“I’m not.”
“You’ve set a date then?” Dad asked, no doubt before Mum could drop herself in it.
“Second Saturday in September,” Leo replied.
Dad smiled. “An autumn wedding? How lovely.”
“Am I responsible for choosing the design too?” Mum asked, not yet ready to let the conversation properly move on. “After all, traditionally, wedding invites do come from the bride’s parents and not the happy couple.”
Ryan clamped down on his jaw, as if trying not to laugh.
“I don’t see why not,” Leo said.
“What do you think, Tess?” Leo looked at me with an encouraging smile. “Are you all right with that?”
My sister’s eyes drilled into me. She discreetly shook her head, willing me to say no.
I understood why. We both knew what Mum could be like and Sal had always met Mum’s overbearing personality head on. She challenged it by being just as forceful. Unlike me, who, more often than not, chose my battles. The morning I met Wendy, the wedding planner, popped into my head again and I recalled Mum telling me how being involved in our wedding was her way of showing Leo and I how much she cared. Under that circumstance, denying her request felt cruel.
“I don’t see…” Suddenly remembering Mum’s mood boards, images of gold leaf lettering, hand-drawn laurel wreaths, and wax-sealed envelopes flooded my brain. My voice cracked, forcing me to clear my throat. “…why not.”
Sal slumped in her seat, her disappointment in my response evident.
Mum clapped her hands. “Wonderful. I can’t wait to get started.”
“Just keep us up to date with everything,” I said, making it clear that we’d be monitoring her.
“Oh, I will. And thank you,” Mum replied. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”
“I think we do,” Ryan said with a snigger.
“And don’t worry,” Mum carried on. “Your invites are safe with me.”
No doubt glad it would keep Mum from grumbling and therefore off his back, Dad gave me an appreciative wink, while India straightened herself up in her seat. “Does this mean I can choose my own bridesmaid dress?” she asked.
Her question caught me off guard and as I took in India’s attire, I swallowed hard. Unsure how to respond, I might not have wanted all the pomp and ceremony when it came to my wedding, but that didn’t mean I was happy with Wednesday Addams following me down the aisle.
“I mean, if Grandma gets to choose what invites she wants it’s only fair I get a say in what I wear.”
“I can’t see a problem with that,” Leo said.
My husband-to-be clearly hadn’t only gone mad, he’d gone blind.
“I think a meeting’s in order,” Mum said.
“For what?” I replied.
“Well, if we’re talking dresses, we still have yours to think about.”
I cringed at the wordwe.
“And I did tell you I have just the gown in mind,” Mum said. “Remember?”
“You let her back in,” Sal said under her breath.
“And like I explained to you, Mum,Ialready have another design in mind.”
Ignoring my words, Mum reached into her handbag and pulled out her diary.
