Sweet Renewals and Bitter Tea
The eight-chambered teahouse was truly an architectural marvel. Amber – ingenious as always – went bold. She had built up a rather unique following of scholars and scientists after her and Dan's live reviews in the Mediterranean and Himalayas. Dan and David both encouraged her to create social media pages of her own—and she did.
On her pages, she described what she wanted and said she was told it couldn't be done—not how she wanted. Not only had her followers jumped at the chance to meet such an overt challenge, the challenge itself created more followers. Amber had become a social media influencer overnight.
And all of the suggestions proved invaluable. For each part she took, she gave credit to the person who thought it up. Her rooms, perfectly shaped like petals of a massive flower, were enhanced by a suggested technique to improve the shape and durability of the walls themselves. New texturing techniques were used to give the inner walls the feel of luxurious satin and the outside walls the look and feel of weathered, stained, ancient woods.
Each petal featured a different cultural style and presentation of tea preparation and service. The proposal was planned early in the day—Amber smiling as she finished coordinating things—and the vow renewal was set for that evening.
It seemed like the Blue Serene event management team was working overtime on the preparation, but Amber brushed the thought from her mind. Even when she asked why they were also decorating the lake house, she accepted their explanations of picture opportunities and landscape decorations without much thought—she was just too excited for her best friend and wanted the absolute best for her.
Flowers were everywhere; some floated on the water between the Russian and Japanese rooms, spelling out "Together forever, love David" in dark red and bright white blooms. Huge balloons rested on the surface of the water, ready to raise into the air at any moment.
Amber almost jumped when her phone buzzed in her hand, a text from Dan telling her Cristina and David were there. The Ruse was set. Cristina loved Indian Chai and would enter the teahouse at the Indian and Moroccan junction.
Amber entered the Indian tea room just as there was a loud crash; on cue, she gasped. Cristina turned to her with wide eyes. "I am so sorry, Am. David was just showing me this beautiful plate. I thought it belonged in the Japanese room, and when…"
Amber shook her head. "Don't worry about it. I am sure..."
"No, no, no, Amber. We can put it together."
Amber smiled as her friend went to work, knowing that this is exactly what her friend would do in the given situation. Soon there was a gasp, and Amber's smile widened.
As they put the plate together, beautiful, golden calligraphy revealed itself: "To a life together forever" and the date. Cristina looked to David and then to Amber. No one said a word as David took Cristina out to the lake through the Japanese and Russian tea rooms. There she saw the flowers, and David went down on one knee.
Before the man could speak, Cristina threw herself at him, saying, "Yes, yes!" At the words, jets of water shot up into the air and the balloons shot up with them, releasing then popping and raining biodegradable confetti over the couple and the lake.
David huffed—a bit exasperated—"I didn't even get to ask."
Cristina smiled and giggled; she kissed him. "Yes, you did. Just give me the ring already."
Amber frowned, but before she could refute the statement, Dan was before her, a large blue diamond in an intricate platinum ring setting before her. "She said yes to him a while ago, Amber. All of this was to help me." He lowered to one knee. "Would you marry me again?"
Amber stood in bewildered silence for a long moment. Her eyes darted between Dan, Cristina, and David over and over again. She couldn't make heads or tails of it.
Virginia giggled from her side. "That is a definite yes. Nothing confuses my sister so thoroughly than her own emotion."
Amber exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding and looked at Dan with a bright smile. "She's right. That does mean yes." Dan slid the ring on her finger, and before they could kiss, Cristina and Virginia were pulling her off to get ready. "Wait! Do you mean today?"
"Of course we mean today. You have to choose the dress you want to wear."
"Here at the teahouse?" Amber's voice was dreamy with surprise and longing. And Dan finally exhaled all his nervous energy—the teahouse was the perfect place.
The next two hours were a blur. The event management staff was ready, and everything came together with an astoundingly quick efficiency. Blue, white, and lilac flowers. A floating deck placed for the few spectators. Wide, comfy benches organized for a casual event of splendor. Calvin's restaurant set up a buffet in the English tearoom, and teas from the eight rooms were served along with spirits from each represented culture.
In the lake house, Amber chose a beautiful light blue gown that flared out to the right side and led into a long swirling train. It was extremely extravagant, and she loved it. In turn, Virginia and Cristina would wear soft lilac dresses of lace, chiffon, and satin. Virginia looked to her sister as the hairdresser and makeup artist worked. "Now, what had happened that caused Dan not to want you in heels?"
Before she could answer, Amber's hand drifted to her stomach. It was a subtle movement and most in the room missed it. Most except for the hairdresser and makeup artist who shared a look, and Cristina and Virginia who simply blinked.
Amber blew out a puff of air and looked down. "Don't tell anyone." Tears welled up in her eyes. "I just..."
Virginia was at her side almost instantly. "It's okay. We know. Don't ruin your makeup." She laughed, making Amber laugh.
Cristina admired her ring. "I was in on all of this and still it all surprised me." She looked up to her friend and smiled. "Don't worry. We are all older and wiser. This time will be different."
The wedding was more than expected and went off without a hitch—considering none of them practiced. Amber, Cristina, and Virginia arrived together on a wide, flat boat oared by eight men—the four on the left dressed in light blue and the four on the right dressed in soft lilac.
Amber had been blocked from view until Cristina and Virginia gracefully exited the boat. There were gasps of awe when people saw her. She stepped from the boat and seemed to glide to Dan's side. The vow renewal was quiet and simple, Dan's vows speaking of renewed love and dedication and a promise to always cherish her and continually see her worth.
They kissed, and the reception began. As they danced the first dance, Jessica watched Dan with longing and Amber with seething envy. She was waiting—even as she listened to her siblings praising the renewal of Dan and Amber's union—she bided her time. The weight of the box of tea was light in her purse.
Here—during one of the happiest days of her sister's life—she would reclaim what was hers. She flagged down a server as she pulled the box from her purse. "I have a special present for my sister and brother-in-law. Please brew it in the style of the room for them, but I want to serve it. And keep the box intact to present the tea to them."
The server smiled, nodded, and took the tea to be brewed. Jessica smiled inwardly—not wanting her watching siblings to get suspicious. "I had it specially made for them. After seeing them in the Mediterranean and Himalayas, I had to do something special."
She smiled broadly. Her siblings smiled and nodded, but she could see that not all of them believed her. She shrugged inwardly as she took a sip of her juice. She didn't need to be believed; she just needed to win.