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There was a e from his mother when he returned to his apart he’d learned about Charlotte’sto return his , he reached for the phone His lad you called! I have so much to tell you I talked to Taylor and Christy and they’ve both agreed to coine what a day I’ve had," his mother continued, her voice animated "I called Barbara Johnson, you remember Barbara, h school together a thousand years ago"

"Mom…"

"Let me finish" With barely a pause to breathe, she went on, "Barbara was the one who got things started She suggested we contact the yacht club right away and book a date for the reception They’re booked at least a year in advance A year, I told myself I know you, Jason, and when you’re ready to do so, you don’t want to wait an entire year Barbara was right The earliest date was August the year after next I can tell you, I was shocked I had no idea we’d need to book the reception so early"

"Reception? What reception?" Jason was starting to get a frightening prenored his question "That’s when I learned there’d been a cancellation in July This July! I couldn’t believe our luck Naturally I booked it that very instant Then I contacted the caterers and, as luck would have it, they agreed to do the dinner, although it’s only three weeks’ notice Three weeks, Jason Three weeks It sounds crazy to even atte to pull it off without a hitch"

Jason’s vague pre about?" he asked with growing anxiety

Once again his arded his question "That’s when I phoned Taylor and Christy They both called back to say they’re co They’ve already , and Mandy, too Ree now, you know"

"Co? To what, Mother?" Jason dee to Charlotte What else would I be talking about, for heaven’s sake?"

Ten

"Mother, have you gone stark, raving er "How can you set a wedding date and hire caterers when I haven’t even mentioned it to Charlotte? This is insane" He rubbed his face, wondering if he’d iined this entire fiasco

"Your father warned ry, but, Jason, I know you Once you and Charlotte decide to marry, you won’t want to wait two years"

"Mom, I don’t suppose it dawned on you that there are other places we could have a wedding reception--if ere actually having one The yacht club isn’t the only venue in this town"

"Frankly, no, it didn’t occur toto have one for, and the yacht club’s the best alternative"

Jason could see he was losing ground "Let ht, just a minute"

That minute seemed to take an hour By the tiry as he’d ever been The instant he heard Eric pick up the receiver, he shouted, "Has Mother gone crazy? Have you? How could you let things go this far?"

His father chuckled, apparently aree with you," his father said breezily, "your one a little crazy"

"Dad, listen, I know you and Mo the reception, talking to florists, I can’t believe you’d allow Moet, she’s involved Taylor and Christy, as well That’s when I thought she’d stepped over the line You haven’t even asked Charlotte tobridesmaids’ dresses By the way, I don’t suppose she told you about the honeyift to you"

Jason clenched his fist at his side and closed his eyes, trying to calm himself It didn’t work The situation was absurd And he was beginning to see that his father was in on this nonsense "Teeks in Hawaii…Taylor and Christy choosing bridesone off the deep end"

"To your mother’s credit, she didn’t intend for this to happen It just did I know you’re upset now, and to be honest, I don’t blaet used to the idea, it doesn’t sound so ludicrous"

Get used to the idea, Jason hteousness?" He could barely speak

"Answer me this Are you in love with Charlotte?"

"Yes" That iven--he’d already told his parents so

"Do you intend to ask her to marry you?"

His dad knew the answer to that, too "Yes…eventually, into oing to do it in three weeks!"

"Three weeks, three months, what’s the difference?"

Jason couldn’t believe it His father was talking pure craziness