My light-hearted existence lasted just a day. On Tuesday morning, Madison called me.
“Tell me about the bachelorette party.”
“The bachelorette party?” I asked buying time. I had nothing.
“Yes. You are the maid of honor. I assumed you did your job and organized something fabulous for my little sister.”
I looked down, scanning the surface of my desk as if a list of super-hot and fun ideas for a bachelorette party would appear. I wanted to tell Madison that Clem had never even used the word fabulous, let alone wanted something that could be qualified like that. Instead, I started to justify myself.
“I was preoccupied with other things.”
Mostly remembering how your brother’s mouth felt on mine a week ago.
“I expected more of you,” Madison said and sounded like her mother.
I didn’t know how she decided what she could expect from me. We hadn’t socialized a lot over the years. She didn’t pay me any attention when Clem and I were little and after she left California, I had seen her only a handful of times. But I guess I could see her point on that one. I wanted to say something other than admitting she was right, but nothing came to mind.
“I’ll talk with Clem,” I said. “See how she feels. I will take care of the party.”
“Tell her we will go to California for the party.”
A sudden headache appeared. Like a hammer banged at my temple. That was the effect of Madison Hartley.
“Like I said, I will talk with Clem. If she wants a party in California, we will have it in California.” And because I didn’t want to sound like I was against the idea, I added. “We could do it a day or two before the wedding.”
“No. Next weekend.”
“Madison, I just got back to work. I’m sure you are busy too.”
“If we do it next Saturday, you will be gone on the weekend and your boss doesn’t even have to know. If you wait until the wedding, we will all have to go there on a weekday for the party. Think about that.”
I didn’t like the way she talked to me. It was obvious she wanted something. If it was someone else, I would ask. But it was Madison and there was no negotiating with her. You either comply or become an enemy. I didn’t mind being the enemy, but I didn’t want to burden Clem with petty fights with her sister. So I bit my tongue.
“I see your point,” I said. “What about the guys? Where are they having the bachelor party?”
“I couldn’t care less. I have bigger problems than their stupid party.”
Her voice trembled. She was frantic. But she was also a bitch and I had had enough of the Hartley’s signature bullshit behavior these past few weeks. So instead of asking if she needed anything, I simply said.
“Okay, I will ask Chase.”
The last thing I wanted was to talk to that individual, but I didn’t have much choice in the matter. He was the best man.
“That’s the other thing,” Madison said. “Chase won’t be coming to the wedding.”
“What? Why?”
“I don’t know. Something about football. I wasn’t listening.”
“Oh my God, this wedding is going to be a disaster.” I was the one sounding hysterical now, but I couldn’t help it.
“No, it’s not,” Madison yelled at me. I had never before heard her voice so high pitched. “Everything is under control.”
“Under control?” I tried to keep my voice steady, but I failed. “You’re calling me on a Tuesday to organize a bachelorette party for next Saturday at a location that is thousands of miles away from me. And on top of that, the best man won’t come to the wedding.”
“It’s not my fault Lucas’s best friend can’t read a calendar.”
“Okay, you’re right,” I took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”
“Just take care of the bachelorette party, Hannah. California. Next Saturday.”
“I will ask Clem…”
“No. Next Saturday. California.”
“But…”
Madison hung up on me. I stared at my phone for a few moments, then decided it wasn’t worth the battle. So I shot Clem a text.
Hannah: Bachelorette party next Saturday. We are coming to you. Send me a list of people you want me to invite.
I lost my entire day researching. It was nine o’clock when I stood by the microwave in the office kitchen. I was heating the soup a colleague brought me for lunch when the door flung open. I thought I was the last one in the office.
“Hannah,” my boss Amanda walked in.
“Miss Reed,” I paused, surprised to see her here. “Hi.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I am heating my soup.”
She shot me an amused look and I immediately felt like an idiot. She wasn’t asking about the food.
“I didn’t eat my lunch today. I’m behind with my work.”
“Oh?” Amanda took a few boxes out of the fridge. “Do you need someone to help you with the workload?”
“No, no. It’s fine.”
“I don’t want my employees to starve all day and eat their lunch at nine o’clock in the evening. In the office.”
“It’s not like that,” I took my veggie soup out of the microwave. My stomach growled loudly at the smell of it. “I had a lot of personal calls today. Something came up and I am now behind with everything.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes,” I stirred my soup torn between my hunger and my excitement of talking with Amanda Reed. Alone. That had never happened to me before. We shared a few sentences at meetings every now and again, but we were never alone. “My best friend is getting married. I am the maid of honor. Her sister called me today and told me I had to plan a bachelorette party for next Saturday. The best man found out he can’t come to the wedding. Which is in two weeks by the way.”
“That sounds complicated.”
“It is,” I nodded. “I spent a lot of my working hours on that mess, didn’t fix anything, but got behind on my work, so now that’s a mess too.”
She waited for the microwave to heat her meal and I wondered why she bothered. The woman was famous and loaded. I had no doubt she could call any restaurant in town and they would find her a table in a blink. Or she could just order in if she was planning on working late.
“Maybe I could help with the bachelorette party. Use my name. I can get in everywhere,” she said as if she read my mind.
“Oh, no. I can’t do that.”
“Why?”
“I could never use your name like that. Besides the party will be in California.” And the moment I said it, the solution just popped in my mind. “I remember you once told me you had a house in California.”
“It’s a villa.”
A villa. It would be perfect. Private. Clem could rest at any time.
“Miss Reed,” a nervous laugh escaped my lips. “Would it be inappropriate if I asked you for a favor?” I felt a little crazy for even coming up with the idea, but what the heck? What was the worst thing that could happen? I didn’t let her answer my question and continued. “Would it sound crazy if I asked you to rent your villa for the bachelorette party?”