Long Live Us
Fifty
"What's next on the agenda?"
I scratched the back of my head and looked to my dad, who currently had Isabelle curled up against his chest. He decided to tag along with Nate, Tom and myself to hunt for all the things Stella wants me to sort out for the wedding. I really wish that she were here with me, but apparently she has equally as important things to do with her mom, my mom and Aubs. Still, as important as they may be, she currently has me planning some of the biggest things that we need for the wedding. I'm a dude - I'm not cut out for this!
At least Nate was so in touch with nature that he helped me pick the flowers. Tom may have mentioned that Aubree mentioned that Stella mentioned she wanted white roses on the archway, so we went for those and red tulips. Nate informed me that they mean undying love and love with no limits. Seems fitting for our wedding day. Of course the florist agreed to add in some other small flowers to make it pop.
"Now, we have to go pick out the menu."
Dad nodded as the guys followed me along the small strip. We found the building in about five minutes time, all of us piling in like lost puppies. I had no idea what Stella wanted on the menu.
"Ah, you must be Mr. Barakat," a woman greeted us by the counter, a stack of papers already in her hands. "You're here to pick out the menu for your wedding, yes?"
"Yeah, that's me."
"Okay, dear. We have fish, beef and chicken. You can have two of them, which would you like?"
"No fish," I scrunched up my nose. "I don't want to smell it during the wedding."
She laughed and slid the menu my way, allowing me to scan the pages. All three came with pretty much the same sides, so I shrugged to myself and selected steak and chicken. Hopefully Stella won't mind that. Once I made my selection, I signed my name to confirm the order.
"Thanks, dear," she took the papers from me. "I'll see you on your big day!"
I smiled in return as we left the building. From here, we had to go to a local bakery. Tom led the way this time, mumbling something about how much Aubree loved the cupcakes at this place, and I followed him through the doors. Instantly, the sweet scent of cakes hit my nose. We wandered up to the counter and waited on a man to greet us.
"Barakat wedding cake?"
"Yep."
"Here's some samples. You can see the styles around the shop. Pick your color, theme and layers."
I nodded my head, taking the tray of samples with me as I explored the shop. Tom, Nate and dad were all taking samples from the tray, talking over which ones they liked the most. By the time I picked out a three layer cake that matched the theme for the wedding, all of the samples were gone. I mentally smacked each of them.
"Go for the marble," Nate beamed, wiping some frosting from his lips. "It's delicious."
I shrugged my shoulders, walking back to the counter to request more samples of the marble cake. Tom, dad and myself each shoved the small piece in our mouths and agreed that it was perfect. I placed my order, signed the paper, and grinned to myself knowing the food part was over.
From there, we all piled in the van and I drove us back to my place. Stella wanted me to figure out how the yard was going to be set up, but honestly, it wasn't happening. This was her day. I didn't care how the yard looked, I didn't care where tables went or where the guests would sit. I didn't even care about the arch. I only wanted to see her walk towards me, she could make the rest match her dreams.
When we arrived at my house, we all climbed out of the van, dad once again grabbing Izzy. They followed me to the backyard, knowing that I was supposed to plan this, too.
"I'm not doing it," I mumbled, glancing around the yard. "This is her day, she can handle this."
"Son, for you own sake, at least throw out an idea so we can all say we heard it."
I groaned, shaking my head.
"Fine. Tables in the back, archway right there, guests over there. Good?"
"Works for me."
I laughed lightly to myself as dad handed Izzy off to me and led my friends inside. I know they'd all be digging through my kitchen for food, but I didn't mind the time alone with my daughter. I held her close to my chest and sat down on the patio, a sigh leaving my lips.
"This is hard work, Izzy," I mumbled, kissing her forehead. "When you get married, don't eve pin this stuff on the lucky man."
Isabelle cooed in my arms, snuggling closer to the crook of my neck. I knew she was exhausted and though I wanted her to be up when Stella got home, she needed a nap. I carried my little girl inside and took her up to her bedroom, placing her in the crib after kissing her chubby cheek.
"I love you, Izzy."
I scratched the back of my head and looked to my dad, who currently had Isabelle curled up against his chest. He decided to tag along with Nate, Tom and myself to hunt for all the things Stella wants me to sort out for the wedding. I really wish that she were here with me, but apparently she has equally as important things to do with her mom, my mom and Aubs. Still, as important as they may be, she currently has me planning some of the biggest things that we need for the wedding. I'm a dude - I'm not cut out for this!
At least Nate was so in touch with nature that he helped me pick the flowers. Tom may have mentioned that Aubree mentioned that Stella mentioned she wanted white roses on the archway, so we went for those and red tulips. Nate informed me that they mean undying love and love with no limits. Seems fitting for our wedding day. Of course the florist agreed to add in some other small flowers to make it pop.
"Now, we have to go pick out the menu."
Dad nodded as the guys followed me along the small strip. We found the building in about five minutes time, all of us piling in like lost puppies. I had no idea what Stella wanted on the menu.
"Ah, you must be Mr. Barakat," a woman greeted us by the counter, a stack of papers already in her hands. "You're here to pick out the menu for your wedding, yes?"
"Yeah, that's me."
"Okay, dear. We have fish, beef and chicken. You can have two of them, which would you like?"
"No fish," I scrunched up my nose. "I don't want to smell it during the wedding."
She laughed and slid the menu my way, allowing me to scan the pages. All three came with pretty much the same sides, so I shrugged to myself and selected steak and chicken. Hopefully Stella won't mind that. Once I made my selection, I signed my name to confirm the order.
"Thanks, dear," she took the papers from me. "I'll see you on your big day!"
I smiled in return as we left the building. From here, we had to go to a local bakery. Tom led the way this time, mumbling something about how much Aubree loved the cupcakes at this place, and I followed him through the doors. Instantly, the sweet scent of cakes hit my nose. We wandered up to the counter and waited on a man to greet us.
"Barakat wedding cake?"
"Yep."
"Here's some samples. You can see the styles around the shop. Pick your color, theme and layers."
I nodded my head, taking the tray of samples with me as I explored the shop. Tom, Nate and dad were all taking samples from the tray, talking over which ones they liked the most. By the time I picked out a three layer cake that matched the theme for the wedding, all of the samples were gone. I mentally smacked each of them.
"Go for the marble," Nate beamed, wiping some frosting from his lips. "It's delicious."
I shrugged my shoulders, walking back to the counter to request more samples of the marble cake. Tom, dad and myself each shoved the small piece in our mouths and agreed that it was perfect. I placed my order, signed the paper, and grinned to myself knowing the food part was over.
From there, we all piled in the van and I drove us back to my place. Stella wanted me to figure out how the yard was going to be set up, but honestly, it wasn't happening. This was her day. I didn't care how the yard looked, I didn't care where tables went or where the guests would sit. I didn't even care about the arch. I only wanted to see her walk towards me, she could make the rest match her dreams.
When we arrived at my house, we all climbed out of the van, dad once again grabbing Izzy. They followed me to the backyard, knowing that I was supposed to plan this, too.
"I'm not doing it," I mumbled, glancing around the yard. "This is her day, she can handle this."
"Son, for you own sake, at least throw out an idea so we can all say we heard it."
I groaned, shaking my head.
"Fine. Tables in the back, archway right there, guests over there. Good?"
"Works for me."
I laughed lightly to myself as dad handed Izzy off to me and led my friends inside. I know they'd all be digging through my kitchen for food, but I didn't mind the time alone with my daughter. I held her close to my chest and sat down on the patio, a sigh leaving my lips.
"This is hard work, Izzy," I mumbled, kissing her forehead. "When you get married, don't eve pin this stuff on the lucky man."
Isabelle cooed in my arms, snuggling closer to the crook of my neck. I knew she was exhausted and though I wanted her to be up when Stella got home, she needed a nap. I carried my little girl inside and took her up to her bedroom, placing her in the crib after kissing her chubby cheek.
"I love you, Izzy."
11/4/13