression shifted as his lips curled downward in a frown. “Anyway, I'm just happy Crystal is a family girl. She's involved all of us in her wedding plans, and I'm grateful. It's gonna be a wonderful day”—he pursed his lips—“even if the reception is at the River Oaks Country Club at sixty-five dollars a head.”

I started to respond, but something—rather, someone—caught my eye. Walking through the front door was the most gorgeous specimen of a man I'd ever clamped my eyes on. Something about the solidly built, dark-haired fellow looked familiar, but I didn't know why. The other bridesmaids gathered around him, all giggles and smiles, greeting him like an old friend. Weird. I had met Phillip's other two friends before, but was I the only one who had never met this one? Sienna practically lunged herself into his arms with a boisterous giggle.

“I don't believe it.” Dad almost tripped over his own feet as he took a couple of steps away from me. “T-that's Derrick Richardson.”

“Derrick Richardson?” The name sounded familiar. And the confident stride and broad, white-toothed smile looked familiar too. Wow, this guy would be a shoo-in for toothpaste commercials.

Commercials.

TV.

That's where I'd seen him before. I felt sure of it. He starred in a television commercial for Accentuate Bank, my employer.

“He's an actor?” I whispered to my dad.

He snorted. “An actor? Only if you call his work on the ball field acting. He's the best right fielder the Astros have ever had, kid. You need to get out more. Go see a game or two. Why your mother raised you to love theater instead of sports, I will never understand.”

“Ah, he's a ballplayer, then. Whatever.” I shrugged, feeling a little less impressed than before. I'd never been much for sports, especially baseball. Who had the patience to sit through all those innings just to watch grown men jog around those little placemat things?

“But he does a TV commercial for Accentuate Bank too?” I asked.

“Now that you mention it, I think he does.”

“I knew it.”

Tyler appeared to spring to life in Derrick's presence. The gawky teen wedged his way through the crowd of girls and, with a goofy grin on his face, came to a stop directly in front of the guy, then stammered, “D-dude. You're D-Derrick R-Richardson.”