Kristina's Engagement Party

An excerpt from current WIP novel, "Confessions of a Church Girl"

After the luncheon at church, we returned home to relax for the rest of the evening from treating Mom with a fancy event with the congregation. It was fun while it lasted, except for the part where Jason had admitted to seeing not only another girl, but also another guy, behind my back all along. I didn’t want my family to know, so I kept it from them. When I got to my room, I blocked Jason’s number, wanting nothing more to do with him. If he’s unsure of his sexuality, then he shouldn’t have dragged me into a relationship in the first place. It was hurtful enough to see him macking with “Kelly” last night outside the front of The Wallace.

For the rest of the week, I did my best to avoid him and keep my family out of the loop. They didn’t need to know, but then again, their constant planning of Kristina’s engagement party to her “perfectly faithful” wealthy fiancé Robert Petersen was more than enough to keep them distracted about my own relationship problems that wasn’t their business. As long as they had Kristina’s love life to fawn over, they didn’t need to bother themselves with worrying about mine. I had no love life anymore.

Just like that, the week flew by and now it’s Saturday. Starting at 5:00 at the Sterling Room was the party. A big, fat freaking yay. After putting on my light-blue floral dress, Mom came to my room to help me style my hair into neat, loose curls—same as hers. I felt like I could finally trust her about my break-up with Jason.

“You look so radiant, sweetheart.” She smiled at me after finishing my hair. “Jason should consider himself blessed to be seen with you tonight.”

“Thanks.” A tear ran down my face as I smiled.

“What’s the matter?” she asked softly as she got my heart-shaped necklace to wear it around my neck.

I took a small breath. “Mom… Jason and I, we… We broke up. Earlier this week. On Sunday,” I added. “At church, during the Mother’s Day luncheon.”

She looked at me, baffled. “Really? What happened, Angel?”

“He… Oh, I can’t even say it out loud.” I groaned.

She caressed my hair. “It’s okay, sweetie. We don’t have to talk about the reason.”

“No, it’s okay.” I shook my head. I wanted to tell her. “He was seeing someone else behind my back, Mom. Another girl. And another guy, as well. Two people he’d been seeing behind my back for the past few months! In fact, last Saturday at The Wallace, when I went to the bathroom before we left, I saw him kissing some blonde outside the window. I don’t think he even noticed me at all until Gemma and I confronted him in church this past Sunday.”

Mom had a look of disgust on her face. “My goodness, sweetie! That’s awful! You knew all along that he hurt you like this, and you’d kept this to yourself all week? Was this why you’ve been ignoring him?”

“Yes.” More tears ran down my face. “You and Dad have been focusing more on Kristina’s perfect relationship, and let’s just continue to put her first. Don’t let my break-up with Jason ruin her chance of happiness with Robert, so let’s not tell her or Dad for now. This is between you and me. Promise me?”

“Sweetie, I don’t think your sister’s relationship is as ‘perfect’ as you think it is,” she reassured me, “but I promise not to tell her or your father. This will be just between us for now. I’m so sorry about Jason. That is an awful thing for him to do. Did Gemma know about it all along?”

“I don’t think so, Mom.” I shook my head. “I don’t think she could’ve known that Jason had been struggling with his sexuality.”

“That’s still no excuse for him to play around with your emotions like that. You’ve known him since high school, and this is what he does to you? That’s not fair to you!” She shook her head. “My advice to you, Lanie? Let this engagement party be a perfect opportunity for you to connect with someone new for once. You never know who you’ll meet, so just keep your eyes—and your heart—open to that possibility. Do you promise you’ll give it a chance?”

I didn’t have much of a choice. I wanted to do anything possible to get Jason completely out of my mind… And my heart. “Yes, I’ll give it a chance.” I smiled.

“That’s what I’d love to hear.” She gave me a kiss on the forehead. “I love you so much, Angel. You’re beautiful, inside and out. Any other man—if not Jason—would be blessed to have you in his life. Jason is certainly a fool for easily letting go of a kind-hearted, beautiful woman like you. Someone out there is expecting your companionship, and you won’t know that unless you give yourself a chance. For now, enjoy the party with us, and be as supportive as possible for your sister.”

I grabbed my purse and put my phone in it before we left my room, fully dolled-up for the party. Soon, the four of us made our way to The Wallace, and by the time we got there it was 4:30. We went inside, greeting and hosting guests as they arrived, including the Petersens. We had a total of 95 guests, due to COVID-19 restrictions, so we couldn’t go overboard with seating arrangements. Other guests included congregation members as well, with whom we were particularly close outside of church.

By 5:00, all our invited guests had arrived, filling up the room, adhering to COVID-19 protocols for social distancing between tables. Gemma and the Mackenzies were there, with the exception of Jason; I guess they’d asked him not to come, and I didn’t mind at all. I had no intention of seeing his stupid face anytime soon, after what he did to me. He should’ve known better than to enter a relationship, not knowing full well if he was interested in men or women.

With all our invitees now settled in, the mingling hour began. Rosa nodded to me, giving me a wink as if to say I should seize my opportunity to find a potential suitor. I’m glad she believed in me, and I really hoped she did her part in keeping my secret from Dad and Kristina… For now. They didn’t need to know about this now, especially not soon-to-be-married Kristina. This was her event, after all.

She and Robert held hands as they came up to me. “Lanie, I’d like for you to officially meet Robert Petersen.” She grinned. “Your paths have crossed so many times before in the past, but you never even knew it then. So here he is now, in the flesh.”

Robert smiled as he and I shook hands, and he couldn’t have looked more dashing—his red hair a neat comb-over matching his bright blue eyes, wearing a black tuxedo and black dress shoes. You’d know he’s the future groom. “Nice to meet you, Lanie.” He had a slight Danish accent.

“Likewise. It’s actually Delaneigh, but everyone calls me Lanie for short.”

“Delaneigh… That’s a gorgeous name.”

I chuckled. “Thanks.” He wasn’t so bad himself; he gave off a warm, friendly vibe, so far.

Robert said to Kristina, “Do you mind if I introduce Delaneigh to the rest of my family?”

“I don’t mind, babe.” She gave him a kiss on the lips.

“Thanks. Follow my lead, Delaneigh.” I loved the way he said my name.

I followed him as he introduced me to the rest of his family, from his siblings—identical twin brother Hans; followed by his five younger sisters Elsa, Karolina, Ingrid, Sofia, and Birgitte—to his parents Elias and Helga, who were born and raised in Copenhagen. They’re very friendly and welcoming, and in fact, Helga greeted me with a hug that lasted for two minutes or an eternity. She must’ve taken an instant liking to me, yet we’re only strangers.

She told me, “Any sister of the woman who keeps our Robby happy is just as part of our family as Krissy is.” They obviously knew Kristina well enough to call her “Krissy.”

In other words, because Kristina made their “Robby” so happy, then I was instantly a part of their family. What were the chances of that? Instant approval from my sister’s fiancé’s family.

Cocktails and appetizers were served during mingling hour, and Gemma and I went to grab a seat at a table where Hans was, alone. I could clearly tell him apart from his brother, who’s with Kristina and her friend Angela, from Columbia Law school, who’d set them up with each other in the first place.

“Drinking alone?” I smiled at Hans.

He sighed, giving me a small smile. “And who’s your little friend here?” His accent sounded a little stronger than that of his brother’s and sisters’.

“Gemma Mackenzie, Delaneigh’s childhood BFF.” Gemma shook hands with him.

“Nice to meet you, Gemma Mackenzie, Delaneigh’s childhood BFF.” He grinned, and I chuckled. He’s so cute, every bit as irresistible as his brother.

“Cute… BRB, Lanie.” Gemma winked as she quickly got up and ran to another table as servers walked by, handing out plates of finger foods. It didn’t seem like she’d return to our table anytime soon. I knew she’s trying to be clever enough, subtly hooking me up with Hans Petersen.

I glanced at her, and she mouthed clearly to me, Give him a chance. Talk to him!

I shook my head, rolling my eyes, then turned my attention back to Hans and smiled. “Nothing’s the matter,” I reassured him when he raised his eyebrow, as if trying to understand what Gemma and I said to each other.

“You think your little friend is trying to set us up?” He motioned to her.

I chuckled. “Was she that obvious?”

“Well, she wasn’t exactly being subtle when she said, ‘Cute, BRB, Lanie.” He couldn’t stop glancing at me. “Sorry… You don’t mind if I call you Lanie, do you?”

“No, I don’t mind. That’s my nickname, short for Delaneigh.”

“Delaneigh… That’s a pretty name.”

“Well, that’s exactly what your twin said to me.”

“Robby’s good at giving out compliments; that’s his thing. Me, I’m a little more nervous about it. Not sure why.” He shrugged. “I guess he just has more self-confidence than me, when it comes to approaching women.”

“I’m sure you’re better at giving out compliments than you give yourself credit for.” I moved my seat a little closer to him. If this was what Mom meant by giving it a shot with another guy for once after Jason, then I’m interested to see where this would take me.

He took a sip of his mojito. “Aren’t you a little curious as to how you can tell Robby and me apart?”

“How I can tell… Asking me personally, or in general?” I joked.

He laughed. “In general. Don’t you wanna know how other people can tell us apart?”

“Of course I’d like to know! Tell me.”

“Okay. I don’t have any freckles on my face, but Robby does… Just a few around his nose, that’s all. Take a closer look.”

I glanced at his face, and he’s right… Robert had a few freckles; Hans did not, as far as I could see.

“That’s it?” I asked. “That’s how others can tell you guys apart?”

“Yeah. Also, it was our mom’s idea for both of us to wear a black tuxedo, so we’re dressed the same. If you see one of us with your sister, you’ll know it’s Robby. If you see one of us hanging around like a lone wolf…” He pointed to himself. “That’s moi. That’s how you can also tell us apart. Understood?” He smiled.

If it’s easy enough for him and Robert, then it should be for me, too. “Understood, Petersen. By the way, how old are you?”

“Thirty-five, and obviously so is Robby. We’re the oldest siblings. I’m just three minutes younger than him. Did he tell you that?”

“Yeah, he did.” I nodded. “I’m 28.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Damn, so you’re just a year younger than Kristina, then.”

That’s a lie; I’m really 23, but I wanted to try to appeal to the Petersens’ to better fit into their family, which Helga said I was now a part of, because Kristina had made Robert “so happy.”

“Why’s that a surprise, Petersen?” I took a sip of my mojito.

“So, are you working full-time?” He didn’t answer my question about why it’s surprising that I’m apparently “a year” younger than Kristina.

“Yeah, for the New York Times as a staff writer.” Another lie; I’m just an intern for them at their fellowship program, though it was a full-time position.

“Impressive. And you enjoy it so far, despite COVID-19 protocols changing the workplace into a what—remote, hybrid environment?”

“I don’t mind remote or hybrid for the time being.” It’s the truth; the New York Times’ office had to adhere to CDC guidelines, including adjusting to a remote-hybrid capacity for the time being.

“Huh. You’re keeping a positive attitude about remote work. Most people I know have said that remote work is driving them a little insane, but we’ll see as time goes on.”

I nodded in agreement. I couldn’t believe I’d lied to a really hot guy about everything—my age, what I really did at the New York Times. What else could possibly go wrong?

The engagement party continued for the next three hours until 8:00, and by then, most people had begun getting ready to leave, thanking our family and the Petersens for inviting them. We thanked each of them for coming, being there for us and supporting Kristina. I gave Gemma a hug before she left with her family, telling her we’d chat again at home.

I excused myself to the ladies’ room to freshen up quickly before leaving. After getting out a few minutes later, I overheard a heated conversation taking place in the lobby. Listening more closely, I learned it’s actually Kristina and Robert. What could they be arguing about?

“I just don’t understand what the fuck your problem is, Kristina.” Robert’s angry tone grew louder by the minute. “You’re the one who decided to break COVID protocols in the first place, thinking it’s a great idea to invite people from the church, causing the room to feel a little claustrophobic after a few hours! What the hell were you even thinking?”

Kristina scoffed. “Claustrophobic? That’s seriously the word you’re using to describe a large number of guests at a special event room for us? I broke COVID protocols? I thought you and I were in this together when we decided to plan this out!”

“You’re the one making an elaborate show of our engagement, booking a hotel as if it’s cheap enough…”

“Let me stop you right there. This hotel, elaborate? You’re wealthy, Robert! What, so suddenly, money is an issue for you when you’re not the one booking a venue for a special event?”

“I’m wealthy.” He scoffed. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? Do you have an issue with my family’s wealth? You knew what you were getting yourself into when you realized who my family and I were.”

“When did I ever say I had an issue with you and your family’s wealth?”

“Well, you pretty much implied it, so…”

“Don’t ever put words into my mouth. You think you’d know better than to assume what a woman’s trying to say.”

“I don’t intend to continue this stupid conversation with you right here or now, so for now… I’m done. If you have something else you’d like to say, thank God for emails and technology. Just message me or whatever, but don’t degrade me in front of my family or yours, Kris.” I heard footsteps—presumably Robert’s—storming off.

I slowly made my way out to the lobby and saw Kristina standing there frozen, a baffled expression on her face, as if trying to process what the hell had just happened right then and there.

That’s what I wanted to figure out, too.

Could there be trouble in “paradise”? Was it possible that my sister’s relationship with her wealthy fiancé wasn’t so “perfect” after all?