Toss the Bouquet (32 page)

“You're not. That's not you.”

She sighed. “I know. I'm just weak. I can't say no to Phillip's parents. But I need to get past that. I need to be who I really am, on the inside. And I'm not the kind of girl who throws away money on a ridiculously expensive reception just because she feels pressured.”

“So, you're changing . . . everything? You do know your wedding is in three weeks, right? And the guests already have their invitations with the address for the country club.”

“I know, I know.” She groaned. “It's too late, isn't it?”

“Maybe.” I glanced around to make sure no one else was listening in. Off in the distance, Gillian gave me a wave as she got into her car. I waved back, doing my best to look nonchalant, and then turned to my sister. “So let's talk about this. What's really troubling you?”

She leaned forward and put her head on the steering wheel. I could barely make out her words as she said, “I feel like I'm trapped, Mari. I have to do what his parents say. Mostly his mom. She's so forceful.” Crystal's eyes narrowed to slits. “Oh, it's all couched in Southern sweetness—honey this and sweetie that. I even heard it at the shower today. ‘Crystal, dear girl, don't you think the bridesmaids' shoes should be dyed pink to match their dresses?' But it's still manipulation, just the same. And I'm afraid it's just the first of a thousand times that's going to happen in the next thirty or forty years.”

“So what you're really worried about is not being able to stand up for yourself.”

“Yeah.” She sighed and lifted her head.

“Have you told Phillip that?”

She shook her head. “Ever since our breakup—and his mom was the one who put doubts in his head, by the way—I've been scared to tell him what I'm really thinking or feeling.”

“Because you're afraid of losing him?”

It took her a moment, but she finally nodded. “And because I don't want to stir up animosity between him and his mom. She's so strong willed.” Crystal rolled her eyes. “You get my point.”

“Then it's more important than ever to have a heart-to-heart with him. Maybe it's not really his parents you're upset with. Maybe it's him. You're trying to please him because you're scared your relationship will fall apart if you don't.”

My sister released a sob so quickly that it startled me. Seconds later, she was crumpled over the steering wheel, tears flowing. I knelt down next to the open door and let her cry it out. Then I gave her the best advice I could by whispering, “I'll be praying, Crystal. I promise I will. But don't do anything rash, okay? Maybe the wedding is just the tipping point. You know?”

Crystal nodded just as her cell phone rang. She fished it out of her purse and looked at the screen, her eyes growing wide. “It's Phillip. I . . . I can't talk to him now.” She pulled down the visor and checked her appearance. As if he could see her.

“You don't have to talk to him right now. Wait until you're calmer. Pray, and then call him back.”

She nodded just as the phone stopped ringing. “Okay. I will.”

“It won't hurt him to wait an hour or two, Crystal. Send him a text and tell him that you'll call him back in a while.”

She blew out a slow breath and then did just that. I stood and gave her an encouraging smile. “I'm going to pray that God gives you a peace in your heart when you come to the right decision about the wedding. Until then, just rest. Don't over think it. Don't worry about Dad or the venue or anything. Just pray.”

“I will.” She gave me a woeful smile. “Thank you, Mari. It helped so much to get that off my chest. You have no idea.” A little pause followed as she glanced up at me. “You're my go-to person once again.”

“I like being your go-to person. I hope I can still play that role, even after you're an old married woman.”

That got a chuckle out of her, the first I'd seen in a while. Still, I knew my sister had a lot to think and pray about. I would keep my promise and pray too. Surely the Lord would calm troubled waters and this wedding could move forward as planned. I hoped.

I climbed into my car, my thoughts reeling. Would my
sister really go through with this? Would she change the venue for the reception? If so, would there be time to pull together a new plan? I sat with the car in park, deep in thought.

Until my phone rang. I recognized Derrick's number right away and did my best to steady my breathing before answering. He greeted me with a carefree, “Hey,” followed by, “How did the shower go?”

“It was . . .” I paused as I thought through the events of the day. “Really nice.”

“You hesitated.”

“Did I?”

“You did.” Now he paused. “She didn't like the cookies?”

“Oh, she loved them. Everyone did. And the cupcakes too. Please tell your mom thank you from all the guests. They were thrilled.”

“Then why don't you sound thrilled?”

“I . . .”

The intensity of his voice grew. “C'mon, Mari. What aren't you telling me? Was Sienna up to her tricks at the shower?”

“No. Sienna was okay, actually. She even helped clear the tables afterward. It's more my sister this time.”

“Crystal?” Derrick sounded worried. “Is she sick?”

Oh boy. I'd painted myself into a corner, hadn't I? How could I answer his questions without giving away too much personal information? “Not really sick, exactly.”

“What, then?” I could hear the concern in his voice. “She's not getting cold feet, is she?”

Did he have to come out and ask that? I couldn't lie to him, now could I?

“Mari?”

“I think she's just going through a weird phase. She'll snap out of it.” My next words had a pleading tone. “Promise me you won't say anything to Phillip. I'm sure she'll wake up tomorrow and everything will be perfect again. She's just having an off day, maybe.” I paused and then sighed. “Or maybe she's still reeling from what they went through a few months ago. Maybe that whole breakup thing shook her confidence more than we realized.”

“Well, about that . . .” Derrick's voice faded away mid-sentence.

“She mentioned that it had something to do with his mom. Did you know that?”

Derrick sighed. “Yeah. Phillip's mother thought he should slow things down—don't ask me why, I never could figure it out—but Phillip adores your sister.”

“Are you sure?”

“Are you kidding me? The guy can't hold a conversation without talking about her. He notices every little thing she does. You wouldn't believe how many times I've heard that story about her trip to Haiti. He loves that she's so softhearted and cares so much about underprivileged kids. I've never known a guy so infatuated with a girl before, and I can definitely see why. She's great.”

Hearing all of that made me feel better, but I still had my doubts about my sister's current state of mind.

“I think Phillip's mother is worried about losing her son. You know?” Derrick cleared his throat.

“To a girl who doesn't have a lot of money?” I voiced the words I'd rolled around in my brain over the past few months. “Someone who's not from the country club set?”

“Maybe.” Derrick paused, and I wondered if I'd lost him. “She can be a little bit of a snob, I suppose, but I think there's more going on this time. I think she's really just going through that empty nest thing. My mom went through that right after I moved out. I'm sure your mom is going to experience some of those feelings after your sister's wedding.”

“If there is a wedding.”

“There will be. Trust me. If Phillip and Crystal could survive Mrs. Havenhurst's interference a few months back, they can make it through this. Their love is strong, Mari. It's tough, enough to overcome obstacles.”

“You know just what to say to calm me down, Derrick. Thank you. I only wish Crystal had heard all that. You would've won her over, for sure.”

“Do you think it would help if I called her? I'd be happy to do that.”

“She'd kill me if she found out I said anything to you or anyone else.”

“Ah. Well, if there's anything I can do . . .” His voice drifted away.

“There is.” I paused for a moment and then whispered, “Would you pray? Please?”

“Well, of course.” He must've thought I meant, “Right here, right now,” because the guy dove into a passionate conversation with the Lord about my sister's upcoming wedding. On and on he went, asking God to lead, guide, and bring peace to Crystal's heart. By the time he finished, I felt completely at peace myself. Wow.

For a few moments neither of us said a word. I finally broke the silence. “Thank you so much for praying, Derrick. That means a lot.”

“I've been the one in need of prayer a lot over the years. Remember the story about how I let my parents' breakup send me reeling?”

“Yes.”

“Trust me, if God could bring me through that, he can see your sister through all this. He loves her even more than you do, and I know you love her a lot.”

“I . . . I do.” A lump rose in my throat.

“I've said it before, but I'll say it again. She's blessed to have you.” He paused, then cleared his throat. “And I . . . I feel pretty blessed too. Glad I'm getting to know you, Southpaw.”

“I feel the same way.”

“Let's make a pact to stick together. I have a feeling the bride and groom are going to need us, okay?”

“Sounds good.”

We ended the call, and I leaned back against my seat, thoughts spinning. Somehow, knowing Derrick Richardson was on my team brought great comfort. Together, we would get this wedding back on track. Somehow.

On the Monday after the shower, Crystal was all smiles
again. “I talked to Phillip.” She took a nibble of a leftover teacup cookie and her eyes widened. “Mmm. These are great. I didn't get any at the shower. I was too preoccupied.”

“Thanks. Derrick did most of the baking.”

“I heard all about that from Phillip.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. I hear Derrick is quite a whiz in the kitchen.” She took another bite, a look of complete satisfaction on her face.

“So what happened with Phillip? You talked to him, and . . .”

“And”—Crystal grinned and set the cookie down on a napkin—“it went well.”

“Are you saying we don't have to return the presents after all?”

“Return the presents?” Grandma Nellie's voice came
from behind me. “And why would she have to return the presents?”

Oh, yikes. Man, our grandmother was sneaky, listening in on our conversation. She started firing questions, but finally stopped when she saw my sister putting her finger to her lips.

“Grandma Nellie, don't. You'll scare Mama.”

“You're scaring me.” Our grandmother's gaze narrowed. “The wedding is still on, right?”

“Right. The wedding is still on.” Crystal nodded, then gave me a comforting smile. “Thanks to Mari.”

“Mari needs a man.” My grandmother rolled her eyes.

“Wait . . . what?” How had we shifted from Crystal's wedding to my love life?

“I said, ‘Mari needs a man.' ” Grandma Nellie waggled her index finger in my sister's face. “And you, Crystal? You marry that boy. And keep the presents too.” Then she headed into the living room, mumbling all the way. I couldn't make out much of it, but got the part about pre-wedding jitters.

“Crystal, you don't think she'll say anything to Mama, do you?”

“No.” My sister shook her head. “She knows it would hurt me, so I'm sure she won't.” A pause followed, and then her eyes brimmed with tears. “Mari, thank you so much.”

“For what?”

“For talking me down from the ledge the other day. And for giving me the courage to have a heart-to-heart with Phillip.”