A June Wedding

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Naomi and Cameron were standing together on the porch. Scarlett knew Cameron was an extremely attractive man, but then she spotted the rock her sister wore. Wow! She was still stuck on the announcement that her sister was getting married too, and her family were all standing there as if they didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know what to say. Even Emmett, who was now leaning against the car, his arms crossed, an amused smile on his face, didn’t seem to know what to say.

“So, two weddings, and both in June. That’s going to make for a crazy month,” her dad said.

Her mom took a minute to pull it together before she lifted her hand as if she needed everyone to give her another second. “You’re telling me you both are getting married, and you both have decided to get married in June—which is like now, since this is June? How are we supposed to have a wedding put together that quickly?” Susan glanced over to Naomi, and Scarlett wasn’t sure what she saw in the exchange between her sister and Cameron.

“I’ll hire a planner to handle all the details since we’re planning on having it at my place, something smallish…” Cameron started, though Naomi looked up to him and gestured as if to increase the numbers a bit. “Not much to it. Naomi and I already talked about it and thought the thirtieth, the last Saturday of the month, right before summer…”

Scarlett found herself taking in Emmett, who only shrugged, as that was the exact date they’d talked about all the way to her parents’ place. It was only because of his son, Rhee. They had to plan the wedding for a time when he wouldn’t be busy with school or any of the other events that seemed to continually crop up in the young boy’s busy life. Scarlett could feel her heart sink, as any earlier or later dates had already been vetoed by Emmett because of several summer holidays and camps Rhee would be attending.

“June 30 is also the date Emmett and I picked,” Scarlett said. She had to pull in a breath at her irritation over the thought of anything coming between them and the wedding. Emmett just stared her down as if she was doing exactly what she shouldn’t.

“You know, Scarlett, we can postpone it a few weeks into July,” he said. She heard someone say something, but she couldn’t make it out, as she snapped her head back to him, knowing he’d have to call his son again and find out whether a new date would work. She already knew it would be a no-go from the way his kid had outlined his busy summer.

“We’re not postponing. We already decided on June 30,” she snapped, staring up at Naomi, who stared right back at her as if she wasn’t about to back down, not in the least.

“Well, don’t look at us,” Cameron said. “If I had it my way, we’d take off to Vegas this weekend and get married. Already suggested that to Naomi, but she said she has her heart set on a wedding, her family and friends being there, but I suppose we could move it up.”

Naomi was staring daggers her way and didn’t seem of the mind to give in.

“Suppose you got married together?” Robert said. Someone cleared their throat—Ivy, she thought, or maybe it was Mason, who was leaning against Justin. Both of them were looking from her to Naomi and waiting for one of them to say…what, exactly?

“You’re suggesting that I share my day with Naomi,” Scarlett said. She could feel the way her shoulders bunched and heard a very male throat clear behind her.

“You mean our day,” Emmett said. She darted her gaze back to him, taking in the mischief as he slid down his shades, lifting a brow. For a minute, she couldn’t speak, because she was totally flustered and knew that he knew he was pushing her buttons.

“Of course, our day,” she added, her hands on her hips.

“Oh, come on, Emmett,” Ivy said. “Seriously, you know a wedding is for the bride, not the groom. I can see how this happened. You figured you could rile up Scarlett a bit, but word to the wise, considering you’re planning on marrying her and want to be happy…just remember, it’s her day. Happy wife, happy life,” she finished, looking up to Chris, who was nodding with an amused smile.

Scarlett found herself staring at Naomi again, who, for the first time, she figured, had no intention of backing down. “Can I have a word with you?” she said, already heading straight for her and up the stairs. Her hand wrapped around Naomi’s arm, and she pulled as she yanked open the door.

“What are you doing?” Naomi hissed, swatting at her hand, but there was no way in hell she was letting go. She pulled her into the empty living room just as Ivy stepped inside, and Mason too. She crossed her arms and gave her other two sisters her back.

“You and I are going to have a talk about the date. June 30 is the date Emmett and I picked, and we can’t change it,” she stated, taking in the stubborn look she’d never seen on Naomi’s face before.

Naomi shook her head. “No, Scarlett. That’s the date Cameron and I picked. I’m not changing the date. You can pick a later one.” She too crossed her arms, and the sister who always gave in, the peacemaker, was suddenly gone.

How could Naomi not get that this wouldn’t work? “Look, I love that guy out there, but June 30 is the only day we can make work because of his son.” She kept her voice low, hearing voices through the screen door. Both Ivy and Mason stepped into her line of sight.

“What gives, Scarlett?” Mason said. “I thought his son was just a little kid.”

Scarlett found herself taking in the sister she’d once been so close to. Right now, she didn’t want to share a thing with her. “He is. Well, sort of. He’s ten, but…”

Rhee hated her, and she hadn’t missed the hints he often dropped about how he wanted his mother and Emmett back together. It hurt not to be wanted.

Her sisters were all waiting. “Okay,” Scarlett said. “His son doesn’t like me very much and would be happier to see us not get married. In fact, June 30 was the only date Emmet could get Rhee to agree to, considering he suddenly has a busier life than most adults. Any change in date could see the wedding not happening, because Emmett wants his son there. Do you understand now?” She was trying to keep her voice down so that Emmett wouldn’t pick up on all her insecurities. Her sisters were looking at her again, and for a minute she was sure Naomi was going to give in.

“I think Dad’s right,” Ivy said. “You should get married together, a double wedding. It would be less stress for everyone, for Mom and Dad, and less work. I think I would scream if I had to go through two different weddings a few weeks apart. After all, I still remember mine and Taz’s. So much fun, but a lot of work.”

“I agree, less stress, and then neither of you has to give up the date,” Mason said.

The screen door squeaked, and Susan stepped inside. “So what’s the verdict?”

“Well, I have no intention of changing the date or eloping,” Naomi said, taking them all in. Scarlett was seeing a backbone she hadn’t known her sister possessed, and any hope of having her day, her own day in the spotlight, alone, was disappearing. Why?

“So does that mean you’ve decided you’ll share the day?” Susan said, and Scarlett didn’t miss the amused smile on Mason’s face, the hopeful one on Ivy’s, or the daggers Naomi was glaring at her.

Naomi lifted her hands and then dropped them to her sides. “Evidently, we’ll be sharing the date. How it’s going to work, exactly, I haven’t a clue, but hear me on this, Scarlett: I will not have my wedding day upstaged by you.”