Read Online Lovestruck Forever by Rachel Schurig - Free Book Online Page B

asked, pulling out her phone.
“Because Daddy already had me call the hall and get a list of
available dates. We have a tentative hold placed for a few weekends.”
    “Wait…what?”
    She
looked at me like I was slow. “The hall. Daddy put holds on a
few dates to make sure they’d be able to accommodate us when
you guys finally make up your mind about when to have the darn
thing.”
    My
palms were starting to feel damp. I rubbed them across the hem of my
dress, trying to keep my voice from shaking. “He booked the
hall?”
    She
shook her head. “He didn’t book it. He put a deposit down
with a hold for a few dates.”
    My
head was spinning. I couldn’t believe they had already gone
ahead and done this, without even talking to me. “What dates?”
    She
peered at her phone. “A Saturday in the fall—October, I
think. And one in January. Then the last weekend in May. We figured
that would cover us for every season.” She paused, apparently
noticing my expression. “Unless you wanted a summer wedding? We
didn’t think you would want to wait that long.”
    I
had no idea how to respond to any of this. I could feel Thomas’s
gaze on me, waiting for me to say something, to tell her that I
didn’t even know if we wanted to get married here. But I felt
too shocked, too overwhelmed by their interference.
    “Are
you okay?” my mother asked, apparently realizing that I was
less than happy about these developments. “If you don’t
want to have the reception at the hall, that’s your choice.”
She patted my knee under the table. “Daddy and I just wanted to
make sure you had your options.”
    I
shook my head, mutely. “I just…I don’t know, Mom.
I had no idea you guys were making plans already. Thomas and I—”
    “What’s
wrong with the hall?” Maria interrupted, her eyes narrowed.
“It’s the only place big enough for all of us that won’t
bankrupt Daddy. Besides, it’s in the family.”
    “There’s
nothing wrong with the hall, Maria—” I began, but she
plowed right ahead.
    “And
it’s close to the church.” Her eyes narrowed further.
“You are planning to get married at the church, aren’t
you?”
    I
heard Thomas take a deep breath beside me, about to come to my rescue
and respond for me. I placed a warning hand on his arm—I had
just caught sight of my mother’s expression, the way her entire
face fell at the mere idea that I might not get married in the church
my family had attended since long before I was born.
    “We
haven’t planned anything yet, Maria,” I said, conscious
of the edge in my voice. “We only got as far as picking a
season.”
    Her
face relaxed, as did my mother’s, and I immediately felt a
surge of guilt for not being honest. It would have been one thing to
have the conversation alone with my mom, but add in what I was sure
would be an outburst from Maria, and I just didn’t have the
nerve for it.
    “What
season?” Maria asked.
    I
swallowed, feeling cowardly. “We thought October.”
    My
mother sighed happily. “I knew you would want an autumn
ceremony. You always loved the colors in the fall.” Were those
tears in her eyes? “Oh, Lizzie, it will be such a beautiful
wedding.”
    “Mama—”
I reached out for her hand and she grabbed mine, laughing a little
shakily as she moved her other hand to her face to swipe at her eyes.
    “I’m
sorry, mija. I’m just so happy that I’m here to see this
day. After everything that happened…I’m just glad I’m
still here, that’s all.”
    I
felt tears in my own eyes, now. “Me, too, Mama.”
    “October
doesn’t give us much time,” Maria murmured, punching on
her phone keys. “We’ll have to get moving right away.”
    In
spite of the happiness in my mother’s face, my stomach
tightened. How had everything moved beyond my control so quickly? How
could I possibly tell my mom that I didn’t want to get married
here? I had no desire to be the cause of that disappointed expression
I’d seen a moment ago. And