Callum & Harper (Sleepless 1)

I laughed into the back of my hand. She was so right and very cute.

“Alright,” Cherry said, her eyes bright, rubbing her hands together conspiratorially. “Cross’s girlfriend, Linda, works at that bakery on Ninth. She’ll whip something up for us. She’s fantastic by the way,” Cherry said, turning to me. “Is there any flavor you’d prefer?”

“I don’t care but I know that Callum’s favorite is lemon.”

All the girls smiled slowly at me. I’d surprised myself with that one, blushing a crimson red.

“Okay, we’ll have to scrounge up a suit for Callum but that shouldn’t be too difficult. Can we think of anything else?” Cherry asked us.

“Flowers?” I said without thinking. I slapped my hand over my mouth, making the girls burst out laughing.

“Tie-Dye Tom has that one,” Marty said absently.

“Seriously?” I asked.

“Yeah, he works in the flower market mornings. That’s his day job. He’s really talented, too. I told him so once and he told me he’d kill me if I ever said anything like that out loud again. Oops.” Kelly giggled and we all followed suit.

“Alright, good work girls. We’ve got a dress, cake, reception venue, pretty lights,” Cherry said, winking at Kelly, “flowers. Marty, who’s that photographer ex of yours again?”

“Oh, Eric?”

“Think you could...?”

“Oh, he’s so there. We’re still friends.” I could also tell she wished it was still more.

“The Bowery will provide the tunes,” she jested, elbowing me softly. “Do you have a song, Harper?”

I was caught off guard to realize that we did. “Please Don’t Go by Barcelona.”

“Oh yeah,” all three girls sighed before bursting into laughter again.

“I’ll tell Van,” Marty said. “Gah! I almost forgot! Van said, as a wedding gift, he’d provide, and I quote, ‘a few morsels and some bubbly’.”

“I almost forgot!” Kelly chimed in suddenly. “We’ll get Tom to play his acoustic for the processional.”

I almost cried at everyone’s generosity. I wanted to bolt from the room and tell Callum we couldn’t take advantage of them like that but knew it was what we had to do in order to live and for John never to be able to find me. I didn’t have a choice and my heartfelt oddly light and heavy all at the same time. What a riddle.

“What time is the ceremony?” Cherry asked

“Three p.m. We’re the only marriage he has that day,” I said.

“We’ll get the judge to meet us at The Bowery then.”

“I doubt he’ll do that,” I said. “Why? Do you know someone who knows someone?”

They all laughed.

“No,” Cherry said, “but never underestimate the power of a red head.” She winked devilishly and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“I’d love to see you pull it off,” I teased.

“What’s his name?” She asked.

“Judge Ryder.”

“Just let me handle it,” she said and somehow I believed she’d do it.

“We’re done,” Cherry said, slapping her hands together in a swiping motion. “See? Harmless.”