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Patricia looked like she was in her early to midthirties, dark-haired with a pale complexion. She smiled in flashes, making it seem like any expression of joy or relaxation was forbidden. She mouthed. "Hello," and quickly took a seat, opening a briefcase and extracting a long legal pad.
"I am happy you have decided to move as quickly as possible on all this. Grace," Bunny told my mother, and then she turned to me to aim a missile, "I hope we're not rushing about madly because you'
re pregnant. Thatcher wouldn't tell me if that was the case. He's too much of a gentleman."
"What makes you think I'm not too much of a lady to even treat that question with any dignity?" I fired back.
Her assistant looked like she wished she could shrink under the table. "I just wanted to get that aired," Bunny said, as if she were talking about hanging out smelly clothing, "There is nothing so embarrassing as a bride in a white wedding gown with her stomach protruding."
"This stomach won't be protruding," I said, stabbing her with my eyes.
Nothing flustered Bunny Eaton. She released one of her hollow little laughs and turned to Mother.
"Young people today have no concept of what they get into, it seems, and it is usually left to members of our generation to do all that is necessary."
"All that is really necessary," Mother said softly with that gentle smile on her lips. is for them to get their license and pronounce their vows before someone licensed to marry people. The rest is often more for us than for them, don't you think?"
Bunny looked devastated for a moment. I watched her with interest as she struggled to regain her composure.
"No. I don't think that. Years from now, they will thank us for doing it so well and giving them such a wonderful memory. I've always appreciated what my parents did for me. and I know Asher does as well. But let's not quibble over philosophical things. We have too much to do." She turned to her assistant. "Patricia."
"Invitations," she recited like a trained parrot.
"Right. They will have to be engraved with insert cards and return cards, of course. although I feel pretty certain we'll have a minimum of regrets for this occasion." she said, sounding as if she was at the top of her ego meter. This community has been waiting for some time to see Thatcher Eaton settle down. Everyone is surprised at how fast he decided, of course. But what will be will be," she finished with dramatic resolution.
Mother and I looked at each other, both battling the hysterical laughter that wanted to rise like a burp.
"Engraved?" Mother said instead, and Patricia reached into her briefcase quickly.
"We've begun the search. Here are some samples I thought would be fitting," Bunny said as Patricia spread them before us like tarot cards on the patio table. "A wedding like this needs a theme, don't you think? So we have coordinated the invitations with the guest book, the photo album and the memory book."
"This is a rum pink peau de soie accented with sculptured matching roses." Patricia began. "And this is a delicate organza bow wrapped over moire and highlighted by a satin rose. This one is done with a satin ribbon accented by hand-sewn pearls, or you could choose a satin brocade with gold accents on offwhite."
Mother and I stared down at the display.
"How did you get all this together so quickly?" I asked Bunny.
"Oh. really, Willow," she said with a small laugh trailing. "you don't think I did it overnight, As I told you. I've been thinking about Thatcher's wedding for some time. He's been quite serious with a number of debutantes and young women from distinguished families. There have been many times I thought he was on the threshold of marriage vows."
Even if you had to push him there yourself, I thought, recalling the society pages.
"In any case. I wasn't going to be caught by surprise. The truth is." she said, directing herself more to Mother than to me now. "I've kept all this updated constantly. It is simply something I've always felt obligated to do. I'm sure you understand. Grace. You were living here when we had so many wonderful occasions and events, parties that made the front pages of the society papers all the time. We've always made it a point to keep up with styles, fashions, et cetera."
"It all seems the same to me," my mother said in a dreamy, distant tone.
Bunny's eyebrows hoisted. She glanced at Patricia, who concentrated on keeping the samples straight,
"Yes, well, you know what I mean." Bunny said. "I do favor the organza bow with the satin rose. What do you like? Remember, we'll carry it through all the printed materials, the invitations, the napkins, favors. everything."
"It is pretty," Mother said.
"Exactly. Now you see why I suggested roses for the arch, Willow?" Bunny practically sang. "Theme, theme. theme."
"Fine," I said. I was beginning to worry a bit about Mother. Her eyes were blinking and she suddenly was looking less energetic, even
melancholy.
"Good," Bunny said, nodding to Patricia, who made a notation and put the samples back in her briefcase. "As Willow probably has told you, we've already begun to research the catering. We'll have an elaborate buffet, of course. You can meet with me and Angelo Di Vita tomorrow, if you like, and go through the menu item by item."
