Elly felt a cold hand close around her throat and lifted her eyes to the ceiling, tears blurring the chandelier that hung overhead.
“Isn’t this his second marriage?” she heard Snarky Teenager snap. “I’m not sure where I read that.” She pretended to shuffle through her notes. “So this is the second time he’s done this, correct? Second time he’s been down the aisle?”
Lucia sat forward. “Yes, that’s correct. It’s such a sad story. His wife left him! Just up and left him one day. No one knows where she went. She left him with a mortgage and this big house on his artist’s salary. The poor man. He was so devastated. It’s a miracle that we found each other so quickly afterwards. He was so thankful to find me.” She looked lovingly at Sunny. “It’s like I saved him.” Sunny looked down at the table. “How romantic, my dear.”
Elly snapped the pencil she was holding in half. So that was how they told it! Ah yes. The poor artist, left by his wife, with Lucia’s waiting arms to catch him. What a wonderful fairy tale. She glanced over and saw Snarky Teenager looking at her with sincere concern. Elly’s cracks were starting to show and she felt herself crumbling.
“Elly! Why don’t you show Sunny all the flowers we’ve been working on for this week’s wedding?” Snarky Teenager chirped.
Sunny clapped her hands brightly. “Ooohh!! I’d LOVE to see them. Your arrangements are magnificent, my dear!”
Elly stood, thankful for the momentary distraction. Sunny, moving quite quickly for a 70-year-old woman, practically skipped to the back. Elly followed slowly behind her, aware that her slower waddle fully displayed her large backside to waifish Lucia. She was about to turn the corner when she heard Snarky Teenager say, “Listen up, you skanky home wrecker.” She smiled in spite of the tension rippling through her veins. She would hate to be Lucia right now.
The arranging area in the rear of the store was a beautiful disaster. Sunflower heads, purple statice, blue cornflower and French marigolds lay strewn about the floor, a spring layer of confetti. The long design table was covered with white and cream milk jugs, each with a bright flower explosion, accented with wheat and dried lavender.
Sunny let out an excited squeal. “Oh dear, these are charming!! Look at the wheat!” Sunny prattled on, touching the leaves, the jugs and picking up tiny bits of flowers from the table.
Elly leaned back around the corner and peeked towards Lucia and Snarky Teenager. They were both leaning over the table towards each other, their shoulders hunched forward and hands splayed flat. Two tigers, though Elly, ready to pounce. Secretly, she hoped that Snarky Teenager would leap across the table and grab Lucia by her red mane. Then, it would all be out in the open - no more pretending.
“Sunny, we should finish up the consultation.” Elly swallowed her lie. “I would love to spend all day talking about Lucia’s wedding, but we have another appointment coming in at noon.” She allowed herself another one. “My tax guy.”
Sunny nodded and looked gratefully at Elly. “Thank you so much for doing this wedding. I know it’s quite the circus and I’m just a crazy old woman who has a million questions. Please understand, I have three sons and one daughter. I’ve simply attended my other children’s weddings. I show up in my god-awful corsage, eat some bland gourmet food and smile for pictures. And it’s lovely enough. But this is MY wedding, the one I get to throw, to show how proud I am of my child – even if my child is obstinate and completely ungrateful. She’s in rare form today; don’t think I haven’t noticed. That being said, I cannot wait to celebrate this…” she paused, searching for the right word, “surprising union with all my friends and people that I love.”
Elly looked into Sunny’s nurturing eyes, the same deep green that shone in the person she hated most, and felt her heart stir a little. She realized that she had made the right decision in doing this wedding. She would not break this wonderful woman’s heart to save her own. Sunny was a mother, through and through, and Elly loved mothers.
Elly heard a scuffle from the table, a sharp bite. She softly took Sunny’s arm. “Let’s go finish the consult.”
Elly and Sunny headed towards the table, Lucia glowering at her across the store. Snarky Teenager, whose normally perfect face was flushed and sweaty, gripped the ends of the contract. “Are you alright sweetie?” Sunny leaned over her.
Snarky Teenager took a deep breath. “Yes, I’m fine, I’m sorry. I’m not feeling well today.” She looked at Elly, helpless and confused as to what to say next. “I have the runs.”
An awkward pause settled over the table. Lucia sat back in her seat and crossed her arms, a smug smile upon her deceitful face. Elly turned to Snarky Teenager, who looked ready to cry. “Why don’t you head up to my apartment and lay down for awhile? Or um, do you what you need to do.”
Her brave ingénue stood up, said goodbye to Sunny and headed for the stairs, mouthing, “Sorry!” to Elly.
Elly gathered what was left of the contract. She looked directly at Lucia. “We have a beautiful plan in place for your ceremony. Your mother has approved the details. Would you like to run over it again?”
Lucia rolled her eyes. “Honestly, I couldn’t care less about the flowers. I mean, seriously, who even notices the flowers at a wedding? Aaron doesn’t really care about flowers either.”
That is a lie, thought Elly, he loves flowers. He paints flowers. You don’t know him like I do.
“Lucia!” Sunny was getting upset now. “That was so rude! What is wrong with you today?”
“Sorry, Mother.”
Elly dug her heels into the carpet. I will finish this consultation, and then I will never have to look at her face again. “Okay, so we’re all set then for the ceremony. I think you will be very pleased with what your mother has picked out. As for the reception, we have the most extraordinary centerpieces: Tall gold candelabras, filled with white phalenopsis orchids, pale yellow mimosa, with blown white garden roses…”
Lucia let out an exaggerated sigh. “That sounds pretentious. I mean, do huge centerpieces really represent Aaron and me? I would prefer something more down to earth. I have this friend named Zoe that makes organic plant arrangements out of natural soils and compost, and we were thinking that if we used those mixed with some silks…”
“Absolutely not,” Sunny exclaimed at the exact same time that Elly deadpanned, “We don’t do silks.”
Lucia curled her lip. “Why not? Flowers just die and it’s a total waste of money.”
Sunny gasped. Now this, this was something Elly was prepared for. Brides expressed this thought from time to time, and Elly was ready with her answer. She leveled Lucia with her level gaze.
“Why have real flowers? First of all, silks are only good for two things: ladies over seventy,” she paused, “no offense Sunny…”
“None taken,” chirped Sunny.
“…and graveside memorial wreaths. Secondly, we have a clause in our contract that says that we are the sole provider of the flowers. I’m not going to let the name of my shop be attached to some planter with silks sticking out of it. Third, your friend is probably not equipped to handle a wedding of this size. Many people who try to do it themselves end up calling me at the last minute.”
Lucia huffed noisily at her mother. “Whatever. Fine, you know what, it’s fine.” Her eyes flashed at Elly. “What matters is that I’m marrying the love of my life. I can’t wait to begin our adventure together, and I know Aaron is so ready to begin what will be the first truly happy phase of his life.”
Elly felt her temper roar, a thick hot mass that pitted in her stomach and flew to her temples. She gripped the ends of the table. Sunny seemed not to notice the exchange as she flipped through Elly’s flower books.
“Ooohhh! Look at this tiny ring of bovardia.”
Elly quickly flipped the contract over, aware that she was dangerously close to breaking. “I think we can call this a day. Sunny, if you would sign here, and Lucia here.” She handed the contract to Sunny, who signed and dotted it gaily. She
then pushed the contract aggressively towards Lucia, who signed it with large sweeping letters.
“Thank you.”
All three women stood. Sunny squeezed Elly’s cheeks and kissed them with flourish. “You are so marvelous. I cannot wait to see your creations on the big day. Your mother, God rest her soul, must be so proud.”
Lucia’s face dissolved into fury. “Mom, can you go warm up the car? It’s chilly outside, and I only wore this shawl.”
Sunny rolled her eyes and rubbed her daughter’s back. “I told you when we left the house that this shawl thing wasn’t going to cut it.” She smiled at Elly. “Thank you for all your patience today! I know we aren’t the easiest clients. We’ll be in touch next week with any last minute details, but other than that, we should be all set!”
Elly raised her hand in a half wave. She felt exhausted to her core, ready to weep and mere seconds away from a colossal breakdown. “Thanks for coming in.”
Sunny turned and walked quickly outside.
Elly’s heart sped up as Lucia inched closer to her, her thick red waves hanging menacingly over her face. She pushed towards her until her eyes were inches from Elly’s.
“I don’t know what you are trying to do here, but if you wreck this wedding for us, I swear to GOD, I will come after you. I’m not sure what kind of sick, demented thing this is – what are you, stalking him? – but he will never come back to you, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
Elly heard a hundred witty responses in her head, but she seemed rooted to the ground, her throat frozen.
“God, you are so pathetic. Do you know that he was sleeping with me for three months before you even found out? He was planning on leaving you, just as soon as his newest show opened. He said I was the best he ever had and that looking at you sometimes made him sick.” Lucia drove her pointed fingernail into Elly’s chest, running, it felt, right into her mutilated heart. “If this is your revenge fantasy, I’m more than willing to play. He loves me, not you. He never did.”
Elly’s vision spun, just as it had when Sunny showed her Aaron’s painting. Lucia’s face hovered right above hers, and Elly felt the walls closing in. She was fainting, she had lost control. She uncurled her palm slowly. Maybe on her way down, she could claw her face. She raised her hand, just as her knees began buckling. Oh, let me smack her before I go……
“Elly?” Elly’s head jerked up. Isaac stood in the doorway, an Ada’s hot chocolate in his hand and his guitar strapped handsomely across his back. He eyed Lucia with disdain. “What’s going on? Elly, are you okay?”
He strode over to Elly and took her arm in his soft hands, pulling her away from Lucia. “You look upset.” He peered into her eyes. “Sweetie, are you about to faint? Your pupils are going crazy - what’s wrong?”
Thank you, God, Elly thought, for this incredibly naive, incredibly romantic and gorgeous man. Isaac gathered Elly in his arms and circled defensively around her looking right at Lucia, who was staring, mouth open at his imposing presence.
“Why were you poking her? Who are you?”
Lucia’s bright red mouth gaped open like a fish. “Er, um, my Mom is waiting for me in the car.”
“Is she dropping you off at the mall?” Isaac laughed out loud and Lucia turned and fled, the bells clanking angrily behind her.
He gently trailed his finger down Elly’s cheek and kissed her chin. “Who was that girl? She looked like she was bullying you or something.” He pulled Elly into his shoulder, where she breathed in the cool, clean smell of his shirt. “Are you sure you’re alright? You’re pale and sweaty.”
In that moment, Elly had never appreciated Isaac more. His hair hung over his eyes, and his bright teeth curved up in a half smile. Here he was, her knight in shining armor. If Lucia was the hurricane ripping through her life, than Isaac was the calm breeze keeping the storm at sea. She wanted to disappear into his arms forever, and hide in the crook of his neck until this whole thing dissipated. Elly looked into his deep brown eyes.
“Elly…” he started. Her gratitude overwhelmed her, combining with a wave of anger towards Lucia. Together they hurtled Elly towards Isaac.
“I love you” she whispered. His face melted with happiness and he pressed his lips against hers. Her heart ached with guilt. I’m sorry, Elly whispered in her head, but I need to believe that now.
That afternoon after the consultation, after Lucia had stomped out the door, and after Elly had stopped Isaac’s attempts to grope her, she headed back up to her apartment. She was thoroughly wasted, so tired that she could feel it in her bones, her eyes. She swung open the door, ignoring Cadbury’s wildly swinging tail, and headed straight for her bedroom. Shutting her door behind her, Elly pulled off her blouse and had started to pull off her camisole when she heard an “Ummmm?” Elly screamed loudly and bolted for the door. It had locked behind her. She pulled at it frantically. Oh God, oh God…..
A figure rose up from the bed and moved towards her. Elly whimpered and banged on the door. There was a moment of silence, and Elly anticipated the feel of a knife being buried in her back.
“What the heck is your problem? I swear, sometimes I think you’re crazy. Why are you so jumpy?” Elly turned around, to see Snarky Teenager standing next to the bed. She had on some of Elly’s blue flannel pajamas, which hung loosely around her, giving her the appearance of an overgrown child. She spun around “Look! I had to find some ribbons to hold them up! They’re really cozy though. Wearing your pj’s is like wearing a blanket.”
Elly leaned back against the door, trying to calm her thundering heart which was threatening to burst out of her chest. “I forgot you were up here. Was it so hard to call out to me when I came in the door?”
Snarky Teenager rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I was sleeping. I didn’t feel good when I came up here.” She sat down on the bed. “That woman was awful.” she looked up at Elly. “Lucia is the devil.”
Elly nodded and sank down to the floor, sitting comfortably against the door. “I know. I’ll have to tell you about what happened when Sunny left.”
“Do you know what she told me? She told me that I would grow up to be trailer trash and that while I was pretty now, it was obvious that I wasn’t very smart.” Elly glanced up, surprised to see Snarky Teenager’s eyes fill with tears. “I thought that I would be a match for her. I mean, I’m pretty hot, and,” she gave Elly a devious grin, “I’m wicked sarcastic. But she was a different kind of mean. She wasn’t funny mean, she was cruel. One minute I was in there, totally chill and I felt like I had the upper hand, and the next moment I was getting screamed at, and I wanted to cry. I was so overwhelmed…” She looked down guiltily. “I’m sorry I left you alone. I was upset, but I should have stayed.”
Elly shook her head, stood and sat down on the bed next to her, wrapping her arm around Snarky Teenager’s shoulders. “No. This is my issue to deal with. People like Lucia, sadistic and devious people – there is no point in arguing with them. You should have never had to attempt it and it’s my fault for leaving you at the table with her. That was completely wrong of me. I thought I was about to lose control and I had to get away, but it wasn’t the right choice. Forgive me?”
Snarky Teenager nodded and then looked at Elly weirdly. “Why is your arm around my shoulders?”
Elly bit the inside of her cheek. “Get off of my bed. You still have half a workday to finish.”
“Can I wear your pj shirt as a dress? It’s kind of hip in like a retro, old person way.”
Elly pointed at the stairs. “Go. I can’t believe I paid you today to take a nap in my bed.”
Snarky Teenager grabbed her white knit dress and headed to the bathroom to change. “No. You paid me today to defend you from your ex-husband’s lover. If you ask me, I am being drastically underpaid.”
Elly heard the door slam. She would apologize later, she decided. Finally alone, Elly closed her eyes and lay down on her bed. She saw Lucia leaning over her, her long fingernail poking into Elly’s che
st. Her eyes. Her eyes were filled with such rage, such unrelenting hatred. Elly had expected the smugness, the superiority. She had not expected Lucia’s billowing anger, big enough to fill a city block. It was hard to believe that same face, those same fingers were kissed and loved by Aaron. How could he love someone like that, someone so harsh? Had Aaron ever really loved her, his wife? How could he, if he could love someone like Lucia?
Or, she thought tearfully, was I just his meal ticket? A woman who gave him a warm home, who cooked for him, and made love to him in the hot afternoons? Was my entire life with him a lie?
Elly groaned and buried herself under the covers with Cadbury, giving herself over to every drop of despair; the tears and the anger, the shock and the jealously, the betrayal and the disappointment. She let them all in, and they wrapped around her like a cocoon. There was strange comfort in letting the pain take over and she let herself slide into it, thought after destructive thought.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-TWO
It was the end of October, and Elly believed she was sweating to death. One in the morning was not an attractive time for Elly on a normal day, but with the added sweat, frustration, and the fact that she was half-naked, it became a nightmare of epic proportions. Her pajama shorts sat bunched at her side, and her tank top lay damp against her skin. The back of the store wasn’t air conditioned and without it, the design area and back storage closet became infernos, even in colder weather. That, unfortunately, was where Elly was counting out crystal dangles.
It had been a few weeks since Lucia’s disastrous consultation, and Elly was tinkering this particular evening on the edge of madness. No one had informed her that beading and counting 1,500 dangling Swarovski crystals would take hours upon hours, and that while the light reflecting off the crystals made the room a sparkling wonderland, it made it very hard to count.
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