Charming Lily

by Fern Michaels

  “I guess I was thinking about the last time Matt left me at the altar. And before you can say it, I’m aware of my part in that fiasco. You’re wrong, though, Sadie. It’s more than a dinner. I had to call off the rehearsal. The minister said we’d just enter from the chancery and take it from there. A phone call would have been nice. Did you check the messages when we came in? This just isn’t like Matt. I know he’s been on the road for a month, and we’ve been playing telephone tag for so long I’m starting to forget what he looks like. Even though I accepted it, I’m still smarting over the fact that he didn’t show up for Christmas. Calling and talking for hours is not the same thing. Christmas is special. I was really looking forward to opening all these wedding gifts with Matt this evening,” Lily said, pointing to the mountain-high pile of exquisitely wrapped packages in the dining room. “I’m ready, let’s go. You drive. I’m too jittery. It’s been raining for two solid days. I hope it isn’t an omen of some kind. Are there any messages?” Lily asked hopefully.

  Sadie grinned. “Listen for yourself.”

  Lily brought the receiver to her ear to listen to her voice mail. She smiled at Sadie. “He’s on his way, but he’s going to be too late to make the rehearsal and dinner. There was a big pileup on the Interstate and he lost two hours, and then there was a detour somewhere, and he lost more time. I feel so much better. Actually, I feel a whole lot better. Wonderful in fact. Absolutely wonderful!”

  Fifteen minutes later they were headed down Jefferson Street on their way to King’s Tavern. “Look at that shepherd those people have. Matt has a dog like that,” Lily said, turning to crane her neck so she could see out the back window. “She’s so cute and lovable. Kind of like Buzz. I sure hope they get along once we move in together. There’s always one who wants to be top dog.”

  “Okay, Lily, we’re here. Put a smile on your face and don’t act concerned because Matt isn’t here. Prospective brides are supposed to be all smiles. So, smile, Lily. That’s a damn order.”

  Lily worked a smile onto her face as she climbed out of the car. “Sadie.”

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t really like those Digitech people. They look right through you. It’s very hard to hold a conversation with any of them. They make me uncomfortable. I especially don’t like Marcus or his wife. I always feel like both of them are trying to take my measure, and I’m coming up short. Dennis is nice, but he’s shy. He’s sort of like Matt in a lot of ways. If you see me floundering, step in, okay?”

  “You got it. Just be yourself. It’s one night, Lily. You can handle it. By this time tomorrow they’ll all be gone.”

  Lily looked around. “I guess I’m feeling inferior this evening. They’re all so wealthy. They’re going to think this is all very tacky. I love King’s Tavern, and so does Matt. Yvonne said we could spend our wedding night in the third-floor suite. I can’t tell you how excited Matt was with her offer. And, it was his idea to have our dinner here. I’m angry with myself for feeling this way. It’s almost as though I have to justify myself to these people. Why am I doing this, Sadie?”

  “We said we weren’t going down that road. We’re going to go inside, we’re going to sit down, we’re going to smile and smile until our faces start to hurt. The tavern is known for its prime rib, and we are going to gorge ourselves. The wines you chose are excellent. Trust me, no one will be able to find fault with the dinner. Let’s go now. By the way, you look stunning. Blue is definitely your color. Just remember to smile and look happy.”

  “Thanks, Sadie. This is Matt’s favorite dress.”

  The restaurant was small, cozy and intimate with bright red tablecloths that complemented the Christmas tree and the poinsettias nestled along the wall and in the corners. A fragrant garland decorated with red-velvet bows curled around the white staircase leading to the third floor. A cheery fire crackled in the fireplace. Waiters hovered but were in no way intrusive. Yvonne stood to the side, her eyes sharp and alert for any and all mistakes on the part of her staff.

  “Hi, everyone. Matt sends his apologies. He got held up on the Interstate because of a bad accident and a detour, so he won’t be joining us this evening,” Lily said as she took her seat at the head of the table, Sadie on her left.

  “It’s so nice to see all of you here in Natchez. I hope you had some time today to do a little sight-seeing. I know Matt is going to give you all a quiz later on.” The soft murmurings around the table unnerved Lily. She honed in on Dennis. Dennis was Matt’s best friend, and now a friend of hers. He looked befuddled. No help there. She turned her attention to Marcus Collins. “How do you like our city, Marcus?”

  “For some reason I thought Natchez would be larger. It’s quaint.”

  Quaint. Lily could feel the fine hairs on the back of her neck move. Her backbone stiffened. “I’d hardly call it quaint. It’s a lovely city. The buildings are beautiful. The people smile at you and say good morning. I’m taking umbrage here, Marcus.” Matt doesn’t like you, you stuffed shirt, and that means I don’t like you either.

  “You asked for my opinion, Lily. I prefer New York City, as does my wife. I guess it’s all in what you get used to. Are we having a toast?”

  “Of course. Matt ordered the champagne himself. I hope you don’t find fault with it, Marcus.”

  “Matt’s wine choices are about the same as his choice of clothing, terrible,” Marcus said as he watched the waiter pour the bubbly into his glass.

  “I’ll be sure to tell him you said that,” Dennis said.

  Lily’s eyeballs snapped to attention. What have we here? she wondered. A minute later, Dennis was on his feet, his glass poised high in the air. “To Matt, the best friend a guy could have, and to Lily, the lady of his choice. Mine, too, now that I’ve had a chance to get to know her. May all your days be filled with wondrous things.”

  Lily smiled as she sipped the champagne.

  Small talk continued throughout the rest of the dinner, mostly talk of Natchez, the climate, the mansions, and, finally, a description of Lily’s wedding gown. She was ready to jump out of her skin by the time dessert and coffee were served.

  It was hard not to notice that the elegant, lacquered Betsy Collins barely touched her food. Lily looked pointedly at her plate, and said, “The prime rib here is the best in the state. Didn’t you care for it, Betsy?”

  “I’m a vegetarian,” Betsy responded curtly. Her husband looked surprised at her announcement. Lily shrugged as she poured cream into her coffee.

  Lily looked up and down the long table. “Did you all enjoy your dinner? Matt will want to know.”

  Again, soft murmurings of agreement rushed up and down the table. The atmosphere was so chilly, Lily longed for her coat. She knew in her heart the dinner would have been more festive if Matt were there. Were the others intimidated by Dennis and Marcus? Possibly Marcus, but not Dennis, she decided. She wished she knew what was going on. There were undercurrents here that she didn’t like. She hoped Matt would be able to explain it to her.

  Lily sighed with relief when the waiters arrived to take away the dessert plates. The others looked at her. She knew they were wondering if they should get up to leave. Suddenly her backbone stiffened for the second time. “This is not a wake. It’s supposed to be my rehearsal dinner. That means we’re all supposed to be happy and smiling. The only people smiling here are Sadie and me, and my face is starting to hurt with the effort. I’m sorry if this was such a chore for all of you. As I said earlier, this dinner was Matt’s idea, and I agreed with him because I viewed it as a happy event. There has been nothing happy about this evening at all. And, by the way, I am just as concerned about Matt’s absence as you are. Things happen. Unfortunately, this is one of those times when he has no control over the situation. Having said that, why don’t we just finish our coffee and go our respective ways. I’ll leave it up to all of you to explain your attitude to your boss tomorrow.” She winced at Sadie’s hard kick to her ankles.

  Marcus stopped stirring
his coffee and placed the spoon on the saucer. “I apologize, Lily. Dennis and I are concerned about Matt’s absence. You’re absolutely right about this evening. Our manners are deplorable. If it’s all the same to you, I think Betsy and I will head back to the hotel and make some phone calls to the State Police to see what the road conditions are. If I find out anything, I’ll give you a call. I’m sorry, Lily.”

  Lily nodded miserably. It didn’t help at all that Marcus’s wife looked at her with such pity she cringed. Dennis’s date, on the other hand, looked everywhere but at her. She did mumble something, but Lily couldn’t make out the words.

  “Don’t say it, Sadie,” Lily said, tossing her napkin on the table. “I know exactly what you’re thinking, but please don’t voice those thoughts. I’m going to pay the bill, then we’re going home.”

  “That sounds like a plan, Lily. I say we sit around in our pajamas and have ourselves a rip-snorting girls’ night.”

  “Yeah, a plan,” Lily said, handing over her credit card to the waiter.

  The ride back to Lily’s apartment was made in virtual silence.

  “Deep in my heart, I have this fear that Matt is not going to show up for the wedding,” Lily said, a catch in her voice.

  “Of course he’s going to show up. Stop thinking like that. He called and said he was delayed. Delayed, Lily, does not mean he won’t show up. This is New Year’s Eve. I guess his people would rather be home with their families. I can’t fault them for that; nor should you.”

  “I was on my last nerve back there at the restaurant. No one really ate. It wasn’t just Betsy. Did you notice that?”

  “I ate everything on my plate, Lily.”

  Tears rolled down Lily’s cheeks. “I have this awful sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. This whole thing is a charade. I’m just fooling myself.”

  “I don’t want to hear that kind of talk,” Sadie said fiercely. “Matt Starr loves you. I see the way he looks at you. Don’t even think such a thing. Okay, we’re here.”

  “What would I do without you, Sadie? God, I’m going to miss you.”

  “We aren’t going to talk about that either. For now we’re going to open a bottle of wine and talk about old times. If need be, we’ll open two bottles. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  The organist looked questioningly at the minister, who merely nodded. Her signal to keep playing.

  The groom was an hour late.

  “I’m sorry, Reverend,” Lily said in a choked voice.

  “My dear, I have all day. Perhaps something unexpected came up. We can wait a while longer.”

  “No. He’s not coming. I’m . . . I’m going to . . . leave. Would you mind telling the guests. . . . I can’t . . . I’ll fall apart. I need to leave here with whatever dignity I can muster. Even if it is by the back door.”

  “Lily . . .”

  “How could he do this to me, Sadie? How could I have been so blind? I knew. Dammit, I knew, and I still put myself through this. I can’t bear to face those people. Reverend, is there a back door?”

  The minister led the way to the back door and held it open. “What do you want me to tell the young man if he shows up?”

  Lily squared her shoulders. “Reverend, you truly do not want to tell him what I’m thinking. Don’t worry, he won’t show up. I guarantee it.”

  “My dear, is there anything I can do?”

  “Yes. Tell that organist to stop playing. Thank you.”

  Lily started to sob the moment she got into the truck. “Do I look like a fool to you, Sadie?” she asked.

  “Of course not. If I ever get my hands on that guy, I’ll choke the living life out of him.”

  “Oh God, oh God, he did it to me again. Twice, Sadie!”

  “Lily, I have to go to Dunleith Plantation to cancel the reception. I don’t think anyone will show up after the minister makes his announcement, but you never know. Will you be all right? I won’t be long. It’s the right thing to do in case some of the guests do show up. Sometimes people don’t go to the church and go straight to the reception. Your guests won’t know what to do.”

  “I didn’t think about that. Go ahead. I’ll be okay. You don’t need to stand around and watch me bawl my eyes out. I hate him for doing this to me. Do you hear me, Sadie? I hate him. I will never, ever, forgive him for this. Never!”

  It was ten minutes past eight on the cold, rainy evening of his rehearsal dinner when Matt Starr swung his Jaguar off Highway 20 at Vicksburg and headed south on Highway 61. He whistled as he drove, knowing he was going to see Lily soon. He continued to whistle as Gracie, his dog, laid her head on his lap. He drove through the small community of Washington on his way to Natchez. He pulled to a stop at the first intersection and waited for the light to change. He could see the truck scales where Highways 61, 84, and 98 merged. He was almost into town when he noticed the AmSouth Bank’s ATM machine in Magnolia Mall. “See, Gracie, everything is working out and coming together. We were in such a rush this morning, I forgot to hit the ATM. A bridegroom needs some money in his pocket. This is just perfect.”

  Matt stopped the car, left the engine running, and climbed out. He walked the ten feet to the machine, looking back once to see Gracie watching him. A chill washed over him. The place was deserted. The ten-foot walk to the ATM machine set his nerves twanging. He looked at the lush shrubbery surrounding the bank, knowing he couldn’t be seen from the street. Of course it was deserted, it was New Year’s Eve. The thought made him feel better.

  He stood for a moment, shivering in the light rain that was still falling. The temperature had dropped, too. He could feel the wind through his flannel sweatshirt and light windbreaker. His big toe felt cold, too.

  Lily was going to be so happy to see him. Sometimes things just worked out right. He’d finished up all his work and at the last second decided to drive instead of flying, so he wouldn’t have to put Gracie in the cargo hold. Besides, he loved driving with the big dog sitting next to him. He could see it now. After the tumultuous greeting, Buzz and Gracie would romp about Lily’s apartment while he snuggled on the couch with his soon-to-be bride. And then they would toast in the New Year. He couldn’t be happier. His thoughts soured when he thought about how disappointed Lily probably was when she played his message saying he was going to miss the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner because he made the decision at the last minute to drive instead of flying. He crossed his fingers and made a wish that she would welcome him with open arms.

  He looked back at the car to see Gracie watching him through the window. Sweet Gracie, so full of love and devotion. She was in fine fettle tonight. She’d been to the groomer the day before and now sported a pink polka-dotted neckerchief. He smiled at the picture she presented. He remembered how he’d laughed aloud when he’d fastened her leash and she’d pranced around, knowing she looked good. Just like a woman. He didn’t know who he loved more, Lily or Gracie.

  Matt slid his card into the slot, punched in his code, and waited until the bills slid out. He marveled as he always did at how crisp and clean the new twenty-dollar bills looked. The only problem with new money was it stuck together and he had to spit on his finger to separate the bills. There was a lot to be said for dirty, wrinkled money.

  He felt the man’s breath on his neck, but before he could turn around strong hands cupped his neck in a vise. “Behave yourself, Mister, and you won’t get hurt. I just want your money. Now, pretend I’m your best friend and shove that card through the slot again. Do what I tell you.”

  Matt half turned but felt a light, warning squeeze to his neck. He could hear Gracie barking inside the car. Anxious but obedient, Matt did as he was told. It was only money, and he had plenty of that. Out of the corner of his eye he saw two more men appear from the back of the bank to stand alongside his car. One of them was antagonizing Gracie. His blood started to boil. “Keep getting money until the machine won’t give you any more. How much money you got in that account, Mister?”

  �
��A couple of thousand,” Matt answered truthfully as he stared at the man’s hands under the ATM light. No need to tell him how many thousand. Squared-off nails. Clean hands. Paper-pusher hands. Not the hands of a thug.

  “Hey you guys, come here. You’re never going to guess who this guy is.”

  The two men stepped out of the shadows and came closer to peer at the ATM card Clean Hands was holding out for their inspection. None of the three looked like they had ever been within walking distance of a computer, so how could his name impress them? He smelled tobacco, an ever-so-faint scent of aftershave, garlic breath, and something else he couldn’t define. As far as dress went, they looked better than he did. He started to shiver again but not with fear. He suddenly felt icy cold. He’d read hundreds of stories about people being at the wrong place at the wrong time. He was being mugged. Under a bright light at an ATM machine in a deserted shopping mall on New Year’s Eve. This end of town was not where the action was tonight. Let them take all his money and the car, too.