Chapter 19

My head shakes disapprovingly as I study the overdone flower arrangements at the buffet table. I asked for a delicate and tasteful bouquet of white roses and lilies, not a bloody jungle!

"Can you please pluck out the green leaves? Put them on the aisle carpet, we can still use them as floor decorations," I click my fingers at Gabe.

Gabe does as I ask, pulling the long reeds out from the white pots. "So the caterers are all okay?"

"Yep, they are already making the canapés. The head chef complained, something about the oven settings not being hot enough but I got the hotel manager to sort that out."

"And the cake?" He asks.

Ugh. The cake, the brunt of my stress. "The delivery guy said they are having trouble with traffic, but he insisted he will be here in roughly thirty minutes, so that's still plenty of time to put it on the table. Can you meet him and direct him to the kitchen? I have to check on Amelia then, make sure she's ready to start making her way down," I order, rubbing my temples. The cake better show up here in one piece. What kind of a wedding would there be without the perfect cake?

"Sure. And the musicians?"

"Yep. I will also need you to meet them as they are arriving in twenty to get setup and practise. All their numbers are on the run sheet."

"Any emails that need to be responded to?"

"No, everything's done," I conclude as I start walking towards the arch to check it one more time.

Out from the corner of my ear, I hear heels clicking down the hall. I turn around to see Amelia's mother Karen who calls out to me. "Lacey! Amelia wants you now."

Oh no, what is it? The only time the bride has asks for me before the wedding is when she's nervous, feels sick, or wants relationship advice. I've had to deal with all three. And with one particular clientall at once.

I turn to Gabe, pushing my headset away. "Crap, I have to go. Will you be okay?"

Gabe flicks his hand. "Go, go!"

I kiss him on the cheek. "Legend! I'm just a phone call away if anything goes wrong."

"Just fawn all over her and tell her she looks hot. Works every time!" he yells at me as I scurry down the aisle to meet Karen.

Amelia's mother rushes me to the private room behind the church and opens the door to see Amelia gazing at her reflection in the full length mirror.

"Oh my god, you look beautiful," I gush at the sight of her, and it's not because Gabe told me to do so. With her auburn hair styled in loose tendrils fastened in a casual half ponytail with small white roses embedded in her hair, she looks like a Grecian goddess in her off the shoulder chiffon dress. Belted to make her tiny waist look even tinier, the dress stops right before her ankles. Even though she is barefoot, she doesn't need to wearheels. She looks perfect.

"You look hot!" I walk up and kiss her gently on her cheek, getting a whiff of her scent of cut roses. Might as well inject some Gabe flavour where I can.

"Speak for yourself, you look good!" She looks at me. "You look so different with your hair up. It shows off your lovely face."

I'm just in my standard work attire a knee length black shift dress and black pumps. "Nah, I always tie my hair up at weddings, it's just easier. So, your mum said you wanted you to see me?"

She purses her bare lips, yet to be applied with lipstick. "I just wanted to say thank you for all of this. I know that this may have not been the easiest thing to do, coming here after what happened."

"You don't have to"

She puts up a hand, begging me to stop. "Just let me finish please."

I nod quietly and she continues.

"This is going to be such an exciting time in your life and I think you are going to do great things. Enjoy every second, no more holding back okay? You deserve happiness. Not only are you an awesome person, you're someone I really admire."

I look at her, my mouth popped open. Even if her hair and clothes are different, she hasn't changed one bit she is still the kind-hearted and sweet girl I knew.

"You are not allowed to make me emotional!" I lean in to hug her again, hugging her extra tight. "You deserve this, girl. He is a wonderful man and he is so lucky to have you. Don't ever forget that."

She hugs me back, equally as tight. "I know your Prince Charming is out there. He is a lot closer than you think," she whispers in my ear, and something tells me her words are not something I'm going to forget anytime soon.

I pull away from the hug, giving her a wide smile. "Come on, let's do this thing!"

When I get back downstairs, I receive the best news of the day the cake has arrived in one piece. Hallelujah! The four tier lemon and vanilla cake looks spectacular, the piped mousse cream shaped perfectly just the way Amelia wanted. If the cake can come in one piece, everything else will fall into place. I just know it.

The day is finally over, thank goodness! The ceremony was just as Amelia wanted: simple, elegant and tasteful.

My favourite part of weddings is seeing the look on the groom's face when the bride walks down the aisle. And boy, did he look happy to see my gorgeous friend make her entrance. His nerves, his anticipation, and his excitement suddenly disappeared and the most serene calm look of love and adoration appeared on his face when he saw her. And I couldn't be more proud and honoured to be here for her day.

My second favourite part of weddings is the vows, the special words written from the heart and soul of the couple. I never get tired of seeing and hearing the raw emotion that pours out of them. What Amelia said may have been cute, funny and sweet but Kieran's words blew me away.

I, Kieran, ask everyone here to witness, that I take you, Amelia, as my wife.

However, I cannot promise to be the perfect husband.

I cannot promise to always be happy.

I cannot promise to never be angry.

I cannot promise not to hurt your feelings sometimes.

But, I can promise to share my thoughts with you.

I can promise to laugh with you, and many times laugh at you.

I can promise to be supportive of you.

I can promise to be honest with you.

And I do promise to love you. For the rest of our lives.

Even Gabe, the most cynical person when it comes to love, looked a little choked up after his speech.Who doesn't want to find their soul mate and be with that one person for the rest of their lives? I know I do.

The ceremony may have been sentimental and emotion but the reception was light-hearted, fun, and full of booze; just the way I like it. Decorated with white lace and white lilies, I couldn't be more pleased at how it all turned out. The crypt was already beautiful, but the soiree was inviting and classy without being pretentious. Having done a full circle of the hall several times, it was clear all the guests were having a great time. The room bustled with excited chatter: the children were running between the tables in a good natured game of tag, the adults laughing at their tables. Everyone got drunk and merry on the multiple jugs of sangria, pimms, and basil margaritas.

Then Mr. and Mrs. Urquhart entered, and applause spread across the room. The crypt echoed with the scraping of chairs as everyone got up for a standing ovation. The happy couple made their way to the head table, sitting in front of a bouquet of yellow daffodils. When they kissed, there was cheers and wolf whistles. Then Yvonne, Amelia's sister and maid-of-honour rose from her chair. The sound of her teaspoon dinging on her wineglass signalled everyone to silence for the ensuing speeches. After the speeches came the tossing of the bouquet, and to Emily's delight she caught the light bunch of pink and white peonies. She should hardly be surprised considering she elbowed all the other women out of the way.

All in all, today has been a success. Yes, as with all weddings there were a few hiccups the delivery man almost dropped the cake and the chicken skewer canapés came out ten minutes late but it all came together and Gabe and I managed to pull it all off. It doesn't matter where the wedding is, we make a fantastic team and I'm excited for what's around the corner. I could get used to planning destination weddings after all.

It's now the party end of the night, and the dance floor is blazing with all the guests grooving away to the contemporary pop music. Gabe and I have a quick boogie with the wedding party and I get to witness Kieran's stiff typewriter moves. While I move gently from side to side, Gabe is really in his element and on stage, his flamboyant personality and sensuality bursts through in the most fun way.?Somehow one song turns into five and I work up a sweat. At Amelia's insistence, I've consumed three glasses of champagne, and I am now feeling relaxed and happily tipsy.

"Thriller" by Michael Jackson blares through the speakers and the crowd goes wild. This is my cue to escape. I sneak my way out of the dance floor, grabbing a white wine spritzer at the bar before using the fire escape to get some fresh air.

The cool air feels so good on my skin and I walk up to the gazebo to drink my wine in peace and silence. The day is over! For the first time in a long time - even before coming here for this wedding - I can finally breathe easy. Most of my work is done now. The caterers and decorators will clean up the room when the reception is finished, and I've finalised all the payments and invoices for the services provided. That's everything.

Sitting on the stone bench inside the gazebo, I rest my head on the stone pillar behind me, thinking about what else needs to be done when I hear the footsteps of well-heeled shoes approaching the gazebo. I crouch my back inwards, trying to not be seen. I just want to be alone right now. However, my efforts are all in vain as the footsteps get closer, until they stop just in front of me.

"Buonasera, Lacey."

It's Matteo, the hunky Italian who has been a hell of a distraction since I've been here.

He's here, in front of me.

And it looks like he's here to stay.