My Big Fat Fake Wedding(76)

The applause is huge, and even I’m shocked enough to clap as people rise to their feet for a standing ovation and Dad is passed the microphone. “Thank you, Delilah,” Dad says, his most professional smile on his face. “Honestly, I spent all night feeling the need to say thank you. This organization does such great work for our community, and I’m so proud to be a part of that.”

His eyes find mine in the crowd. “Can I let you in on a secret confession as well?” Delilah nods like a bobblehead, and I swear she leans forward far enough that she’s in danger of faceplanting. Dad takes Mom’s hand and she smiles. “I had an ulterior motive for wanting the microphone for a moment tonight. You see, my oldest child, my only son, recently got engaged, and their timeline didn’t allow for the usual engagement announcements, wedding showers, and whatnot. So . . . surprise, multi-purpose party! Seriously, though, we just wanted to brag for a moment.”

The applause sounds out again, smaller this time, but interested eyes turn to me and Violet before going back to Dad.

What is he doing? Why is he calling me out like this?

“We weren’t sure he was ever going to grow up,” Dad says lightly, and chuckles sprinkle through the garden. “But the power of a good woman is a miraculous thing. Welcome to the family, Violet. He’s your problem now.” Dad raises his glass with a big smile, and everyone cheers, thinking the toast is meant to be a silly roast between a loving father and son.

I don’t realize how hard I’m clenching Violet’s hand until she lays her other hand over mine and taps me. I let her hand go abruptly, and we pick up our glasses, saluting with fake smiles, and then drink. Violet takes a small sip. I toss the whole thing back in one go, even though it’s champagne.

“You okay?” she asks quietly.

“Yeah, just unexpected,” I say in the understatement of the century. “I’m not sure what his play is with that, but there’s a reason. There’s always a reason.”

Delilah takes the microphone back and raises her glass our way. “Congratulations, Ross and Violet.”

Looking back over the audience, she confides, “Kimberly spilled the beans to me about the upcoming nuptials and the quick timeline, and I felt called to help you two have the wedding day of your dreams. As many of you know, I’m the chairperson for the City Philharmonic, who have played so beautifully this evening.” She holds up a hand, gesturing to the group of strings players off to the side of the dining area, and everyone claps politely. “So I called in a favor or two, and my husband, John, and I would like to offer a wedding gift to the bride and groom. We’ve secured a strings ensemble to play at your wedding.” Delilah is so pleased with herself that she grins hugely, so big and open-mouthed that I can see her back teeth.

The crowd gasps, and I can sense Violet’s jerk of response.

What? Oh, shit, that’s so nice, but so overwhelmingly not needed. And what are we talking, here? Like a small quartet or the whole string section of the City Philharmonic?

But Delilah’s not done. “I also talked to my friends at KMBP.” She pauses dramatically to let everyone remember her days on the daily news. “And they offered a crew to do your videography. Personal, of course, not for the news.”

“Seriously? A news crew following us around all day?” Violet sounds as horrified as I feel.

But somehow, I stand and pull her up beside me, a fake smile plastered on my face because I’ve been trained my whole life for weird shit like this and know that mission one is to save face gracefully. I squeeze Violet’s hand until she smiles too. “My goodness, Delilah. That is so generous.” I want to refuse it. Fuck, how can I get out of this? One look at Dad tells me the bottom line on the situation and I straighten my spine. “Thank you so much. We’d be delighted to accept.”





Chapter 18





Violet—Sunday—6 Days Until the Wedding





“And in society news over the weekend, the normally mundane Community Freedom Gala was shaken up last night as, apparently, love was in the air in addition to charitable goodwill.”

The video then cuts to Ross and me dancing as the reporter does a voiceover.

“That’s right, ladies. Playboy bachelor, Ross Andrews, is apparently off the market. Aww.” Her sadness and smile are both as fake as her bottle-blonde hair. “He’s been snatched up by up and coming local interior designer, Violet Russo, according to Morgan Andrews, the father of the groom-to-be. It seems everyone was feeling the love, too. Check out the generous support Mr. Andrews, Lieutenant Governor John Border, and Mrs. Delilah Border gave at the evening’s festivities.”

The video cuts again to clips of Morgan’s donation to the Gala Fund, and the offer for the orchestra and camera crew, before cutting back to the anchor in the studio. “So with the nuptials less than a week away, many, many eyes will be watching to see if this Cinderella story really can have a happily ever after.”

I hit the Pause button on my laptop and close the clip. I’ve seen it before. It premiered on the Sunday Local Wrap-Up first thing this morning, and Ross’s Google alert had notified him that his name was in the press again, but it seems that the clip’s gone a little viral since someone dubbed I Had The Time Of My Life from Dirty Dancing over it.