Page 94 of Mercy (The Sins Trilogy 3)
Ice sculptures?I squirm. The idea doesn’t excite me one bit. But at the same time, maybe it’s something people like Tony are expected to have at their weddings. What do I know about high-society weddings, anyway? “Do we need them?”
“Of course. They look magnificent.”
“It’s going to be too hot,” Yuna says.
“Exactly,” I say, unsure about having a chunk of ice melting away at my wedding, even if Mrs. Min thinks it’s magnificent.
“That’s a good point.” Mrs. Min nods decisively. “A towering chocolate sculpture, then. We can make it so every piece is supported by a wire structure, and you can pull out each to eat. Dark, milk and white. And a few gold- and silver-foiled pieces. Nothing clichéd like swans or hearts.”
Wow. It sounds amazing, and who doesn’t love good chocolate? I didn’t even know that was possible.
Maybe you should just let Yuna’s mom guide you in this. Don’t be like Marty.
That’s true. How much did I hate it when he told me how to play the piano?
Margot said certain things are expected if I want to be Tony’s wife. Who would know better than Yuna’s mom? It’s obvious Mrs. Min knows everything about fancy weddings, and it makes sense to put her in charge. I can always tell her what I prefer—like the ice sculptures—so she can adjust accordingly.
Once that decision’s made, I relax a bit. Instead of trying to direct things myself, I can just let Yuna’s mom do it.
“Can we pull it off? It’s not a lot of time,” I say.
“Of course we can. Even if they were to go out and harvest the cocoa, they have enough time to manage. What’s that?”
“Huh?” I look down and see the medallion Tony gave me. “It’s a gift from Tony.”
“One of a kind?”
I nod. Love warms me as I remember his words. I’m his sun, moon and stars. Sooo romantic—it still makes my heart ache.
“Perfect. Ms. Kim, take a picture. That’s going to be the motif for the chocolate sculpture.”
“Excuse me,” Ms. Kim says, turning me a bit and snapping a shot of the medallion. “All done.”
Great.That was simple. It’ll be perfect for the ceremony. I think he’ll love it. Maybe I should reserve a couple of gold-foiled ones for us.
“How about flowers?” Yuna says.
“Easy. Tiger lilies don’t make your usual bridal arrangement, but if Ivy likes them, they’ll be part of it.”
“You don’t have to,” I say, since Mrs. Min doesn’t think they’re traditional, and I don’t want the ceremony to be weird.
She puts a hand on my arm. “Nonsense. You will have what you like. It’s your wedding. The florist is paid to please you, not impose an arbitrary set of rules.”
Bobbi pulls up in front of an elegant boutique. We pour out of the Escalade and enter the exquisite grandeur that is Avery Parker’s haute couture.
The high ceiling is gorgeous, painted in a dark shade. I look up and around the huge space. The interior is bright, wealthy and soothing, with gleaming glass, Italian tiles and crystals. Mannequins are dressed so fashionably that even the sexiest dress I bought on sale for a special night out would look ordinary. Fabric of all colors and textures is on display. I hope I don’t have to choose the material or design today. Or at least maybe Mrs. Min will take pity on me and narrow the options considerably before asking for my input, because I don’t think I can choose. It’s overwhelming, and I’m afraid to offend the designer, whom Mrs. Min and Yuna seem to know well.
A slim woman with razor-straight red hair walks out. Her cheekbones are expertly contoured, and cherry red colors her mouth. Black kohl lines a pair of dark, wide-set eyes. The green wrap dress she’s wearing is simple, but falls over her just so to highlight the high breasts and tiny waist. The heels on her shoes are so spiky that I don’t know how she can walk over the polished tiles.
“Avery,” Mrs. Min says.
“Suji! I haven’t seen you in ages.”
They exchange air kisses. Avery’s warm smile and eyes twinkling with good humor ease my tension. Maybe she isn’t one of those crazy, snotty fashion people that I saw in The Devil Wears Prada.
“You’ve met my daughter, Yuna, and this is her best friend and the bride, Ivy.”
Avery hugs Yuna, shakes my hand, then studies our clothes. I’m glad I put on a yellow sundress rather than a baby tee and shorts like I was planning to, thanks to Yuna’s having warned me earlier about the dress code.
