[OTA] We Are Gathered Here | The Fox-Kattalakis Wedding

[headfollowheart]

A few things had gone wrong, honestly. There had been some confusion in the morning when they’d arrived to decorate the church - a few bouquets on the altar, some green and blue ribbons twined around a few of the posts - and it’d been locked. She’d managed to leave Spade Castle with her dress, veil, the coin from his mother strung on a thin leather thong, the emerald silk sash and Victor’s ring - but of all things, she’d managed to leave her shoes in their box in the closet, and Chives had had to go back for that. Hadyn looked a little green from his adventure shanghaiing Victor with Ben and Elisha, her cousin Sara had in usual Sara fashion managed to break the heel on her left shoe. Nerves finally hit as Chives was braiding her hair, and by the time the veil was settled over the smooth curls, her nails had left indents in her palms.

In the end, though, it was pretty much perfect. Two of her closest friends preceded her down the aisle in soft blue dresses with forget-me-nots in their braided hair and small posies in their hands. She’d walked towards her fiance on her brother’s arm with her hands full of spring flowers, and after the words were said and Victor lifted the veil, they were married. It only felt a little different than before, Zoe thought as their brief kiss ended. But it was different; she was Zoe Fox.

Zoe Fox knew, of course, that Victor Fox would have preferred them to just slip back to their apartment - no big party, no flowing wine and hors d'oeuvres - but she’d wanted something. And he’d given her carte blanche in the end, really; she’d chosen the small reception room that opened out into the Castle gardens, she’d picked the combination of hyacinths, hydragea, and lily of the valley for the table arrangements, the Greek-flavored menu of spanakopita, wild green and strawberry salad, linguine primavera and herb-encrusted lamb. She’d pored over cake designs until she finally picked a vanilla bean cake with strawberry puree filling, decorated in vanilla buttercream. She’d pruned the list of friends, family and acquaintances who might be expected to be invited to the wedding reception until they numbered barely fifty.

Under the strict supervision of Chives, of course the reception looked perfect, she thought as they arrived, and she smiled as she slipped her hand into Victor’s arm and the full skirt of her dress swirled against both of their legs. Perfect, though perfect didn’t matter quite so much to her right now.

Comments

[gardenplots]

Maggie raises an eyebrow. Charlotte's not flat by any means, but certainly not as well endowed. Gravity had not been kind to her. "Odd. I've never known you to be one to take pride in what she has. You've always shown a woeful tendency to throw away anything of real value. I'm sure it's made you so very happy over the years."

She smiles pleasantly. "How nice for you that I spotted you and Reggie dearest before Mister Fox."

[sans_coeur]

She can mask the expression on her face. She can't mask the tensing of her shoulders. Right. Mister Fox. Let's ignore that part. "I can't say I would call having to speak with you 'nice', Miss St. John."

[gardenplots]

"Yet I'm always so pleased to speak to you, Charlotte dear." If Charlotte Huntly thinks to imply something about the miniscule difference in their ages by addressing her as "Miss," then Maggie has no problem at all calling the other woman by her first name as though she's little more than a spoiled child.

"You might say it makes my day."

[sans_coeur]

"Don't you have somewhere else to be?" she can't help snapping, giving her a piercing look. "Like giving my daughter some placating compliments about this excuse for a wedding?"

It could have been so much better. If Zoe had asked, if Zoe hadn't left, she could have helped make it so much better.

[gardenplots]

"Not at all, Charlotte. I am an invited guest. You--" her eyes grow hard. "--are an interloper. You made it quite clear not long ago you wished nothing to do with that lovely young woman--in quite a hideous and ugly way, I'm sorry to add.

"I will not see her day ruined by someone as pathetic as you intent on causing a scene."

Such a bright smile for Charlotte. "Though I'll be happy to let dear, sweet Victor know you're here if you insist."

[sans_coeur]

"As pathetic as me? You were the one who started poisoning her mind against me. I spent my life trying to make her into the person she should've been, and it was all ruined by you." Her voice hasn't risen a bit, though she's obviously more agitated. "Let anyone you want know anything. As if I care."

[gardenplots]

She knew better than to hope Charlotte had shown up hoping to heal the rift she'd made between herself and Zoe, yet part of her had hoped that was the case. She must have become more Heart than even she had realized. All Heart...and all Spade.

"The person you should have been--or thought you should be. It's not unusual for a mother to put all her hopes and dreams on her children, particularly when she's accomplished so little in her own life."

She could escort the Huntly woman out. She knows pressure points and could make her follow along docilely. But there's still the chance Charlotte would cause a scene before the pain struck her silent. A movement so slight she might not have seen it had she not been looking that way tells her the unwanted guest's arrival has not gone unnoticed. "Do be careful what you wish for, dear."

[sans_coeur]

"Oh my god. Please, just- go spout your nonsense somewhere else." She has to wave for someone, somewhere to just get her something to drink. "Have a nice afternoon, St. John."