Chapter 24: Wedding Planning - Day Two
Morning Madness
Jay woke to her phone exploding.
Messages.
Dozens of them.
All from Mamma.
All about wedding planning.
She blinked at the screen.
7:30 AM.
Mamma had been planning since 5.
Mamma: Found the perfect flowers!
Mamma: Caterer called! Menu tasting today!
Mamma: Keiran wants dinosaur-shaped napkins. Thoughts?
Mamma: Percy volunteered to write a song for the reception. I said no.
Mamma: Keigan is researching wedding traditions. He sent me a 12-page report.
Mamma: Up yet? Breakfast in 30! Planning starts NOW!
Jay laughed.
Showed Keifer.
He groaned.
Pulled her closer.
"It's too early for Mamma's enthusiasm."
She kissed his nose.
"It's never too early for Mamma.
You know that."
He sighed.
"Unfortunately, yes."
---
Breakfast Command Center
Downstairs, the kitchen had been transformed.
Mamma stood at the head of the table.
Clipboard in hand.
Lists everywhere.
Samples of everything.
"Good morning, my loves!
Sit!
Eat!
We have SO much to do today!"
Keiran was already there.
Covered in something sticky.
Drawing dinosaurs on napkins.
"Kuya Jay!
Look!
I made napkin dinosaurs!
For the wedding!
Everyone gets one!"
Jay examined his work.
Crude dinosaur drawings.
Clearly done with enthusiasm.
Beautiful.
"They're perfect, Keiran.
Everyone will love them."
Keiran beamed.
"I know!
I'm the best napkin designer ever!"
Keigan sat nearby.
Reading.
Naturally.
Occasionally looking up to correct facts.
"Actually, the first wedding napkins were used in ancient Rome.
They were called 'mappae.'
Not dinosaurs."
Keiran waved a hand.
"Ancient Rome didn't have dinosaurs.
Sad for them."
Keigan considered.
"Fair point."
---
The Guest List
Mamma pushed a paper toward Jay.
"Guest list final draft.
Review.
Approve.
We need final numbers by Friday."
Jay scanned the list.
Immediate family only.
Just as they'd agreed.
The Mariano side: Aries, Percy.
The Watson side: Mamma, Pappa, Keigan, Keiran.
Plus Keifer's best friends who were already family anyway.
Jay frowned.
"There's no one else?"
Mamma shook her head.
"You wanted intimate.
This is intimate.
Just the people who love you most."
Jay's eyes filled with tears.
"This is perfect, Mamma.
Absolutely perfect."
Mamma squeezed her hand.
"Good.
Now.
Next item.
Flowers."
---
Flower Frenzy
Mamma produced samples.
Dozens of them.
Flowers everywhere.
"White roses, obviously.
But what about accents?
Baby's breath?
Lilies?
Something colorful?"
Jay touched the petals.
Soft.
Fragrant.
Beautiful.
"White roses.
Simple.
Elegant.
Like the hope I found in the darkness."
Mamma nodded.
"Perfect.
Now.
Bouquet style?
Cascading?
Round?
Hand-tied?"
Jay looked at Keifer.
He shrugged.
"Whatever you want, love."
She thought.
"Hand-tied.
Simple.
Natural.
Like me."
Mamma made notes.
"Hand-tied white roses.
Done.
Next.
Boutonnieres."
Percy raised his hand.
"What's a boutonniere?"
Aries sighed.
"The flower the men wear.
On their jackets."
Percy's eyes lit up.
"Ooh!
Can mine be a dinosaur?
A tiny dinosaur?
On my lapel?"
Mamma stared at him.
"No, Percy.
No dinosaur boutonnieres."
Percy slumped.
"You're all so boring."
---
Cake Consultation
Mid-morning, the baker arrived.
Samples everywhere.
Cake layers.
Frostings.
Fillings.
Decorations.
Jay's mouth watered.
She hadn't been able to eat much during treatment.
Now?
Now she wanted everything.
The baker, a cheerful woman named Gloria, spread out options.
"This is vanilla bean with raspberry filling.
This is chocolate ganache with salted caramel.
This is lemon with blueberry compote."
Keiran gasped.
"THERE'S SO MUCH CAKE!
Can I try everything?
Please?
Please please please?"
Gloria laughed.
"Of course, little man.
That's what tasting is for."
Keiran sampled everything.
Made loud approving noises.
Got frosting on his face.
On his shirt.
On Rex.
"BEST DAY EVER!
Well, wedding day will be best day.
But this day is also good!"
Keigan sampled politely.
Took notes.
"The vanilla has good structure.
The chocolate is rich but balanced.
The lemon is bright but not overwhelming."
Percy stared at him.
"You're twelve.
Why do you talk like a food critic?"
Keigan shrugged.
"Genetics."
---
The Cake Decision
After much tasting, they narrowed it down.
Jay looked at Keifer.
"What do you think?"
He kissed her forehead.
"I think you should choose.
You're the bride."
She considered.
"I like the vanilla.
Simple.
Elegant.
But the raspberry filling adds something special."
Mamma nodded.
"Perfect.
Vanilla cake with raspberry filling.
White frosting.
Simple flowers."
Keiran raised his hand.
"What about dinosaur toppers?
Like a tiny T-Rex on top?"
Everyone looked at him.
He shrugged.
"Worth a shot."
Jay laughed.
"No dinosaur toppers, Keiran.
But maybe dinosaur cookies on the side?
Like we talked about?"
Keiran considered.
Then nodded.
"Deal.
But they better be good cookies."
Gloria smiled.
"I make excellent dinosaur cookies.
Promise."
Keiran beamed.
"Then you're the best baker ever!"
---
Lunch Break
By noon, everyone was exhausted.
Wedding planning was intense.
Mamma ordered lunch brought in.
Sandwiches.
Salads.
Lemonade.
Break on the patio.
Jay sat beside Keifer.
Her head on his shoulder.
His arm around her.
"Wedding planning is exhausting," she murmured.
He kissed her hair.
"Told you we should elope."
She laughed.
"And miss Keiran's dinosaur napkins?
Never."
He grinned.
"True.
The napkins alone are worth it."
Percy joined them.
Sandwich in hand.
Grin on face.
"So.
Bachelor party.
When?
Where?
How wild?"
Keifer raised an eyebrow.
"There's no bachelor party."
Percy gasped.
"No bachelor party?
That's illegal!
Wedding law!"
Aries appeared behind him.
"There's no wedding law.
You made that up."
Percy waved a hand.
"Details.
The point is, Keifer needs a party.
His last night as a single man."
Keifer shook his head.
"I'm not single now.
I've never been single since Jay walked into my office.
A party won't change that."
Percy sighed.
"You're so romantic.
It's disgusting."
Jay grinned.
"Thank you."
---
Afternoon: Dress Fitting
After lunch, Mamma whisked Jay away.
Dress fitting.
Bridal boutique.
Excitement and tears.
The dress was simple.
Elegant.
Perfect.
White lace.
Sweetheart neckline.
Flowing skirt.
Train just long enough.
Jay stood on the platform.
Stared at herself in the mirror.
Not the sick girl from months ago.
Not the dying woman from weeks ago.
A bride.
Healthy.
Beautiful.
Hopeful.
Mamma cried.
Of course.
"I can't believe this is real.
My daughter.
Getting married.
In that beautiful dress."
Jay cried too.
Couldn't help it.
"I can't believe it either, Mamma.
I almost didn't make it."
Mamma hugged her carefully.
"But you did, darling.
You made it.
And now you're here.
A bride.
Alive.
Loved."
Jay held her tight.
"Thank you, Mamma.
For everything.
For loving me.
For being my mother."
Mamma pulled back.
Wiped her eyes.
"Always, my daughter.
Always."
---
Evening: Back Home
Jay returned to the mansion.
Exhausted but happy.
Dress chosen.
Flowers picked.
Cake decided.
Progress made.
Keifer met her at the door.
Pulled her into his arms.
"How was it?
Good tears?
Bad tears?"
She smiled against his chest.
"Good tears.
So many good tears."
He kissed her forehead.
"That's my girl."
Keiran ran up.
Rex in hand.
"Kuya Jay!
Did you get the dress?
Is it pretty?
Can I see?"
Jay knelt down.
"It's very pretty, Keiran.
But you can't see it until the wedding.
It's bad luck."
Keiran's eyes widened.
"Bad luck?
Like dinosaurs?
Dinosaurs had bad luck.
That's why they went extinct."
Keigan appeared.
"Actually, dinosaurs went extinct because of an asteroid.
Not bad luck."
Keiran waved a hand.
"Same thing.
Asteroids are bad luck."
Jay laughed.
Pulled them both into a hug.
"I love you both.
So much."
Keiran hugged back.
"I love you too, Kuya Jay.
Even if you won't show me the dress."
Keigan nodded.
"Yes.
Love you.
Even though you're being illogical about wedding traditions."
Jay kissed their heads.
"That's what family does.
Loves through logic and luck and everything."
---
Dinner Discussion
Dinner was loud.
As always.
But focused on wedding planning.
Mamma reviewed the day's progress.
Flowers: done.
Cake: done.
Dress: done.
Caterer: meeting tomorrow.
Photographer: interview Friday.
Music: still undecided.
Percy raised his hand.
"I still think we need a flash mob."
Aries pulled his hand down.
"No one thinks that."
Percy pouted.
"You're all so mean to my ideas."
Keigan looked up from his book.
"Your ideas are objectively terrible.
That's not mean.
That's honest."
Percy gasped.
"KEIGAN!
You're supposed to be on my side!"
Keigan shrugged.
"I'm on the side of logic.
Your ideas have no logic."
Percy slumped.
"Betrayed by a twelve-year-old."
---
Music Decisions
Mamma pushed forward.
"Music.
We need music.
Ceremony and reception."
Jay looked at Keifer.
"What do you think?"
He squeezed her hand.
"Something classical for the ceremony.
Something fun for the reception."
She nodded.
"Yes.
Canon for the procession.
Something upbeat for the party."
Mamma made notes.
"Canon.
Got it.
Reception playlist?
DJ or live band?"
Jay considered.
"Live band?
Small?
Intimate?
Like jazz?"
Keifer smiled.
"Perfect.
You love jazz."
She smiled back.
"You know me so well."
Percy raised his hand again.
"I can sing!
I have a great voice!
I'll serenade you!"
Aries stared at him.
"You sing in the shower.
That's it.
That's the only place you sing."
Percy clutched his heart.
"Ouch.
Hurt.
But true."
Jay laughed.
"No singing, Perce.
But you can make a speech."
Percy brightened.
"Really?
I can make a speech?
With jokes?
And stories?
And maybe some crying?"
Jay nodded.
"All of it.
The whole Percy experience."
He beamed.
"BEST WEDDING EVER!"
---
Late Night
After dinner, the family scattered.
Keiran to bath.
Keigan to homework.
Percy and Aries to a movie.
Mamma and Pappa to their study.
Jay and Keifer ended up on the patio.
Stars overhead.
Quiet at last.
She leaned against him.
His arm around her.
Her head on his shoulder.
"Today was a lot," she whispered.
He kissed her hair.
"Good lot or bad lot?"
"Good lot.
Exhausting lot.
But good."
He held her tighter.
"You're doing amazing.
Planning a wedding while recovering from cancer.
Superhuman."
She laughed.
"Or crazy."
"Same thing."
She looked up at him.
Those storm-gray eyes soft in the starlight.
"In less than a month, I'll be your wife."
He smiled.
"In less than a month, you'll be Mrs. Watson.
Jay Watson.
My wife."
She kissed him.
Soft.
Sweet.
Full of promise.
"I love you, Mark Keifer Watson."
He kissed her back.
"I love you too, Jasper Jean Mariano.
Soon to be Watson.
My forever."
They sat together.
Watching the stars.
Dreaming of the future.
Twenty-six days until the wedding.
Twenty-six days until forever officially began.
But really?
Forever had already started.
The moment she walked into his office.
The moment he caught her when she fell.
The moment they chose love over fear.
The wedding was just the celebration.
The forever had already begun.
---
End of Chapter 24