Page 27 of Your Fan Forever

Recognition hit me. She looked different without her headset buried in her blond hair. She was the woman running round all over the place at Kate and Preston’s wedding. I never had the chance to meether.

“Oh please. I was a nightmare,” Katesaid.

“Not at all.” Brenda turned to me. “You must beCallie.”

Inodded.

“Yes. This is Callie Blake,” Kate said. “She’s Noah Patrick’s soon to bebride.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Noah is gorgeous. You snagged you a good one.” Brenda leaned in and gave me an awkwardhug.

I patted her back and tried not to sneeze from the smell of fur and pineappleshampoo.

“It’s nice to meetyou.”

Brenda pulled up a chair and motioned for the waiter who stood near by. “Can I have a glass of rosé,please?”

The waiter nodded andleft.

“So. I only have a few minutes, but when Kate said you would be in Aspen this week, too. I figured its fate. I’d love to work withyou.”

“On what?” I scrunched mynose.

“On your wedding of course.” She grabbed myhand.

“Surprise.” Kate said with her hands wideopen.

“My wedding,” Isaid.

“Yes. I know you haven’t much time to work out what you want, but Brenda is amazing and she can pull anything off. She is the anti bride wedding magician.” Kate clapped herhands.

“Anti-bride?” Who said I was anti-bride?

“That’s how I was. I didn’t have a clue about how to plan a wedding. Had no clue what I wanted. Brenda took care of everything. And it was beautiful,right?”

I stared at the two ofthem.

“It was beautiful, right?” Kate said her eyeswide.

“Oh. Yes. Yourvwedding was amazing.” I reached for more bread. “This is just premature. I mean. I’ve been engaged for days. I haven’t even told my familyyet.”

“You haven’t told your family.” Brenda said, the judgment thick in hervoice.

“No. I haven’tit.”

“Well, that’s okay.” She patted myhand.

“Thankyou.”

“Hey, Callie. I’m sorry. I just thought since Brenda was here you’d want to meet her. It’s no big deal. You’re not ready, yet. That’sokay.”

Again with the okay’s. I shut my eyes and counted to three. My whole body prickled with anger and anxiety. I tried to remaincalm.

“Brenda. How’s LA?” Kate asked. A not so obvious change ofsubject.

I opened my eyes and ignored the concerned looks on their faces as they tried to talk about anything else besides my upcomingwedding.