Chapter 26: The Wedding Shopping Spree
The Plan
Mamma announced it at breakfast.
"Today is shopping day!
Bride, groom, and entire family!
We're getting everything wedding-related!
All at once!
Together!"
Keiran cheered.
"SHOPPING!
With dinosaurs!
I mean, for dinosaurs!
I mean, WITH dinosaurs!"
Keigan sighed.
"We're not buying dinosaurs, Keiran."
Keiran ignored him completely.
Already planning his purchases.
Percy rubbed his hands together.
"Shopping.
With Mamma's credit card.
This will be glorious."
Aries grabbed his arm.
"You're not buying anything ridiculous."
Percy gasped.
"I'm RIDICULOUS!
Everything I buy is ridiculous!
It's my brand!"
Jay looked at Keifer.
He looked at her.
They shared a look.
This will be chaos.
---
The Mall
The mall was huge.
Five floors.
Hundreds of stores.
Thousands of people.
Perfect for chaos.
Mamma led the charge.
Clipboard in hand.
List of stores.
Route planned.
Strategy ready.
"First stop!
The wedding supply store!
Ribbons, candles, favors, decorations!
Everyone grab a cart!"
Keiran grabbed the smallest cart.
Climbed inside.
Rex on his lap.
"I'm driving!
Vroom vroom!
Out of my way!"
Keigan grabbed a cart too.
But used it properly.
For supplies.
Not for riding.
Percy grabbed the biggest cart.
Immediately started racing it down the aisle.
Aries chased him.
Shouting warnings.
Laughing despite himself.
Pappa grabbed a cart.
Pushed it slowly.
Peacefully.
Reading labels.
Enjoying the chaos.
Jay and Keifer shared a cart.
Hands intertwined.
Smiling at their insane family.
Mamma grabbed the last cart.
Checked her list.
Pointed forward.
"FORWARD, FAMILY!
WE HAVE RIBBONS TO BUY!"
---
The Ribbon Disaster
First stop: ribbons.
Aisles and aisles of ribbons.
Every color.
Every width.
Every texture.
Mamma was in heaven.
"Oh, look at these satin ones!
And these organza!
And these velvet!
Jay, what do you think?"
Jay considered.
"White satin?
Simple?
Elegant?"
Mamma nodded.
"Perfect.
Now, width?
Half inch?
One inch?
Two inch?"
Keiran grabbed a roll of rainbow ribbon.
Started wrapping it around Rex.
"Rex wants rainbow!
He's a colorful dinosaur!
He deserves color!"
Keigan grabbed a roll of black ribbon.
"For formality.
For contrast.
For science."
Percy grabbed a roll of neon green.
Wrapped it around his head.
"BEHOLD!
I AM RIBBON MAN!
FEAR ME!"
Aries grabbed him.
Pulled the ribbon off.
"NO.
Just no."
Percy pouted.
"You're no fun."
Pappa picked up a roll of simple white ribbon.
Examined it.
Nodded.
Put it in his cart.
Silent.
Effective.
Perfect.
Mamma threw up her hands.
"EVERYONE STOP!
We need FOCUS!
Jay, what do YOU want?"
Jay looked at her family.
Covered in ribbon.
Laughing.
Chaotic.
Hers.
"I want all of it.
Every color.
Every width.
Every texture."
Mamma blinked.
"But—
The theme—
Simple elegance—
Jay grinned.
"Forget simple.
This family isn't simple.
Let's have rainbow ribbons and neon and black and white.
All of it.
Representing all of us."
Mamma stared for a moment.
Then laughed.
"Fine!
EVERYONE GRAB RIBBON!
ALL THE RIBBON!"
Chaos resumed.
But now authorized.
Now official.
Now perfect.
---
The Candle Catastrophe
Next stop: candles.
Thousands of candles.
Pillar candles.
Tea lights.
Votives.
Floating candles.
Scented candles.
Un-scented candles.
Every shape.
Every size.
Every color.
Mamma pointed.
"We need candles for the centerpieces.
White only.
Unscented.
Simple."
Keiran grabbed a candle shaped like a dinosaur.
"I FOUND IT!
THE PERFECT CANDLE!
REX'S BROTHER!"
Keigan examined it.
"That's not a candle.
That's a wax sculpture.
It would burn unevenly.
And probably melt Rex's brother."
Keiran clutched it protectively.
"I don't care!
He's coming to the wedding!
He's family now!"
Percy grabbed a candle shaped like a pineapple.
"BEHOLD!
THE PINEAPPLE OF LOVE!
IT MUST BE PART OF THE WEDDING!"
Aries grabbed it from him.
"No pineapples, Percy."
Percy gasped.
"You're oppressing my vision!"
Aries put it back.
"Your vision is chaos."
Percy grinned.
"EXACTLY!"
Pappa picked up a simple white pillar candle.
Examined it.
Nodded.
Put it in his cart.
Silent.
Effective.
Perfect.
Jay grabbed a handful of floating candles.
"For the aisle.
Floating in water.
Romantic."
Keifer grabbed some too.
"For the reception.
Floating in punch?
Is that a thing?"
Jay laughed.
"Probably not.
But let's try anyway."
Mamma threw up her hands again.
"CANDLES!
JUST CANDLES!
WHITE CANDLES!
UNSCENTED!
THAT'S ALL WE NEED!"
Keiran held up his dinosaur candle.
"But Mamma!
Rex's brother!
He needs a home!"
Mamma looked at his hopeful face.
Sighed.
"Fine.
One dinosaur candle.
For your room.
Not for the wedding."
Keiran beamed.
"DEAL!
BEST DAY EVER!"
---
The Favor Fiasco
Third stop: wedding favors.
Little gifts for guests.
Thank you for coming.
Remember our special day.
Mamma had ideas.
"Chocolate hearts?
Personalized candies?
Mini champagne bottles?"
Keiran had better ideas.
"DINOSAURS!
Mini dinosaurs!
For everyone!
So they never forget!"
Keigan nodded slowly.
"Actually, mini dinosaurs would be memorable.
And scientifically accurate dinosaurs existed long before weddings.
So there's historical precedent."
Percy gasped.
"KEIGAN AGREED WITH KEIRAN!
THE APOCALYPSE IS COMING!"
Aries stared at him.
"Calm down.
It's just dinosaurs."
Percy shook his head.
"You don't understand.
This is HISTORIC.
Write it down.
Document it.
Never forget this day."
Keigan ignored him.
Continued examining dinosaur options.
Serious.
Focused.
Adorable.
Jay looked at Keifer.
"Mini dinosaurs?
For everyone?"
He shrugged.
"Why not?
This family is insane.
Let's embrace it."
She grinned.
"Deal.
Mini dinosaurs it is."
Mamma sighed.
"Fine.
Mini dinosaurs.
But also something elegant.
For balance."
Pappa picked up a box of elegant chocolates.
Examined it.
Nodded.
Put it in his cart.
Silent.
Effective.
Perfect.
Mamma threw up her hands one more time.
"FINE!
DINOSAURS AND CHOCOLATES!
EVERYONE HAPPY?"
Everyone cheered.
Except Aries.
Who just shook his head.
Smiling despite himself.
---
The Sign Struggle
Fourth stop: wedding signs.
Welcome signs.
Seating charts.
Direction signs.
Funny signs.
Romantic signs.
Keiran found a sign immediately.
"WELCOME TO OUR WEDDING!
PLEASE DON'T FEED THE DINOSAURS!"
He held it up proudly.
"PERFECT!"
Keigan shook his head.
"No one will feed dinosaurs.
There are no dinosaurs."
Keiran pointed at his pocket.
"Rex is a dinosaur.
People might feed him."
Keigan stared.
"People won't feed Rex.
He's a toy."
Keiran shrugged.
"People are unpredictable."
Percy found a sign.
"FREE HUGS!
(ASK THE GROOM!)
He's very huggable!"
Aries grabbed it.
"No.
Just no."
Percy pouted.
"BUT HE IS huggable!
I've hugged him!
He's soft!"
Aries put it back.
"Still no."
Pappa found a sign.
"JUST MARRIED!
HONK IF YOU LOVE LOVE!"
He held it up.
Raised an eyebrow.
Questioning.
Jay laughed.
"YES, Pappa!
We need that!
For the car!"
Pappa nodded.
Put it in his cart.
Satisfied.
Mamma found elegant signs.
Wooden.
Calligraphy.
Beautiful.
"These.
These are what we need.
Elegant.
Simple.
Perfect."
Keiran tugged her sleeve.
"But Mamma!
What about the dinosaur sign?
Please?
For my room?"
Mamma looked at his hopeful face.
Again.
Sighed.
Again.
"Fine.
One dinosaur sign.
For your room."
Keiran beamed.
"BEST DAY EVER!"
---
The Cake Topper Trouble
Fifth stop: cake toppers.
Little figures for the top of the cake.
Bride and groom.
Usually.
But this family wasn't usual.
Mamma pointed at traditional options.
"Classic bride and groom?
Simple.
Elegant.
Perfect."
Keiran pointed at dinosaur options.
"BRIDE AND GROOM DINOSAURS!
A T-REX AND A TRICERATOPS!
GETTING MARRIED!
WITH LITTLE FLOWERS!"
Keigan nodded.
"That would be scientifically inaccurate.
But aesthetically interesting."
Percy pointed at pineapple options.
"PINEAPPLE BRIDE AND GROOM!
WITH LITTLE HATS!
BEHOLD THE GLORY!"
Aries grabbed him.
"No pineapples, Percy.
Ever.
For any reason."
Percy sighed.
"You're so restrictive."
Pappa picked up a simple bride and groom.
Traditional.
Elegant.
Perfect.
Put it in his cart.
Silent.
Effective.
Perfect.
Jay looked at Keifer.
"What do you think?"
He considered.
"I think we need two cake toppers.
One elegant for the cake.
One ridiculous for the kitchen table."
Her eyes lit up.
"BRILLIANT!
Elegant for the wedding cake.
Dinosaur for our private celebration."
Keiran gasped.
"REALLY?
REALLY REALLY?
DINOSAUR CAKE TOPPER?
FOR REAL?"
Jay nodded.
"For real, Keiran.
You pick it."
Keiran grabbed the T-Rex and Triceratops.
Held them like precious treasures.
"BEST. DAY. EVER!"
---
The Break
After three hours, they stopped for food.
Food court chaos.
Eleven people ordering different things.
Finding tables.
Saving seats.
Managing Keiran's energy.
Jay sat beside Keifer.
Head on his shoulder.
Exhausted but happy.
"Your family is insane," she whispered.
He kissed her hair.
"Our family.
And yes.
Completely insane."
She smiled.
"Best kind of insane."
Percy returned with a tray of food.
Tacos.
Burritos.
Nachos.
Everything.
"I got a bit of everything!
Share!
Celebrate!
We survived shopping!"
Aries grabbed a taco.
"You caused most of the chaos.
You don't get to celebrate surviving it."
Percy gasped.
"I WAS THE ENTERTAINMENT!
You're welcome!"
Keiran had cheese on his face.
On his shirt.
On Rex.
"Rex loves nachos!
He says thank you!"
Keigan ate quietly.
Reading.
Somehow.
In the middle of food court chaos.
Pappa ate peacefully.
Watching his family.
Smiling softly.
Mamma made lists.
Even while eating.
Clipboard never far.
Jay looked around.
At this chaos.
This love.
This family.
"Best day ever," she whispered.
Keifer kissed her forehead.
"Best day ever."
---
The Final Stop
Last stop: accessories.
Shoes for Jay.
Tie for Keifer.
Boutonnieres for the men.
Flower crown for Keiran (his request).
Vest for Rex (also his request).
Keiran tried on flower crowns.
Modeled each one.
Struck poses.
Demanded photos.
"How do I look?
Like a dinosaur king?
Or like a flower prince?"
Keigan considered.
"You look like you have flowers on your head."
Keiran nodded.
"GOOD.
That's what I was going for."
Percy tried on ties.
Wild ties.
Polka dots.
Stripes.
Neon colors.
Pineapple print (of course).
Aries rejected each one.
"No.
No.
Absolutely not.
NO PINEAPPLES."
Percy pouted.
"You're killing my style."
Aries handed him a simple navy tie.
"Wear this.
Look normal.
For once."
Percy sighed.
"Fine.
But I'm wearing pineapple socks.
Under my pants.
Where you can't see."
Aries stared.
"Why?
Why do you need pineapple socks?"
Percy grinned.
"Because they make me happy.
And happy Percy is less annoying Percy."
Aries considered.
"Fair point.
Wear the pineapple socks."
Percy cheered.
"VICTORY!"
---
Jay's Shoes
Jay tried on shoes.
Heels.
Flats.
Sandals.
Everything.
Mamma watched.
Offered opinions.
Took photos.
Cried a little.
"You look beautiful in everything, darling.
But you need to be comfortable.
You'll be standing for hours."
Jay considered.
Tried on a pair of simple white flats.
Perfect.
Comfortable.
Elegant.
"These.
These are the ones."
Mamma nodded.
"Perfect.
Now.
Something blue?"
Keiran ran over.
Holding up a blue dinosaur.
"REX IS BLUE!
He can be your something blue!
He'll hide in your bouquet!
Protecting you!"
Jay's eyes filled with tears.
"Keiran, that's perfect.
Rex can definitely be my something blue."
Keiran beamed.
"REX IS GOING TO THE WEDDING!
FOR REAL!
NOT JUST AS A GUEST!
AS A ACCESSORY!"
Keigan sighed.
"Accessory.
Not 'a accessory.'
Grammar matters."
Keiran waved a hand.
"Details."
---
The Final Fitting
Keifer tried on his midnight blue tuxedo.
Stepped out of the dressing room.
Everyone stopped.
He looked incredible.
Handsome.
Elegant.
Perfect.
Jay's jaw dropped.
"Keifer...
You look..."
Percy finished.
"LIKE A MILLION BUCKS!
Actually, like a BILLION bucks!
Because you're a billionaire!
GET IT?"
Aries covered his face.
"Percy, please."
But Jay wasn't listening.
She was staring at her almost-husband.
Tears in her eyes.
"You're beautiful," she whispered.
He walked to her.
Took her hands.
"I'm standing next to you.
That's what makes me beautiful."
Percy fake-gagged.
Aries smiled.
Mamma cried.
Pappa nodded approvingly.
Keigan took notes (for science).
Keiran cheered.
Jay kissed Keifer.
Soft.
Sweet.
Full of forever.
"I can't wait to marry you."
He kissed her back.
"Can't wait to be your husband."
---
The Drive Home
Cars full of purchases.
Ribbons.
Candles.
Favors.
Signs.
Cake toppers (two).
Shoes.
Tuxedo.
Flower crowns.
Dinosaur accessories.
Everyone exhausted.
Everyone happy.
Everyone together.
Keiran fell asleep in the car.
Rex clutched in his hand.
Flower crown askew.
Smiling.
Keigan read quietly.
Occasionally looking up.
Watching his family.
Content.
Percy and Aries argued softly.
About nothing.
About everything.
About love.
Mamma made notes.
Even in the car.
Clipboard never resting.
Pappa drove.
Peaceful.
Happy.
Surrounded by family.
Jay leaned against Keifer.
Her head on his shoulder.
His arm around her.
Ring on her finger.
Bracelet on her wrist.
Rex in her bag (for something blue).
"Today was perfect," she whispered.
He kissed her hair.
"Perfect.
Because of you.
Because of them.
Because of us."
She smiled.
Eyes closing.
"Best day ever."
He held her closer.
"Best day ever.
Until tomorrow.
When we have another one."
She laughed.
Quiet.
Happy.
"Together."
"Always together."
---
Home
They arrived at the mansion.
Unloaded purchases.
Ate a late dinner.
Collapsed into bed.
Jay in Keifer's arms.
City lights outside.
Keiran's dinosaur on the nightstand.
Rex in her jewelry box (something blue preserved forever).
"Three weeks until the wedding," she murmured.
He kissed her forehead.
"Three weeks until you're my wife."
She smiled.
"Jay Watson.
I like it."
He grinned.
"I like it too.
I like YOU."
She kissed him.
Soft.
Sweet.
Sleepy.
"I love you, Mark Keifer Watson."
"I love you too, Jasper Jean Mariano.
Soon to be Watson.
My forever."
She closed her eyes.
Safe.
Loved.
Home.
The wedding was coming.
But really?
The forever had already begun.
---
End of Chapter 26