The Truth About Ever After

  The Truth

  About

  Ever After

  A Three Girls Book

  Rachel Schurig

  Copyright 2012 Rachel Schurig

  Kindle Edition

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  For Greta, Petra, and Charlotte.

  The most beautiful, smart, and funny

  little girls in all the wide world.

  Aunt Ray loves you!

  Acknowledgments

  Thanks, as ever, to my wonderful parents, siblings, family, and friends for all of your help and encouragement, particularly as I embark on this next phase of my writing career.

  Thank you to my editor, Nicolas J. Ambrose, for all your help.

  Book cover design by Scarlett Rugers Design 2012

  www.scarlettrugers.com

  At its heart, this book is about relationships amongst girls. I am so lucky to have had the friendship of so many wonderful girlfriends over the years. Special thank you to Andrea, Kim, Madeline, and Michelle, some of the very best girls I know!

  And to Norah and Natalie: I hope you’re as blessed as I’ve been to have had friends like your mommies!

  Chapter One

  This was bad.

  Seriously. This was like, really, really bad.

  The wedding was set to start in half an hour, and I had no idea where the groom was. How could there be a wedding without the groom?

  “Jen is going to kill me,” I muttered, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. The sun was beating down on me, reflecting off the pristine white sand beach, and I could feel a drop of sweat pooling at the base of my neck. “Crap!”

  It was just my luck, to mess up something this important. Particularly given the fact that this was the first time my business partner, Jen, had agreed to let me run an entire wedding myself, from top to bottom. Since we had started our little event-planning firm three years ago, Jen had ruled the wedding segment with an iron fist. I had thrown plenty of parties and restaurant openings on my own, but weddings were totally Jen’s domain.

  Today was supposed to be my chance to show her that I’d be fine sharing a bit more of the responsibility. But now I was ruining everything.

  “Kiki!”

  I spun around at the sound of my name and saw Laura, the resort’s concierge, rushing toward me across the sand, her brown hair whipping out behind her in the breeze from the ocean. “I found him,” she gasped when she had reached my side. She bent over slightly, clutching my arm for support as she struggled to catch her breath. “Sorry,” she said. “I ran all the way over. I knew you were freaking out.”

  “Where is he?” I asked, terrified for a moment that she was going to tell me that the groom had taken off. How on earth would I explain that?

  “Sitting at the bar,” she said. “All of them. The groomsmen, the bride’s father, the best man. Just sitting there, drinking like they don’t have a care in the world.”

  I closed my eyes briefly, relief washing over me. Okay, so maybe Jen wasn’t going to murder me. Then Laura’s words registered.

  “The bride’s father? At the bar?”

  Laura nodded and I swore under my breath. “The bride’s father is not supposed to be drinking,” I said, grasping her shoulders and pulling her up right. “Please go back in there and make sure he’s sticking to Coke or water, okay?” I could tell from her expression that she wasn’t exactly looking forward to the idea of rushing back to the other side of the resort, so I gave her my biggest smile. “I would be so, so grateful, Laura,” I told her, squeezing her shoulder in a way that I hoped conveyed a “we’re in this together” kind of feeling. Laura still didn’t seem thrilled, but she did set off across the sand.

  Breathing a sigh of relief, I turned around and directed my attention back to the set-up that was occurring down the beach. The hotel staff had been working for the last few hours, getting the ceremony area ready, and it was really coming together, just the way I had planned months ago. Beyond the ceremony site, the turquoise blue of the ocean was only steps away. I felt a little shiver of happiness. This was going to be a beautiful wedding.

  Feeling confident the ceremony site was in good shape, I decided to go check out the patio, where the reception would be held. The tables were already laid out, everything set and waiting for the party to start. I grinned at one of the hotel staff as he hurried past me with an overflowing vase of orange hibiscuses. The smell of the flowers remained in the air as he disappeared around the low patio wall that encased the reception area.

  Across the patio, I saw Laura peek her head out of the French doors leading into the bar. She gave me a thumbs up, and smiled. The father of the bride was under control, the groom had been found, and the preparations were going perfectly. I decided it was time I went to check on my bride.

  ***

  I entered the resort through a second set of French doors opposite those I had spotted Laura through. The air-conditioned hallway felt amazing against my sun-heated skin. I was glad we had decided on a sunset ceremony; it was hot as Hades out there and I didn’t want the bride’s hair wilting in the sun. Hopefully some of the heat would have abated by the time the ceremony started. Come to think of it… I peered at myself in one of the hall mirrors as I passed it, and grimaced. My sunburn from the day before had not faded in the slightest, and my hair had already fallen flat. “Not your best, Kiks,” I muttered to myself, turning away from the mirror. As I neared the bridal suite, a door opened on my left, a tiny little body crashing right into my legs.

  “Hey,” I cried, looking down into a gorgeous little face. The ring bearer, not yet dressed in his wedding finery, gazed back. “What’s the hurry there, buddy?”

  “Sorry, Kiki,” he said, giving me a little smirk that I was sure he had learned from his dad. “I was going to find Mama.”

  “Mama’s busy, little man,” I said, turning him back toward the door he had burst out of. “Isn’t Daddy watching you?”

  “Daddy fell asleep holding the baby.” He scowled a little, and I stifled a laugh. He was still not yet a fan of his ten-month-old baby sister.

  “Well, let’s go wake him up,” I said, taking his hand.

  “Please, Kiki, can’t I come with you?” He looked up at me, his dark eyes big and innocent. Man, this kid knew exactly what he was doing. “I promise I’ll be good. I want to see Auntie Jen in her wedding dress.”

  I sighed, and nodded down at him. “Fine, Danny,” I said. “But you have to be a good little boy and don’t climb up on your momma or your aunts. They’re getting ready for the big party.”

  “Okay,” he said happily, swinging my arm as we walked down the hallway. “I promise.”

  When we reached the bridal suite, I knocked on the door. “Jen?” I called. “It’s me, Kiki. And I have a very handsome young man with me.”

  The door swung open and I found myself face to face with Annie, one of Jen’s best friends. “He sweet talked you into bringing him, huh?” she asked, raising an eyebrow at Danny. He merely grinned at her and you could see her melt, too. Danny had a reputation of wrapping all the adults in his life around his little finger. And he knew it.

  “He promised to be good,” I told her.

  Annie opened the door wide and Danny and I entered the foyer. “Ginny,”
she called out. “Your husband is apparently incapable of watching your kids for an afternoon.”

  Danny and I followed her into the living room. The suite (which had been my

  personal wedding gift to Jen) was gorgeous, all done up in crisp linens and dark mahogany wood. The girls had thrown the French doors open out onto a small patio, and the smell of some unknown tropical flower was drifting in with the breeze. Through a gap in the palm trees, you could see a stretch of ocean, only a stone’s throw away.

  “Nice digs,” Annie told me, sinking into the cushion of a dark wicker chair and pulling Danny up onto her lap. “Jen loves it. You done good.”

  I beamed at her. Annie could be a little caustic sometimes, so I appreciated the compliment. “Where is Jen?” I asked, looking around the room.

  “We’re back here,” Jen called out from what I assumed was the bedroom. “Be right out.”

  “Ginny is finishing up her hair,” Annie told me, reaching to the side table for a champagne glass. “Mimosa?”

  “No, thanks,” I said. “I’m working, remember?”

  “How’s it all going?” she asked, brushing Danny’s hand aside as he reached for her glass.

  “Everything is looking really, really good,” I told her. “I think she’ll love it.”

  “I’m sure she will.” Annie gave me a wicked little grin. “No reason to feel pressure just because you’re planning a wedding for the best wedding planner in Detroit.”

  I knew Annie was joking, but I felt a little shiver of fear all the same. She was totally right—Jen was the best. And it didn’t help my stress level that she had, in fact, planned my own wedding three years ago—and done an absolutely amazing job on

  it, of course.

  “Leave her alone,” Jen said, entering the room. “She’s doing wonderfully. Stop teasing.”

  I looked up at Jen, framed in the doorway to the bedroom, and all thoughts of pressure and stress left me immediately.

  “Oh, Jen,” I whispered, gazing up at her. “You’re beautiful.”

  Jen was always pretty, but I had never seen her look this gorgeous. Her wedding gown was simple: a lace bodice extended only as far as the empire waist before the skirt fell away from her body in a soft swirl of chiffon. Her dark hair was braided and gathered in a loose chignon, several wispy waves breaking away to frame her face. In lieu of a veil she wore a single orange hibiscus flower in her hair. She looked simply breathtaking.

  “Oh, my God,” I gushed, feeling myself start to tear up. “I can’t believe this is actually happening.”

  “Kiki,” Jen said, holding up her hands toward me, a warning note in her voice. “Keep it together.”

  I had promised Jen only that morning that I wouldn’t get too emotional—but I just couldn’t help it. Jen had been such a good friend to me over the past few years, and the best business partner anyone could hope for. And now here we were, in this gorgeous resort in the Bahamas, and Jen was about to marry my brother-in-law.

  “I’m just so excited,” I told her, grabbing a tissue from the side table. “This day is going to be so perfect. You look gorgeous. And you and Matt…”

  I completely lost it, burying my face in the tissue and sobbing.

  “Momma,” Danny said, his voice low. “What’s wrong with her?”

  Annie and Jen laughed. “Nothing, sweetie,” I heard Ginny say. “She’s just happy.”

  “She don’t look too happy,” Danny muttered.

  “Doesn’t,” Ginny corrected.

  I took a deep breath, trying to pull myself together, before I looked back up at the girls. “Sorry,” I said, my voice still shaky. “I got it out of my system. I’ll be good from now on, I promise.”

  Jen smiled at me, which made me want to burst into tears all over again, but I managed to keep it together.

  “Where did you find the troublemaker?” Ginny asked, giving Danny a stern look. He grinned back at her unabashedly.

  “He was sneaking out of your room,” I told her. “He said Josh fell asleep with the baby.”

  Ginny sighed. “Typical. You’d think he could manage them both for a couple hours when my best friend is getting ready for her wedding.” She looked worriedly toward the door. “I wonder if I should go check on them.”

  “No way,” I told her firmly. “They’re fine. I’ll stop by on my way out and bring Danny with me. You girls are staying here. Enjoy your champagne! And the fruit!” I gestured at the table filled with fresh fruit and mimosa, which I had arranged to be brought up for the girls while they got ready.

  “You’re the best, Kiki,” Ginny said, smiling at me. “I haven’t even started to get ready yet.”

  “Don’t even think about it,” I told her. “I’ve got everything under control.” I looked down at my watch, a white gold Cartier on a delicate chain that my father had given me for my twenty-first birthday. “Speaking of, I better get back. Just wanted to make sure you girls were doing okay.”

  “We’re great,” Jen said. “Seriously, Kiki. Thank you for everything.”

  I grinned at her, feeling my eyes start to well up again, and was shocked to see that Jen looked similarly choked up. She walked over to me and pulled me into a tight hug. “Thank you so, so much,” she whispered.

  “Oh, Jen,” I said, squeezing my eyes tightly shut. “I love you.”

  “Love you, too,” she said, squeezing one more time before releasing me.

  I took a deep breath, trying to pretend I hadn’t seen Annie rolling her eyes. “Okay, Danny, let’s get back to the room. You need to get dressed and we better wake up Daddy before he misses the party.”

  “But I wanna stay!” Danny whined. “Daddy is boring. And the stupid baby just cries all the time.”

  “Daniel McKensie-Stanley,” Ginny said, her mom voice kicking in. “Don’t you dare talk like that about your sister. Now do what Kiki says and go back to the room.”

  He slowly climbed off Annie’s lap and made his way toward me, his head hanging low, no doubt hoping one of his aunts would take pity on his wretchedness. When no such luck came, he sighed loudly and took my hand.

  “I’ll be back in half an hour with the photographer,” I told the girls. “Have fun!”

  “Thanks, Kiki,” the three of them chorused.

  As I opened the door to the hallway, I looked back at the girls, feeling a little pang at the sight of the three of them together. I knew that they all liked me, that Jen even loved me like a true friend, but it didn’t stop me from feeling jealous sometimes of the relationship they had. They were so close, like sisters. I’d never had that with any girl friends, not even my best friend, Kara.

  But now Jen will be your sister, I told myself as I led Danny out into the hallway. Your own real sister.

  Chapter Two

  An hour later, I finally let myself relax. The ceremony set-up was perfect, exactly what Jen and I had planned. I looked out over the seats, now filled with friends and family, and allowed myself a thrill of excitement. I had actually done it.

  When Jen and Matt got engaged last Christmas Eve, I had been over the moon. Matty and I had been friends for ages, way back since he had first transferred to my high school. He had been the one to introduce me to his brother, Eric, when he had come to visit us both at school. Eric and I had been living in the same dorm, completely oblivious to each other, until Matt showed up for a visit and introduced us. The rest, as they say, is history.

  I knew he would be perfect for Jen the moment I saw them together. Matt is so laid back, so easygoing and comfortable in his own skin. Jen, on the other hand, is, well, a bit of a control freak. Don’t get me wrong, I love her to death, but I knew as soon as we met that the girl needed a total chill pill. Matt helped her relax and not take things so seriously. And anyone could see they were crazy about each other.

  Matt had proposed on Christmas Eve last year. When he called Eric to give him the news, I nearly gave my husband a concussion in my eagerness to get the phone. Matt told me he had only ju
st regained the hearing in his left ear from all my screaming, but I know he was only teasing. Of course I was excited. I had practically set the two of them up myself. And I knew right away that I was going to get the chance to pay Jen back for the amazing wedding she had given me. I was going to plan her perfect day for her if it killed me.

  We had our first wedding planning meeting at Annie and Nate’s annual New Year’s Day party. I had wanted to get to work immediately after the proposal, but Jen had demanded I wait at least a week. If it was up to me, we would have been dress shopping on Christmas Day, but I tried to respect Jen’s wishes—although that totally didn't stop me from running to the twenty-four-hour gas station that same night to buy out their selection of bridal magazines.

  While Eric, Matt, and Nate watched college football, and Josh pretended to be interested in anything sports-related, the girls and I took over the kitchen table. I spread out my magazines and looked at Jen expectantly.

  “So,” I said, unable to keep the tremble of excitement out of my voice. Since starting the event-planning firm with Jen we’d had this conversation with countless women. And now I got to do it with one of my best friends in the world. “What do you see for your big day?”

  “I haven’t given it too much thought yet—” she began, but Annie cut her off.

  “Nice try, babe,” she said. “But we all know you’ve been planning this since you were thirteen.”

  Jen flushed a little. “No, I haven’t.”

  Annie rolled her eyes. “Give me a break. You’re obsessed with weddings. Weddings are, like, your favorite thing in life. Are you honestly telling me none of that has spilled over into thoughts of your own day?”

  Jen held it together for about five seconds before a big grin broke out over her face. “Fine,” she said, laughing. “You’ve got me. I know exactly what I want.”