Page 86 of Bumping into You

He hugs me, and it’s a hug that makes me feel cared for, so full of warmth and understanding, a sanctuary amidst the chaos of my emotions.

His strong hands stroke up and down my back, providing me with a sense of security, a sense of calm. He’s so tender, not saying anything and just letting me feel.

Time seems to stand still as we stay like this. There are things I need to get done, things that need to be fixed, but in this moment with this amazing man, I am safe to just be.

As my tears begin to dry and my breathing settles, Niall asks, “Gwendolyn, how can I help you?”

“I don’t know. Holly and Greg’s wedding is all messed up.” I wipe the tears from my cheeks.

“What do you mean? Surely, they are still getting married.”

“Hopefully,” I say, then mumble, “no thanks to me.”

“Rose, look at me,” he says sternly.

I look up at him and blurt, “It’s true. Their wedding isn’t going to be perfect, and it’s all my fault.”

“Why don’t you start with filling me in on what is meant to be your fault?” he asks, his eyes softening.

“Well for starters, Maggie is sick and may not be able to come to the wedding, which means that either Gillian or Miles may not be able to come. Then there’s freaking Trent, who has somehow managed to freaking lose the freaking wedding rings.”

“Well, those don’t sound too bad,” Niall says through soft chuckles.

“Excuse me?” I shoot up off his lap. “This is a nightmare. I should have kept Maggie with me instead of letting her stay at kids club all day. That’s probably where she got sick. And I should have kept hold of the rings. I never would have lost them. Holly and Greg had these rings specially made, and they hadquotes engraved on them. They aren’t something that can easily be replaced.”

I start pacing around the room. How can Niall think this isn’t a big deal?

It’s Holly and Greg. They deserve the best.

“I’ve spent too much time with you,” I tell Niall. “And I’ve let myself get distracted. I should have just focused on the wedding and made sure everything was perfect for Holly and Greg.”

“Now, Rose—”

“Don’t ‘Rose’ me,” I say angrily. “You don’t understand.”

“I didn’t say that it didn’t sound too bad to make you upset. I simply meant that as long as Holly and Greg still get married, then that is the most important thing. Everything else we can fix. It may not be perfect according to the original plans, but it will still be a perfect day.”

I stop pacing. He’s right. Of course, he’s right. I just like things to be perfect. For things to go according to plan. If I have everything figured out and all possible issues planned for, then nothing bad can ever happen.

Niall sits on the couch calmly, his eyes full of hope and happiness.

The look stops me in my tracks.

“Okay.” I sigh. “Help me figure out how to fix this?”

“Well, for starters, I can be the flower girl,” he says happily.

I let out a laugh. “No really, what is your plan?” I ask.

“I am serious. Haven’t you seen those videos where the groom’s brothers or someone like that are the flower girls, and they have these bum bags with flower petals and sunglasses on? I could definitely do that.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. This is not helping, and while that sounds hilarious, it’s annoying because it cannot be the best option we have. “No.”

“Okay, what if Vivian stands in for the flower girl? She’s not abridesmaid, but she could be a flower lady?” Niall offers.

“It’s not the worst suggestion you’ve given,” I agree. “I’ll have to talk to her about it. Now for the rings, Courtney is meeting up with Trent to try and help him find them.”

“Cúla búla, for the rings, then, that one is resolved. Courtney won’t let Greg and Holly get married without rings. With her on this task, you don’t have to worry, right?” He looks up at me hopefully.

---