A few hours later, her arms bulged with the weight of packages. She entered her building with a new sense of accomplishment. The doorman greeted her with a smile. Her dogs were barking. How many blisters did she have to add to the day before?
The manager she’d met with a few days earlier waited on one of the lobby chairs. Cecelia gratefully took the chair opposite.
“Ms. Chandler you look worn out.”
Who?
Then it dawned on her, the woman was using her new name. The one she’d given her earlier when she’d called to set the time to meet. That was something she’d have to get used to.
“I’ve been looking for furniture.”
“Did you find anything?”
“Yes.” Cecelia let a small giggle escape. She reached for her purse. “I have the paperwork for you, the copies of the name change forms, and a cashier’s check for the deposit and first and last month’s rent. I won’t have my bank information until my surname is finalized. As soon as I do, I’ll set up the direct withdrawal for the rent.”
The woman tossed everything into her briefcase, regarded Cecelia with a slight frown. “Do you think you’ll have it soon?”
“I’m sorry it can take one to four weeks for the forms to be processed. Would you like the first two months up front?”
“No, if it doesn’t come through, give me a call and you can either drop the rent off at my office or if I’m in the area, I’ll drop by.”
Cecelia stood and held out her hand. “Thank you for all your help, and for working with me. I do appreciate it.”
“It’s worth it. The look on your face today…actually your overall appearance is lighter. It’s like the weight of the universe has been lifted.”
Exactly. The load had been removed she thought as she watched the manager gather her things then leave. With a sense of adventure, she lifted her packages to go to the elevator for the ride to her new home. She had a few items scheduled to arrive in the next few hours.
Then she’d be entertaining in her new home for the first time. She refused to let a heavy conscience overwhelm her at the thought of everyone waiting at the church. Her friends were prepared to deal with the drama. When the time came, she’d watch her friends’ backs.
Let the adventures begin.
Dear Diary;
Wedding Day
Heat from the tension in the room scorched my beads. It’s a good thing they’re not plastic or they’d melt. It was past ten in the morning, and it was beginning to dawn on Mrs. Wilson her daughter might not show.
Mother Evans was in a fine rage. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t will my train to move. With each lap around the room, her foot came closer to my satin.
“Sandra, where is that daughter of yours?” Mother Evans demanded, her voice solid steel.
“Her note said she was too excited to wait for me and Broderick. We thought she’d be here before us.”
I’d often heard Heidi use the term wringing her hands, but until I saw Cecie’s mother doing it, I hadn’t known what she meant.
A snort met Mrs. Wilson’s words. “Where do you think she could be?”
“I don’t know, Margaret. Don’t you think I’d tell you if I knew. I’m afraid she’s been in an accident.”
Another snort came out of Mother Evans. Heidi said snorting wasn’t very lady like. I’d never seen any indication the groom’s mother was a lady so that made sense.
“Have you called her cell phone?” Margaret Evans made the question sound as if she thought Cecie’s mother was too stupid to think of calling.
Again, the air crackled with tension, my bolero tightened in dread. Sandra Wilson’s face turned an unbecoming shade of burgundy. “I’m not an idiot, Margaret. Of course I did, and she’s not answering.”
For a moment, I thought one of them would haul off and hit the other. A reprieve came when one of Cecie’s friends knocked on the door and entered.
“Mrs. Wilson, we’re all ready in the attendant room. I was just wondering if Cecie needs any help.” Skye inquired innocently. Apparently oblivious to the fact she had just walked into a raging inferno of emotions.
I was so proud of her. No one would know she knew the bride wouldn’t show.
“Cecie’s not here,” Mrs. Wilson shouted.
God love Skye, she actually backed up a step, a hand over her heart. How I wish I could have applauded her performance. Instead, my beads scrunched in delight.
“What do you mean? I called this morning and she said she was about to leave. We all thought she was in here getting ready this whole time.”
“Sandra?” Mother Evans snorted again as her brow rose an inch.
Maybe the woman had a problem with her nose. Could human’s have a problem like that? I’d confer with some of my sisters when Carla returned me to Heidi’s.
A knock heralded another visitor. Carla entered with a white envelope in her hand. She wasn’t the actress Skye was. I noticed her sly look in the younger woman’s direction before she handed the note to Mrs. Wilson.
Cecie’s mother ripped it open and quickly read. Then her brow crinkled and she read it again more slowly as if she didn’t understand the words the first time.
“Cecie’s not coming.” Bewildered she looked at her daughter’s friend. Skye just shrugged in an ‘I don’t know anything’ kind of way.
Mother Evans squawked—I mean an out and out sound like some type of screech. I’m not sure what kind of creature or human would make that sound, but it was something I’d never experienced in my existence.
“Calm down, Margaret. I can’t think.” Mrs. Wilson turned to Skye and waved the white letter under her nose. “Cecelia tells her friends everything. What do you know about this?”
“Last night when we dropped her at your house she promised she’d see us all today.” Which I knew was true, since the girls had spoken of getting together to celebrate this evening at the new apartment.
I wanted to go with them almost as much as I wanted to go home to Heidi.
Mrs. Wilson was skeptical. I could tell she was about to call Skye a liar. Instead, she sucked in a huge breath and then instructed in her most imperious tone. “Go question the other girls and then tell me if they know anything.”
Skye left without replying. Margaret Evans was not going to let this slight against her son go without a scene.
“Who’s going to go in and tell Chandler what your daughter did?”
Sandra Wilson swung around from where she’d been staring out the window. “I don’t give a rat’s ass. You do it.”
Margaret’s mouth dropped open, then she closed it with a snap that sounded like a gunshot around the room. Even my ribbons shook. “How dare…”
“Oh, I dare, if it wasn’t for the fact Chandler never cared for Cecie, she’d be here.”
The snorting was now to the stage it was old, and I wanted to smack the woman if she did it again. Unfortunately, that was beyond my capabilities. Margaret Evans marched across the room to stand nose to nose with Sandra. “The two families have a contract.”
“And Cecie and Chandler have never had a say in anything. How did you feel? I know I hated it. I damn well wish I’d had the guts to do exactly what my daughter is doing. Maybe then I’d be happy in my marriage.”
I thought she was done with her speech. Mrs. Margaret Evans was still trying to digest Sandra’s words when she continued, “I love my daughter. She’s the only thing that has made all these years worthwhile.”
Indignantly, Margaret spat out her rebuttal, “I love my son too. He doesn’t deserve this slight. Cecelia is going to pay.”
Sandra stood on her tiptoes to allow her to be even with the other woman. If I could have, I would have laughed at the sight. Her words startled even me, and my bodice lace ruffled in response.
“Oh, stuff a sock in it, Margaret.”
Sandra Wilson stepped around the shocked woman and strode from the room. This left the upset woman scrutinizing me. She circled around me reminding me
of the first day when the three women had done the same, like a running stitch around my hem.
I did not like the speculative look in her eye.
“I know just how to get back at the Wilsons.” She ran her hand over my bodice. “Their pocket book.”
I cringed at the contact. Her hand burned the delicate material. Again, I was thankful my beading wasn’t plastic as it would have been in a less costly gown.
“You are going on eBay to the lowest bidder.”
eBay? What the scrap was that? I did understand the significance of the lowest bidder though.
The door swung open and Carla entered, her focus clearly on me. I was to be saved from whatever eBay was and taken to Heidi’s now.
Thank goodness.
The evil Mrs. Evans stepped in to stop my savior.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“I’ve come for Ms. Cecie’s dress.” She tried to step around the woman, but she wasn’t having any of it.
“I’m going to sell this gown on eBay and you can’t stop me.”
“Why would you want to do that to such a beautiful Heidi creation? You have enough money, Mrs. Evans.” Carla did sound truly bewildered at the woman’s motive.
“I don’t give a damn about the money. In fact, it is going to be a slap in the face when I take the lowest bidder. Now move. You can’t stop me,” Margaret Evans repeated.
“I may not be able to, but Mrs. Wilson can.”
As soon as the door snapped shut. Margaret yanked me from my perch and threw me, none to gently, into my plastic garment bag.
It now dawned on me what my fate would be.
I was to be sold to another bride like bargain basement cotton.
Chapter Eight
Carla Perez rushed into her small two-bedroom apartment. It had taken longer to leave the church than she’d thought. But the idea had been forming and she couldn’t waste any more time. She bee-lined for her ancient computer, booting the damn thing up would take time. She’d learned to multi-task. While the machine worked through whatever processes the system needed, she’d start dinner.
She had been instructed, via letter, by Cecelia to return the beautiful Bella to Heidi by Design. However, what Mrs. Evans planned to do, changed everything.
Her daughter Jessie would be having dinner with her soon to be husband, Mark, so it would only be Carla and Joansie, the family cat. Mr. Perez had passed a long time ago, more years than Carla wanted to count.
Her darling Jessie was her pride and joy. Carla had a chance at a Heidi creation. She wasn’t going to pass up on the inside information she had on Bella.
Stashing the guilt deep down, she hadn’t tried that hard to find Mrs. Wilson. Telling herself at least this way the beautiful gown would have a bride who appreciated the stunning dress.
Oh, her Jessie would look magnificent.
She glanced impatiently at the old computer. The pings and pongs of her old processor were still battling the fight. She knew the lucky winner of the eBay wouldn’t be the usual high bidder. She’d already contacted her sister for her log-in. That way Mrs. Evans wouldn’t figure out who the buyer was.
However, time was of the essence since Mrs. Evans planned to use the ‘buy it now’ option. Which would be one cent, and Carla intended to be the purchaser. With a dress like Bella, she had to be first to the punch.
The log-in melody floated over to where she stood by the sink, the jingle sweeter than ever. Turning her soup on low, she positioned herself in front of her desktop.
Let the buying begin.
****
“Mother, I can’t believe you’re doing this.” Chandler lounged in the easy chair in his parent’s office. “It’s not as if Cecie did this to you. I admire her for having the guts to stand up to Broderick. I only hope she doesn’t buckle under the pressure when she finds out he’s frozen her bank account, fired her from the firm, and refuses to give her a letter of recommendation. She needs to eat. Regardless, I think everyone will be surprised when she shows them she has what it takes to make a living on her own.”
“I think she’ll come crawling back,” Mrs. Evans snapped. “When she does, she’ll have learned she can’t play with Margaret Evans’ only son. She’ll have to fork out a pretty penny for another designer dress.”
“Whatever, Mother. I’m not sorry with the outcome.” That was news to Margaret and she couldn’t understand his approval of what his bride had done.
“You’re okay with losing everything?”
“Cecie wants to be happy. She wouldn’t be with me. Now I can meet someone and if the attraction is there, I can actually pursue a relationship. I’ve never been able to do that, because I knew my hands were tied.” To Margaret’s further surprise, he gave a shrug, “If I lose everything I’ll start a practice on my own. I have a strong feeling that’s what she’s going to do.”
She thought over her son’s words. Margaret agreed the girl had a plan. She was glad Chandler wasn’t hurt and seemed to be on the same track as her. Her son deserved a woman who loved him, and he needed to love whomever he married. She knew what a loveless marriage was like.
Cecelia was smart.
Margaret didn’t agree with the way she’d gone about getting out of the marriage. This was a warning not to mess with the Evans family.
Besides, even though she agreed with Cecelia, revenge was expected.
“Mother, how long are you going to leave the auction open? You don’t have time for this.” Chandler sauntered to the bar and poured himself some premium scotch.
The right woman would change Chandler. The grandbabies would come along and her life would begin.
“Well?”
Oh, she’d been daydreaming. That’s really what the revenge was about. She had to put her desire for grandchildren on the back burner.
“I’m not. I can’t do the lowest bidder in an auction.”
Chandler gave a short barking laugh. “What’s the point?”
“The point is to sell the damn thing to the lowest bidder and since an auction won’t work, I’m using the ‘buy it now’ option at one cent.”
“Mother, sometimes you defy logic.”
Not even a minute later, Margaret received an email notification. She had a buyer. She sold the dress for one cent. Following the instructions to retrieve the buyer information, she emailed the winner.
“Virginia Manzanares. New Jersey!” Margaret clapped her hands. “It couldn’t get any better than that.”
****
Carla Perez hung up the phone. She knew she must be grinning from ear to ear. Her sister had just informed her she’d bought herself a Heidi by Design for a penny. Jessie would be so thrilled. The package would arrive at her sister’s in the next day or two.
The longest two days of her life, she didn’t want to tell Jessie before it arrived. She’d want details and it would be easier to convince her to keep Bella with the gown hanging in her room.
The front door opened. Carla pressed the off button successfully cutting off any chance her daughter would see the computer screen. No way could Jessie know what she’d been doing.
“Mom, are you home?” Her daughter’s sweet voice seeped over the small apartment.
Carla met her in the kitchen. “Hey, did you have a good time.”
Jessie turned, and Carla saw the fresh tears streaking her young face. It was enough to break her heart. What had Mark’s family done this time?
“Come here, honey.” Carla opened her arms. It was all her daughter needed to step into her embrace. Jessie let the flood gates open.
After the storm had finished, Carla led her to the sofa to sit. “Let me get you a glass of wine, it will calm your nerves.”
“Thanks, Mama.” A sniff followed Jessie’s softly spoken words.
Handing her a glass of red wine, Carla snuggled in close and waited. She’d learned, when her Hija was just a mite, that it was best to let her divulge her story in her own time. She’d find out more details that way t
han pumping for information.
“Mark’s mother wants the wedding to be held at The Angel Orensanz Center.” Jessie gave another loud sniff.
Indignation on her daughter’s behalf raced through her veins, causing her blood to boil. “I thought you and Mark decided on that quaint little place.”
Her brain was mush, too excited about the dress. What was the name?
“Classic Manhattan, that’s where I want my wedding.” A wail slipped out. “Why can’t I have my wedding where I want it? Mark’s mother wants the most expensive showy wedding.”
“Did you tell her what you two had decided?” Carla knew the answer before her daughter confirmed.
“Duh, yes.”
Carla was surprised. Her daughter never talked to her this way.
“I’m sorry, Mama. I’m taking it out on you and it’s not your fault. I told her we had decided on a small wedding and the Classic was perfect. I thought she was going to hyperventilate. Said it wasn’t appropriate. Only the best would do for her son.”
Carla couldn’t wait to show the woman her daughter deserved the best and would have a dress by Heidi. That ought to make the damn woman shut up.
“What did Mark say?”
“He told his mother we would be getting married at Classic Manhattan. It was a nice place and she was still invited if she wanted to come.” A smile of love crossed her daughter’s delicate features at the mention of her fiancé.
Carla would have liked to be a fly on the ceiling during that conversation. “What did she say to that?”
“She cried like Mark had broken her heart. He had to take her home. I hopped on the subway.” She leaned her head on Carla’s shoulder. “Again.”
“This is becoming a habit for you two.”
“Mama, she just doesn’t understand we’ve both saved and we’re paying for the wedding we want. She insists what we have planned is the wedding I want, not her baby. Of course, she says she’ll pay for the perfect wedding.”
Three Weddings and a Dress Page 8
