A Time for Hope (Lexi, #3)(49)
“I can’t just ask to use Hannah and James’ backyard! And just because we get married in a tent doesn’t mean it’s not going to be a Carni-wedding. Have a little faith, or are you not up to the challenge?” At what point is a favour pushing the boundaries of a friendship? I would say asking to use their backyard for the spontaneous birthday/wedding I was planning would be well and truly over the line.
“Honey with the right theming we could make the subway look appealing. You wanna Ringling Bros this thing, I’m onboard and I still think you should absolutely ask Hannah and James. I’m sure they would love to do it.” Taylah insisted, tossing me my iPhone that had been innocently lying by my side.
“Fine, I’ll ask but if I get the vibe she isn’t a hundred percent cool with this we go scouting for another location.” Well if this wasn’t the day for putting my ass on the line and asking for shit I had no business asking for. I was serious though; the slightest hesitation or elongated pause and the topic would be shut down.
“Just pour me some more wine while you make the call,” Taylah tilted her empty glass in my direction.
After debating whether or not to make the call at that exact moment or whether to wait a few days (and draining the last of the bottle of wine into Taylah’s glass) I bit the bullet and dialed. I only had myself to blame for the hideous deadline. Sydney had even tried to talk me out of it, but noooooo I had to run with my ingenious idea. I mentally chastised myself for being such an idiot as I waited for Hannah to answer. What the f*ck was I even going to wear to this thing?
Hannah finally answered and after the initial pleasantries (and making sure Alex was not in earshot—thankfully he and the rest of Power Station were safely tucked away in the studio) I decided my lack of wiggle room (tight deadline looming) dictated I tender my request.
“So… Hannah, you know it’s Alex’s birthday next…” I segued from the current topic of conversation.
“Yes, of course. Are you planning something? Did you need help?” Hannah asked excitedly. Her ready offer was not surprising; she was usually so generous with her time especially for the people that she loved.
“Well yeah, I’m planning something.” Something was probably an apt way to describe it. “I kind of do need your help but it’s more in the way of a venue. Our apartment just won’t cut it and I was looking to still keep it personal.”
“You want to have it here?” Hannah offered without so much as a second thought, “We have plenty of room! We’d love to host Alex’s birthday. It sure wouldn’t be the first.” Hannah giggled, reminding me that while this was the first birthday celebration I was sharing with my husband, the Bowdens were Stone birthday veterans.
“I just need the use of you backyard actually and I’m taking care of everything. You and James won’t have to worry about a thing.” I wanted to assure Hannah that providing the venue didn’t mean she would be responsible for organizing the event.
“Of course you can use the backyard but what if it rains?” Just as Taylah had, Hannah was concerned about the fate of rain soaked partygoers. Fall in New York being unpredictable and all.
“I’m going to organise a tent so we’re not at the mercy of inclement weather. You see it’s a little bit more than just a birthday party.” I could only avoid telling Hannah for so long. If “I’m going to put a tent in your backyard” wasn’t a tip off, the steady stream of delivery vans sprouting floral arrangements surely would be.
“It’s a wedding. Ours to be exact but I want it to be a surprise for Alex so please don’t say anything.”
I pulled the phone away from my ear as Hannah squealed in delight, “Lexi! That’s fantastic! A Wedding! Yes! Oh my god, how exciting! I get to see it this time!” The words rushed out of her mouth in an excited jumble. “That’s such a brilliant idea, Alex is going to flip out. Are you going to wear a wedding dress? Who is going to marry you?”
“Relax Han, it’s early stages. I thought it was best to secure a location before moving on to other details but I’ll keep you in the loop,” I promised, knowing that now Hannah had been briefed she was going to need to be fed a steady stream of information to be appeased. No one loved a happily ever after more than Hannah.
“Ok, Ok, Ok.” Hannah enthusiastically agreed. “Venue is secured so get planning. Crap! I heard the back door. I better go.” Her voice lowered to a whisper.
“No probs Han, we’ll talk later. Thank you for doing this, you really have saved me a lot of heartache. Bye.” I was slightly uncomfortable with the growing list of people who I now owed. Not that Hannah would be keeping score, she genuinely enjoyed helping others, it was my own f*cked up psyche that required reciprocation.
“Any time and it’s my pleasure. Bye.” Her enthusiasm was not diminished despite the conversation coming to a close.
I smiled as I ended the call, happy that I could at least tick one thing off my very long to do list. Of course Taylah gloated that she had been right and knew Hannah would offer her house as a venue. I allowed her the victory, too pleased that my plan was actually going to come to fruition.
“Hey Lexi,” Dave carried in another chilled bottle of wine at Taylah’s beckoning. He had been busy slaving away on his laptop, finalising the postproduction of some happening new band. “Where’s Alex?” He looked around curiously, noticing I was sans my rock star husband.