Page 72 of Misrule
Roxy would’ve been happy going to Las Vegas and letting Elvis marry them.
“You’re right,” Roxy conceded. “He wouldn’t have. That doesn’t mean he wants you to plan it. Me and Bailey are in charge, not you.”
“I’m only trying to help,” Joan told her. “Besides, I need to be in on the planning so I can tell you the flowers I’m ordering to decorate the ballroom and banquet hall—”
“I’m not having the ceremony or the reception here,” Roxy interrupted.
“Of course you are,” Joan said, as if that had been a foregone conclusion. “It is a Harrington tradition. Knox had his first wedding here, too.”
Roxy scowled. “Then I know I’m not having anything here.”
“Maybe, you can have the rehearsal dinner here,” Kendall suggested.
“That sounds like a good idea, Mama,” Bailey said. “We would love that, Joan.”
Joan sidled a glance from Roxy to Bailey. “There seems to be some type of miscommunication here.”
“On your part,” Roxy said, not unkindly. She came up with a quick solution. “Could you plan the rehearsal dinner? Food, decorations, everything?” That would also keep Joan away from the wedding committee meetings.
Roxy expected to have a lot of laughs with the girls, instead of all this silence and tension.
She held her left hand out. The diamond on the ring winked at her.Are you to blame for all this bullshit, motherfucker? All the doubts and panic and issues thrown our way?
Joan cleared her throat and glared at the Harrington ring, not hiding her displeasure. “That’s a priceless Harrington heirloom. I trust you know what to do with it.”
“I sure do,” Roxanne retorted. “I know how to shove it up your fucking—”
“Mama!” Bailey yelled as Joan narrowed her eyes. “Mrs. Harrington is just, um, er…”
Go ahead and make an excuse for this sadity bitch, sugar.
Bailey glanced at Meggie.
“Joan is just expressing the importance of the ring to the family,” Meggie said after a moment’s hesitation.
“I know how to speak for myself, girl,” Joan spat at Meggie.
“I hope you know how to protect yourself,” Zoann flared. “Because I’m ready to shove that ring up your ass and my fist down your throat.”
“Savages!” Charlotte hissed. “The lot of you.” She smiled at Kendall. “Except you, dear.”
Kendall shifted uncomfortably, but kept her mouth shut, which the girl should’ve done before she invited Charlotte.
“Joan, this isn’t going as planned, but imagine how happy Knox will be to hear Roxy wants you to plan the rehearsal dinner,” Kendall gushed. “He loves Roxy so much and knowing his mother and his fiancé are getting along will make himsohappy.”
Joan scowled at Kendall, who didn’t blink or back down.
“Fine,” Joan huffed, glaring at Roxy. “I’ll do the rehearsal dinner only if Charlotte and Kendall help me. Do you have a problem with that, Roxanne?”
Kendall’s face fell.
“You can have Charlotte, but Kendall stays onmycommittee,” Roxy replied.
“Why don’t we let Kendall choose,” Charlotte suggested.
“I’m flattered to have this tug of war over me,” Kendall started with a smile. “Charlotte, I want to be with Roxy and the other ladies.”
“You’re right, dear. They do need all the help they can get,” Charlotte said.
