Page 5 of Wisteria Winds
“My mother has some ideas about what my wedding should be like.”
“Oh, I see. And they don’t match yours?”
Danielle smiled. “Not even close. She wants this big, grand New York City society affair, and I want a simple beach ceremony right here on the island.”
Gladys patted her hand. “Oh, mothers and daughters. Always complicated relationships. Well, my own mother insisted I wear her wedding gown. A monstrosity of satin and lace that made me look like a walking meringue.”
“Did you wear it?”
“Oh, good Lord, no. I accidentally” - she used air quotes - “spilled red wine all over it two weeks before the wedding.” Gladys winked mischievously. “Sometimes you must be a little crafty to get your way.”
Danielle laughed. “Well, I’m not sure sabotage is exactly the answer, but I think I need to start being more firm with my mom.”
“You just remember this, dear. It’s your day. It’s not hers. And that handsome man of yours only has eyes for you, whether you’re in a fancy gown at The Plaza or barefoot out there on the beach. Just watch out for those jellyfish that keep washing up.”
After Gladys left, Danielle looked at her schedule and saw she had a short break before her next patient. She would use that time to call her mother to establish boundaries. But just as she was about to dial, there was a knock at her office door, and then Morty entered in his normal flamboyant way.
“Oh, Danielle, darling, I have the most fabulous news.”
He looked like he was practically vibrating with excitement as he clutched a tablet to his chest. Of course, Danielle couldn’t take her eyes off his hot pink golf shirt and his brightly striped knee shorts. Sometimes, she needed sunglasses to look at him.
“What’s up, Morty?”
“I’ve been working on your wedding plans. Now, before you say anything, look at what I’ve put together,” he said, holding up his hands.
He thrust the tablet into her hands, revealing a meticulously organized Pinterest board titled Beach Boho Glam Wedding Extravaganza. Danielle scrolled through the images and was surprised to find that many of them actually aligned with what she’d envisioned—a simple ceremony on the beach with natural decorations that had elegance, and then a big reception under the stars.
“Morty, this is beautiful despite the title that goes a little over the top. And way fewer sequins than I would think.”
He beamed with pride. “I just knew you’d love it. I’ve already spoken to Esther at the bakery about the cake. She’s thinking of a naked cake with fresh berries and edible flowers. Now, you tell me if you want buttercream, and I’ll make it happen. Edwin has offered to play violin for the ceremony. Oh, and I just thought we could set up the reception on the beach behind Bennett’s cottage, because then we can string the lights in the trees and just set the tables right up on the sand.”
As Morty continued to detail his vision, Danielle actually felt a new wave of affection for her quirky, generous friend, who had just thrown himself into planning this special day without her input at all.
“Thank you, Morty.”
“This means a lot to me to be able to do this for you. You and Bennett gave me a family when my own turned their backs. This is the least I can do for you.”
She hugged him tightly, realizing that his vision for a simple island wedding, surrounded by their Wisteria family, was exactly what she wanted. Maybe not some of the décor he had in mind on the Pinterest board—but still, close enough.
She just needed to convince her mother of it.
Bennett found Danielle sitting on the deck of her cottage early in the evening, staring out at the ocean with a troubled expression on her face.
“Penny for your thoughts?” he asked as he sat beside her and took her hand, admiring the engagement ring he had put on her finger.
“Just trying to figure out how exactly I’m going to tell my mother that we’re not having a grand New York wedding without causing World War III.” She showed him a series of texts from her mother, each one even more elaborate than the last.
“Ah, the formidable Cecilia Wright,” he said. “You know, we could just elope.”
Danielle smiled. “Don’t tempt me. But no, I want our friends here to be part of that day.” She leaned her head against his shoulder. “I wish my mother understood how important this place is to us.”
Bennett was quiet for a moment, thinking. “Well, what if we invited her for a visit? We can let her see the island, meet all the people we care about, and understand why we love it here so much.”
She looked at him skeptically. “My mother on Wisteria Island? Oh my gosh, can you even imagine?”
“I can, actually. She might surprise you.”
“Or she might try to redecorate every single cottage and organize a black-tie gala at the community center.”
