Seven
The weeks rolledby and before we knew it, it was the day before the wedding. Mags was a wreck, as expected, and to add to all the normal stress, she and her mother weren’t talking, so I was trying to fill the void.
“Mags, I know, but I’m going to walk with you down the aisle and if she shows up she does and if she doesn’t, oh well.” Heading to Liz and Jim’s house for the rehearsal dinner with Mags angrily weaving in and out of traffic was making my stomach knot. “I’m going to puke if you don’t stop driving like this,” I snapped at her.
“Sorry.” She cooled off a bit and stopped riding the bumper of the Jetta in front of us. “I’m just so freaking over all of her drama.”
“Just stop playing into it. It’s all going to be fine and you know it. With or without her.”
With a deep breath, Mags threw her phone into my lap. “Will you check that?”
I read off the text from Elena, Mags’ mother.
Elena: Honey, I’m your mother. I should be the one to walk with you.
Mags rolled her eyes as she turned down her street. “I don’t know why she is still hung up on this crap. Last night she wasn’t even sure if she was going to feel comfortable at the wedding since I am so close to all of Randy’s family.”
“Do you want me to text her back?”
We pulled into the driveway and Mags took a deep breath. “I’ll deal with it later. We have to do this rehearsal before the sun sets.”
Liz, Jim, the guys, and the officiant for the ceremony were waiting for us in the backyard. The older woman, dressed in a dark blue pant suit, was no taller than Mags in her heels. Her bright pink blush glistened in the setting sunlight and her blue eyes sparkled.
“Hi, you must be the bride. I’m Barb. I am so thrilled to finally meet you in person.” They shook hands and Mags introduced me.
“It’s very nice to meet you.” I shook her tiny hand.
“Well, shall we get this started?” Barb looked to Jim and Liz. “Will we be doing it right about here?” Barb headed to the spot in the middle of the yard where the arch was going to be.
“Just about there. Mags and Cali will be walking in from our back doors, right there.” Liz explained the whole scheme of arranging the chairs in a half-moon shape to help all the guests see better, then showed everyone where the aisle runner would start and stop.
After Randy, Walker and Mitch took their places next to Barb, Mags and I got into position and right as we were about to start our pretend walk down the aisle, the front door of the house slammed shut. We whipped our heads around to see the fuming face of Elena come into view.
“Mom, what the hell?” Mags barked, spinning on her heels to gape at her mother.
Elena marched over to Mags and wrapped her arms around her. “You’re my daughter and no matter what, I want to be part of all of this stuff.”
Mags pushed away from her. “No! You don’t get to do this.”
“Do what?” It was obvious how much the innocence in Elena’s voice boiled Mags’ blood.
“Do this!” Mags twirled her finger at her mother. “You don’t get to be a bitch to me for months leading up to my wedding, not help with anything, and then think that it is ok to show up during the rehearsal and just miraculously be included in everything.”
Randy jogged over and put his hand on Mags’ shoulder. “Babe, this isn’t the time to do this.”
I felt like I was watching a train wreck in slow motion. Mags spun on her heels and glared at her soon-to-be husband, her chest slowly heaving in and out as she tried to take slow, even breaths. “You’re right. It’s never the time to stand up for myself. Am I supposed to just let her walk all over me for the rest of my life?”
“Randy, take Mags inside. Elena, why don’t we go in the kitchen for a minute?” Mags looked like she was about to cry as Randy pulled her through the back doors and the rest of the group joined them.
Elena followed me into the kitchen and before she could take a breath, I pounced. “You listen to me.” It felt odd to scold my best friend’s mother, but sometimes a maid of honor just has to do what she has to do. “You’re Mags’ mom and I will respect you because I have to, but so help me God, if you so much as sigh in a way that upsets her over the next twenty-four hours, I will kick you out of this house so fast you won’t know what hit you.”
My heart was pounding in my ears as I glared into Elena’s wide brown eyes. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, pulling at the hem of her blouse. “I never meant to cause a scene.”
I shook my head at her. “Yes you did. You knew what you were doing the moment you walked into this house today, but let’s put all of that behind us and make this an amazing time in Mags’ and Randy’s lives. They deserve this.” Taking a few deep breaths, I glared at Elena. “Ready to go back out there?”
She nodded and followed me back out to the yard where everyone was chatting about music and the vows.
“I think it’s wonderful that you have written your own vows.” Barb’s cheery face strained to keep its smile as we made our way over to the group. “I guess we can try this again.”