The following weekend, Luke and Sasha met with both families about their plans. Neither of them wanted to wait to get married, so they invited Sasha’s side of the family over to start the discussion that Friday. It did not seem like it was going well.
They were sitting in the family room of Luke’s Arlington home talking with Al “Turk” Day, her father. His wife Morgan Ryan Day was there with baby Ryan-Tucker. The baby was currently asleep on Tucker Donovan’s shoulder, his godfather and namesake. Next to him was his lady friend, Genesis Morgan, who reminded Sasha a great deal of Ryan and Monique for some reason. Sasha did not really know Tucker and Genesis, but they seemed to be an integral part of the family. Her sister, Monique and her husband, Grayson Davenport, were enjoying after-dinner drinks. Sasha’s grandmother, Lena, and her husband, Senator John Roth, were on the other side of the fireplace, talking with her cousin Kaylan.
“Hell no, your mother cannot plan our wedding,” Luke declared. “She is lucky to be included at all.”
“She is my mother, Luke. Mothers are known to help daughters plan weddings, and to be fair, no one has wanted to kill her for at least a month now,” Sasha protested. She had not forgotten the havoc her mother had wreaked in her life during the holidays, and she was sure Luke had not, either. However, every daughter wants her mother at her wedding. At least, that’s what she thought would be the right thing to do.
“I knew I should not have let you go to Atlanta alone,” he huffed. “Your mother attempted to give herself to me to hurt you. She practically abandoned you most of your life. When she discovered the truth about your father’s family, she suddenly wants to spend time with you to get close to them … not you … them.” Luke exhaled, then smiled at her. “I want our wedding day to be a happy one. Not one where you are playing peacemaker between everyone and your mother.”
Sasha turned to her father for help. Over the last year, she learned the impression her mother gave her of Al was not valid. He had proven in a short period of time to be someone she could depend on. He loved his children and would do anything for them.
Al was sitting on the sofa next to her as he gave Luke a polite nod. “I’m with Luke on this, Sasha. Your wedding day should be about you. Stephanie will make the day all about her.”
“Not if I staple her mouth shut,” Monique joked as she and Grayson joined the family discussion. The two had been married for less than a year, and had decided to elope rather than have a wedding.
Grayson chuckled. “Or we could have Adam do a clone of her. It would be the same as her being there.”
Luke laughed. “I like that idea even better.”
“Instead of Ryan flying across the Thanksgiving dinner table to kick her ass, she can jump over the wedding cake,” Lena said from the other side of the room.
Ryan rolled her eyes. “She should keep my son’s name out of her mouth.”
“That was hilarious.” John stood as he walked around the fireplace to join them in the family room. “I think you should simply sit down and talk to Stephanie. I’m sure she can be reasonable.”
“That’s the diplomat in you coming out, darling.” Lena walked over to stand next to him. “You have to keep this in mind. You cannot turn a street whore into a high-class escort, I don’t care how many etiquette classes you send them to. The street whore is going to come out.”
“I think that’s a little harsh.” Kaylan went to stand next to Sasha. “We are intelligent people with some level of persuasion. There has to be some way we can include her mother in the wedding.”
“I say fly her ass off to some island and leave her there,” Genesis suggested.
“Or you can fly off, tie the knot, then just show up claiming to be married.” Tucker glared at Monique.
“Grown woman, Uncle Tucker,” Monique replied. “You need to get over it, and accept the fact that Grayson and I got married the way we wanted to.”
Grayson added, “We love the way our simple ceremony evaded the drama of mothers, fathers, and uncles.”
“I do not want to elope. Maybe we should do a destination wedding,” Sasha suggested while picking up the empty hors d’oeuvres tray from the table.
“A week-long cruise to the Mediterranean sounds nice,” Luke suggested.
“I was thinking more like the Caribbean, where it would only cost a few hundred dollars. But I wouldn’t be mad at the idea of Madrid,” Sasha laughed.
“I’ll help you with that.” Kaylan picked up the other empty tray.
“Let’s do it,” Luke exclaimed.
Sasha waved him off with her hand. “That would cost a fortune.” She laughed as she and Kaylan walked into the kitchen. “Listen, a simple wedding in the gardens right here would be beautiful, too.”
The people in the room glanced around at each other.
“Why is she worried about cost?” Monique asked.
Luke looked at Al, then at Monique. “She hasn’t figured it out yet.”
“She doesn’t know that you are a multimillionaire who could buy her a damn island if you wanted to?” Lena asked.
“She knows,” Luke stated. “It hasn’t registered with her that what is mine is hers. Besides, we have only discussed money once.”
Monique laughed. “When you had to force her to take payment for deciphering the documents.”
Luke nodded. “I had to go through Monique behind her back to set that up.”
“She is nothing like her mother. Thank the lord,” Lena stated. “That little heifer came to me when she was fifteen and wanted to know who was handling Al’s money because she wanted to know how much he was pulling in.”
“She did not,” Ryan hissed.
“The hell she didn’t,” Lena smirked.
“Sasha has always handled her money well. She’s thinking she will be footing the bill for the cost of the wedding,” Al advised. “This one is on me. Since I already had one daughter who got married at a justice of the peace," he said dejectedly, "I can afford to pay for any kind of wedding Sasha wants. I think it would be fun to go all out for this one.”
“Planning weddings is not fun, Al,” Ryan laughed. “Even small weddings are nerve-racking.”
“This is on me,” Luke said. “If Sasha wants to do a destination wedding, that’s what she is going to have.”
“She is not going to let you do that,” Monique stated. “Let me work with her on the financial piece.”
Sasha and Kaylan walked back into the family room with trays filled with food. “I was just talking to Kaylan, and I think a destination wedding is the way to go.” Sasha set the tray on the table.
“Yes, that way everyone who wants to come can, and we will not stress out with all the planning,” Kaylan explained.
“Then a destination wedding it is.” Luke took Sasha’s hand and pulled her to sit next to him in the oversized chair across from the sofa. “What do you think of a cruise to Spain? We can have an international flair to the ceremony.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “The ceremony can be on the ship while it is in international waters. Afterwards, we can have Joshua bring his chopper to fly us to Paris for our honeymoon.”
Sasha beamed. “That sounds so romantic. Now, let’s talk realistically. I was thinking if we do the Caribbean, we can make a weekend out of it. Everyone can attend and not miss work or family responsibilities.”
“A wedding should be a celebration of love that represents both the groom and the bride,” Genesis encouraged. “You two have an international flavor as a couple.” She pointed to Luke. “You and your travels for your business and Sasha with her United Nations background. Imagine the feeling of being out to sea with Barcelona as your background as you say your vows.”
“Barcelona, Spain,” Sasha smiled. “That would be a treat … but …”
“No buts,” Monique stood, then walked over to her. She pulled a device from her pocket, then pointed it at Sasha. A clear film covered Sasha’s mouth. “Shut up and listen.”
“What is this?” Luke pulled at the tape. “Another one of Adam’s inventions?”
“Just something to silence people when we need to.” Monique smacked his hand away, then looked at Sasha, who had stood and was fussing through the tape. “Sit down and listen.” She pushed her down.
Ryan and Genesis were laughing in the background. Monique gave them a look. They both stopped laughing but were chuckling quietly.
Monique exhaled. “You are the daughter of a millionaire. Your Aunt Tracy is a millionaire. I’m not that wealthy, but I’m not broke, either.”
“I am wealthy.” Grayson raised his hand to point at Monique, “that makes her wealthy.”
“I am, too,” Tucker added. “So are you and Monique, Al just hasn’t told you yet.”
Monique sharply turned to look at him with surprise on her face. Sasha did the same.
Tucker shrugged. “I started investment accounts for both of you from the day you were born.”
Sasha and Monique turned to Al.
He shrugged. “How do you think I paid for your condo in DC and yours in New York?”
“Hmm.” Monique shrugged. “Well that makes what I’m about to say moot, but listen up anyway. You are marrying this man. Talk to him about finances. You walking around thinking you have to watch the dollars when it comes to this wedding is ridiculous.” She pointed the device and the tape disappeared from her mouth.
“Ouch,” Sasha squealed.
“Sorry about that,” Monique said as she took a seat.
“Don’t you point that thing at me again,” Sasha huffed. Then she looked at Al. “I can really have any wedding I want?”
“Yes, you can.” Al nodded.
Sasha sat there in disbelief. “Does my mother know … you know … does she know you have money?”
Al nodded. “Yes, she knows, and when she discovers you do, she will be holding her hand out.”
Sasha shook her head. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to help with her mortgage. She may not be ‘on the street’ broke, but she is broke.”
“Stephanie has enough to live off of if she slows down,” Al stated.
“How would you know that?” Sasha asked.
“Because my firm handles her accounts, and I can tell you she is not broke,” Tucker explained. “I know she has played games with you when it comes to her finances. Just know she is not and never has been in danger of losing her home. I would not let that happen, unless she continues to piss me off.”
Luke held her hand in his. “The bottom line is this. Between Al and me, you will never want for anything, and neither will your mother. Look, I don’t want your mother around us, however, she is family and she will be taken care of.”
“What is important now is for you to live your life for you, Sasha,” Ryan advised. “Have the party of a lifetime. That’s what weddings are for.”
Sasha sat back in Luke’s arms, then looked up at him. “Do you think Cynthia can plan a cruise to Barcelona or Italy?”
“Do both?” Tucker suggested. “I also have unused resources. Besides, any child of Al’s is a child of mine.”
“How generous of you.” Sasha smiled as she looked at Al. “Is there a budget?”
“Unlimited.” Al smiled.
Sasha looked at Monique, who shrugged. “I can help you spend it.”
“Of course you can,” Lena laughed.
“So can I,” Kaylan added.
Sasha exhaled, then smiled at Luke. “Let’s do it. Let’s get married in Spain on international waters.”
Luke kissed the tip of her nose. “Your wish is my command.”