Page 130 of It Couldn't Be You
Texas was moody and decided she didn’t want any visitors today. Check back tomorrow though tomorrow was the wedding.
Today was the rehearsal dinner, and now Terrence’s Canadian family and friends would not be able to attend. They had departed from Canada and stopped for their connecting flight in Denver to find their flight to Austin was canceled due to the harsh storms.
“They’re hanging around the airports to see if they can get aboard another flight, but it appears any flights landing in Texas are canceled or delayed until further notice,” Katie told me over the phone late that morning. Her voice was heavy with stress and exhaustion.
“God. I’m sorry, Katie. How are you doing?” I was sitting at my bathroom counter, putting on my moisturizer.
“I’m trying to enjoy the day before my wedding, but it’s hard to do with all these unknowns. I can’t imagine Terrence and I getting married without his family there. I’m not sure what to do.”
“Do you think they will be delayed tomorrow, too? The storm is supposed to let up, right?” I wondered aloud.
“It’s all unknown. Terrence is glued to the weather channel like an old man,” Katie said, trying to find humor in the situation.
“If they can’t…”
“If they can’t, I think we should delay our wedding. But Terrence is adamant against the idea.”
“Why is he? I mean, you’re having it in your own backyard, so the venue if flexible,” I asked.
“It’s the abundance of guests we’d have to notify, plus rescheduling the flowers, food, and music. We also have our honeymoon flight and hotel booked. It’d be costly and a headache!” Terrence chimed in from the background.
“We don’t even need to be talking about this because I’m sure they will get here in time!” Linda added. Her voice echoed in the way it did when she stood in the kitchen.
“I agree with Mama Hernandez,” I said, deciding my role as best friend was to remain optimistic. “My weather app says the storm stops tonight.”
“I’m betting on Linda and Emma,” Terrence said, his voice louder now, getting closer to the phone.
“A safe bet,” Gabe said.
“You bet on the bride!” Katie said, exasperated. “Come on, guys.”
“You bet on the bride’s mama,” Terrence joked.
“Emma, are you going to come help us set up for the rehearsal dinner downtown?” Gabe’s voice was loud, as if he was speaking straight into the phone’s microphone. “I think we need extra hands.”
“No, no, no, you can get your Emma fix later. We have too many hands helping set up a place that sets up for us anyway. Emma has a list of errands she’s running for me that is very important—more important than y’all’s little shenanigans,” Katie said in a commanding tone.
“Wait, what are these little shenanigans?” Linda asked, all bubbly and curious.
“Fun shenanigans,” Gabe said. I could imagine him there in his baggy sweatpants, white tee shirt, and a twinkle in his eye. I sighed quietly to myself.
“She didn’t tell you about the shenanigan last night?” Terrence said, presumably to Linda. I should’ve known Terrence would know now.
“Linda, let’s talk about it all after the wedding,” I said, blushing even though it was a phone call.
“Is there something to talk about? What happened last night?” Linda ignored me.
“Em’s right. The next two days, we need to focus up!” Katie said loudly over murmuring in the background. A few more voices were questioning the shenanigans, and I could hear Gabe saying something about how they could probably guess.
“Guys, focus!” Katie was saying.
“Should I let y’all go? I should start my errand list,” I said.
“You haven’t started? I thought you were calling from the car,” Katie said, her voice booming through the phone.
I hurried off the call.
The rehearsal dinner was at the fanciest restaurant downtown. The one we went to before senior prom and where my dad always reserved a table on Mother’s Day. You wore your best when you walked in the doors of The Vintage Table.
