How to Bake the Perfect Wedding Cake (21 page)

He exits through the front door and I have to face the reality of what’s in front of me. Brianna.

Shiat
…this is about the matron of honor business. I know it. Why did I wait till now? I’m a horrible friend. I want to crawl into a hole never to be seen or heard from again.

“Yes we do…I’m sorry.”

Brianna raises a hand at me to stop. “Don’t be. Listen, Megan and I have been talking. I know you asked her to be your matron of honor and I’m okay. I only care about you and being in your life. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about this house.”

I can’t even believe what I’m hearing. “You already know?”

“Yes, sweetie, I meant to bring it up earlier but good grief, Lauren, you’ve had a lot on your plate… I don’t know how you do it all. Wait, I take that back. It’s because you are the most competent person I know.”

Tears fill my eyes and I rush to hug her. “You have no idea what that means to hear you say those words.” I sob. I’ve got to get it together.

“Hey, you are. I can only hope to have my shit together the way you do. Now enough with the tears. I didn’t wear waterless today and we are going to need some serious selfies, okay!”

We both laugh and the doorbell sounds again.

I open it and see my gorgeous movie-star-looking sister. Tears begin to fall again. She reaches in and hugs me. “Hey, this is a party not a cry fest.”

I laugh.

“Hey, Brianna, love that dress.”

“Thank you, love, but it’s nothing compared to something else, right? I think we need to show Lauren our dresses, yes?”

I crinkle my eyebrows.

“Yes, let’s.”

Brianna grabs Megan’s hand and they take off down the hallway to change into whatever it is they are talking about. I’m so lucky to have such a sweet friend and sister. I can’t even believe it. I slouch down on the couch and hear a beeping sound. Shoot, my cakes. I dash towards the kitchen. I hope they aren’t burned. I peer into the oven. They are a nice shade of golden brown. I sing softly to them and imagine that in years to come I’ll be baking birthday cakes for our little baby.

I put the cakes on the counter and turn around to see Brianna and Megan in coordinating coral-colored dresses. With Brianna’s black hair and Megan’s blonde mane, I’m not sure they could have found a more flattering color.

I clutch my heart. “Y’all look amazing. I only wish I could have helped plan it with you.”

“You should see the bouquets. They are a golden mix of yellows and ruby oranges.”

“To match the Braeburn apples?” From our orchard and the apple pie.

“Bingo. I told you she would get it.” Brianna gives Megan a light shove.

We all laugh. “It couldn’t be any more perfect.” I reach over and hug and kiss them both.

I’m so touched…my best friend, my dear sister…no harsh feelings, everything seems so right except for one thing. One person who can’t be here.

Chapter Sixteen

My cake is frosted and ready to go. Jack and I decided that after we said I do and before the reception that we would have a prior moment in the kitchen to put the final touches on our cakes and layer them together as a married couple. The idea makes me swoon. But I can’t cause any makeup issues. Brianna and Megan will be coming in at any moment to help me with my dress and makeup and I don’t want to be scolded for crying. I promised them both that I would try and hold it together until after we said I do.
I do.
I’ll be saying I do soon to Jack…
Jack
. Wow…I can hardly believe it. We’ve known each other for less than a year and now we are about to be married. So much has happened without even mentioning the big part, the huge part, the part of me that is going to be pulling at my wedding dress a bit. This baby has decided that I need to eat more and I can’t seem to stop stuffing my face. It’s really quite embarrassing.

A knock sounds on my door. I’m sure if it was Brianna she would just barge in.

“Lauren, it’s me.”

Jack.

Oh God, please don’t tell me he’s had a change of heart? I was right to think it was all too good to be true. Here he is: going to leave me on my wedding day. Well I suppose the silver lining is it’s not at the altar
. What?
Snap out of it, Lauren.

“Yes?” I try not to let my voice crack.

“I have a surprise for you.”

“A surprise, the last surprise you said—”

“I know…I’m sorry…I know I promised you that I wouldn’t make decisions that you should be a part of. This surprise is different. Will you please open the door?”

“You can’t see me before the ceremony…bad luck and all that business.”

Jack laughs. “I promise to close my eyes. Just open the door and I’ll give you the surprise.”

“I don’t know… Can it wait till after the ceremony?”

“No it can’t. Now, darling, open the door.”

Tears fill my eyes… That voice can only belong to one person in this huge amazing world. My grandmother. My sweet dear grandmother. I pull open the door and she is sitting in front of my bedroom door in a wheelchair. I kneel down in front of her and hug her as tight as I can without crushing her frail bones and smashing my sweet baby.

“Grandmother…oh my goodness…I can’t believe you’re here. I thought you couldn’t travel?”

“Darling, your soon-to-be-husband made it possible and besides how could I not see the work of my labor pay off?” We both laugh and I kiss her head. I’ve never seen her in a hospital bed or chair…she has always been so strong…and here in this moment despite being hindered by a handicap she is stronger than I’ve ever seen her before.

“I’m so glad you’re here.” I hug her again.

“Me too, darling, me too.”

Megan and Brianna walk in and each give my grandmother a hug.

Megan pulls out a pencil from her hair. “All right, no more crying. Get it out. It’s time for makeup, hairdos, and the dress. I can’t wait to see you in it.”

Brianna squeals and they both get to work—and it is work as I need a lot of help to make me a gorgeous bride. I feel like a cross between Miss Piggy and Ursula from
The Little Mermaid
…okay maybe that’s a bit of a stretch. But either way I need some assistance.

A knock sounds at the door and it’s my mom. Another person I haven’t told why we are having the wedding here rather than the pecan farm she was arranging for us.

As if on cue everyone clears the room.

“Mom, I’m sorry we couldn’t get married in Texas.”

“Hush, now don’t you cry or Megan will be after me all day. I know you made her promise but she told me. How are you doing? How is the baby?”

I begin to tear up.

“Don’t you dare or I’ll be forced to sing from Madonna’s 80s albums.”

I laugh. “Okay, so far so good. I haven’t had any more bleeding despite my incompetent cervix.”

“Oh, darling, why can’t they come up with better names for things? As if it isn’t tough enough being pregnant.”

We both laugh and she digs in her pocket.

“This is the bonnet you wore on your head for our first family photo. I thought it could be your something old and maybe something new for the baby.” My eyes begin to water again.

She cocks her head to the right. My mother starts doing twirls around the room, singing at the top of her lungs and I can’t help but laugh. Even in her toned-down dress of bright blue with glitter she is a shining star in her own light, always, and I love her for that.

A knock at the door breaks up my mother’s singing.

Brianna walks in with a box. “Something new has arrived.” Her dark hair swishes over her shoulders as she hands me the box with the blue ribbon.

I raise an eyebrow and she nods at me.

I open the box and it’s a silver charm bracelet with one charm on it. A wedding dress.

“I thought I could add a charm each year for you. This one obviously is for your wedding dress. I had so much fun helping you find the perfect dress. I love you.” Brianna squeezes me into a tight hug and the tears begin to fall.

My mom is jumping up and down as she belts out Cyndi Lauper’s
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
and of course my tears begin to dry as the laugher fills the room.

Megan walks in. “I’m glad you took my advice to heart.” Megan nods at my mom and offers me a small box.

I’m not sure if I can hold back all of these tears and emotions. It’s all so overwhelming to be marrying the love of your life and to be surrounded by so many people who care so much about you. I’m on a cloud dancing off into a world of how can I be this lucky?

I open the box and inside is a beautiful hair clip made out of little blue stones with a veil attached.

“I know your wedding dress shopping ended without a veil. This is your veil and your something blue.”

“It’s beautiful, thank you.” My sister the number one planner. I can’t believe I didn’t think to buy a veil. I’m the biggest wedding planner failure. I shake my head. No…I’m not. I did plan one thing right. These people, my friends, my family—they are here for me—and Jack. I glance at my phone.

“It’s time.”

And there it is…Canon in D…such a sweet piece of music… My father tips my chin.

“Listen, bird, your mother and I couldn’t be prouder of you. You’ve made a great success in your life and being here today to walk my littlest down the aisle…” He swipes under his eyes. “I’m just so happy for you, Lauren. Jack’s a good man.”

My own eyes tear up. “Thank you, Dad.”

“Just a minute. Just so you know, if I wasn’t walking you down the aisle then Jack and I would be having words.”

I gulp. My dad knows I’m pregnant.

“Don’t be worried. You’re going to make a great mother. You had the best one to learn from.” He kisses my cheek and then places the veil back over my head. Our arms are linked and we walk down the makeshift aisle in our backyard. Planked on each side of the aisle are our friends and family. Aurora has Clay in her lap and he’s dressed in a little tuxedo. Aww, my goodness he couldn’t be cuter. My mother is next to Aurora with Terra in her arms, who is wearing a coral ballerina outfit. Next to my mother is my grandmother. Someone has turned her chair so that she can watch me walk up the aisle. To think that less than a year ago she arranged for Jack and me to meet. To bake a pecan pie together. I was so frazzled that day and now here I am floating up to the altar to join for life to such an amazing man. I take in a deep breath. We’re getting married at our home, which is a beautiful piece of property. Jack planned this and it couldn’t be any more special.

To the right is a row of pecan trees and to the left an orchard of apple trees.
Braeburn apple
trees. My eyes are filling with liquid happiness. I blink off the tears. I don’t want to be a sobbing mess. I glance to the left side of the aisle and I see Jack’s Aunt Minnie. I gasp. She’s got her cat George in her lap and he’s wearing a bowtie, no less. If that cat tries to claw at my feet or anything else… I swallow.
Be calm, Lauren.
We stride up the walkway to the lovely sounds. Jack must have hired an orchestra… He literally thinks of everything. The rings. We never picked them out. Oh
shiat
. He winks at me. He knows what I’m thinking. Am I a complete space cadet?

He shakes his head at me as if to answer my question and nods to the left of him. Winter, my niece, is dressed in a plush coral dress that is similar to Megan’s and Brianna’s gowns. I glance at them. They both have large grins on their faces. They must have had a dress ordered for Winter. She looks like a little princess. To the left alongside of Jack is Brian, Megan’s husband, and Luke, my brother, and in front of them is my nephew River. He’s holding a little pillow that is holding two rings. I take in a deep breath.

The officiant is a warm woman who we actually met with together during a lunch date. At least I was part of that. She speaks about love and all I can do is gaze at Jack. His sparking blue eyes with their flecks of green. Will our baby have his eyes? If they should be so lucky. I’m lost in a world of Jack’s love and it’s time for me to say the two words that I hadn’t even thought about less than a year ago. Here I am in front of all of my family, including my dear sweet grandmother. Who knows how but Jack made it possible for her to be here.

“Do you, Lauren, take Jack to have and to hold in sickness and in health till death do you part?”

“I do.”

“I happily pronounce you husband and wife. Jack, you may now kiss your bride.”

He lifts my veil and our lips meet as if for the first time—and it is the first time. We are now kissing as a married couple. We’re married. Jack and I are married. Eleven months ago if anyone asked me if I would be married in less than a year, I would have laughed at the idea. But this is no laughing matter. I’m married to the kindest, funniest, most wonderful man who has ever crossed my path and I don’t want to cross any other paths without him at my side.
For life.

We turn to make our way down the aisle. The crowd is cheering, the orchestra is playing, and my heart is singing. The music stops and I glance up at Jack and his eyes sparkle back at me. I search the crowd for my mom. She appears at the end of the aisle. She’s wearing a bright red cape with yellow glitter and the music from a sound system begins to play. It’s a tune I’d recognize anywhere.
Something
by the Beatles. My mom is swaying at the end of the aisle to the lyrics and behind her out pop Winter and River. They too have on red capes with yellow glitter and are each holding a sparkling red heart. As the word “smile” is sung they all flash big grins and with each “love grow” Winter and River pretend to be flowers growing up from the ground. The song finishes and everyone is clapping. My mom and the kids move to the side and we proceed down the aisle. Red and yellow flower petals are being tossed in our direction as we move further along the aisle. We rush into the house and Jack wraps me into his arms.

“I love you, Lauren. I promise to make all of your days filled with the most delicious treats and I don’t mean just the cake that I made for you.” He lets out a laugh and I meet his lips with my own. We kiss with an intense force of love and promises and hope and desire. Soon we will be three and I look forward to what that will mean for us as a couple, as a family. I swallow hard.