election, though. . .” Her words drifted off and an uncomfortable silence rose up between us. “I hate to even say those words because he’s so determined, so convinced he’s going to be the next president of the United States.” Another paused. “Which would make me the first lady. And what kind of first lady would I be if I don’t even take the time to design my own wedding cake? How can I take on the problems of the country if I let someone else pick out the china for my wedding reception?”
“You’d be like every other first lady in the history of first ladies. Do you really think they have the time to deal with the finer details? Of course not. They have people for that. Just relax, Victoria, and let me be your people. It’s what I do. It’s what I love to do.”
“You don’t mind?” She sniffled.
“Not at all.”
I somehow managed to get her calmed down, and before long we were enmeshed in a conversation about the upcoming ceremony. I promised to send her pictures of china patterns, along with the sketches Scarlet had sent over. Then we turned our attention to the flowers.
“My good friend Cassia runs the flower shop here,” I explained. “She’s the best. I’ve told her to order two thousand flowers in various shades of pink, lavender and ivory. She was beside herself. I’ve never seen her this excited.” A pause followed. “You know, I really have to thank you, Victoria. My vendors have never done a ceremony this big before. Your wedding is bringing some much-needed income to the island. So, instead of apologizing, you need to know how grateful we are. When all is said and done, we’ll have the honor of saying we hosted the wedding of the century for the man and woman who could potentially be the president and first lady of the United States.”
“Right.” She paused. “Potentially.”
Just one little word. But I had a feeling that word was the driving force in Victoria Felicity Brierley’s life right now.
“If I could just see into the future, I think I’d be a lot calmer.” She sighed. “You know?”
“I know there have been a lot of times in my life when I wished I knew what was coming. But, in retrospect, I’m kind of glad I didn’t know. I mean, what if things don’t turn out the way you want? What if he doesn’t win? Won’t you be glad you didn’t see that coming?”
There. I’d said the words aloud.
“Beau-Beau would be devastated.” Victoria’s voice grew faint again.
“And you?”
“I. . .I. . .” She paused and then said, “Sorry, Bella. Have to go. They’re telling me it’s almost time. Wish him luck, okay?”
“I’ll pray for him, Victoria. Praying for God’s best.”
“Thanks, Bella. We appreciate it.”
I knew she meant those last words, and I also knew that praying for God’s best might result in a different outcome than she hoped for.
Then again, from the tone of her voice, maybe Victoria Felicity Brierley wasn’t really sure what to hope for. One had to wonder, anyway.
CHAPTER EIGHT
I Can’t Stop Loving You
When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President; I'm beginning to believe it.
Clarence Darrow
On the morning of February 1 st Uncle Laz placed a large sign in the front yard of the Rossi home that read Lazarro Rossi for President . According to my brother Nick he also hung two large posters in Parma Johns with similar wording, which had created quite a buzz among the customers. I couldn’t help but wonder what prompted my uncle to make a spectacle of our family like this, but what could I do to stop him? And I shuddered every time I thought about how Earline would react, once she found out. No doubt she would take him to task. Or question his sanity. The rest of us were already doing that.
I gave the sign in the yard a closer look as I pulled into the driveway of Club Wed next door. Looked like he’d used a pizza box to make it. Not the most professional
“You’d be like every other first lady in the history of first ladies. Do you really think they have the time to deal with the finer details? Of course not. They have people for that. Just relax, Victoria, and let me be your people. It’s what I do. It’s what I love to do.”
“You don’t mind?” She sniffled.
“Not at all.”
I somehow managed to get her calmed down, and before long we were enmeshed in a conversation about the upcoming ceremony. I promised to send her pictures of china patterns, along with the sketches Scarlet had sent over. Then we turned our attention to the flowers.
“My good friend Cassia runs the flower shop here,” I explained. “She’s the best. I’ve told her to order two thousand flowers in various shades of pink, lavender and ivory. She was beside herself. I’ve never seen her this excited.” A pause followed. “You know, I really have to thank you, Victoria. My vendors have never done a ceremony this big before. Your wedding is bringing some much-needed income to the island. So, instead of apologizing, you need to know how grateful we are. When all is said and done, we’ll have the honor of saying we hosted the wedding of the century for the man and woman who could potentially be the president and first lady of the United States.”
“Right.” She paused. “Potentially.”
Just one little word. But I had a feeling that word was the driving force in Victoria Felicity Brierley’s life right now.
“If I could just see into the future, I think I’d be a lot calmer.” She sighed. “You know?”
“I know there have been a lot of times in my life when I wished I knew what was coming. But, in retrospect, I’m kind of glad I didn’t know. I mean, what if things don’t turn out the way you want? What if he doesn’t win? Won’t you be glad you didn’t see that coming?”
There. I’d said the words aloud.
“Beau-Beau would be devastated.” Victoria’s voice grew faint again.
“And you?”
“I. . .I. . .” She paused and then said, “Sorry, Bella. Have to go. They’re telling me it’s almost time. Wish him luck, okay?”
“I’ll pray for him, Victoria. Praying for God’s best.”
“Thanks, Bella. We appreciate it.”
I knew she meant those last words, and I also knew that praying for God’s best might result in a different outcome than she hoped for.
Then again, from the tone of her voice, maybe Victoria Felicity Brierley wasn’t really sure what to hope for. One had to wonder, anyway.
CHAPTER EIGHT
I Can’t Stop Loving You
When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President; I'm beginning to believe it.
Clarence Darrow
On the morning of February 1 st Uncle Laz placed a large sign in the front yard of the Rossi home that read Lazarro Rossi for President . According to my brother Nick he also hung two large posters in Parma Johns with similar wording, which had created quite a buzz among the customers. I couldn’t help but wonder what prompted my uncle to make a spectacle of our family like this, but what could I do to stop him? And I shuddered every time I thought about how Earline would react, once she found out. No doubt she would take him to task. Or question his sanity. The rest of us were already doing that.
I gave the sign in the yard a closer look as I pulled into the driveway of Club Wed next door. Looked like he’d used a pizza box to make it. Not the most professional
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