Connie's Silver Shoes (The Candy Cane Girls Book 4)

by Bonnie Engstrom

  ~

  The somewhat halted conversation with Jaeda’s mom turned out okay. Connie had been such a wreck when she called, but his mom was sweet and gracious and very excited. She also said how grateful she was that Connie was asking advice. When Connie hung up she realized she still didn’t know the woman’s first name. Nor, his dad’s. Surely, when they had been introduced in New York she had heard both. Maybe her brain was fried from stewing over wedding decisions. No, fried would be sizzled. She called Doreen. She needed centering help.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  It was two-fifteen. She didn’t want to talk with anyone, even Jaeda, at the ungodly hour. She hit the cellphone on the little nightstand next to her bed so many times she hoped she had killed it. No way.

  Rubbing her eyes until they hurt, she finally picked it up after probably the third call from whomever. When she heard the news she coughed into a tissue uncontrollably. Sitting up straight and gathering her senses, she said, “So sorry. What?”

  “Connie, that you? It’s Rob. We had our baby!”

  “What? Really?” She wasn’t making sense, then she understood. Cindy’s baby, Rob’s. When it actually computed all she could think about was the fact she was an aunt again. Another Candy Cane had been blessed.

  ~

  The next morning the phone lines between seven women buzzed. Connie was grateful she had figured out how to make group phone calls. Everyone chattered at once. Even Noelle took a leave from her class and had passed it on to a sub teacher. So had Melanie from her preschool students. Nat almost closed the gym, then decided to leave it in the capable hands of Bryce her personal trainer at the gym. She went home to sprawl on her sofa and soak up all the latest news. Candy and Devin were in the airport waiting for their flight home from their honeymoon. Doreen, like Connie, woke up from a deep sleep, but was ready and raring to go to learn all about the first Candy Cane baby.

  Rob was so excited he almost burst through the phone lines. In minutes, his mom and dad entered the wild conversation, as well as Cindy’s dad. Connie wondered how she had done that, but, no matter, it was wonderful and special. Then, they heard a baby’s cry. Had everyone burst into tears as she had?

  “That,” Rob said, “was little Robbie. He has a big voice.”

  Robinson Logan Lovejoy was eight pounds, seven ounces; healthy and with all fingers and toes, even a grin. Life felt complete for all the Candy Cane sisters, except for Connie who still needed to plan a wedding.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Nine women gathered and giggled in Connie’s new studio. All except the bride were attired in gauzy sea green dresses, some to their ankles, a few only to their knees. The gowns were all identical except for the lengths. Doreen’s was long with a split skirt on the side opposite her shorter leg so the longer side would camouflage her lift shoe. Connie was glad she had purchased a special pair of shoes for Doreen in silver to match all the other girls and hers. All their fingertips, toes too, were adorned with silver glitter, a Kay specialty from Pauline’s Nails.

  Connie had decided silver was her signature color after she had worn her silver sandals to dance in the night when she and Jaeda went to the Balboa Pavilion. She was sure that was the night she almost fell in love with him.

  She would never presume to insist her mother and Jaeda’s mom all wear silver, but she suggested ideas for silver adornments. Both chose soft, floating dresses with either silver adorned necklines or silver jewelry, and both had found silver pumps and tiny silver clutch bags. Braydon Lovejoy had once again outdone the flowers. The two mothers wore white rose corsages dusted in glittering silver with a pearl in the center of each of the three roses; the Candy Canes and the other attendants carried bouquets of 50 Shades of Early Grey roses. Connie got a kick out of the name, a relatively new addition to the rose family. The outer petals of the delicate blooms were the faintest blush green complimenting the bridesmaids’ aquamarine gowns.

  Connie’s bridal bouquet was magnificent. She had always dreamed of a cascading bouquet, but when Braydon presented her with a round one that looked like a huge pouf of white roses she gasped. “There are three dozen,” he said, “and each rose has a pearl in the middle, and those sprigs of tiny silver balls tucked in between the roses are berries I sprayed. The stems form a handle wrapped in six silver ribbons tied in French knots with a pearl on each knot.” He grinned. “You do have six attendants, right?”

  She fingered the creamy pearls at her neck, the ones Jaeda’s mother had given her. “Yes,” she nodded and dabbed a tissue to the corners of her eyes. “How perfect, Braydon, how perfect.”

  She didn’t have the heart to remind him Sandra her sister and Jaeda’s sister Valerie were also attendants. Then she realized the six other Candy Canes were super special, always would be. The silver ribbons symbolized them.

  EPILOGUE

  Three white limousines pulled up to the Harborside Grand Ballroom at the Balboa Pavilion. A tourist stood on the sidewalk and rubbed his eyes. He started counting. Eight beautiful women in sea-colored gowns and a woman in sparkling white. Must be a bride? Then two older women who clasped hands. One was dark brown, the other white. But, they smiled at each other and hugged. The younger women, how many again?, all carried beautiful bouquets. Must be a wedding. He pulled up the camera on his cell phone, had to share this with his wife and daughter in Omaha. The woman next to him said, “Ain’t this special? We are witnessing a weddin’.” He nodded and clicked.

  Connie shifted her feet in her silver sandals. She probably should have worn pumps, but the sandals were the same ones she wore with Jaeda at the beach so many times. Especially during their first dance, first kiss and their engagement. She adjusted the elegant comb in her hair, E-Ma’s special comb. She thought E-Ma had been buried with it. But, when Jaeda’s mom sent it to her UPS, she was thrilled with the special gift.

  The pre-wedding music started with Blue Moon. She would no longer be standing alone, now she had a dream in her heart. Connie clutched her father’s bent arm. He patted her hand and whispered in her ear. “I am so proud of you, and so thrilled you found the man of your dreams. He is a good man.” George Winfield stopped just as his eyes clouded with tears. He almost started down the aisle with her until she reminded him the attendants went first. He laughed silently and patted her hand again.

  Noelle, Melanie, Natalie, Cindy, Candy and Valerie drifted like clouds down the white runner. Cindy had made a special trip back to California. Rob’s mother, Lydia, held baby Robby in her arms. Rob was standing close to Jaeda as an attendant.

  Doreen practically floated in her special gown. No one who didn’t know would suspect her disability. Finally came Sandra, her precious sister and now her best friend again. Sandra was a bit pudgy from having all those babies and expecting again, but she looked glowing. Connie hoped she would someday glow like that, too, for the same reason. Then came Missy, Jaeda’s sister with a huge smile on her face. All looked so radiant, almost ethereal in the gowns Connie had designed.

  All during the bridesmaids’ entrances Connie’s eyes were glued to her groom who seemed a million miles away in front of the improvised alter. Jaeda was standing stock still except for fiddling with his cuff links. What? She knew he favored the outdated jewelry, but really? In a modern tux? He had hinted at a surprise for her, but she hadn’t seen one yet. Surely, not him wearing cuff links.

  Now the music switched from Blue Moon to the traditional wedding march. It was Dad’s and her turn, and her normally firm legs started to wobble. “You okay, baby girl?” Dad asked. Worry wrinkled his brow.

  “Yes, Daddy. Okay. Just filled with joy.” He squeezed her hand clutched in the bend of his arm, kissed her on her nose like he had done when she was a child, and led her forward.

  Pastor Tom conducted the ceremony. He had been her first choice, the one she had counseled with when she was uncertain about her relationship with Jaeda. He seemed to have a glean in his eye when it came to the exchange of the rings. Sandra had her ring for J
aeda nestled in her bouquet, and she expected Jaeda’s brother-in-law Sean to have hers in his pocket. They had decided on no ring bearers because the only ones at the right age were Sandra’s children, and it was too expensive to fly them to California.

  When Pastor Tom asked for the ring for Connie from Jaeda, he hesitated and put his fingers to his lips. A shrill whistle startled everyone. Her mother looked around, the attendants turned their heads, and the guests looked puzzled. Connie turned her head and saw that Jaeda’s parents had crooked, funny smiles on their faces. And, her dad grinned.

  What was happening? Would something spoil her beautiful wedding? Suddenly she knew.

  Little Jake raced down the aisle with a ribbon dangling from his tiny mouth. He rushed to Jaeda and sat like a mini sentry with his Min-Pin butt quivering. Jaeda pulled a dog treat from his pocket in exchange for the ribbon holding the ring. Jake seemed satisfied and laid down at Jaeda’s feet and sighed.

  Connie guffawed. Did brides laugh during their wedding ceremonies? This one did.

  They exchanged rings and kissed after being pronounced husband and wife. Jaeda picked up Jake and tucked him under his arm while leading Connie back up the aisle with his other one.

  Connie stopped halfway up, turned to Jaeda and kissed him fully on the lips. “I love you!” she said loud enough for all to hear.

  Everyone clapped. Jake woofed.

  ~

  Jill grinned. She had pulled it off holding the little dog back until just the right moment. Someday she would write her memoir about the adventures of being a wedding coordinator.

  The End

  Dear Reader ~

  I pray you received some wisdom from Connie’s and Jaeda’s story, especially about diversity and pre-conceived beliefs. I know that is a hard subject, but It is an important one.

  Please read and please review all my other novels and novellas. I hope you will enjoy them and pass them on. Honest reviews are very important to authors, and those on Amazon help the authors’ Amazon standings.

  Thank you for being one of my readers.

  Sincerely with love,

  Bonnie

  PS ~ For my Newport Beach and Southern California readers … If there are any location inaccuracies, please remember this is a work of fiction, and I may have taken some liberties with venues.

  I can be reached at my email bengstrom@hotmail.com (be sure to put the word BOOK in the subject line); via my website www.bonnieengstrom.com and my author page on Face Book. I love to hear from my readers, so please contact me.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Bonnie Engstrom and her psychologist husband, Dave, live in Arizona near four of their six grandchildren. The other two live in Costa Rica where they surf. The couple share their Arizona home with Sam and Lola, their two rescued mutts in charge of the household.

  She used to bake dozens of Christmas cookies in November and freeze them so she would have a lot to pass out to neighbors. Now … well, that was a long time ago. Instead of cookies for Christmas, she writes. Her Candy Cane stories set in Newport Beach, California, where her family was raised and where they have many fond memories, are perfect for gift giving. Or, for just cuddling up by the fire for an inspiring romance read.

  She hopes you enjoy Her Wild Ride and also gift it to a special female in your life. Don’t forget to leave an honest review on Amazon.