Jude’s P. O. V:
The next morning all of us woke up early since my parents were coming back. We all had a breakfast and were sitting ready by the time my parents were back. My mom had called ahead in advance to let us know that they would be coming early and had asked Sean and Wade to wait back, they wanted to talk to all of us.
“So did they say why they wanted Sean and I to wait back?” asked Wade.
“Nope, just that they had something important to tell us”
“Hmm” said Sean, “they don’t know about the whole Stephanie fiasco do they?”
“I doubt it”
“Well then we re just going to have to wait and watch don’t we?”
“Yup”
Natasha went to my room to search for some courses in Interior Designing while Wade made some official calls. Sean called his boyfriend up and was chit chatting with him while I wondered what did mom and dad wanted to talk to all of us about.
We didn’t have to wait long because after an hour or so they came.
“Hi! How did the deal go dad?”
“As good as it could have been!”
“That’s great”
“Where is Natasha?” asked my mom.
“She’s inside doing some research for her interiors course”
“Oh how is she feeling now?”
“Much better she has almost recovered” I said.
“Aha”
Mom went in to meet Natasha.
“SO dad what did you and mom want to talk to us about?”
“Well what do you think?”
‘Your wedding of course!” mom said returning with Natasha.
I looked in shock at Natasha and the other two idiots which in this case were my brothers, and who by the way were grinning like idiots. Natasha looked a little nervous.
“Ok what about it?” I asked.
“Jude! Its time you guys decided where and how you want to get married and more importantly when!”
“Its been over a month you guys have been engaged now!”
“Mom its just been a month, not a year!” I said exasperated.
“Jude! Enough, you said during your engagement either you will decide within a month!”
“We did decide!”
“Well that is great then” my father spoke clearly looking uncomfortable because he didn’t want to push me but didn’t dare go against my mother either.
“When?” asked mom.
“After a year”
“What? That is outrageous! Jude we have waited long enough for you to decide, it cant be after a year no way. I want to be a grandmom soon while people can still say I look too young to be a grandmom”
Natasha smiled and then looked at me, “Why not next month Jude?”
I looked at her in surprise I had been procrastinating for her, in case she decides to change her mind, I wanted her to feel free to do so.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes”
It was decided then we would be getting married exactly a month from now. Wade and Sean yelled like idiots till mom asked them to shut up.
We all sat down at the table as mom pulled out a notebook and pen and started jotting down a to do list.
While we were discussing the venue the doorbell rang and I answered it. It was Gary.
“Hey! You couldn’t have come at a better time!”
“You have forgotten me ever since you got engaged!”
“Sorry man just too much been happening”
“Yeah yeah”
“Come on in wedding preparations are in full swing!”
“What? When are you getting married?”
“in about a month!”
We entered the living room to find mom talking excitedly on the phone to my aunt.
Dad rolled his eyes and said, “She is spreading the joy and letting everyone know you decided to get married”
“Oh”
“Hi Gary! How have you been?”
“Hi Mr. Smith I have been well I see the wedding preparations are in full swing!”
“Yes, it starts” he said gravely and Gary and I laughed.
Gary hugged Wade and Sean and sat down with us.
Once mom decided that she was done informing everyone she joined us all back at the table.
“Oh hi Gary dear”
“Hi Mrs. Smith you are looking gorgeous as usual”
My mom blushed and shushed him.
“So lets begin, where do you want to get married?”
I looked at Natasha and she looked at me enquiringly, “at a beach” I said, knowing Natasha’s love for water.
“Oh that’s lovely!” exclaimed my mom.
Soon she and dad were deep in discussion about which beach we should pick and soon dad was making all the necessary calls.
I looked at Natasha and whispered, “Is that ok?”
“Its perfect!” she said.
“Well now the wedding dress”
“Oh” spoke Sean, “leave that to me, I shall take her shopping tomorrow I am think a Vera Wang gown…..” and he trailed off happily talking about gowns and designers.
“Well that’s taken care of” said my mom.
“Wedding cake?”
“Er I don’t know mom you decide” said Natasha and my mother beamed at her.
“Oh I know exactly what to get you! Its going to be perfect!”
“I am sure it will be perfect!”
Mom continued making the list caterers, decorators, flowers and then she came down to the rings.
“White gold or yellow gold?”
“White for me” I said.
Everyone looked expectantly at Natasha and she squirmed, “Um I am ok with anything”
“Sean be a darling and take Natasha to the jewelers as well when you go hunting for the dress so that she can decide what she wants.”
“Aye aye captain!” Sean mock saluted.
“SO now it comes down to two things”
We all looked at mom and she smiled brightly at me.
“Bridesmaids and best man!”
“Well I want Joanna to be my bride of honor” said Natasha “and Jude’s cousins if the want to be my bridesmaids”
“Oh honey they will be delighted!”
“Well that’s decided then, Jude who will your best man be?”
I looked up and gulped, I saw Wade, Sean and Gary all looking at me expectantly.
Damn if I knew who it was going to be!
“Err wow that is a tough one!”
No one smiled and everyone looked at me, Natasha bit her lip as she realized the predicament I was in. Gary was my best buddy, I mean he helped me out so much when Stephanie had left me! Wade and Sean had stood by me like strong pillars during this whole ordeal and when I told them about my plan with Natasha. All of them were my best men but I had to pick out one. It was frustrating!
“Ahem” I said clearing my throat, “well err”
“Do you have to decide now?” spoke up Natasha. I sighed in relief, “we could decide that later too”
“Yeah you’re right!”
We all had lunch quickly after that and mom and dad left soon. Mom told us that she wanted us to write our own vows. More joy for me I sucked at writing!
After they left all three boys turned to me.
“I will make a great best man you know” Said Wade not beating around the bush.
“ME too” said Gary, “I mean you will be my best man when I get married!”
“About that”
“Hey I have been your partner I crime always! I am your ideal best man” said Sean.
“Guys” said Natasha, “let him decide give him a day or two. Its not like we are getting married tomorrow!”
“Of course, of course!” they all said and backed off. I sighed in relief and sent a grateful look to Natasha and she smiled back.
Soon everyone left and I was finally alone with Natasha who looked better today.
“You seem to have recovered”
“Yes I feel good”
“That’s nice you need to be ok with the activity that I have on my mind right now”
I watched her smile falter and she looked at me nervously, “wh-what?”
“Help me decide who should be my best man!”
“Oh yeah about that sorry you’re on your own right now. Only you can decide”
“Oh come on!”
“Nope Jude sorry not helping, you know Gary is your best friend but I am partial to Wade and Sean. It wouldn’t be fair”
“Oh well do I just toss?”
“How?” asked Natasha laughing, “There are just two sides to a coin not three!”