Always the Designer, Never the Bride (6 page)

"Not long. My flight arrived at 8:50, and Carly answered your cell when I called. Oh, and she told me to tell you not to worry about the spa thing this morning. She's going, and you should stay here so we can work. But—" Kat squinted her eyes as she recalled Carly's exact words. "—don't think you're getting out of the Jack-and-Jill because you're not."

Audrey chuckled.

"What's a Jack-and-Jill?"

"I guess it's a party or something. Like half bachelor and half bachelorette."

"Oh. Right."

"You're invited, by the way. Did I tell you that?"

"Yes. Wait until you see the dress I brought—"

"I'm sure it will be a barrel of laughs, but let's get down to business. When does Kim arrive?"

"Tomorrow afternoon at 1:45."

Still in her pajamas at 2:15 that afternoon, Audrey finally came up for air. Thankful for the sudden burst of inspiration, she'd tweaked the sketch from the night before and created two more possibilities.

"I have my emergency kit with me," she told Kat, midstretch. "I can use a few beads from that and—"

"You know what's an even better idea?" Kat interrupted. "If you get a shower and I order some food."

Audrey cringed. "Room service is so expensive."

"Then I'll go out and pick something up. You need to shower and get dressed before your friend comes back."

"Oh. Carly. I forgot."

"Your best friend. Her wedding. The reason you're here in Atlanta."

"I guess."

"Now, come on." Kat took her by the arm and dragged Audrey to her feet. "Do I have to start the water running too?"

"No, no," she growled. "I'm going."

"Good. I'll find a place nearby and bring sustenance."

Audrey glanced back at the loose sketches scattered on the table. "But let me just toss this last one," she said, heading straight for it. "It's not good enough."

"You'll shower, get dressed, have something to eat, and then you'll come back to it and decide," Kat instructed, nudging her back to her path toward the bedroom. "Now, go on."

Once again, no argument. Kat was right, as usual.

Audrey hated when that happened.

Top Three Trends in Today's Celebrity Weddings

1.
The Destination Wedding

Celebrities just love tying the knot in a faraway, exotic
locale. But for the non-celebrity, a destination wedding
can be a glamorous and economical compromise. Fewer
guests means less outlay of cash for wedding staples such
as flowers and food.

2.
The Glam Squad

No celebrity bride shows her face down the aisle without first
surrendering to the skills of a top-notch team of make-up
artists, hairstylists, and mani/pedi specialists. Brides every-
where have jumped on the bandwagon, often setting aside
several hours before the wedding for a complete makeover.

3.
The Green Wedding

Every good celebrity adopts a "green" way of thinking; if
not to save the planet then certainly as a PR statement!
Items such as invitations on recycled paper, proceeds
geared toward their favorite earth-friendly charity included
on the bridal registry, and even organic centerpieces
make an effective "Goin' Green!" statement on behalf
of every bride and groom.

3

C
arly squealed when Kat walked into the hotel room. "You look magnificent!"

Kat struck a pose in the doorway. She wore shiny black flats and a black and white checkered dress with a pale pink satin sash, tied into a large bow at the front. A pink rhinestone bow shimmered on her shoulder, and a thick satin headband pushed her dark curls away from her face. Kat looked like someone straight out of
American Grafitti.

"Where did you ever get that skirt?" Carly asked Audrey, running a finger around the top of the black sequin poodle appliqued to her violet skirt. "It's fabulous."

"Audrey's all about the vintage shops," Kat told her. "She actually had that whole outfit in her closet already! I just packed it up and brought it along for her."

Audrey fussed with the layered petticoat under the skirt and straightened the pink angora sweater with the pretty rhinestone buttons while Kat wrapped a thick purple ribbon around her bouncy ponytail.

"This is going to be so much fun!" Carly announced to them. "I can't wait for the boys to get here."

Right on cue came a
rat-a-tat
knock at the door.

Devon's soldier haircut fit right in with his plaid shortsleeved shirt and straight-leg jeans, rolled up at the ankles to reveal white socks worn with leather loafers.

"My little fifties nerd," Carly said with a giggle, and Devon yanked up the waist of his jeans with a snort. "Where's J. R.?"

"He's meeting us there." Devon paused for a moment before adding, "He's bringing Russell."

Carly's face contorted. "When did he blow into town?"

"Couple hours ago."

She frowned at Audrey. "You'll get to meet the infamous Russell Walker."

Kat launched out of her chair like a rocket. "What? What did you say?"

"Devon's brother is best buddies with Russell Walker," Carly informed her dryly. "So we get him by default."

"He's not one of Carly's favorite people," Devon explained.

"I think he's dreamy," Kat replied. Looking to Audrey for agreement, she added, "Isn't he dreamy, Audrey?"

"I've only seen one of his movies, and I don't really get it."

"How could you not get it? He's dreamy!"

"All right."

Audrey lifted one shoulder into half a shrug as she refocused her attention on applying a thin layer of Scarlet Kiss to her lips with a small brush.

"You chicks look like the cat's meow," Devon told them. "Let's scram."

Audrey glanced at Carly and Kat, apparently charmed by Devon's foray into fifties characterization. She wondered what was next, but she hoped it included a root beer float.

When they reached the lobby doors, Devon turned to Carly and beamed.

"What, sweetie?"

"I've got a surprise for you," he told her, leading her outside.

By the time Audrey followed the others through the door, Carly was already squealing, hopping from one foot to the other, her saddle shoes thumping on the concrete. Devon rushed forward and swung open the passenger door of a vintage convertible in the most terrible shade of aqua.

"It's a 1958 Chevy Impala," he announced as he rounded the car, leaving Audrey and Kat standing there. With a smile, he flipped up the seat behind the steering wheel and waved his hand. "C'mon, ladies. Your ride awaits!"

Kat blew past her and climbed into the car. "Audrey. Come on!"

Once she joined them, Devon slid in and turned the key. Dion crooned "Runaround Sue" from an oldies station on the radio. Devon had thought of everything to make the night special for his wife . . .
err, fiancée
. . . and the grin of sheer bliss on Carly's face told Audrey that he'd succeeded.

Pink and blue neon tube lighting welcomed them to Happy Days, promising
Burgers, Shakes & Pins,
and a valet in a bow tie and white paper hat appeared delighted to take the Chevy off their hands.

"Your friends are so fun!" Kat exclaimed as she skated across the gleaming wood floor behind Carly.

Emma gave Audrey a hug while Carly made the immediate introductions by pointing a finger frosted in pink at each person. "Emma, Jackson, Sherilyn, Andy, Fee, Sean, Audrey, Kat." And with that, Devon yanked her away toward the dance floor to join half a dozen other couples jitterbugging to "Rock Around the Clock."

Sherilyn suddenly shrieked and broke away from them, straight out the front door of the diner, leaving her husband standing behind her, shaking his head.

"What's going on?" Audrey asked.

"It's got to be Russell," Andy replied with a laugh. "Heaven knows none of us mortals elicit that response out of her."

Sure enough, Audrey saw Sherilyn jump into the arms of actor Russell Walker, the picture of a fifties beatnik with his shaggy blond hair pulled into a tight ponytail, wearing a black turtleneck and faded black jeans. Beyond the reunited friends, she spotted J. R. conversing with the valet, motioning with the hand gripping his helmet toward the two large motorcycles parked on the other side of the valet desk.

He looked almost the same as he had at dinner the night prior, except for the Fonzarelli 'do he sported. Leather jacket over black T-shirt, form-fitting Levis and slightly scuffed boots; a perfect fit for a theme party like this one, she supposed. So why did her pulse begin to race when he headed through the front door?

"Everybody!" Sherilyn exclaimed as she followed him, arm-in-arm with Russell Walker. "Look who's here!"

"Crikey!" he remarked in his trademark Austrailian accent. "The gang's all here, hey?" He greeted all of Sherilyn's friends before turning to Audrey and Kat. "Ah, fresh faces," he said, extending his hand toward Kat. "Russell Walker."

"Katarina Ivanov," she managed, if somewhat breathless.

"Ivanov. Great Aussie name, isn't it?"

Kat giggled, and Audrey turned toward her slowly. Kat was . . .
giggling?

"Gwen Stefani, I presume," he stated, taking Audrey off guard.

"Pardon?"

"J. R. said you looked a bit like Gwen Stefani."

"He did?"

At just that moment, J. R. walked up behind them, and she narrowed her eyes at him.

"You think I look like Gwen Stefani?"

He and Russell shared a lingering scowl, and J. R. tapped his friend in the gut. "That's a new record, Walker. Dragging me into the mud in, what, forty seconds?"

"My work here is done," Russell cracked before turning back to Kat. "Katarina, will you join me in The Stroll?"

"P-pardon?"

He nodded toward the dance floor where the couples formed two lines and tapped their feet at the opening of the Mary Wells song, "My Guy."

"Really?"

"Ever so."

"Well . . . Heck, yeah!" she cried, taking him by the hand and dragging him off behind her.

Audrey watched them for a minute, grinning, and J. R. stepped up beside her.

"She used to be shy and retiring, right?" he commented.

"Not exactly. But Russell Walker seems to bring out the giddy schoolgirl in her." Audrey glanced at Sherilyn and chuckled. "And in Sherilyn."

J. R. blurted out one hard laugh. "You said it, sister. Russell says she gets him. She's the sister he never had."

"Speaking of sisters," she said, still focused on Kat out there on the dance floor, "I hope you know how blessed you are to get Caroline. Again."

"Anyone who inspires my brother the way she does is a blessing in my book."

Devon and Carly were next down the center of the two lines on the dance floor, and Audrey shook her head.

"You mean, inspires him to dress like a nerd?"

"There's that." After a chuckle, J. R. turned serious. "But also to have such joy waiting for him when he comes back from a place like Afghanistan."

Audrey looked up into J. R.'s steel-blue eyes and nodded. "She doesn't talk about it much, but I think she's all about creating a safe, inviting home for him to return to. It's really important to her."

"God bless her then."

Audrey swallowed around the lump in her throat. "And him."

"Amen."

They shared a smile, and Audrey sighed. "Do you suppose they have root beer floats in this place?"

"What kind of fifties joint doesn't have a root beer float on the menu?" he teased. "And if they have it with a burger and fries, I'm right there with you. Let's go find a booth."

Kat's eyes sparkled like perfect round diamonds over Russell's shoulder as Audrey passed the dance floor with J. R. The music had changed, and Russell took her into his arms for a slow dance to "I Only Have Eyes for You."

"There's one!" J. R. exclaimed, and he snatched up her hand and led her through the clusters of partygoers.