Chapter 3: Wedding Planning

Ylana POV

People shuffled around outside the window in the restaurant Ylana sat in. The place was elegant with green carpet and white walls that looked like they were flecked with gold. The small size of the place, however, managed to make it feel cozy.

She wished she could be one of those people outside instead of herself. They got to just go about living normal lives. She doubted any of them had an arranged marriage.

Ylana sipped some more of her bottomless mimosa. She felt the rainy April wind as someone entered the restaurant. She looked up to see that the person whom she had been waiting for was walking her way.

Ginger and her huge brown bag sat down across from Ylana in the booth. She shook out her wet red hair, which was several shades lighter than Rowan’s.

“Excellent. You’ve already started drinking.” Ginger waved for a waiter to come over to the table.

The brunch had been Ginger’s idea. Ylana didn’t know how or when Ginger got her number, but Ginger refused to stop texting her until she agreed to meet for wedding planning.

The waiter handed Ginger her drink and then told them about the specials. Ginger ended up ordering two meals for herself. Ylana stuck with just one.

“You ready to get started?” Ginger asked Ylana with a little wiggle of her eyebrows.

Ylana snorted and went back to looking outside. She would never be ready. After all, she didn’t want the wedding. She had even debated running away but knew that would never work. Her father would easily find her.

Ylana heard Ginger sigh before saying, “You’re going to have to talk to me at some point. I know this isn’t an ideal situation, but this may be the only wedding you’ll ever have.”

Ylana finally met Ginger’s brown eyes. “I wasn’t aware the option of divorce existed.”

Ginger pursed her lips. “I have to admit I don’t know the details of the contract.”

“Shocker,” Ylana deadpanned.

Ginger chuckled and took a drink. “I believe that was an insult.”

Ylana chugged the rest of her own drink. “Let’s just get this over with.”

Ginger smiled. Clearly, it was difficult to darken her shine. She dug through the purse that sat next to her and pulled out a fat binder.

Ylana felt her eyes widen. “What in all that is holy is that?”

Ginger opened the binder and waved her hand over the contents. “The wedding binder. It has everything we need. Caterers, venues, dress shops, bands, and anything else you can think of that you need for a wedding.”

Ylana’s heart began to pound. “There’s really that much involved?”

Ginger looked concerned. “You’ve gone pale.”

Ylana tapped her fingers on the table. “Can’t you just do all the planning without me?”

“Well, that I simply refuse.” Ginger grinned.

Ylana sagged with defeat. “Why?”

Ginger’s face grew serious. “We’re going to be your family now. I want to get to know you and I want you to feel comfortable with us.”

“I don’t know if I’ll ever feel comfortable,” Ylana admitted while she stared at her empty champagne flute.

Ginger’s hand crossed the table and held Ylana’s. “Can we try?”

Ylana thought it over. She never let herself have a true friend before, she was too ashamed of what her father did for a living. Maybe Ginger could be her first friend.

Ylana had also noticed that the Garnets all appeared to like each other. None of their smiles looked forced and all their laughs sounded genuine. What was it like to live a life like that?

Ylana relented and managed a small smile. “I guess.”

Ginger probed Ylana with questions for the next hour. She wanted to know what kind of wedding gown Ylana would like, if there should be an open bar, what kind of dinner should be served, how big should the cake be, and where the whole thing should take place.

Ylana made a lot of snap decisions. She felt like strawberry shortcake would be cute. Filet mignon and crab cakes sounded good for dinner. There would most definitely be an open bar. She also liked the idea of red being the main color of the wedding. It just made sense in Ylana’s mind. She was going to be a Garnet, after all. What color could be better?

Ylana didn’t have answers for two things, however. She had never even thought about wedding dresses before, so she had no clue what she liked. It was the exact same deal with the venue. How could she know what she wanted if she didn’t really care?

Ginger, of course, had a plan for all that.

*****

The next few weeks were a whirlwind for Ylana.

Ginger took her on tours of about a million wedding venues. Ylana didn’t know so many existed, not that it mattered though. She hated all of them. They were all too grand and were places that could fill thousands of people.

Ylana did not want that many people at her wedding.

Ginger eventually started showing her smaller venues, but Ylana didn’t like any of those either.

Somehow there were even more wedding boutiques than there were venues, and Ginger made appointments for Ylana at all of them.

She put on so many dresses that they all blurred together.

She was ready to give up once they were in the last boutique on Ginger’s list.

Ylana stared at the ceiling. “It’s hopeless,” she whined.

Ginger got off of the pink couch the boutique kept in the dressing areas for the bride’s entourage. She put her hands on Ylana’s shoulders. “It’s not hopeless. We’ll find one.”

Ylana stepped off the tiny stage in front of the mirrors. She spun around to face Ginger. “There are no more dresses left in the city.”

“I’ll go take one more look,” the poor woman who was helping them said. She looked like she was about to cry as she scuttled away.

Ginger whistled as the woman disappeared. “I bet she’s going to quit once we leave.” She glared at Ylana. “Did you know that you’re extremely picky?”

Ylana shuffled back and forth. “I’ve never gotten to pick out something fancy myself. My dad’s stylists always did.”

Ginger looked taken aback. “That’s horrible!”

Ylana was surprised she felt relieved. “No one agreed with me about that before.”

“You’re so lucky to have me,” Ginger said with her hands on her hips.

The woman came back and announced, “This is the only dress you haven’t tried on.” She ushered Ylana behind the curtain.

Once she was shoved into the dress, Ylana stepped back out to have a look. She heard Ginger gasp and hoped it was a good thing.

Ylana didn’t have a positive outlook until she actually looked in the mirror. She watched as her mouth dropped open. The dress fit her snuggly until it flared out at the knees. The flared part was tulle with some crystals that made it look like it sparkled. It had a sweetheart neckline, and the fitted part had a floral lace design.

It seemed like the dress was made specifically for Ylana.

Ylana turned to look at the back of the dress. Buttons went all the way down to the flare. And, oh boy, did her butt look amazing.

Ginger had a hand over her mouth. “I think I’m going to cry.”

Joy sparked in the eyes of the woman who put Ylana in the dress. “Is this the one?”

Ylana nodded. She felt a lump in her throat. “Yes. Yes, it is.”

*****

A few weeks after finding her dress, Ylana was brought to the Garnet estate. They had sent over a car for her, and she allowed Indigo to come with her because he claimed he was bored.

Ylana was jealous that Ginger got to grow up in such a place. There was so much space on the property - it had to be several acres. She could even see what looked like a forest in the distance.

Ylana especially loved the ivy that inched up the stone mansion. It made the house look whimsical and welcoming.

Overall, it looked like a fairytale.

“This is so cool,” Indigo said. His head was sticking out of the window.

Ginger stood outside the oak double front doors. She waved at them with a smile that had all of her teeth showing.

As Ylana got out of the car, she saw Rowan looking down at her from one of the windows on an upper floor. She gave him a tiny wave. He blushed and left the window.

Ylana thought he was so weird. Whenever she was with Ginger, the woman acted like Rowan was going to die because he hadn’t spent any time with her. Yet Rowan never made an effort to see Ylana.

She even tried to be the bigger person for once and suggested she go to dinner with Rowan and Ginger. He always claimed he was too busy.

Ginger was ruffling Indigo’s brown hair. “Have you gotten taller?”

“Probably.” Indigo bristled with pride. Ylana didn’t fail to notice that he tried to make his voice sound deeper too.

Amused by the two of them, Ylana asked, “Why did you invite us here anyway?”

Ginger gestured into the house. “I have solved our venue problem.”

“Oh?” Ylana looked around as she and Indigo followed Ginger through the house. The wallpaper was red with a cute rose design while the hardwood floor was dark.

She wished she could stop when they passed a large room that looked like a library. She noted several comfy-looking couches in the room.

“Stop dawdling,” Ginger called. Ylana had fallen several feet behind.

She sped up.

Ylana watched as Ginger slid open some wooden doors with trees carved into them. She gasped when she saw what they revealed. It was a ballroom. The floor was a mosaic of red, green, and cream. All the walls were mirrored. The ceiling was domed and painted like a clear night sky including stars and a full moon. A small stage was at the back of the room.

“Can I live with you when you move in here, Ylana?” Indigo asked. His voice was filled with awe.

Ginger clapped her hands together. “We’re going to have your wedding here! This will be the reception area, and I was thinking we could create a space outside for the ceremony and cocktail hour.”

Ylana couldn’t speak. It was too perfect.

Ginger eventually shook Ylana a little bit. “Do you like it?”

Ylana smiled big. “I love it.”