Three Weddings and a Dress (23 page)

Instead, Carla asked, “How’s the head?”

Jessie gave her mother a disgruntled glance. “It would have been better if you’d put me to bed instead of making me sleep on the bathroom floor. Mama, what were you thinking?”
“I put you where you needed to be.” Carla’s look was full of hurt. Or so I thought, until I saw the twinkle seconds before she continued. “Besides you could have gone to bed at any time during the night had you been able too. How were the strippers? Were they worth your hangover?”

Jessie gave her mother an annoyed look. “We left when the drums sounded.”

Carla’s expression was so disappointed my blind stitching tightened in mirth. Even if Jessie isn’t my soul mate, it’s fun to watch her wedding events unfold. Jessie and Mark loved each other to distraction. I hope Carla and his mother stop their arguing and it’s a wonderful wedding tomorrow.
 

Cecelia bought me to fill an obligation and when she saw herself in the mirror, she realized she didn’t want to settle.
 
She wanted to fulfill her own destiny.

Chapter Fifteen

Her last day at her second job and she was going to be late. What had she been thinking agreeing to that stupid drinking game? How many lemon drops had she shot? She wasn’t positive, but Jessie was pretty sure she was still a little tipsy.

What would her boss do? Fire her? If she didn’t have such a raging headache, which is what she deserved, she’d laugh.

Only four hours of work, then she had go home and gather her things to take to Classic Manhattan tonight. That way if she forgot anything she could take it in the morning.

Tomorrow she’d be Mrs. Mark Taylor.

A mixture of joy and dread dashed through her. Joy because she was marrying the love of her life. Dread because her soon to be mother-in-law was the scariest person ever.

She knew the woman was still plotting to ruin her day.

It wasn’t Christmas but she had little drummer boys marching in her head as she made her way to the subway. Even with all the racket going on behind her eyes, she was able to make a to-do list while on the subway.

The nagging thought of Mrs. Taylor ruining her wedding day loomed. Mark’s father seemed to like her, anyway the few times she’d been around him he had. Maybe the man would diffuse any situations that arose.

Five minutes late, much better than she’d thought. However, she got the devil scowl from Ian her boss. “Nice.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll work a bit over.”

As expected, the news perked him right up and she had a sneaking suspicions her penance would be longer than five minutes.

Her feet were going to fall off. In all the time she’d worked at the bookstore she’d never been on her feet so much. At least she didn’t have to go to Java Hut like she usually did.

Tonight was the rehearsal dinner.

She glanced at the clock. She’d been right, she may have been five minutes late but she’d made up for it with staying much longer after her shift. Now she’d be rushing the rest of the afternoon. More time passed with well wishes from her co-workers.

Dashing into her room thirty minutes later, the sight that greeted stopped her in her tracks. Sucking in her gasp, she stared.

Afternoon sunlight glittered over Bella. Her beads seemed to glisten in a halo effect. Jessie dashed a hand across her eyes to mop up the moisture.

“Bella, you take my breath away.” Dropping her bag on the bed she went to the gown, gently reached her index finger to run around the edge of the lace bolero. “You deserve a bright happy occasion, not the tension filled event that will happen tomorrow.”

“
So do you
.” The words echoed over the room. Startled she gave fleeting look to see if her mother had stepped in. Only Bella, but that was impossible. Wasn’t it?

“I don’t have time to figure out if you can talk, Bella.” A laugh escaped at the absurdity.

Throwing the garment bag on her bed, she carefully lifted the folds of satin, lace and beads of the wedding dress. Once in the bag, making sure to avoid wrinkles during transit, she gathered the rest of the things she would need for her wedding the next day.

Her bags for their honeymoon were packed, had been for a week, and stood as sentinels at her door. Ready, she inhaled fortifying air into her lungs and opened her door.

“Mama, I’m ready. Is Aunt Virginia here?”

Her mother appeared at the door to help with her bags. “Yes, she’s been here for a while.”

“I didn’t see her when I came home from work.”

Her mother tsked, a habit that drove Jessie bonkers. “She had to go to the store for cigarettes. Those things are going to kill her and I won’t have a sister and Missy won’t have a Nana.”

It was an ongoing battle between the two women. So much so, Jessie barely heard her comment as she was too intent on her own dilemma. She really did deserve the happy fairy tale. Why was she on her way to the rehearsal dinner, when all she wanted to do was lock herself in her room?

Because Mark was her soul mate and sometimes you had to sacrifice.

“
Your wedding day?
”

Jessie paused. She glanced down at Bella’s garment bag over her arm. “Did you hear that Mama?”

“What dear?” Her mother stood with an armload of flower girl dresses carefully placed in their own bags.

“Never mind. Let’s go I don’t want to be late.”

When she entered the main room where her Aunt and Missy waited, Missy’s voice greeted her. “Jessie, I’m going to be so pretty.”

“Yes you will. Are you staying here tonight?” She’d been so busy with everything she hadn’t considered anyone else’s plans. It wasn’t like Jersey was a million miles away.

“Yes, Aunt Carla said I can sleep with you.” Oh, joy that’s what she needed the night before her wedding.

She raised an eyebrow toward her mother but her dear mama was busy, conveniently, opening the door. There was a small smile on Carla’s lips. Her mother would enjoy the fact she wouldn’t get any sleep with the wiggly six year old.

It only took a few minutes to pile everything into Aunt Virginia’s ancient Buick. It was a wonder the rusted pile had wheels worthy enough to carry them all to Classic Manhattan.

As she walked through the door of the salon, Katie plucked Bella out of her arms. “Jess, let us help. Your bride’s room is magnificent.”

“Hi, I’m Darlene.” A young woman stepped over to Jessie and held out her hand. “The florist.”

“Oh that’s right. Ari said you’d meet us.” About ready to drop her cargo, she jiggled from one side to the other.

“Come, I’ll show you the way. Let me help you.” Without waiting for an answer, Darlene grasped one of the bags out of her hand and led the way.

The door opened into a spacious and airy room, and as Katie had said, it was magnificent. No other word could describe it. Katie and Joey took charge of Bella and draped her over the dress dummy in only minutes.

“Tonight I’ll be your hostess for the rehearsal dinner. I haven’t seen any of the groom’s family yet. I’ll come for you when they arrive. Tomorrow Ari will help you, while Cassie and I make sure the cake and flowers are perfect.” The woman beamed at her news.

The Taylor’s hadn’t arrived. A feeling of anxiety hit Jessie in the solar plexus and she sat. Joey had enough sense to push a chair under her before she landed on her bottom on the floor.

Darlene squatted next to her, regarded her seriously. “Second thoughts? Or the normal night-before-the-wedding jitters?”

It took only a moment to focus on the florist. “I love Mark. But I’m not in love with his family.”

She sat back on her heels. “Yes, Ari described your dragon. I’m here to help smooth things over.”

Katie and Joey snorted in unison and when Jessie and Darlene stared at them, they both shrugged. Katie said, “Sorry, but Claudia Taylor cannot be smoothed. However, Joey and I will do our best to
shield
you from most of her fire.”

Darlene stood, placed a hand on her shoulder. “Your friends have your back. I’ll let you know when everyone is here. Until then, relax. I’ve done this many times.”

The door shut with a soft snap and Joey snickered. “She doesn’t know the Taylors.”

“Be fair, Mark’s Dad isn’t bad,” Katie added.

Joey’s eyebrows rose to her forehead. “And you’ve been around him all of
once
?”

“Okay, so I don’t know him. But he hasn’t been meddling like Mama Taylor,” Katie conceded.

“Whoa, Mrs. Taylor is in no way
Mama Taylor
. She’s either Madame Claudia or Mrs. Taylor and never should we slander her by calling her
Mother
or
Mama
.” Jessie’s legs were finally able to support her.

Jessie went to Bella and again fingered the edge of her lace. “She’s so beautiful. I really want to wear her.”

Silence greeted her statement and she swung around to face her friends. “What?”

“Are you thinking of calling off the wedding?” Joey asked.

“Heavens no, I want to marry Mark more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. It’s just that whenever I think about getting married, I imagine it as a happy occasion, for both sides of our families.”

Katie patted her on the shoulder. “As every girl, you assumed the groom’s family would welcome you with open arms. There’s nothing wrong with that expectation.”

Joey flanked her, placing an arm across her shoulders. “Is it just his mother? Or are the rest of Mark’s family unfriendly?”

The three of them stood staring at Bella. Her beads seemed to shimmer with knowing. Sometimes it was almost freaky the way the gown seemed alive.

“Did you see that?” Katie pointed with her free hand.

Joey sniffed, “Trick of the light.”

Reluctantly Katie agreed. Jessie had begun to believe in the dress though. “To answer your question, Mark’s sister and her daughter like me. I’m not sure about his father though.”

“I guess we’ll find out tonight. What can we help you with?” Joey wanted to know.

“I need help putting things away for in the morning. I don’t want to have to think or do anything.”

Katie let her hand drop from Jessie’s shoulder and retrieved one of the bags. “Good idea.”

A brief knock heralded Darlene’s entrance. “Hey guys the groom’s here.”

The groom? Did that mean what she thought? It was time to find out.

The Atrium blossomed in a riot of blooms, surrounding tables. The room set a beautiful preview of the coming day.

“You like?” Darlene stood at her side.

“Very much, thank you.” Jessie stifled back the sniff. No water works. Save that for her wedding day.

Where was Mark? Then she saw him at the center table of honor. His sister sat on his right and on his left Sarah. There was no sign of his parents, not good at all.

Then what had she expected?

Darlene touched her shoulder, “Your mother will be at the table in a moment.” She turned to Joey and Katie, “You two will be at the table next to the bride and groom.”

Taking the place next to Mark, she grinned at Sarah who must have ants in her pants for all the bouncing she was doing. Carmon gave her a cool smile, oh dear, she was still upset about the adventure. At least she made an appearance of support for her brother.