The Truth About Ever After Page 2

  I clapped my hands together happily. “Tell me, tell me!”

  “Kiki,” Matt called from the living room. “Indoor voice please.”

  I made a face in his direction. Like I had been that loud. “So, what are you thinking?” I asked, my voice admittedly quieter.

  “I want a destination wedding,” Jen said, her face alight. “I’m not sure where exactly, and price is definitely a consideration, but I’m thinking I want to get married on the beach.”

  I squealed loudly, ignoring Matt’s groan from the living room. “This is going to be amazing!”

  “I want to keep it small,” Jen went on. “Just close friends and family. I know it’s a lot to ask people to spend money on a trip just to go to my wedding.”

  I waved my hand dismissively. “We have tons of contacts,” I told her. “We’ll get good deals and group rates. We might even be able to use Daddy’s jet to get everyone down there, depending on the size of the guest list. We’ll keep it budget-friendly, I promise.”

  “Whose budget?” Annie said under her breath. I looked at her and struggled not to sigh. Annie had this thing about money, which I never understood. Any time I offered to pay for anything, she got all anxious. It just didn’t make sense to me. I knew I was so lucky to not have to worry about money, what with my daddy’s business and everything. Why couldn’t I share it with friends without it turning awkward?

  “Jen’s budget,” I said firmly. I turned my attention back to the bride. “So, a beach wedding. I’m assuming you mean a warm weather beach, right? Not like, a Lake Michigan beach?”

  “No, definitely warm weather,” Jen said. “Palm trees, tropical breezes, all that.”

  “Good,” I said, grabbing the nearest magazine and flipping through it. “I think this has a special destination section somewhere…Yup, here it is.”

  I pushed the magazine over to Jen and she glanced through it. “Wow,” she said, her voice low. “Fiji. Man, this looks great.” She looked up at me. “But way over the top. There’s no way I’m asking people to fly to Fiji. I’m thinking more like Florida, or something.”

  I tried to keep the frown off my face. Florida was great and all, but when Jen said destination I assumed she wanted something more exotic. I considered my words carefully. “Jen, if you could pick any destination in the world for this wedding, what would it be?”

  She thought for a moment. “I guess…hmm. I guess I always pictured something Caribbean.”

  “That’s totally doable,” I said, feeling my excitement return. “The Bahamas are just off the coast of Florida, you know. It’s not a far trip at all.” And Daddy’s partner has the most perfect resort there, I thought to myself, knowing better than to mention this to Annie or Ginny yet.

  Jen continued, “When I picture it I get this kind of colonial feel, you know?”

  “Colonial?” Ginny asked, making a face. “Like, Williamsburg or something? Jen, I love you, but I am not wearing a white wig at your wedding.”

  Jen laughed. “That’s not what I meant,” she started, but I gasped.

  “Oh, my God, I know exactly what you’re talking about!” I started flipping through the magazines frantically. I had seen something, just the other day, that I thought…

  “Here,” I said, opening the magazine wide and laying it in the center of the table so everyone could see. “This.”

  The girls peered at the open page, and I saw a grin break out over Jen’s face. I felt a rush of pleasure; I had gotten it right.

  “ ‘British colonial style,’ ” Ginny read. “ ‘The melding of the stately British empire with the ease and brightness of the Caribbean islands.’ Hmm. Looks classy.”

  “Dark wood, cream linens, bright pops of color with flowers…” I murmured, closing my eyes. I could picture it, down to the last detail. Jen and Matt standing under a mahogany pergola draped in greenery and orange flowers, dark teak lawn chairs fitted with cream linen covers, the turquoise blue water inviting behind them. “Jen in something soft and floaty, her hair loose and wavy. Nothing loud or tacky—we’re not talking Margaritaville here. I’m thinking, like, Pirates of the Caribbean, but without the pirates.”

  “Oh, my God,” Annie muttered. I opened my eyes and looked around at the girls. They were all watching me, Jen with a broad grin, Annie and Ginny looking amused. “The two of you are perfect for each other, you know?” Annie continued, pointing at Jen and me. “You sound exactly like her.”

  I grinned back at Jen, feeling proud to be compared to her. I always thought of Jen as being so sophisticated, so classy. I, on the other hand, had a tendency to be over the top, a trait Jen had christened “Getting Kiki.” “Don’t get too Kiki with this,” she would warn me quietly when she could sense I was getting out of hand. Maybe she was finally starting to rub off on me.

  Now, as I looked around at the ceremony site, I couldn't help but think I had actually made it. This wedding was exactly as I had envisioned it all those months ago, down to the very last detail. And I had a feeling it was going to be just as Jen had seen it as well.

  I glanced down at my watch, and took a deep breath. It was time.

  I nodded over at Eric, waiting with his brother and their cousin, Jeff, behind the last row of chairs. Eric grinned at me and patted Matt’s shoulder, gesturing toward the aisle. As the three of them headed down the aisle, I turned to the screened-off cabana the team had constructed. Pulling aside the cream fabric hanging, I peeked inside. Jen was standing with her dad, who looked like he was fighting back tears, while Annie fixed the flower in her hair. Ginny was smoothing down baby Maggie’s dress and giving last-minute instructions to Danny.

  “You guys ready?” I asked. “It’s just about time.”

  Jen looked up at me, and I could detect no trace of nervousness in her eyes. She simply looked excited, and very, very happy. “I’m so ready,” she said, grinning, and I felt a lump form in my throat.

  “All right,” I said, determined to stay professional. I bent over to Danny. “You’re on, little man. You ready to start the show?”

  “Sure,” Danny said, his voice cool and unconcerned. I smiled.

  “Then follow me.” I stood up and looked at Ginny. “Give us thirty seconds then follow.”

  As I turned to lead Danny out of the tent, I saw Ginny and Annie both turn to Jen, probably going in for last-minute hugs. The lump in my throat grew and I took Danny’s hand. “Hang onto that handle, buddy.”

  Danny gripped the handle of his little wagon tightly, and I said a silent prayer it wouldn’t get stuck in the sand. Stepping out of the tent, I made eye contact with the musician up front. The soft strands of guitar music met my ears as I led Danny over to aisle runner. “Straight down toward Uncle Matt, okay?” I whispered. He nodded, looking nervous now. “You’ll be great.”

  As Danny set off down the aisle, the little wagon holding his baby sister in tow, an audible sigh swept across the guests. I couldn’t blame them—Ginny’s kids were gorgeous. I headed over to my seat at the end of a row, my job mostly done for now. As Ginny made her way to the aisle, I allowed the tears to finally come. After all the hard work and all the planning, the moment was finally here. For a few minutes at least, I could sit back, relax, and enjoy the sight of two people in love committing themselves forever.

  At that thought, my eyes automatically went to the head of the aisle. Eric’s gaze was on me, a smile on his lips, due, I’m sure, to the noticeable tears in my eyes. I smiled at him, shrugging a little as if to say I couldn’t help it. He nodded slightly, his smile growing, and winked at me.

  Following Annie, Jen swept past me on her father’s arm, and I saw Matt’s eyes grow wide at the sight of her. He blinked rapidly, and I was sure he was trying to hold back tears. This, of course, only made mine come faster. As the pastor began his remarks about love and loyalty, I felt my eyes once again pulled to Eric, who was now watching his brother. I knew, in that moment, that life really didn’t get much better.

  Chapter Three


  If I hadn’t had the good fortune of meeting Jen, I’m sure my own wedding would have turned out much differently. After Eric proposed and we told my parents, my mom and I got to planning right away. I was determined that we would do everything ourselves—after all, I knew what I wanted for my wedding.

  Luckily, my mom had other plans. She knew that my wedding, or rather, the wedding of the only daughter of the David Barker, would be much more than a recitation of vows. She was right—after my engagement was announced, one local paper had called it, “the social event of the year.” The sheer number of “important” people who needed to be invited was mind-boggling to me. When I informed my parents that I wanted a fairy theme, my mom had immediately picked up the phone to start calling wedding planning firms. “This needs to be classy, Kiki,” she had said firmly. “You have to remember that Daddy will have a lot of work colleagues there. A lot of important people. We need to make a good impression. Remember our position.”

  I had been sullen about it for a little while. How many times had my parents used the “our position” line on me? I felt like I’d been hearing it for years. Was it too much to ask that my own wedding be just about me, instead of yet another opportunity to present the public face of David Barker Enterprises?

  Sensing my irritation, my mom had changed tactics. “Sweetie, a wedding planner is going to make things so much easier for you,” she said. “They’ll help to coordinate all the details so you can just relax and enjoy yourself. Doesn’t that sound nice?”

  She did have a point. I knew we were looking at a huge guest list and the details of planning such a party were probably beyond me. Besides, I was never known for my decision-making skills. Already I had envisioned at least five different color themes. So I conceded to the use of a wedding planner.

  Thank God, I thought to myself the day of the wedding. Jen had done a fantastic job. She had taken my fairy theme idea and run with it, somehow turning it into something both classy and whimsical. As I looked out over the grounds of Meadow Brook Hall, I couldn’t help but think that Jen had transformed it into a setting fit for a fairy queen. Real, live birch saplings had been placed at intervals at the edge of the chairs. Long garlands of pastel flowers were strung through the trees, twinkling lights just visible in their midst. The altar was a riot of flowers, huge arrangements towering over the platform on which we would stand, crystals dripping from every branch, catching the sunlight as they swayed gently in the breeze.

  “What do you think?”

  I turned to see Jen standing behind me, looking apprehensive.

  “Perfect,” I told her, grinning like a fool. “Seriously, seriously perfect. How did you manage all of this?”

  “I had a good team,” she said, visibly relaxing. “Do you really like it? Is it how you pictured it?”

  “So much better,” I told her. Impulsively, I clapped my hands, feeling giddy. “I still can’t believe this is real!” I squealed. “My wedding is going to be gorgeous! And I get to marry Eric!”

  Jen laughed. “I want you to have a perfect day, Kiki. And it’s my job to make sure you do. Now, we should probably get back into the mansion. The photographer will be here soon and you still need to get into your dress.”

  The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur. I tried hard to remember the details—the way my normally reserved mom couldn’t keep the grin off her face all day, or how even Jen seemed to tear up when I put my veil on. Or the fact that Jen had managed to incorporate daisies into my bouquet, though my mother had called them cheap field flowers, simply because she knew they were special to Eric and me. But it was hard to focus on any of those things when I knew, within a matter of hours, I’d be getting married.

  When I finally stood with my dad in the entryway to the mansion, staring out over the grounds and the hundreds of guests waiting there, I couldn’t help but feel a flutter of fear. This was really it. In a matter of moments I’d be walking down the aisle, in front of all those people. What if I stumbled? What if I messed up my vows? What if I started crying and accidently snorted?

  “Ready, baby?” my dad asked, looking down at me.

  “Yeah,” I said, my voice trembling slightly. Crap, I was really nervous now.

  “Don’t worry, Kiki,” my dad said, smiling at me. “I promise I won’t let you fall.” I gave him a weak smile and his eyes softened. “You look beautiful, sweetie,” he said, his voice low. “I’m so, so happy for you.”

  My smile grew stronger, and though I still felt nervous, I put my arm through his and allowed him to steer me across the grounds to the aisle. Ahead of us, I could see my bridesmaids making their own way toward the altar. My cousin Bella and my three sorority sisters, Kara, Kendell, and Krissy, all looked lovely in the pale pink dresses Jen had helped me pick out. As we approached the first row of chairs, the music from the live band changed. The Bridal March. Seemingly as one, the crowd stood and turned in our direction.

  Nerves again flooded my stomach. I never realized how big a crowd three hundred people really was, and every single one of them was staring at me.

  At the head of the aisle, a movement caught my eye. Tearing my attention from the countless faces turned in my direction, I looked up at the altar and felt my heart skip a beat.

  Eric.

  He was standing there waiting for me, Matt behind him. He looked great in his tux, of course, tall and broad-shouldered and totally dashing, the late afternoon sun reflecting off his blond hair. But that wasn’t what had captured my attention so fully; it was the look he wore. He was staring at me intently, his face the picture of a man in love. I’d seen that expression on his face before, a few times over the years. It was like he couldn’t believe his good fortune. Little did he know that I was the lucky one.

  I quickened my step, practically pulling my dad along with me now, every trace of nervousness gone. All I could think about now was getting to the end of this aisle, getting to Eric and marrying him. Promising to love him forever, to try my best to make him as happy as he made me.

  As I finally reached him, as I felt my dad pass my hand over to his, everything else faded away—the people behind us, the stress of all this planning, even the excitement over how great the site had turned out. None of it mattered now. The only thing that mattered, the only thing I could even think of, was the fact that, after everything that had happened to get us to this point, I now got to marry the best friend I’d ever had in my life.

  Chapter Four

  “Mommy, when’s the party gonna start?”

  “Shh, Danny.” Despite her obvious efforts to be quiet, Ginny’s voice drifted down the table. “Eric is giving his toast to the bride and groom.”

  “This is boring,” Danny sighed, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair.

  I saw Josh grab his arm and lean in close to his face. I couldn’t hear his words, but from the expression on Danny’s face he was definitely getting a stern warning. I stifled a laugh. Jen had told me that Danny was going through a particularly sassy phase (Josh blamed Annie’s influence), but I hadn’t really believed it until we got to the resort. The kid was just too cute and smart for his own good, and he totally knew it. Ginny and Josh were determined not to let him get away with much, but even they were susceptible to his wide-eyed, puppy dog look.

  I turned my attention back to my husband, standing up across from me, as he finished his toast. So far he had kept the tone light, telling jokes and ribbing his big brother. But now I saw a change come over his face, a softening that was similar to the way he looked right before he fell asleep—his guard was down.

  “I’ve been so lucky to have you as a big brother,” he said, his voice a notch lower than normal. “You’ve taught me everything I ever needed to know about being a man, and I’m so grateful to you.”

  For about the millionth time that day, I felt my eyes fill up with tears. This time I wasn’t alone—across from me I could tell that Jen was similarly touched. Even Matt looked like he was tearing up as he stood up
to hug his brother—and it was a real hug, too, not one of those lame back-slap things guys usually did.

  “Okay, my turn.” Annie’s voice carried the length of the long table where the wedding guests sat. She stood, taking Eric’s vacated spot behind Jen and Matt. As she shook her red hair out of her face, I was struck by how stunning she was. The girls always teased Ginny about being the beautiful one, and she really was drop-dead gorgeous, but every once in a while, the combination of Annie’s striking features and her brazen confidence somehow managed to outshine just about everyone around her.

  Annie was a great public speaker—which made sense, since she was a professional actress. She barely had to open her mouth and the entire table was captivated—there was simply something commanding about her voice. “First of all, I want to let you all know that I speak for myself and Ginny.” She pointed down the table at her friend, who was currently holding a squirming Maggie. “But we decided I would do the talking, since Ginny would probably start weeping before she could get two words out.”

  Ginny flipped her off, using the baby as cover so the older guests couldn’t see.

  “I’ve been so honored to be a part of this wedding,” Annie went on, more seriously now. “Everything has been so beautiful.” She looked at me. “Kiki, thank you so much for doing all of this for my best friend. It’s been amazing, and we’re all so thankful. Will everyone please join me?” She raised her glass toward me, the other guests doing the same. “To Kiki!”

  Across the table, Jen beamed at me. Feeling overwhelmed, and close to tears again, I ducked my head.

  “Oh my God, Ann,” Matt said drily, his voice carrying along the table. “You’ve actually made her speechless. I didn’t think it was possible.”

  Everyone laughed at that, including me. Annie cleared her throat and went on. “Ginny and I met Jen years ago, right after we started high school. I don’t think either of us had any idea how much our lives would change when she moved to town.” She looked straight at Jen as she went on. “You became our family, Jen. Nothing would have been the same without you. You made everything better, so much better. And it doesn’t matter who comes into our lives,” she winked at Matt, “we will always be family, the three of us. And I’m thankful for that every single day.”