Chapter Two
Alexis
My job was to plan.And yet, I didn’t think I could prepare for this.
“I just really wanted the sun to shine from the goddess on my wedding. And yet it feels as if she’s crying.” The bride paced in front of me, her hair in hot rollers, her eyes puffy from sobbing. I risked a look behind her at the bright sun and the single white puffy cloud in the sky. The cloud that was apparently sending this woman over the edge.
“It will be okay. The weather is still on our side.” I knocked on wood as I said it, knowing that’s what she wanted me to do. And frankly, I would have done it anyway.
“Do you see that cloud? That cloud is mocking me on this day. It is mocking everything that I have stood for. Now how will I know if my love is true, knowing this cloud exists? I was supposed to be wed. To blend my soul with that of my mate and to know that our forever was only a beginning. And yet, it is over. Everything is over.” She flung herself on the chaise lounge while her mother glared at me before patting her daughter’s arm.
“We’ll find a way to make this work. I know it’s going to be hard, but don’t you worry. We will find a way.”
The bride began to sob in earnest. “Today was supposed to be about love and prosperity. I saw it happen.”
I nodded even though she couldn’t see me and knelt by her, putting on my best wedding planner tone. “Of course, it’s about love and prosperity. You are going to marry the love of your life this afternoon.”
“Will I? Or will that cloud ruin my destiny? For I was told that today was the day that we were supposed to be married. I saw it in the cards, as did my psychic. Don’t you see? She told me today was the day.”
I sat back on my heels and nodded sagely at her words, trying not to roll my eyes. I was of the mind that people were allowed to believe in whatever they wanted to, that there was more than one possibility for the world we were in.
And yet, right then, it was all a little too much for me. Mostly because everything had been planned by me, and therefore the psychic. The psychic had chosen this day for the wedding, so I had agreed to it. The psychic had read what color the wedding needed to be in tea leaves, so I had gone with it. My job was to make sure the bride was happy, and the groom as well, but mostly the bride in this case.
The groom just seemed happy that his bride had said yes after years of trying to get her to commit, and therefore I was here. To work on the Baylor Ranch and Brewery and to plan this wedding.
I truly loved this venue. Roy Baylor, the owner and operator of the retreat and venue was a wonderful man, a little strict, but knew what he wanted. And that meant making sure that the bride was happy.
Even if a single cloud in the sky was about to ruin her day, apparently.
“Okay now, let’s think about what this cloud can signify,” I began as my assistant walked in, her eyes wide at the scene in front of her. I waved her off, and Emily slowly backed out of the room, trying not to make a noise so she wouldn’t get caught.
At least she was allowed to leave. Maybe she would be able to work with the caterer, the venue, and to ensure everything else was on track for the wedding that was supposed to begin in forty-five minutes.
I smiled softly and did what I did best: made the bride happy. “That single cloud can be evidence of the path you were once on. The path of you as a woman. But it is showing you that you are ready for the next phase. To the blue skies that will be your marriage.” Emily gave me a thumbs-up as she walked out, and I did think that I had done pretty well just then in terms of making crap up.
“Do you think? Do you think that Reggie will be okay with this? That he won’t leave me because of this cloud and what it can signify?”
I leaned down in front of Phoenix and held her hand. “You are a beautiful bride. Exquisite. You are marrying the love of your life. I cannot wait to see you in that dress and to watch the reaction of the love of your life as he sees you for the first time today.”
She patted her lip, her pout slowly decreasing. “It is a beautiful dress.”
“And you are the beautiful woman in that dress. He is going to marry you, not because of the signs, but because he loves you. And that cloud is not the shadow upon your day. It is just a mere moment in time, signifying it is the next phase of your life. It is time for you to marry your Reggie. For Reggie and Phoenix to have a wedding on the books like no other.”
I wasn’t lying then. This would be a wedding like no other.
“Do you think?” she asked as her mother continued to wipe tears from her face.
“I do. Now let’s get you finished with your hair and makeup. And then in that dress. Reggie’s waiting. Much like that cloud was waiting for you to see it so it could depart, and you can know that your day is in perfect harmony.”
One of the bridesmaids rolled her eyes, and I gently narrowed mine, warning her not to say anything. She grinned wide, and I ignored her and went to help the bride finish getting ready. Knowing she was in good hands with the rest of the wedding party, I went to my other duties, focusing on the caterer and whatever else came up.
The best man walked past, his face a little too bright, and I leaned forward and handed him a mint and a bottle of water from the side table. “Eat this and drink this. No more pregaming before the wedding.”
He smiled at me, a little sloppily. “Yeah, I know. I’m just trying to walk it off.”
That was good to hear, at least. “No worries, we will make sure that this wedding is amazing. Just stay a little more hydrated.”
“You’ve got it, boss. Thanks, Ms. Alexis.”