Back on Blossom Street (Blossom Street #4)(76)

“Really?” Jordan shared a knowing look with Alix.

Alix felt vindicated; Jordan could now see for himself what had been happening all along.

“What is it?” Susan Turner demanded, glaring at them. “We have that meeting…”

Jordan returned his mother’s gaze. “Then this will be the perfect time to tell the caterers that the big, fancy wedding you two have arranged has been canceled.”

His mother’s jaw dropped and she leaped to her feet.

Jacqueline gasped. “You’re canceling the wedding?”

Jordan brought Alix’s hand up and tucked it in the crook of his elbow. “Not entirely. We—” He wasn’t allowed to complete his sentence.

“You can’t do this! Jordan, what are you thinking?” His mother could barely get the words out fast enough.

“Mother, if you’d allow me to finish.”

Jacqueline just sat there quietly. When she caught Alix’s eye, she winked. Alix wasn’t sure what that meant, but she had the distinct feeling Jacqueline understood more than she’d let on.

Jordan took advantage of the brief silence to say, “We’re still having a wedding. A different kind of wedding, that’s all.”

“Do you realize how much work, effort and money have already gone into the preparations for this event?” Susan shrieked.

“Yes, but—”

Jacqueline stopped her. “Susan, it’s only right to hear them out.”

“Mrs. Turner,” Alix said, speaking quickly in order to be heard. “I know this must be a shock.”

“A shock,” Susan repeated and sank down onto the sofa again. “Shock doesn’t begin to describe what I’m feeling right now.”

“I actually felt we’d gone too far,” Jacqueline said to the other woman.

“But—”

Jacqueline interrupted her again, nodding at Alix and Jordan. “Tell us what you’ve decided.”

“We want a small, private wedding,” Alix explained, forever grateful to her friend. “I’ve spoken with Grandma Turner and she—”

“The invitations have already been mailed,” Susan argued. “The wedding’s scheduled to take place right here in the downtown church. Our friends…” His mother paused and raked her fingers through her shoulder-length hair. “Oh, my goodness, we have friends driving all the way from California to attend our son’s wedding.”

“Then apparently you’re going to have houseguests for a while,” Jacqueline said. “We’ll go to the country club afterward.”

“But…but…” Susan sputtered.

“It’s Alix’s wedding, too,” Jordan told his mother. “She tried very hard to be the kind of bride you wanted, but unfortunately that isn’t going to happen.”

“This is the reason you disappeared, isn’t it?” Jacqueline asked.

Alix nodded.

Jordan brought her closer to his side. “Alix has been uncomfortable with this from the first and she did everything she could to let us know her feelings. But like you, I didn’t listen.”

“You can’t cancel,” his mother insisted. “Not at this late date. Everything’s been arranged!”

“Susan,” Jacqueline barked. “Get a grip here. This is their wedding.”

“I apologize that all of this is last-minute,” Jordan said.

“You want a small intimate wedding?” Jacqueline continued.

“Then that’s what you’ll have. The people who are owed an apology are the two of you. Susan and I need to apologize for taking over the way we did.”

Jordan’s mother was speechless.

“A small wedding is what Alix has always wanted,” Jacqueline pointed out to Susan. “We were the ones who let things get out of hand. Reese told me that the other night. When Alix disappeared, he said I’d run roughshod over her, and he was right.”

Alix bit her lip to hold back tears. How privileged she was to have these two wonderful friends.

“I’ve had more time to adjust to this since Alix left,” Jacqueline said kindly. “Susan, once you’ve had a chance to think about it, you’ll see this is the best thing all around.”

In her effort to build a positive relationship with her future mother-in-law, Alix had repeatedly given in to Susan’s demands. The hives had taught her a valuable lesson—denying her emotions didn’t mean they’d disappear.

“I’m so sorry for causing all these problems,” Alix whispered, feeling guilty about the expectations she’d thwarted.

“There’s no reason for you to apologize,” Jordan said, bringing her clenched hand to his lips and kissing her fingers. “You told us what you wanted and your wishes have been consistently ignored. That won’t happen again.”

“You’re actually calling off the big wedding and planning some little gathering by the lake?” Susan obviously remained incredulous.

Jordan nodded. “Yes, Mom.”

“But I told you—the invitations have been mailed. The country club’s been booked, the dinner ordered. Everything’s in motion. I don’t know if it can be stopped.”

“It can and it will,” Jordan said with complete confidence. “Alix and I are prepared to send out a second mailing.”