Chapter 30: Unexpected Guests

They had precisely four days to get ready for the most straightforward wedding either of them had ever organised, as the courthouse wedding was set for Thursday morning at ten-thirty. On Wednesday morning, Grace awoke to the sound of a persistent knock on their flat door. Max's voice came from the kitchen, expressing uncertainty over who could be paying them a visit at seven in the morning.

With a tone that suggested he was already mentally listing possible emergency situations, he yelled, "Grace, are you expecting anyone?"

She retorted, "No," putting on a robe and stumbling to the front door. She saw a familiar figure through the peephole, carrying what looked like a small luggage and numerous food bags.

She told Max, "It's Lyla," and he instantly displayed a mixture of delight and worry.

Lyla, Grace's elder sister, had a knack for showing up at the exact times when her presence would provide the most nuance. She was prosperous, well-meaning, and utterly unable to comprehend why other people did not value her beneficial interventions in their private lives.

When Grace opened the door, she saw Lyla Chen standing in the hallway, her bright smile saved for family members she was about to rearrange, and her flawlessly arranged vacation attire.

"Surprise!" With the assurance of someone who had never questioned her acceptance anywhere, Lyla declared as she swept into the flat. "I came as soon as I heard about the wedding."

"How did you hear about the wedding?" Max enquired, emerging from the kitchen with a coffee mug and wearing a cautious look.

"Elena shared a post about organising a celebratory party on social media. When I finally connected the dots, I saw that you were most likely acting impulsively and without much planning. After putting her bags on the counter, Lyla started unpacking her things which seemed like enough food to feed a small army. "Don't worry, I'm here to help."

Grace and Max exchanged eyes that spoke a lot about how couples evolve after cohabitating.

Grace's response was, "She means well, but our simple wedding just got complicated." Max's look was, "I love my sister, but this is exactly what we were trying to avoid."

Max accepted the inevitable while attempting to set limits. "Lyla, we appreciate the thought, but we specifically planned a small courthouse ceremony to keep things simple," he added.

"Of course you did, because you're practical people who don't understand that some moments deserve to be celebrated properly." The ingredients for what appeared to be enough food for a dinner party were revealed as Lyla proceeded to unload the goods. "Which is why I'm here to make sure your wedding day feels special even if the ceremony is simple."

"What exactly are you planning?" Grace enquired, spotting the telltale symptoms of someone who has formed complex plans based more on conjecture than on real consultation.

"I swear, nothing too much. Only a traditional wedding breakfast prior to the ceremony, followed by a short dinner with the most important people. Your father is coming down this afternoon, Grace, and I've already called him. Max's college buddy, Matt Jackson, told me he wouldn't miss it for the world when I reached out to him.

Max used more force than was necessary to put down his coffee mug. "Lyla, we wanted the ceremony to be private, so we didn't invite anyone. Only the two of us.

"You can't get married without your family being there, Max. 

"You can't get married without your family being there, Max. 

It isn't organic. Furthermore, if I allowed you to elope without at least trying to plan a suitable party, your parents would never forgive me."

Grace sensed that her meticulously planned, straightforward wedding was starting to grow out of control, but she saw from Lyla's sincere expression that Max's sister was attempting to communicate her love in the only way she knew how. For Lyla, love entailed careful preparation, well-coordinated activities, and ensuring that significant occasions were given the attention they needed.

"What did you tell our parents?" Max's tone was one of resignation, as if he already knew the response would make everything more complicated.

"I informed them that although you had arranged a private ceremony, you would be hosting a little celebration following your wedding on Thursday morning. This afternoon, they will arrive by plane.

"This afternoon?"

"I secured a room for them at the nearby hotel. We will have the ideal opportunity to enjoy a lovely family lunch before the wedding since they will arrive by dinnertime."

As Grace sat at their dining table, she tried to make sense of the fact that their small courthouse wedding had turned into a family get-together with at least six more guests, intricate meal preparation, and the complicated relationships that arose from combining two families that had never met.

"Lyla," she said with care, "we chose a courthouse ceremony specifically to avoid the stress of coordinating family expectations and social obligations."

"Your wedding day shouldn't be impersonal, though. Certain customs are in place not only because they are expected but also because they add significance to significant occasions.

Reaching for Grace's hand in solidarity, Max sat down at the table with her. "What if we desired an impersonal wedding? What if we favoured privacy and quiet over significance and detail?

"Then, rather than organising a ceremony and a celebration party, you would have secretly

eloped. You recognise that marriage is a community event rather than only a personal decision, as seen by your willingness to celebrate later.

Even if Lyla's tactics were intimidating, Grace understood that she had a point. They wanted to share their joy with those they cared about, so they had organised a celebration party. Lyla was merely advancing that schedule and adding more guests in accordance with her personal definition of a suitable party.

"How many people are we talking about?" Grace enquired, starting to figure out whether Lyla's plans could fit in their tiny flat.

"Just close friends and relatives. The people who should represent your everyday neighbourhood are your father, Max's parents, Matt Jackson, Elena, if she can make it here in time, and Mrs. Chen from next door, who has been incredibly wonderful to you both."

"Mrs. Liv," Max automatically corrected. "The elderly woman next door is Mrs. Liv, not Mrs. Chen."

"Mrs. Liv, naturally. When I was making arrangements yesterday, I chatted with her, and she was thrilled to be involved. She said she has been seeing the growth of your relationship and is really interested in your well-being.

Grace was both overwhelmed and touched. Mrs. Liv had, in fact, been a silent observer of their relationship, occasionally giving guidance and consistently showing sincere concern for their well-being. Even if things turned out to be more complicated than they had anticipated, it felt natural to include her.

"What about David Park?" Lyla went on, looking at a list she had taken out of her purse. "Elena mentioned him as someone important in your life, Grace."

"David isn't……..we're not…….he's just someone I dated briefly," Grace remarked, her cheeks starting to flush. "He has nothing to do with my wedding to Max."

"Oh," said Lyla, looking truly perplexed. "Elena made it sound like he was significant."

With a hint of humour at the misunderstanding, Max clarified, "Elena has been attempting to arrange a double date for months, but Grace isn't interested."

"Well, that can be fixed with ease. I'll inform him that there was a miscommunication regarding the invitation.

Grace found herself reflecting on the various ways individuals showed concern as Lyla carried on planning what was quickly turning into a large family get-together.

Lyla defined love as organising, planning, and ensuring that key events received the attention

they deserved. It was intimidating and presumptuous, but it was also generous and well-intended.

"Lyla," Grace said, "Thank you for everything you are doing. But can we make an agreement? A small dinner tonight with just family, a plain breakfast tomorrow morning, and then the legal ceremony with everyone who wants to participate?"

"And the celebration even Elena was organizing?"

"Still happening, but in a few weeks when we've had time to actually plan it properly."

Lyla pondered this plan, clearly assessing whether it fit her criteria for an appropriate wedding celebration. 

"It could work. As long as someone takes appropriate shots at the courthouse and at least one meal feels formal."

"Deal," Max replied, rising up to thank Lyla. "Thank you for caring enough to interfere in our wedding plans."

"Thank you for being gracious enough to let me help make your wedding day special."

As Lyla started unloading goods and planned menus, Grace realised their simple wedding was becoming more complex, but maybe more significant. 

They would still have the quiet ceremony they desired, but they would also benefit from the family support and community celebration that made marriage feel like a shared commitment rather than a personal choice.

The phone rang, disrupting her thoughts. Max responded, and she could hear Elena's voice through the speaker, equal parts excited and sorry.

"I can't believe Lyla called your parents without first checking with you, but I have to confess, I'm happy that someone is making your wedding day special. I was concerned that you were being overly practical about something that deserved a little ceremony.

"You think we need more celebration?" Grace enquired, taking the phone from Max.

"I believe you deserve whatever makes you happy. If it's a courthouse ceremony followed by takeaway, that's fine. If it's a little family get together with good pictures and your father's expected speech, that's okay. But I think you'll regret it later if you don't start the occasion in some way."

After Elena hung up, Grace began to doubt their original strategy. Perhaps Lyla's involvement was not wholly unwelcome. Perhaps having a family present would make their engagement feel more genuine, permanent, and tied to the bonds that had shaped them both.

"Max," she asked, watching him help his sister organise supplies for what appeared to be an extravagant supper, "are you okay with all of this?" The family gathering, the larger guest list, the complexity we were attempting to avoid?"

Max paused while sorting veggies to contemplate the question. "I am fine with it if you are. Lyla has good intentions, and she may be correct that sometimes we need more attention than we intended to give them."

"Even if it's not the wedding we originally wanted?"

"It's still the wedding we want, only with more people to celebrate with us. The crucial part…….you and I deciding to build a life together…….has not altered."