The Accidental Florist

When they'd picked out sandwiches and chips, Katie asked, 'So what's the plan?'

'The rehearsal dinner here tonight. A civil wedding tomorrow morning. Just family. Then Addie's wedding at five the next day.'

'What do you mean by Addie's wedding'?' Katie asked. Jane explained.

'That's stupid. She's not the bride's mother,' Katie complained. 'She's Mel's mother.'

'As I've already pointed out to Mike, it saves me the money,' Jane said with a laugh.

'Wait until you guys see what Mom's doing to her house, speaking of spending money.'

Cecily asked, 'What are you doing, Jane?'

'Adding an office for Mel in back of the dining room,' Jane said.

'I think that's nice,' her father said.

'Thank you, Dad. Mike doesn't like it.'

'Yes, I do,' Mike objected. 'I just think you're spending too much money.'

'Mike, it's my money, and Mel is moving from an apartment where one bedroom was his office. He needs one at our house when he moves in.'

'We need to all take a rest and then dress for the rehearsal dinner,' Jane said. 'It's in this hotel somewhere. I'll go ask where and when.'

Jane was back in moments with printed instructions for finding the right place and time. She gave one copy to her mother and kept the other one.

They were all on time for the rehearsal dinner in the hotel. Addie had brought along her two daughters, Alice and Emily, and their husbands, who were also introduced. Mel was introduced last.

Jane then took her turn, 'My parents, Michael and Cecily Grant. My son Mike, my daughter, Katie, and my son Todd. And this wonderful gentleman is my honorary uncle, Jim Harding.'

The whole time Jane was speaking, and pointing out the family members, Addie had her eyes on Cecily with an expression that was a mix of envy and hostility.

My mother is prettier, nicer, and more sophisticated than you are, and you know it, Addie, Jane was thinking.

Addie finally tore her eyes away from Cecily and said, 'I have labels on the table by the door. Please put your names on them so anybody who didn't catch all of them will know you.'

Drinks were served with trays of appetizers, while the hot food was being brought in from the kitchen. The food was ordinary and rather sparse but tasty, despite coming from the hotel kitchen. There wasn't a vegetarian choice of meals. Addie apparently didn't care much about food — at least for this meal intended for family.

There was a choice of two desserts, both of which contained walnuts, which Jane herself hated, so she passed. There wasn't even a groom's cake.

Altogether it was boring food, and the only people who seemed to be enjoying themselves were Jane's own kids. Even Addie merely picked at her plate. Jane put her left arm on her lap and looked at her watch. An hour and a half wasted. Mel, sitting next to her, patted her right hand and whispered, 'It's almost over. Fifteen minutes and we'll be out of here.'

He proved to be right. He stood up and announced that he and Jane had enjoyed themselves and graciously thanked his mother for a nice dinner. He stood up and took Jane's hand to depart. Everyone else bolted out right behind them, except for Addie, who was actually tipping the employees.

Almost all the same people attended the civil ceremony the next morning, even though they weren't part of the wedding party. Jane had only invited Mel's mother, her parents and her kids, Uncle Jim, and Shelley. Addie had forced her daughters and their husbands to attend as well, which put the participants cheek to jowl in the small room. It only took fifteen minutes to say the vows, and sign the wedding certificate.

'Sorry, Janey,' Mel said when his own family had departed. 'I told her it was only for the people in the wedding and she dragged along another four people who aren't part of it.'

'Don't worry. It's over. And we're married. Do I have to give the wedding ring back so you give it to me again tomorrow?'

'Probably. I'll give mine back to you as well.'

On Saturday morning Jane persuaded Shelley to come with her to the hotel, just to check out anything that might go wrong.

'What could go wrong?' Shelley asked.

'With Addie involved, a lot of things could go bad.' Shelley shrugged. 'Okay. You might have a point.' They found Miss Tarlington, who was looking at Jane

rather oddly. 'We've already set the tables for dinner.

Would you like to come look? There are twenty tables for

ten. Mrs. Nowack was right. Only a hundred and forty?

nine of Mrs. VanDyne's guests are attending.'

They followed her. Shelley whispered to Jane, 'I think that she's worried.'

Jane nodded.

When the door to the dining area opened, both she and Shelley gasped.

'What on earth are those flowers on the tables?' 'They aren't what you ordered?' Miss Tarlington asked. The vases were tall and bright blue, with calla lilies

and ferns.

'No, they aren't. Where did these come from?' Jane asked. Miss Tarlington told Jane the name of the florist.

'That's not my florist. Mine is coming at two with low bowls of gardenias.'

'Thank goodness, Ms. Jeffry, I knew you had better sense and taste than this. Nobody could see over them to the people across the table.'

Shelley spoke up in a faint voice. 'So what do we do with them? Can the wrong florist come back and take them away?'

'I doubt it,' Miss Tarlington said.

'Please check,'Jane said. 'And if this florist won't pick them up, can you find someone on the staff to load them up and take them to the nursing home where my mother-in-law was? I don't have my address book with me, but I'll call it in as soon as I get home.'