Happy Ever After

by Nora Roberts

  her hands. “Del thinks it’s weird, but he’s not inclined—yet—to beat Malcolm up.”

  “Such restraint.”

  “It is for Del when it comes to you. I could tell Del to tell Mal to call.”

  “When do we graduate from high school again?”

  “It’s fun.”

  Parker shook her head.“It wasn’t even a date. A nondate and a couple of kisses.”

  “Hot, steamy kisses.”

  “Regardless,” Parker began, and Mac strolled in.

  “’Morning, both. Did Mal call?”

  “No. And could we all just—”

  “You should call him. Maybe try the message machine conversations.” As Laurel had, Mac hit the coffee setup.“Carter and I had the best message machine conversations.We still do sometimes. Or e-mails. Emma and Jack did the sexy e-mailing.Your CrackBerry’s fused to your hand anyway, so it’d be easy.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind for down the road to never. Now maybe we could, I don’t know, discuss the two major events we’re getting paid to orchestrate today?”

  “You’re so strict.”

  Emma raced in, a Diet Pepsi in one hand, her laptop in the other.“I feel like I’ve already run five miles this morning. Did—”

  “No.” Parker didn’t snap it, but it was close. “Malcolm didn’t call. No, I’m not going to call him, leave a message on his machine, or e-mail him. Does that cover it?”

  “You could take your car in for service. No, he just did that. You could take the van in,” Emma decided. “No, he did that a couple months ago, and boy, did I get a lecture. Maybe—”

  “Maybe we could get to work.”

  “She’s irritated he didn’t call,” Laurel said.

  “I am not irritated he—”

  “More irked.” Mac pursed her lips, considered. “That’s her irked tone.”

  “If I’m irked, it’s with you.”

  Ignoring her, Laurel shifted to Mac. “He’s probably one of those three-day-rule guys.”

  “That’s such a stupid rule.”

  “I know!” Emma settled in. “Who comes up with that stuff ?”

  Mac popped some muffin in her mouth. “People like Parker.”

  Parker waved a hand. “Just let me know when you’re all finished. No rush, no rush at all. We’ve just got a bride, her wedding party, the hair and makeup team arriving in sixty-five minutes. No worries.”

  “Remember when she was dating that guy? The guy with the thing and the . . .” Mac skimmed her thumb and forefinger over her chin.

  “That guy?” Laurel sniffed. “We didn’t like that guy.”

  “He never looked you in the eye.” Emma gestured with her bottle.

  “And he chortled.” Mac nodded wisely. “He’s the only guy I ever knew who actually chortled. I don’t think you can trust a chortler.”

  In the way of forever friends, Parker knew exactly who they were talking about. She started to point out she’d only gone out with him a handful of times, then wisely—or stubbornly—said nothing.

  “That’s so true,” Emma agreed. She gave Parker a smile. “And because we didn’t like him or trust him, we didn’t say much about him.To you.”

  “Since we like Mal, we have a lot to say.”

  As it made perfect sense to her, Parker only sighed.“Okay, but at this point there’s nothing to talk about. And there may never be. If there is, you’ll all be the first to know.”

  “That’s fair.” Laurel glanced at her friends, got their nods. “Agreed.” She circled her hands in the air as if wiping a slate. “Open to work mode.”

  “Excellent, as is the weather forecast for today. Mostly sunny, minimal chance of rain, light breezes, seasonal temps.The Gregory-Mansfield event this morning has no known danger zones or specific problems or entanglements to watch for.”

  “Just the usuals then,” Laurel put in.

  “Exactly. I spoke with the bride this morning, and she’s good. Reports that she and her mother had a good weepy chat last night, and got it out of their system.”

  “I like her.” Emma sipped her soft drink. “We’re not required to like our brides, so it’s a bonus.”

  “She’s been great to work with,” Parker agreed. “For the timetable.”

  She ran through it, section by section, confirming her partners’ readiness, needs.

  “The flowers are all charm, heavy on the woodland violets.”

  “Don’t mention woodland violets.” Laurel rolled her shoulders. “I made over two hundred for the cake.”

  “It’s woodland meadow all the way,” Emma continued. “The portico, Bride and Groom suites are finished, as is the foyer, staircase, and nearly all the interiors.We’re still on the rest of the exterior, and I need to get back to it soon. The flower carts we’ve designed are going to be awesome, and she’s going to love the mini watering cans filled with the flower I can’t mention on the tables at the reception.”

  “I’ll get the arrival shots,” Mac added, “then stick with the bride and her party until I’m alerted the groom’s heading in. Get his arrival, and back to the bride for the candids during hair, makeup, dressing—shifting to the groom and party. I have some solid concepts for formal shots, exterior. Using Emma’s awesome flower carts.”

  “The cake’s complete. No further assembly on that one. Emma and I can dress the cake and dessert tables during the brunch.”

  “I think the breakdown, second setup will be today’s major challenge.” Parker skimmed the schedule. “It’s all in the timing.”

  “Won’t be the first or the last.” Laurel shrugged.“The cake for the second event does need some on-site assembly, but we’re good there. Groom’s cake’s finished, the desserts nearly so. I need about an hour there, and I can steal that before the first event.”

  “I’ve already talked to my team on the timing.” Emma blew out a breath.“We’ll work our asses off, but we’ll get it done.We’ll start on the Grand Hall as soon as the guests move to the Ballroom for dancing. All twelve bouquets are complete, as are the three—jeez, three—flower girls’ pomanders and halos. I can use any available pair of hands and or backs and legs. Jack and Del are pitching in, and Carter, too, when Mac doesn’t need him. We should be good.”

  “Problem areas,” Parker began.“Henry, the FOG’s brother, really likes his vodka, and when he really gets a lot of what he likes he tends to pat and pinch and otherwise inappropriately touch female asses. I’ll be watching him, but can use more eyes throughout. MOB has a feud going with her own mother-in-law, one of long-standing. They have, I’m assured, issued a detente for today. But emotions and alcohol, as we know, often trump detentes.The SOB,” she continued, referring to the bride’s sister, “has been divorced for three years or so from the groom’s good friend who is one of the ushers. They did not part amicably, so there’s a second possible problem area.

  “Okay,” she added, “quick rundown on timing.”

  WITHIN THE HOUR, PARKER, IN A SUBDUED GRAY SUIT, STOOD ON the portico to greet the bride.While Mac scooted and shifted to get her shots, Parker offered a welcoming smile.

  “Ready for your day, Marilee?”

  “I’m so ready. Oh, oh, look at this.” The bride, already radiant without makeup, with her hair yanked back in a messy tail, grabbed her mother’s hand, and her best friend/maid of honor’s. “It’s . . . it’s like a magical forest glade. A wild, secret forest.”

  “Emma will be so happy you like it.We all are. And this is just the beginning. Why don’t I take you up to the Bride’s Suite, or today maybe we should call it your bower.”

  Amid more pots of violets and wild roses, among trays of champagne and colorful fruit, Parker hung the bride’s gown, the attendants’ dresses, served refreshments, answered questions.

  “Hair and makeup are heading up,” she said when she got the alert through her earbud.“I’m going to leave you to Mac for now. I’ll be checking back in. If you need me in the meantime, just push one-one-one on the p
hone.”

  She strolled out, then went into a dash to check on Emma’s progress outside. Emma was right, she noted; the flower carts were wonderful. If the entrance was magic forest glade, here the guests would step into magic forest meadow.

  More deep red wild roses and rich purple violets twined up the portico. Charming and generous arrangements of wildflowers spilled from carts and tubs. Even now members of Emma’s team added small distressed copper holders with more flowers to the sides of the chairs they’d covered with pale green slips.

  Pretty, she thought, as the pictures Mac would take.

  She pitched in for the ten minutes she could spare, then hurried back to greet the groom.

  “Groom’s on-site,” she told Mac through her headset.

  She greeted, escorted, offered refreshments, hung tuxes.

  And noticed the groom’s father, a widower of five years, standing alone on the small terrace.

  She slipped out with him.

  “Mr. Mansfield, I wonder if you’d like to take a little walk with me, see the area we’ve dressed for the ceremony.”

  She hooked her arm through his.“It’ll give the wedding party a little time to settle in,” she added as she walked him out.

  “It’s going to be a beautiful day,” he said.

  “It really is.”

  He was, she thought, a handsome man. His hair, full, thick, and pewter gray, his face lightly tanned and strong-featured. But his eyes were full of sorrow.

  She spoke gently.“It’s hard, I think, to face the happy times, the important moments, without someone we love, someone who made those times and moments possible.”

  He reached up a hand to cover hers. “I don’t want it to show. I don’t want any cloud on Luke’s day.”

  “It’s all right. He misses her today, too. He thinks of her, as you do. But it’s different for you. She was your partner. I think Luke’s going to have what you and your wife had with Marilee.The love, the bond, the partnership.”

  “Kathy would have loved Marilee.” He took a deep breath, then another when he saw the terrace, the pergola, the lawns.“She would have loved this, every moment of this. You’re giving our boy a beautiful day.”

  “We just set the stage.You and your wife helped make him into a man, and now he and Marilee are giving each other a beautiful day.”

  She pulled out her tissues, quietly offered one as his eyes filled.

  “Mr. Mansfield—”

  “Under the circumstances, I think you should call me Larry.”

  “Larry, I know what it’s like to face those happy times without the ones you most want to share them with.”

  He nodded as he composed himself. “I knew your parents.”

  “Yes, I remember you and your wife coming to parties here. Luke looks like her.”

  “He does. God, yes, he does.”

  “I think, when we have those times, those moments, all we can do is hold those who can’t be here with us.” She laid a hand on her heart. “Knowing they’re proud and happy, too.”

  He nodded, and the hand over hers tightened briefly. “You’re a good girl, Parker. A wise young woman.”

  “I think Marilee’s a lucky one, with her husband and her father-in-law.Would you like to walk some more?”

  “No, I think I should go back. Be with my boy.” He smiled at Parker, laid a hand on his heart as she had. “We’ll go be with our boy.”

  She took him back, pleased to be able to make him laugh on the way. Then she walked quickly into the happy chaos of the Bride’s Suite.

  Women were gowned, men suited. The ring bearer entertained, the flower girl pampered. On the dot of the designated schedule, Parker lined up attendants, helped adjust rose and violet halos, pass out bouquets, dab moist eyes to protect makeup.

  “Groom’s in place,” Laurel said through her earbud.

  “So are we. Cue music for parents.” After sending the bride’s grandparents down, she turned to Larry, who would escort his own mother down the aisle. “You’re up.” On impulse, she rose to her toes, kissed his cheek. “Good luck. You look beautiful, Mrs. Mansfield. Enjoy the wedding.”

  With the clock ticking in her head, she watched them go. “Mother of the bride and son, your turn. After seating your mom, Brent, move up on the left of the best man. And go!”

  Lovely, she thought. It all looked lovely, and right on time.“Cue procession music. First attendant . . . Go. Smile! Head up. You look amazing. Second attendant . . . Go. Shoulders back, Rissa! Maid of honor, on the mark.” She didn’t have to remind this one to smile, she noted, as the MOH was already beaming. “And go. Perfect. Okay, Cody, remember your job.” She winked at the little boy who carried a white pillow with mock wedding rings. “Batter up!”

  He grinned and strutted out.

  “Your turn, Ally.You look like a fairy princess. Sprinkle your petals, and smile. Have fun, then go right to Mommy up front. Good girl.”

  “Oh boy, oh boy,” Marilee said with a breathless laugh.

  “You’re not only a beautiful bride, but one of the happiest I’ve ever sent down the aisle. Ready for the big moment, Mr. Gregory?”

  “She’s not nervous, so I’m nervous for both of us.”

  “It doesn’t show.You just look incredibly handsome.Take a few breaths, easy in and out. Cue bride’s music. Here you go.Take that one moment at the entrance to pause. Let everybody get a good view of how amazing you look. And go!”

  Parker waited until all attention focused on the bride, until the angle changed so there was no chance she’d come into Mac’s frame.

  Then she moved out, and off to the side to be, like her partners, invisible, but ready to address the smallest glitch or biggest problem.

  For the next twenty minutes, Parker was pleased not to be needed at all.

  “So far, so good,” she murmured into her headset.“And beautifully done.Are we set in the Solarium for guests during photos?”

  “Set and double set,” Emma assured her.“And the Grand Hall’s on schedule. I say so far, so excellent.”

  “You’d be right. MOH didn’t get all the weepies out. She’s okay, but she’s going to need a touch-up before photos.”

  “Makeup’s in the kitchen,” Laurel told her. “Grabbing some food during the break. I’ll send someone out in five.”

  “Five works.We’re at ring exchange.”

  When the happy couple danced down the aisle—literally, as the groom stopped halfway to lift his laughing bride and swing her in a circle—Parker applauded.

  Then got back to work.

  With Mac herding the bridal party in one direction, she herded guests in the other. Subcontractors scrambled to rearrange chairs, add tables to the terrace.

  After the photo and cocktail break—and only six minutes off schedule—Parker invited the guests into the Grand Hall for brunch.

  There were always details that needed attending, adjusting, but watching the dancing during reception, Parker felt everything, onstage and backstage, had run particularly smoothly.

  “Parker.” Larry stepped up to her. “I know you’re busy, but I wonder if you could indulge me.”

  “Of course.What can I do for you?”

  “I wonder if you’d give me a dance.”

  Not usual protocol, but she knew when a rule needed to be bent or broken. “I’d be delighted.”

  “It’s been a very good day,” he said as they stepped onto the floor.“A joyful one.You helped me get to the point where I could fully enjoy it.”

  “I think you’d have gotten there on your own.”

  “I hope so, but I didn’t have to. I watched you today, something I’m sure I’d have missed if we hadn’t talked.”

  “Oh?”

  “You’re very good at your work, and very good at not letting it show it’s work. Your parents would be very proud of you, of what you’ve built here.”

  “Thank you.”

  “My mother was impressed, and believe me, she doesn’t impress easily. She has
a dear old friend whose granddaughter just got engaged. If my mother has her way, and she usually does, you’ll have another client.”

  “There’s nothing we like more than a satisfied referral.”

  She nearly missed a step as she caught a glimpse of Malcolm—where the hell did he come from?—leaning against the wall, talking to Jack.

  And watching her.

  He threw her off, she admitted as she ordered herself to tune back in to Larry for the remainder of the dance.That had to stop. But the bottom line was, at the moment, she couldn’t allow herself to be thrown off. She had a schedule to keep, an event to follow through to the end, and another to begin.

  When the music ended, she stepped back.

  “Thanks for indulging me.” Larry gave her hands a squeeze. “You and your partners put on a beautiful wedding.”

  “That’s exactly what we love to hear, and I have to get back to it.”

  She signaled the DJ to start the next segment—bouquet toss, garter toss, both of which she organized and supervised. She helped a guest locate a left shoe—a very nice Jimmy Choo—kicked off in the enthusiasm of a dance, and helped another with a quick repair on a hem.

  Since Laurel was busy helping the caterers serve cake and coffee, Emma and her team had sectional breakdowns and redressing already underway, and Mac would continue to rove and roam and document the reception, Parker grabbed Del.

  “We need to start transferring the gifts.”

  “Sure. Emma shanghaied Jack on flower detail. They’re doing something somewhere.”

  Parker knew precisely what and where. “They’re changing over the Solarium and the Grand Hall for the next event.”

  “Okay.”

  She jogged down the back stairs. “Where’s Malcolm?”

  “Somewhere.Why?”

  “I saw he was here, that’s all.”

  “Is that a problem?”

  “No.” She felt her shoulders tense, willfully relaxed them. “I just wasn’t expecting him. It’s a busy day.”

  “So put him to work.”

  What she did was put him out of her mind and she, Del, the valets, and the drivers began to transfer wedding gifts from the display tables to the bridal limo.

  By the time the task was completed, some of the early departures called for their cars. She guided some out, assisted those to whom the bride and groom had offered flowers.

  Keeping to the timetable, she dashed back up to give the DJ the nod for announcing the last dance.

  Laurel stepped up beside her.“I’ll do the sweep if you take the herding.You’re better at herding.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Take-away cake and desserts are all boxed up so I can give Emma a hand, at least until Mac and Carter are free, then I’ve got to hit my own stuff for the next event.”

  “She’s on her way to box whatever flowers the bride wants to take or give away from this point.”

  “I’ll stick with her until I have to move on. How’d you talk Mal into hauling flowers?”

  “What? I didn’t.” Parker’s eyes widened. “He is?”

  “I ran into him when he was carrying a small forest into the Grand Hall. From