"I'm leaving for lunch now, be back in an just over an hour." I said to the reception desk as I left work the next day. I decided to invite Becca and Emily to lunch to explain and ask them to be bridesmaids. Shauna was coming as well so she could back up my story if they didn't believe me. We met at our favorite restaurant. I was the last one to arrive. My last appointment went a bit over, my friends are pretty understanding and know that can happen.
"So spill on the vacation story." Becca said leaning in, waiting for juicy details.
Shauna spoke before I could, "She should start before then…"
Becca and Emily looked puzzled at her while I sighed.
"A lot has happened in my life in the past three weeks." I started, then I gushed out all in one breath, "I met my father, found my lost love who came on the cruise with me, got engaged and am getting married in two weeks." I gave a forced smile at the end and waited for them to process the information.
"What!?!"
"Come again?"
Not too bad for their reactions. At least my crazy life is giving me some fun in seeing peoples reactions.
"Girl give us details! You can't just unload that and not explain more."
"I was going to. So I met my father before the cruise and because of some family marriage agreement, they had me meet the guy I was totally in love with as a teenager, but because of the marriage agreement he had to get engaged to someone else and broke it off with me. This was before we knew who my father was."
"Who is your father?" Emily asked.
"I'm getting there, there's some backstory that's needed trust me. So my Mom and Father weren't married when she got pregnant and he had some family obligations so they didn't end up together. However Mom made him legally agree that she could raise me and he wouldn't interfere or try to get custody later. The only things he could pay for were my summer camps and Schooling."
"Who. Is. He?" Becca asked.
"Aren't you impatient. I was just answering all the questions you'd have when I tell you. So my father is actually Charles Gastrell."
"Shut up!"
"Like the billionaire?"
Shauna spoke up, "Yes, she's not joking. I met him last night. Along with the fiancée." Oh Shauna sometimes I want to make you mute. Maybe I shouldn't have invited her. Although she was keeping the conversation going where it should so maybe I won't kill her later.
"So what's the fiancée story?" Becca asked.
"Part of the reason I was brought back to my father's family was because of a marriage agreement that required a daughter from my fathers family to marry into the Maxwell family."
"Charlotte and Ethan, but what happened to their wedding?"
"It got called off by Charlotte before I met them. Since I was the only one who could fulfill the agreement they brought me in. My father said it was up to me and wouldn't push me to marry against my wishes. So they introduced us a few days before my cruise and Ethan joined Mom and I. We even got to fly on my father's private jet to get there.
"Ethan proposed after the cruise on a beach at sunset. It was so perfect. And I'm sorry I haven't let you know earlier but when we got back they threw an engagement dinner that I literally only had time to change to get to and then yesterday I had to pick my wedding gown and that's when I realized I'm a horrible friend and hadn't told you. So I'm sorry, but I need you to forgive me so you can be my bridesmaids."
"OMG yes we'll do it, but you better not keep things like this from us again!" Emily exclaimed.
"Definitely." Becca agreed. "So I know you said your dad said he wouldn't pressure you but are you sure this is what you want to do?"
"Yes I'm sure." I lowered my voice, the tables near us were empty but I didn't want anyone to be able to hear me, except them. "So you know my secret romance I told you about?" I'd divulged to them I'd had had a boyfriend before when they'd tease me about being celibate. I hadn't told them who but had showed them some of the shared texts and stuff that were on my Ethan phone. They nodded and I continued, "It was him, he broke it off with me because his parents made the agreement with the Gastrells and he couldn't get out of it without major consequences. We're both excited to finally be able to be together but because of the agreement we have to get married soon, and I'm okay with that, but it's just a bit hectic."
"Girl, no wonder you never told us who your secret boyfriend was, we'd never have believed you." Becca said.
"I'm still processing here." Emily said. "So your dad is super rich, you're about to marry your secret love who is one of the country's heartthrobs and you want us" she said motioning to the others "to be in the wedding party?"
"That sounds right." I answered. "I'm still processing too."
"Are you sure we can even come to the wedding?" Emily asked.
"Of course you can! They aren't keeping my friends away! Oh and I have your invites here." I pulled them out and gave them to my friends. "Also I need you to get measured for the bridesmaids dresses."
I pulled out my phone and showed them the pictures of the dress they were going to get. "And please don't worry about cost, my father is paying for all the dresses."
I have them the phone number and address so they could schedule their appointment to get measured. As we ate they asked questions about my trip, and what to expect with the wedding. I loved these girls and was glad they weren't mad at me for dropping all these bombshells on them.