Cake

One minute she was all sweetness and light, practicing a vow to “love, honor, and cherish till death do us part.” The next, she was screeching like a banshee as they entered the rehearsal dinner dining room.

“I. Asked. For. Chocolate. CAKE. Not. Chocolate. Icing.”

Her lips barely moved as she spoke, teeth gritted against the transgression. Her eyes were wide and laser-focused on the tower of confection on the table in front of her.

Tom knew that banshees herald death in Gaelic folklore. He sensed that the prediction was about to come true unless he could calm his bride-to-be down.

“Sweetheart.” He curled his arm around her waist and gently turned her to face him. “Focus on my face.”

Lana struggled against his arm. She wanted to destroy that cake and whatever moron had made it.

“It looks like a pile of shit.”

She dropped her voice just above a whisper and pierced his eyes with hers, almost daring him to disagree.

Tom leaned in and kissed her, lightly at first, then deepening the kiss as she responded to him. He could feel her relax into his embrace as he softly stroked the silky hair on the back of her head.

It calmed them both to be in each other’s arms. But Tom knew they had guests and he couldn’t just keep kissing her forever.

“You go have a seat, darling. I’ll talk with the kitchen staff and get this corrected. Now, give me a smile?”

She did, and he held her chair while she arranged the silk taffeta folds of her dress to drape as she sat down. She was graceful even under stress.

He gave her shoulder a slight affectionate squeeze before he sought out Lana’s sister to sit next to her and keep her distracted. Then he went to look for the manager of the banquet hall.

“How ya holdin’ up, Sis?” Sara’s arm slid across Lana’s shoulder and lightly squeezed. Forcing a smile for her younger sister and drawing deep cleansing breaths to control her panic, Lana looked around the table. Her closest family and friends had all gathered to help the happy couple get a good start on their life together. People mingled about the room, renewing neglected bonds and forming new ones with Tom’s family. Only one person was missing tonight.

Janeen’s flight from Denver had been delayed due to a winter storm, so she wouldn’t be arriving until morning. They’d been best friends since grade school, and Lana couldn’t imagine taking this big step without Janeen. They’d made a pinky swear when they were 12 to be the maid of honor for each other’s weddings.

Lana fidgeted slightly, a sudden chill coursing down her spine. What if Janeen couldn’t make it at all? The snow might not let up in time, or the plane might skid off the runway, killing all the passengers.

In the nick of time, Tom returned to the table. His touch calmed Lana’s thoughts. She breathed a heavy sigh, knowing she could handle any crisis with Tom by her side.

His breath stirred the hair just behind her ear as he lowered his mouth to speak directly into it.

“The caterers mixed up the rooms. Our cake is across the hall. They will fix it immediately.”

He moved to his chair next to hers. His smile radiated confidence and warmth. Lana touched his cheek with the palm of her hand, love shining in her eyes.

Rehearsal dinner proceeded with no more drama. The chocolate frosted cake was discreetly replaced with a shimmering white one. Geode crystals in shades of purple tumbled down one side of it, catching the light and reflecting it back. This was a nod to Tom’s being a geologist.

Many toasts were offered, including ones from each of their parents and from the best man. Janeen had even phoned in to make her toast from the airport lobby.

At the end of the evening, Lana was exhausted. Tom walked her to her hotel room door. Her sister stood there, a look of consternation on her face.

“I have some news you’re not going to like, big sis.”

Lana locked her fingers around Tom’s bicep in a death grip, fearing the worst. Her gut told her someone had died.

“Janeen’s flight was canceled again. The earliest commercial flight will get her here only minutes before the reception is set to begin.”

Tom’s arm went around Lana just before she sagged to the floor.

“Janeen insisted that you not change a thing on her account. She will find another way to get here in time. In fact, she already has a lead on a plan.”

“Thanks for the update. I’ll see you at breakfast.”

Tom stroked Lana’s hair and asked if she’d like him to stay. The couple had chosen to follow old traditions, so they weren’t planning to share a bed tonight as they normally did.

“No. I love you for asking. But I’ll be fine.”

“Can’t wait to see you in the morning then.”

Tom dropped a kiss lightly on her cheek and headed down the hall to his room.

Crawling into bed, Lana quickly texted Tom a string of hearts and kiss emojis then clicked off the light. It didn’t take her long to drift off to sleep.

She smelled the sweetness of the chocolate before she saw the slice of cake. Freshly cut and placed on the plate, it gave off a scent that would make even the most disciplined of eaters want to indulge. A fork rested next to the slice on the clear crystal dessert plate.

But as she sliced into the cake to get a bite, the entire dessert liquified and ran off the edge of the table into her lap. The sound of an airplane overhead roused her from sleep.

Lana sat straight up in bed, her eyes wide and her breathing heavy. She looked around the room and found no evidence that a cake had ever been on her bedside table.

It was just a dream, she reassured herself. But she also knew dreams carry symbolism. Chocolate cake in dreams usually signals a sweet reward. So why had hers melted away? Was she about to lose her reward? Or maybe she didn’t deserve the reward in the first place?

She was also mystified by the airplane. The hotel was not even close to an airport. But she’d distinctly heard airplane engines. Did an airplane steer off course in the middle of the night?

Suddenly dread overcame her. If her reward was Janeen, and Janeen was flying in overnight, then the dream meant something had happened to Janeen. Grabbing her throat, she gasped.

This can’t be happening.

She grabbed her phone and texted Tom.

I need you now. I don’t care about tradition. I need to see you before the ceremony.

Paralyzed with fear, Lana sat in her bed. Her knees were pulled up to her chest, arms wrapped around her shins.

A light knock on her door interrupted her reverie. She padded over to open it, wondering why Tom didn’t just use the spare key.

But when she opened the door and saw Janeen’s face, she squealed with relief and threw her arms around her best friend.

“I’ve missed you too, Lana.”