Chapter 2

Tabitha added the last ingredient to her mixing bowl as her doll-for-a-sidekick, Timmy, strutted into the living room dressed in a black tuxedo complete with top hat.

"Doesn't Timmy look sharp?" He said adjusting his hat.

Tabitha turned around with a laugh. "Now where does Timmy think he's going dressed like that?"

"Your looking at the new usher at the Crane wedding!" Timmy said proudly, ending with a twirl.

Tabitha laughed once more. "I think all those martimmys have gotten to your head, Tim-Tim! The high class Ivy Winthrop Crane wouldn't invite someone with stuffing for brains to attend her wedding..."

"Well the truth is, Timmy hasn't tried out yet, but once Ivy catches wind of Timmy's smooth moves, she'll be begging Timmy to usher the wedding." Timmy walked over to the sofa and sat down sipping a new batch of martimmys.

Tabitha glanced into the bowl she had been working with and smiled. "That is if there even is a wedding."

Timmy looked up from his drink. "What does Tabby mean? Timmy's been following it on the news all morning. Ivy Crane has already been looking for a dress. Timmy liked the one with all the bows and lace." Timmy took a pause. "Timmy wonders what Timmy's bride's dress will look like."

"Stop fantasizing about your little Bride of Chucky, and listen Tim-Tim." Tabitha scolded. "I've been following her wedding plans too, but they seem a little different in private then they are in public. It seems that Ivy has different plans. Plans to snag our dear neighbor Sam Bennett."

"Ivy can't take Sam, he loves Grace!"

"Well, he's not so sure now." Tabitha said walking to the window. "See, see Timmy, look there." Tabitha said lifting Timmy up to look into the Bennett's backyard.

"It's Sam, but, what's he looking at? Timmy doesn't understand. He's just staring into space."

Tabitha put Timmy down. "Your guess is as good as mine. He's off thinking about his days when he was in Ivy's arms." She said emphasizing the name Ivy. "He doesn't realize that's exactly what the woman wants. Now that's where we come in, along with Jessica Bennett that is."

"Jessica is jealous of Kay for being in the wedding, right?"

"She is completely green with envy of her big sister and with my help, Jessica is going to push her own father into Ivy's arms." Tabitha stared into the bowl where she could see Jessica sitting alone in her room.

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Jessica finished brushing her short dark hair and picked up a photo of herself with Kay. "She always did have the nicer hair." Jessica angrily said slamming down the frame. "But why did Ivy have to ask-"

Jessica was cut off by the door opening. Kay's tall figure paraded in, carrying a long dress bag. "Jess, you have to see this!" She said with a huge grin on her face. "It's incredible! My bridesmaid dress!" Kay swept the bag off the dress to reveal a seagreen, flowing, strapless gown. "This is the most gorgeous dress... oh, oh, but you should see it on me!" Kay thought for a moment and then corrected herself, "Forget about you; wait 'til Miguel sees it on me! I can see it now: Mrs. Crane will see the love between Miguel and I, and she'll step aside and let us get married."

"Well, I just saw Miguel head out to Dune Point with Charity." Jessica said with an evil glint in her eye.

"What! Harmony's make out spot! I didn't even think Charity new about that place." Kay screamed, dropping the dress.

A smile crept across Jessica's face as she picked up the fallen dress. "She didn't, but I decided to it was only polite for me to inform her."

Kay was horrified and grabbed the gown from her sister. "I can't believe you! I have been trying to be a decent sister and you go and backstab me like that!" She sat down on the bed and decided to try a different approach. "But after the wedding," Kay began sweetly, "Miguel, along with every boy in Harmony- no, every boy in New England will know who I am. And you, Jessica, will just be my little sister."

Jessica threw her chair backwards and pushed at Kay as she left the room. She made her way downstairs and into the living room.

"Are you alright?" Grace said, glass of milk in hand.

Jessica smiled at the thought of her mother taking interest in her. "Well, actually no. It's about Ivy and Julian's wedding-"

"I know, isn't it wonderful for Kay. Oh this will definitely be good for her in the future. Maybe she'll even be invited to Sheridan's wedding. And, who knows, maybe a royal one. The Cranes have a lot of connections." Grace smiled.

"Mom, that's not-"

Jessica was cut off by a ding from the kitchen. Grace stood up from the sofa. "We'll talk later, but those are my cookies for the carnival."

A disappointed, but mostly angry Jessica slouched down on the couch.

"Oh, but could you run a plate of them over to Tabitha's when they're done." Grace called from the kitchen.

"Whatever." Was the only reply from Jessica.

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The delivery men had finished piling the boxes into the Crane living room. Ivy, Pilar and Theresa stared them over.

"Sure are a lot of boxes Mrs. Crane." Theresa smiled. "And this is only for the reception."

"I thought this would stop a lot sooner." Ivy mumbled to herself. "This is way out of hand."

"Pardon me, Mrs. Crane?" Theresa asked, moving a box off a chair and sitting down.

Ivy snapped out of her dream state and looked at the dark-haired girl. "Umm, nothing, I'm just so... happy. I never got to plan my last wedding, it was all so... sudden."

Pilar sensed what Ivy was feeling and asked Theresa to leave for a moment to sign for the packages. Theresa left as she was asked and Ivy felt uncomfortable.

"Ivy, it is very clear to me what you have been trying to do, and I told you it was not going to work."

"Oh spare me another lecture Pilar. If I was actually 'planning' something, I'd have more than one part to my plan. A back up plan, shall we call it?" Ivy grinned smelling the jasmine perfume she had ordered in for the wedding.

"You are headed for deep trouble, Ivy, and maybe it would be the best if you called off this wedding." Pilar advised.

"What is she talking about, Ivy?" A voice from behind the two women asked curiously. Julian had just entered the room. He approached his wife and rubbed her shoulders. "Why does our lowly servant want to call off this years' biggest wedding?"

Ivy turned to glare at her husband, but decided against it. "Oh, Pilar is just worried that Ethan and Gwen's wedding won't be able to live up to our own." She finished sweetly.

Julian took Ivy in his arms and smiled. "Is that all because I am so looking forward to this, especially our second honeymoon."

Ivy couldn't take much more of it, but she knew she had to. "Pilar would you excuse us." She said and Pilar sighed and left. "Now, what were you saying darling?"

"I was telling you how much I couldn't wait until our wedding day. How about we go out to dinner? The Seascape sound alright?"

Ivy wasn't really up to going to dinner but never the less she replied, "Sounds wonderful, Julian."

He smiled and bounded off.

Ivy continued going through the boxes. She found the invitations and took one over to her desk. With a calligraphy ink pen she scrawled:

To Mr. and Mrs. Sam Bennett,
You are cordially invited to attend the wedding of
Mr. and Mrs. Julian Crane

She signed her name along with Julian's at the bottom. "This one is special. It must be delivered immediately." She said to herself. "I'll take it down to the Bennett's right now."

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Jessica tramped heavily through the gate to the Lennox House. She knocked on the door and listened closely to the shuffling inside. the door opened and Tabitha stood there... doll in hand.

"Jessica, what a pleasant surprise! Oh and you've brought cookies, my favorite kind." Tabitha said taking the plate and leading the girl inside.

"Well, they're from my mom."

Tabitha beamed. "Oh, Grace, such a dear. She must be a saint for a mother. Always putting everybody before herself-"

"Including me." Jessica muttered under her breath. "I just ran them over, I can't really stay."

"Oh, do you have a wedding rehearsal to go to?" Tabitha put on a sweet innocent smile and continued, "Silly me. That's Kay who's in the big Crane wedding, isn't it?"

Jessica nodded and stared at the floor.

"Kay will make such a lovely bridesmaid don't you think?" Tabitha tested, striding on thin ice.

"We've already discussed this Tabitha. Now, I really must be going." Jessica decided she didn't want to hear anyone else praise Kay, but what could she really do? It'll be even worse after the big event. And then Kay could even be a model, or worse- what if Miguel fell for her! No that's crazy talk. But the truth was clear, after the wedding, there would be no more Jessica and Kay. It would only be Kay Bennett.

"You drifted off." Tabitha called out. "Before you go to 'wherever' let me make you a cup of tea to perk you up. That way you won't be so tired and you'll be able to focus."

Before Jessica could protest Tabitha was in the kitchen. She set Timmy down on the counter and turned the kettle on.

"Oh Timmy!" The witch cried out excitedly. "Timmy, did you see me in action! Jessica is really starting to think about what she can do to stop the wedding."

Timmy shook his head. "Timmy doesn't think that Jessica COULD stop the wedding!"

"Ooh, but that's where we come in Tim-Tim! I have the most wonderful plan. It'll destroy the Cranes and the Bennetts. Bye-bye, Sam and grace; bye-bye Ivy and Julian; bye-bye Jessica and Kay." Tabitha clapped her hands like a seal with a new ball. She dug under the counter of the kitchen and pulled out an old box. After a few seconds of digging she pulled out a yellowed old photo.

Timmy took the picture and stared at it. "What a looker." He whistled at the photo. "Who is..." Timmy's mouth dropped. "Timmy's princess isn't going to show this photo to Jessica, is she?!"

"Not quite Timmy." Tabitha smiled taking the photo back. "Jessica will find this photo of her oh-so-perfect daddy, with Crane matriarch Ivy and I know something will start formulating in her head. What a mess this will make!"

Tabitha left Timmy on the counter and wrapped the photo up in a tea towel. Tabitha made her way back into the living room, and gave the tea towel to Jessica. "Jessica dear, could you wash this towel for me, my water is broken and I simply must have it for a dinner party tonight."

"Okay, sure." Jessica said as Tabitha ushered her out the door. "But, what about the tea?"

"Another day, dear!" And with that, Tabitha shut the door behind her. "Mission accomplished."

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