Chapter 7: The Runaway Bride
The bridal suite at the Morning Dew Resort was a whirlwind of silk, lace, and panic. Ava stood in the middle of the chaos, her clipboard clutched tightly in one hand while the other tried to calm an increasingly hysterical bride. The faint scent of lavender from the flower arrangements mingled with the sharp tang of hairspray, creating an atmosphere of barely controlled frenzy.
"I can’t do this!" Allison, the bride, wailed, her veil askew and her mascara smudged from crying. She paced back and forth in her elaborate gown, the layers of tulle swishing dramatically with every step. "I’m not ready to marry Colin!"
Ava resisted the urge to groan. She had spent months planning this wedding, working closely with Allison and her mother to ensure every detail was perfect. And now, with mere minutes to go before the ceremony, the bride was having second thoughts.
"Allison," Ava said, her voice calm but firm, "take a deep breath. This is just pre-wedding jitters. Every bride feels this way."
Allison shook her head vehemently. "No, this is more than jitters. I don’t think I love him."
The room fell silent. Ava’s assistant, Lily, who had been fussing with the veil, froze mid-adjustment. The bridesmaids exchanged nervous glances, and Ava felt her pulse quicken.
"Okay," Ava said, carefully setting down her clipboard. "Let’s talk about this. Why do you think you don’t love Colin?"
Allison sank onto the chaise lounge, burying her face in her hands. "He’s... fine. But he doesn’t make my heart race, you know? He doesn’t challenge me. And then there’s Bryce..."
Ava’s stomach sank. "Bryce?"
"The florist," Allison admitted, her voice muffled. "We’ve been texting. A lot. And... I think I might be in love with him."
Lily’s eyes widened, and one of the bridesmaids gasped. Ava pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to suppress the rising wave of frustration. Of course, this couldn’t be a normal wedding. That would be too easy.