Boo Who (46 page)

The deputy pointed her down the hallway and to the left, where she found Dr. Hass reading something. His eyes grew startled when he saw her.

“Melb,” he said. “What are you doing here?”

Sniffling, she removed her coat and scarf and stood before his cell. “I came to confront you. You helped me. Truly helped me. When no one else could. And now I’m afraid everything’s going to fall apart, Doctor. I’m really afraid. I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to fit into my wedding dress. And it’s all your fault! Because you’re a fraud!”

“Look,” Dr. Hass said, “I don’t mean to be rude, lady, okay? I’m really working on not being rude. You must know that. But ever since I met you, you’re the one that has created the illusions here, not me. I mean, from the very beginning you just assumed I was a shrink, and empowered yourself by believing every word that came out of my mouth! I could’ve said go throw yourself off the cliff, and you would’ve smiled and told yourself that was certainly a way to lose some pounds.”

She felt her face puff into a ball of rage. “How dare you! You are the one who deceived me! You’re a con man, for crying out loud! How can you justify this?”

“I’m not justifying it, lady. But I’m telling you that you didn’t need me to motivate you. You did the whole thing yourself.”

She crossed her arms. “What are you talking about?”

“Melb, do you want to know how you lost all that weight?”

“I know!” she said. “Because of you! You helped my brain trigger something that made the pounds just fall off.”

“No,” he chuckled. “It was nothing I did. It was pure and simple. Exercise.”

She laughed. “Exercise? You’ve lost your mind. I haven’t exercised a day in my life!”

“Oh? What do you call owling?”

“Owling? That’s the hobby you told me to get!”

“Yes, but don’t you realize how much walking and climbing you do every day to follow that silly owl all over the place?”

She blinked three times.

“It’s true, Melb. There are no secret solutions in life, no magic words. It’s just practical stuff, like exercising, that shows results.”

Her mouth fell open. But then her eyes blazed. “Are you telling me I’ve been paying you all that money, and the reason I lost weight was because I’ve been exercising?!”

Dr. Hass shrugged, an amused look accompanying a wry smile. “Con men aren’t con men for no reason. People are gullible. I’ve made a career out of that human fault.”

“Well. Well! Ah!” She found herself speechless. “I … I spent nearly all my wedding budget on you!”

He swallowed. “I promise to pay you back.”

She shook her head, disbelief stopping anything else from coming out of her mouth.

He said, “And Melb, you look really good. Your wedding’s tonight, right?”

She nodded.

“Then why are you here? Go get ready for the best day of your life. Only a few get to find the love of their life, you know.”

Tears welled in her eyes, and she took his hand. “Thank you. I think.”

“You’re welcome.” He smiled.

Ainsley found herself dizzy with stress. The reception hall was filled with lights and cameras and tons of people she’d never seen before in her life. She’d been disgusted by Alfred only four days ago, but now she longed to see his familiar face. Instead, she had a person every minute coming
to ask her questions. She felt as though she was directing traffic on the freeway.

The last thing she was concerned with was how she looked, but she was now being whisked away by her hair and makeup person, Maude, who insisted she was the most important part of the team. “What every woman wants,” Maude explained, “is to see a woman do all this … this … this homemaking with perfect hair and makeup. They say they hate it. But then they try to do it themselves.” Ainsley smiled mildly.

The woman dusted her face, ratted her hair, and made a fuss over her, rambling on about how she couldn’t understand why, with all that help, Martha Stewart could never get her bangs out of her eyes. But there was only one thing on Ainsley’s mind. One person. Wolfe.

Her heart longed for him. But right now, it was time to get into character. Alfred wanted a show. He was going to get a show.

Oliver was on the top floor of the community center, adjusting his tuxedo and staring out the window. He turned to find Martin standing in the doorway with a big grin on his face. “Martin!”

Martin enfolded him in a big hug. “What are you looking at?” he said, walking over to the window.

“All the news crews out there. I’ve been watching tons of people walking in and out with microphones and lights and cameras. Poor fools,” Oliver said. “Probably heard about that cloning thing and rushed out here for the big story. Who has the heart to tell them it’s not true?”

Martin turned back to him. “I’m happy for you. What a grand day.”

He grinned. “I never thought I’d marry a woman as beautiful as Melb.”

“You two will have a wonderful life together.”

Oliver looked into the full-length mirror that stood before him. “You know, I can’t imagine much can go wrong in a marriage when it’s based on truth and honesty and love.”

Martin smiled. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

“Don’t worry, Martin. You’ll find the right woman some day.”

Martin gazed out the window. “That’s the least of my worries right now.”

Ainsley finally got to a breathing point. The chefs were in the kitchen, complaining about the double ovens but seemingly under control; the cameras and lights were set, the tables were decorated. She stood and took it all in. It was the most gorgeous thing she’d ever seen. Candles would soon be lit all over the place, creating a mystical and glowing palette for the room. The tables were decorated with delicate sophistication, each with a red rose, red votive candles, and greenery.

Staring at it all, she sensed the sad reminder that her wedding was going to be nothing of the sort. She was going to have to pull things together in a week, and that was going to produce nothing but the basics.

She comforted herself, though, that it was not about the fancy table linens or the gourmet food. It was about her love for Wolfe, and that had not diminished an iota.

Still, a sadness lingered at her failures. She’d indeed not been able to do both. Something had to be sacrificed, and in the end, it was her dream wedding.

“How’s my superstar?” Alfred said, slipping up beside her. He threw his hand out dramatically and flung it around the room. “Perfection.”

She smiled. “It is beautiful, isn’t it? Are you sure Melb hasn’t a clue?”

“Not a clue,” he said. “I told her not to come in here until after her wedding.”

“She’s going to be delighted!”

He guided her away from the tables. “Now, there are a few more things we need to—”

She held up her hands. “Alfred, there’s a time when nothing else can
be done. I’m going to go upstairs, visit with the bride-to-be, and wish her blessings. You
can
handle everything, can’t you?”

He forced a smile. “Sure. You’re the boss,” he winked. “You’d better start thinking like that. From this day on, your life will never be the same.”

Not even excitement stirred in her spirit. But she smiled at him, then headed upstairs. Carefully opening the door, she spotted Melb in a chair with Marlee in front of her.

“Ainsley!” Melb said. She was wearing a denim shirt and blue jeans.

“Hi there, soon-to-be bride!”

Melb gushed. “Marlee here offered to do my makeup for free.”

Ainsley smiled. “Marlee will do a good job for you.”

“Right now she’s trying to pencil in the eyebrows I nearly yanked completely out this afternoon. I guess I’m a little nervous.”

“That’s normal,” Ainsley said, sitting next to her. “Everyone gets nervous about the idea of spending the rest of their lives with someone.”

“Oh, I’m not nervous about that. I know Oliver is the one for me. I’m concerned the dress won’t fit.” She looked at both of them. “I haven’t actually ever tried it on.”

Ainsley’s eyes popped. “Melb! Never?”

“Never,” Melb sighed. “I just decided to have faith that it would fit. I had to drop four dress sizes, and I think I’ve done that. Now it’s a matter of getting it all zipped up, you know?”

The other two exchanged glances.

Melb said, “But girls, it’s the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen. Ever. And I got it for a heck of a deal.”

Ainsley checked her watch. Forty-five minutes until the wedding. “Melb, um, what do you say we go ahead and get that dress on you. Just to make sure.”

Melb nodded. “That’s probably a good idea.” She looked at Ainsley. “You’re looking awfully sophisticated.”

“Thanks,” she said, managing a smile.

Melb went to the table and unzipped the garment bag. She pulled out the satin white dress, and Ainsley thought she’d never seen a more
frilly wedding dress. She thought it looked like a Cinderella dress! “Melb! Oh! That is beautiful!”

“Isn’t it?” she said. “Well, let’s see if I can get this thing on, shall we? If not, I guess I’m going to be marching down the aisle in denim!”

They helped Melb slip on the dress. With all the ruffles and such, it was not an easy dress to get into. But finally, with her arms through the armholes, it was time to zip it up.

“All right!” Melb breathed. “I’m sucking it in! Let’s go for it!”

Ainsley carefully tugged at the zipper. At first, it wouldn’t budge, and the room seemed void of all oxygen. But then, with a slightly greater tug, the zipper moved, and everyone’s eyebrows shot up. “Keep sucking, Melb!”

She did, and before they knew it, the zipper had climbed all the way to the top! Ainsley and Marlee cheered and turned Melb to the long mirror in the corner of the room. She took a long look at herself. Ainsley could hardly contain her excitement.

“Well?” Marlee said. “What do you think?”

Melb looked at herself from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet and said, “It makes me look fat!”

Missy Peeple wished the nurse had pulled the covers a little more over her shoulders. Her whole body was cold, and now her shoulders felt like ice. But she was too weak to do anything about it. Her mind drifted and she hardly knew if it was day or night or if things were real or imaginary.