Always the Wedding Planner, Never the Bride by Sandra D. Bricker
Authors: Sandra D. Bricker
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was already pulled far too tight for any sort of escape.
"He's been involved in a hit-and-run. You can't just hide him, Mr. Burkus. We need to call the police and let them decide how best to proceed. Rehab is clearly needed here, but I think the law comes first."
"I told you, we can't do that! But once I have him safely checked into rehab, I'll go to the police myself and tell them the whole story."
Andy looked to Jackson for help.
"Meanwhile, we can't take any chances. No one can know about this, or those paparazzi will be all over him. He'll be like Lindsay Lohan at the airport."
Andy didn't completely understand the reference but, exasperated, he heaved out a sigh. "When can he check in to Betty Ford?"
"The only one of the clinics that can take him is the one in Texas," Burkus explained. "But not for another two weeks. Russell doesn't have two weeks."
"Well, we're not hiding him out for two weeks," Jackson interjected.
"What about something local?" Andy asked.
"I have a buddy who does some work at the Atlanta Treatment Clinic," Jackson told them. "I can give him a call."
Burkus rubbed his forehead in angst-throttled silence.
"Make the call," Andy answered for him. "I'm going to check on our patient."
Two hours later, Andy helped Sean smuggle a sobering Russell Walker out the back door of the clinic and into a waiting car. Using the staff entrance and a freight elevator, they
were able to deliver him to his room at The Tanglewood without further incident. All against Andy's better judgment, of course.
By the time Walker was settled and sleeping, Jackson met up with them in the room, with Sherilyn, Emma, and Fee at his side.
"Two days," he told Burkus forcefully. "The clinic can admit him in two days. Meanwhile, Sean will stand guard at that door 24/7. He is not to go anywhere in this hotel, is that clear?"
Burkus nodded tentatively.
"These are the only three employees who know that he's here aside from myself and my sister. All of his food, towels, and linens will be brought up by one of them."
Burkus nodded at the women. "Thank you."
"But just one peep out of your boy there, just one more escape by balcony, one stroll down the hallway, one more deafening chorus of an Australian folk song, and he won't have time to make it out the front door before the police arrive to pick him up. I hope that's clear."
"Yes."
"I've got you booked into the room next door. And I'm holding you completely responsible. You and Sean aren't to leave his side until you drop him off for treatment."
"All right."
Without another word, Jackson turned away. With one hand on Fee's shoulder and the other at the small of Emma's back, he guided them out of the room.
Sherilyn stood by the armoire in silence. When Andy's eyes met hers and she arched one eyebrow at him, he almost felt like laughing.
"I'll be back to check on him at the end of the day," he told Burkus before he led Sherilyn out the door. Once he closed it, Andy turned to Sean, the other member of Russell's entourage
now posted like an armed sentry. "You've certainly got your hands full."
With a glimmer in his eye, Sean sighed and answered, "Yes, sir."
"Good luck with that."
"Thank you, sir."
A few yards down the hall and a quick right toward the elevator, and Andy poked the call button.
"This place is a zoo. What have we gotten into?" he whispered, and Sherilyn stifled her snickers.
"I'm sure there's a flight back to Chicago within the hour," she offered.
"I think we should be on it."
The Wedding Planner's Ultimate Bridal Checklist
Part II
3-6 Months Before the Wedding:
Wedding Planner:
___ Nail down the menu
___ Choose and book the photographer
___ Choose and book the videographer
___ Finalize the wedding party
___ Provide each member of the wedding party with a detailed list of his or her responsibilities
___ Select and purchase/rent attire for bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girl, ring bearer
___ Select and book the music for the ceremony
"He's been involved in a hit-and-run. You can't just hide him, Mr. Burkus. We need to call the police and let them decide how best to proceed. Rehab is clearly needed here, but I think the law comes first."
"I told you, we can't do that! But once I have him safely checked into rehab, I'll go to the police myself and tell them the whole story."
Andy looked to Jackson for help.
"Meanwhile, we can't take any chances. No one can know about this, or those paparazzi will be all over him. He'll be like Lindsay Lohan at the airport."
Andy didn't completely understand the reference but, exasperated, he heaved out a sigh. "When can he check in to Betty Ford?"
"The only one of the clinics that can take him is the one in Texas," Burkus explained. "But not for another two weeks. Russell doesn't have two weeks."
"Well, we're not hiding him out for two weeks," Jackson interjected.
"What about something local?" Andy asked.
"I have a buddy who does some work at the Atlanta Treatment Clinic," Jackson told them. "I can give him a call."
Burkus rubbed his forehead in angst-throttled silence.
"Make the call," Andy answered for him. "I'm going to check on our patient."
Two hours later, Andy helped Sean smuggle a sobering Russell Walker out the back door of the clinic and into a waiting car. Using the staff entrance and a freight elevator, they
were able to deliver him to his room at The Tanglewood without further incident. All against Andy's better judgment, of course.
By the time Walker was settled and sleeping, Jackson met up with them in the room, with Sherilyn, Emma, and Fee at his side.
"Two days," he told Burkus forcefully. "The clinic can admit him in two days. Meanwhile, Sean will stand guard at that door 24/7. He is not to go anywhere in this hotel, is that clear?"
Burkus nodded tentatively.
"These are the only three employees who know that he's here aside from myself and my sister. All of his food, towels, and linens will be brought up by one of them."
Burkus nodded at the women. "Thank you."
"But just one peep out of your boy there, just one more escape by balcony, one stroll down the hallway, one more deafening chorus of an Australian folk song, and he won't have time to make it out the front door before the police arrive to pick him up. I hope that's clear."
"Yes."
"I've got you booked into the room next door. And I'm holding you completely responsible. You and Sean aren't to leave his side until you drop him off for treatment."
"All right."
Without another word, Jackson turned away. With one hand on Fee's shoulder and the other at the small of Emma's back, he guided them out of the room.
Sherilyn stood by the armoire in silence. When Andy's eyes met hers and she arched one eyebrow at him, he almost felt like laughing.
"I'll be back to check on him at the end of the day," he told Burkus before he led Sherilyn out the door. Once he closed it, Andy turned to Sean, the other member of Russell's entourage
now posted like an armed sentry. "You've certainly got your hands full."
With a glimmer in his eye, Sean sighed and answered, "Yes, sir."
"Good luck with that."
"Thank you, sir."
A few yards down the hall and a quick right toward the elevator, and Andy poked the call button.
"This place is a zoo. What have we gotten into?" he whispered, and Sherilyn stifled her snickers.
"I'm sure there's a flight back to Chicago within the hour," she offered.
"I think we should be on it."
The Wedding Planner's Ultimate Bridal Checklist
Part II
3-6 Months Before the Wedding:
Wedding Planner:
___ Nail down the menu
___ Choose and book the photographer
___ Choose and book the videographer
___ Finalize the wedding party
___ Provide each member of the wedding party with a detailed list of his or her responsibilities
___ Select and purchase/rent attire for bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girl, ring bearer
___ Select and book the music for the ceremony
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