A Forever Love(27)

“I see.” Aubrey maintained her smile. She would not be drawn in to Mrs. Kessler’s battle, a battle that Aubrey felt certain had more to do with her son’s soon-to-be wedding and not the extravagance of Rockwater Farms.

“My son seems to be quite taken with the idea of throwing money away after this girl. A thousand dollars here, a thousand dollars there, fifty thousand dollars for a wedding reception.” Mrs. Kessler’s nostrils flared at the abject horror of what she thought was the price. Which it wasn’t. Not even a third of what the Tylers were paying for their daughter to marry Mrs. Kessler’s son.

“Do you know how much student-loan debt a surgical resident carries?” Mrs. Kessler asked.

“Indeed, I do not,” Aubrey said. Although she did know from Chellsie that not only would Brian not be carrying that debt once the wedding took place, but he would be a homeowner as well. The Tylers were very proud of their daughter and soon-to-be son-in-law and wanted them started off well.

“A pretty penny,” Mrs. Kessler said. “And now this?” She waved her hands around the hallway of Rockwater Farms. “This horrendous extravagance they’re calling a wedding? How can these children possibly afford all this?”

Aubrey maintained her smile. Oh dear, did the woman honestly believe that Brian and Chellsie were paying for the entire wedding? Aubrey was not about to step into the middle of those family politics. This was between the bride, the groom, and their respective parents.

“Mrs. Kessler, what would you like me to do?”

“You can tell them no.”

“No?”

“Yes, tell them no, that they cannot have the wedding here at this horrendously expensive location.” She stepped forward and lowered her voice. “You should be ashamed of what you charge people. For food? And a location? I can’t believe anyone is willing to pay it.”

Aubrey took a deep breath and repositioned her smile. There was no win here; however, she could, very discreetly, mention to Chellsie’s mother part, if not all, of this conversation with Mrs. Kessler.

“Mrs. Kessler, I’m sorry that you feel that way; however, the location has been booked for nearly a year, and if Brian and Chellsie should wish to move the wedding, then I’d need to speak to them.”

“Really? How absolutely impertinent of you. I’m Brian’s mother, and I am telling you that they cannot have this wedding.” She took a deep breath and her eyes flitted about the hall. And then almost as an afterthought— “Here. They cannot have the wedding here.”

“I do understand, Mrs. Kessler, I certainly do. And please, if Brian and Chellsie would like to discuss a change of venue, have them ring me as I’m happy to help them any way I can. It’s my primary goal, as I’m sure it is yours, that Brian and Chellsie enjoy and cherish their special day.”

Mrs. Kessler sucked in her cheeks, and again her nostrils flared. Aubrey’s words appeared to be most unacceptable to the woman.

“Would you like to rejoin them for cake?”

“At ten dollars a slice?”

Aubrey fought the urge to giggle. Poor Mrs. Kessler, the change she was about to face seemed nearly too much for her to bear. Chellsie’s parents were being very generous with regards to their daughter, but they were very successful. A wedding at Rockwater Farms was expensive, but Chellsie and her mother had been planning the event for well over a year. With one last huff of air, Mrs. Kessler turned on her heel and marched toward the main dining room.

“What was that about?” Nina walked from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel.

“Seems Mrs. Kessler is having some difficulty with the idea of her son getting married.”

“Mrs. Kessler has difficulty with everything all the time,” Nina whispered. “That woman is sour. Always looks like she’s been sucking on limes.”

“Stop.” The giggle she’d held back while speaking with Mrs. Kessler slipped from her mouth. Thank goodness for Nina. Aubrey always had someone to talk to, a person she could trust not to repeat what she said. In a small town, having a sister who understood the words discretion and secret was pure gold. “Bob needs to talk to you about sweet butter grass.”

Nina nodded. “And Dad needs to talk to you … about I don’t know what. He just called on the landline.”

Aubrey’s brows furrowed. “Dad?”

Dad never called during the day. On occasion he might swing by the kitchen to drop off a new wood project or if he knew that Nina was preparing fresh ravioli for the evening service, because Nina’s fresh ravioli was Dad’s absolute favorite.