Chapter 25: Wedding Planning - Day Three
Morning Surprise
Jay woke to an empty bed.
Strange.
Keifer was always here.
Always wrapped around her.
She sat up.
Looked around.
Found a note on his pillow.
Gone for a bit. Surprise for you. Be back soon. Love you. —K
She smiled.
Held the note to her heart.
Whatever he was planning, it would be good.
Then her phone buzzed.
Mamma: Breakfast in 30! Day three of planning! Ready for more?
Jay laughed.
Typed back.
Jay: Born ready, Mamma. Born ready.
---
Breakfast Chaos
Downstairs, the kitchen was already buzzing.
Mamma with her clipboard.
Lists everywhere.
Samples of everything.
Keiran with his dinosaurs.
Drawing on everything.
Napkins, placemats, his own face.
Keigan with his books.
Researching wedding traditions.
Taking notes.
Percy with his ideas.
Mostly terrible.
All enthusiastically presented.
Aries with his patience.
Keeping Percy from causing chaos.
Barely.
Pappa with his newspaper.
Watching it all.
Smiling behind the pages.
Jay sat down.
Poured coffee.
Took a breath.
"Okay, Mamma.
Day three.
Hit me."
Mamma grinned.
"That's my girl.
First item.
Keifer's tuxedo."
Jay raised an eyebrow.
"His tuxedo?
Why do I need to be involved?"
Mamma waved a hand.
"You're the bride.
You get veto power.
And teasing rights."
Jay's eyes lit up.
"Teasing rights?
Tell me more."
Mamma leaned in.
Conspiratorial.
"He has opinions.
Strong opinions.
About lapels."
Jay laughed.
"Lapels?
Really?"
Mamma nodded.
"Really.
Apparently, notch lapels are 'too casual.'
Peak lapels are 'too formal.'
Shawl lapels are 'too old-fashioned.'"
Jay grinned.
"Oh, this is going to be fun."
---
Keifer Returns
An hour later, Keifer walked in.
Looking pleased with himself.
Mysterious.
Hands behind his back.
Jay raised an eyebrow.
"Where have you been?"
He walked to her.
Kissed her forehead.
"Surprise."
He produced a small box.
Opened it.
Inside, a delicate bracelet.
Gold.
Simple.
Engraved inside.
Forever starts now.
Jay's eyes filled with tears.
"Keifer...
It's beautiful."
He fastened it on her wrist.
"It's for the wedding.
Something new.
But also something to remind you.
Every time you look at it.
I'm yours.
You're mine.
Forever."
She kissed him.
Deep.
Grateful.
Loving.
"I love you.
So much."
He kissed her back.
"I love you too.
Now.
What did I miss?"
Percy spoke up.
"Tuxedo talk.
Lapel drama.
You're in trouble."
Keifer looked at Jay.
She smiled.
Innocently.
Dangerously.
"Lapels, Keifer?
Really?
You have opinions about lapels?"
He groaned.
"Mamma told you."
"Mamma told me everything.
Now sit.
We need to discuss your fashion choices."
---
The Tuxedo Roast
Jay pulled out her phone.
Pretended to take notes.
Grinning the whole time.
"Okay, Keifer.
Let's start with lapels.
Explain yourself."
He sighed.
Sat beside her.
Resigned to his fate.
"There are different types of lapels.
Notch, peak, shawl.
Each has different formality levels.
Each works with different body types.
It's not that complicated."
Jay nodded slowly.
"I see.
So you've done research."
"Obviously."
"And you have preferences."
"Strongly."
"And you think this matters?"
He opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
"I—
Well—
It's traditional—
The groom should look—
You want me to look good, right?"
Jay tilted her head.
"I want you to look like you.
Not like a lapel catalog."
Percy howled with laughter.
"OH, SNAP!
She got you, man!
Lapel catalog!
I'm dying!"
Keifer glared at Percy.
Then looked at Jay.
Those storm-gray eyes soft.
Amused.
Defeated.
"Fine.
You choose the lapels.
I trust you."
Jay grinned.
"Good boy.
Now.
Color?
Black or something adventurous?"
Keifer perked up.
"I was thinking midnight blue.
It's unique but still classic.
And it would complement your dress."
Jay stared at him.
"You've thought about this.
A lot."
He shrugged.
"I want to look good next to you.
Is that a crime?"
She kissed his cheek.
"No, baby.
It's sweet.
Midnight blue it is."
Percy fake-gagged.
"You two are disgustingly cute.
Someone stop them."
Aries patted his shoulder.
"Never gonna happen, Perce.
Get used to it."
---
The Best Man Roast
Jay turned to Percy.
"Speaking of the wedding party.
You're the best man, right?"
Percy puffed up.
"That's right!
Best man!
Keeper of the ring!
Giver of speeches!
Partier extraordinaire!"
Jay nodded slowly.
"And you're aware of your responsibilities?"
Percy waved a hand.
"Obviously.
I have to:
One, throw an epic bachelor party.
Two, make an epic speech.
Three, look epic in my tuxedo."
Jay raised an eyebrow.
"And you're capable of all that?"
Percy clutched his heart.
"OUCH!
You wound me!
I'm VERY capable!"
Aries snorted.
"You forgot the rings last week.
At the grocery store.
You left them in the cart."
Percy waved a hand.
"Details.
I found them again.
Eventually."
Jay laughed.
"Perce, please don't lose the actual wedding rings."
He gasped.
"I would NEVER!
Those are sacred!
They're for you and Keifer!
I'll guard them with my life!"
Keigan looked up from his book.
"Statistically, best men lose the rings in approximately 3% of weddings.
You're high risk."
Percy stared at him.
"Why do you know that?
And why are you attacking me?"
Keigan shrugged.
"I research everything.
And you're an easy target."
Percy slumped.
"Betrayed by a twelve-year-old.
Again."
---
The Flower Girl Roast
Keiran raised his hand.
"What about me?
I'm the ring bearer!
Do I get roasted?"
Jay grinned.
"Of course, little monster.
Let's talk about your responsibilities."
Keiran sat up straight.
"I have to:
One, carry the rings.
Two, look cute.
Three, don't fall."
Jay nodded.
"Don't fall is important.
You fall a lot."
Keiran nodded seriously.
"I know.
I'm working on it.
Rex helps me practice."
He demonstrated.
Walking across the kitchen.
Carefully.
Slowly.
Rex clutched in his hand.
Everyone watched.
Holding their breath.
He made it to the other side.
Turned.
Bowed.
"TA-DA!
No falling!
I'm a professional!"
Everyone applauded.
Genuinely impressed.
Jay pulled him into a hug.
"You're the best ring bearer ever, Keiran."
He beamed.
"I know!
Rex helped!"
---
The Maid of Honor Roast
Jay turned to Aries.
"And you.
Maid of honor.
Your thoughts?"
Aries raised an eyebrow.
"My thoughts are that I'm wearing a dress.
For you.
Because you asked.
And I love you."
Jay grinned.
"How do you feel about that?"
Aries considered.
"I feel like I'm going to look fabulous.
And Percy is going to make jokes.
And I'm going to murder him."
Percy gasped.
"You can't murder the best man!
Wedding law!"
Aries stared at him.
"Again with wedding law?
That's not real."
Percy waved a hand.
"Details.
The point is, murder is bad luck."
Keigan looked up.
"Actually, murder at weddings was common in medieval times.
Families would settle feuds during celebrations.
It's why we have the tradition of the bride's family standing on one side and the groom's on the other.
To keep the peace."
Everyone stared at him.
Percy spoke first.
"That's terrifying.
And also kind of cool."
Keigan shrugged.
"History is fascinating."
Jay shook her head.
"My family is insane."
Aries patted her shoulder.
"Your family is perfect.
And I'm going to look amazing in that dress."
---
The Flower Roast
Mamma jumped in.
"What about me?
Flowers?
I'm in charge of flowers."
Jay considered.
"You've been very organized, Mamma.
Very efficient.
Very... clipboard."
Mamma raised an eyebrow.
"Is that a roast?"
Jay grinned.
"It might be.
Do you ever put the clipboard down?
Even to sleep?"
Mamma gasped.
"My clipboard is essential!
How else would I keep track of everything?
The flowers!
The cake!
The guest list!
The—
Jay held up a hand.
"I'm just saying.
Maybe the clipboard needs a vacation.
After the wedding."
Mamma clutched her clipboard protectively.
"Never.
We're a team.
Clipboard and I."
Percy snorted.
"The clipboard is her emotional support accessory."
Mamma threw a napkin at him.
He caught it.
Grinned.
"Love you too, Mamma!"
---
The Pappa Roast
Jay turned to Pappa.
Hiding behind his newspaper.
As always.
"Pappa.
Your thoughts on the wedding?"
He lowered the newspaper.
Looked at her over his glasses.
"You're marrying my son.
I'm happy.
I'm paying.
That's my contribution."
Jay nodded slowly.
"And hiding behind your newspaper?
Is that a strategy?"
He shrugged.
"It's been working for thirty years.
Why change now?"
Percy laughed.
"Pappa's a professional avoider.
Olympic level."
Pappa raised an eyebrow.
"I prefer 'strategically uninvolved.'
It sounds better."
Jay grinned.
"I love you, Pappa."
He smiled.
Small.
Warm.
"I love you too, Jay.
Welcome to the family."
---
The Keifer Final Roast
Jay turned back to Keifer.
The main event.
"Okay, fiancé.
Final thoughts?
Confessions?
Anything you want to share before we walk down the aisle?"
He considered.
Playfully.
"I have one confession."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
He leaned close.
Whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"I love you more than coffee."
Jay gasped dramatically.
"MORE THAN COFFEE?
That's serious!"
He nodded.
"Deadly serious.
You're my favorite thing to wake up to.
Even before caffeine."
Percy fake-gagged.
"DISGUSTING!
You two are DISGUSTING!
I LOVE IT!"
Jay kissed Keifer.
Soft.
Sweet.
Playful.
"You're forgiven.
But only because you're cute."
He grinned.
"Lucky me."
---
The Afternoon
Wedding planning continued.
But lighter now.
Full of laughter.
Full of love.
Mamma checked off items.
Flowers: done.
Cake: done.
Dress: done.
Tuxedo: chosen (midnight blue, Jay's choice).
Music: almost done.
Caterer: booked.
Photographer: booked.
Jay looked at the list.
At the progress.
At her family.
"We're really doing this," she whispered.
"We're really getting married."
Keifer squeezed her hand.
"We really are.
In less than a month.
You'll be my wife."
She smiled.
"Soon-to-be Mrs. Watson."
He kissed her forehead.
"Jay Watson.
My favorite person.
My forever."
She leaned against him.
Happy.
Grateful.
Loved.
---
Evening
The day wound down.
The family scattered.
Quiet settled over the mansion.
Jay and Keifer on the patio.
Stars overhead.
City lights in the distance.
Peace.
"Today was fun," she murmured.
"Roasting you was the best part."
He laughed.
"I'm sure it was.
You're scary when you're playful."
She grinned.
"Good.
Keep you on your toes."
He held her closer.
"Always.
I love you, Jasper Jean Mariano.
My soon-to-be wife."
She looked up at him.
Those storm-gray eyes soft.
Loving.
Hers.
"I love you too, Mark Keifer Watson.
My soon-to-be husband."
They kissed.
Soft.
Sweet.
Full of promise.
Twenty-five days until the wedding.
Twenty-five days until forever officially began.
But really?
Forever had already started.
And it was beautiful.
---
End of Chapter 25