Um, I thought we were going over the guest list, but then again, I don’t think we planned a time for that.
“Yeah, sure, sounds fun. I’ll meet you there. Text me the info. Yup, see you then. Bye.” He hangs up the phone and sticks it in his pocket. “Sorry about that.”
“Seeing Birdy tonight?” I ask as I awkwardly adjust the large veil at my side.
“Seems like it,” he says and then turns to me with a smile. “Shall we blow The Beave over with your ceremony suggestion?”
“Sure,” I say, feeling weird that he changed the subject so quickly.
“And what would that suggestion be?” He holds up his finger in a jovial way. “Hold on, let me guess.” He taps his chin and says, “Uh, it has to be somewhere unique because that’s who you are, but also something quaint and old school.” He snaps his finger. “The old courthouse.”
“I would love that, but you know it can’t even fit one hundred people.”
“Good thing we’re paring down the guest list then.” He wiggles his brows.
“There’s no way she would go for that, and if I’m going to suggest something, I might as well suggest something that would make her think that she came up with it.”
“Okay, I’m listening,” he says as he folds his arms.
I tug on the veil, attempting to pull it off, but The Beave shouts, “You’re not done with that, Ophelia. I’m still processing how it will look.”
I roll my eyes at Breaker and then shove the clip back on my head. “Well, as much as I hate the club for obvious reasons, they have a beautiful garden out back that would be perfect for the ceremony. People could watch from the balcony of the club, from the lawn, or from chairs in front of the altar.”
He nods. “It’s not exactly you, but just you enough. Want me to suggest it?”
“I hate to say it would be better coming from you, but I think that’s the truth.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got this.” He puts his arm around me and guides me down the aisle toward The Beave. The whole time, my mind is racing about my glasses, about Breaker’s warm voice, telling me how much he loves them, about his date with Birdy, and this damn veil. It all makes me so nauseated. “Mrs. Beaver,” he calls out.
“Yes?” She turns her spindly-like body on us.
“You know, I was thinking, the reception will be at the club, right?” Breaker says so casually that if I didn’t know him, it might be disturbing to see how quickly he can turn on the charm.
“That’s correct,” she says, folding her hands together.
“Beautiful choice, by the way. I went there for a wedding a year or so ago, and it was breathtaking.” God, I hate when he gets like this, all proper. It’s not the man I know. But it’s his business persona, and it’s why he’s gotten where he has because he can charm like no other, just like JP. Huxley, on the other hand . . . well, he’s the hammer. Huxley has a tough time being charming. To him, things are black and white. There is no gray . . . well, besides Lottie.
“It is picturesque.” The Beave studies Breaker. I can sense her wanting to know where he’s going with this.
“And because it’s so picturesque, it makes me think, although this church is beautiful, it pales in comparison to what the club has to offer. I was just there the other day, having a meeting with Clinton Mars. Do you know him?”
Ha!
Of course The Beave knows Clinton Mars. Everyone does. He’s one of the wealthiest men in America. He created a little piece of hardware that goes in every phone, and he’s made so much money off it, he basically sneezes hundred-dollar bills now.
Leave it to Breaker to name-drop the right name to make The Beave weak in the knees. This is why he’s my best friend, my man of honor.
“Yes, of course. Clinton is a wonderfully sharp and intelligent man. I was lucky to meet him a few months ago,” The Beave says, her eyes sparkling.
“Well, we took a stroll through the gardens during our meeting, and he raved about how it was so beautiful and what a perfect setting it would be for a wedding. He was actually thinking about having his daughter get married there.”
“Really?” she says, her mind racing now. You know the phrase “Keeping up with the Joneses”？ Yeah, The Beave lives her life by that.
“Yup, and I thought . . . he was right. The gardens are breathtaking, beautifully landscaped with the ocean in the background, just spectacular.”