Three Weddings and a Dress

by Mary Martinez

  Rhinestone and pearl detail at the waist and a crinkle skirt with netted hem. A little girl’s dream.

  The dresses would compliment Bella.

  She took a quick inventory of the girls to make sure they had clothes, shoes and everything else in place or tied. Jessie swung the bathroom door wide and the three of them stepped out and faced a fire-breathing dragon.

  “Just what the hell did you think you were doing taking my grandchild?” Claudia Taylor’s angry face tilted into Jessie’s, her mouth in a snarl and hands opened like claws under her tight chin.

  Jessie took a step back knocking into one of the girls, she wasn’t sure which one. She was too nervous to take her eyes off the enraged woman.

  “Ah, you…” Jessie swallowed down her nerves.

  She knew she was stuttering, but damn she’d thought she had enough time to at least show the little ones their dresses. Have time for them to try them on, see how pretty they’d be.

  Mrs. Taylor must have discovered them gone as soon as they’d cleared the alley. She must have been in hot pursuit before the three of them had reached the subway station.

  It was time to grow some backbone and stand up to the woman. What if the beast was a head taller than her? Courage wasn’t counted in physical stature.

  “Look Mrs. Taylor. Obviously you knew we were coming to Macy’s to pick out flower girl dresses.”

  “That is beside the point. You kidnapped my granddaughter.” The woman’s voice upped an octave with each word.

  Jessie looked around in worry. She didn’t want to be arrested only days before the wedding for kidnapping one of the flower girls.

  Jessie caught sight of her mother as she rounded the corner by the escalator. Her relief was short lived when she caught her mother’s expression.

  She had thought Mrs. Taylor was in a temper. Nothing, and she meant nothing, compared to Carla Perez in a fit of temper. The tapping of her mother’s heels preceded a few seconds before she stood in front of Jessie.

  “Mama,” Jessie said. “Let’s step into the rest room where we can have a little privacy.”

  Shooing the two little girls further into the room so the adults could follow and shut the door, Jessie beckoned for Mark’s mother and her own. Neither woman was of a mind to move.

  This was just great. Now what was she going to do? People were already stopping to stare.

  “Jessie Marie Perez.” Oh dear. Her full name. Her mother was royally pissed. “What in heaven’s name were you thinking taking those two little girls down the fire escape?”

  Jessie didn’t have time to even swallow, let alone answer before Mrs. Taylor screeched loud enough to scare the dogs for blocks.

  “What?” Claudia Taylor, if possible, had raised her voice another couple of octaves.

  They had the attention of every patron in Macy’s. Next it would be on the five o’clock news. Jessie Perez kidnaps flower girls, takes them down the fire escape, and they rode the subway to the department store.

  Jessie’s mother was not going to let Mark’s mom take over. Nope. She knew her mother was out of the reasoning zone, nothing to do but ride the tidal wave and face the consequences.

  “Do…you…know…what…could…have…happened?” Each word punctuated with a drop of spittle spray. “They could have fallen to their deaths!”

  Carla Perez’s chest rose as she filled her lungs for the next lecture. Jessie was always impressed at this side of her petite mother, who looked like she wouldn’t harm a fly.

  Yeah, unless she was pissed off. Then get the hell away.

  Fast.

  “You, Jessie, you deserve to fall and break your fool neck. Is this what you’re going to do with my precious grandbabies when they come? Huh? I just want to know because I need to go to the doctor now and get some nervous pills.”

  Jessie had a moment to wonder if there was such a thing, before the backseat quarterback dragon stepped into the fray.

  “Mark is going to hear about this. You daft girl. Now you’ve done it. What I couldn’t accomplish in months, you have in one afternoon. Now there will be no wedding.”

  She reached a hand, or claw toward Sarah, who backed away as if she knew it wasn’t safe to be within breathing distance. “Sarah, come with your Grandmother.”

  Did she think the little girl needed to be reminded who she was? Sarah was having none of it. She folded her arms across her chest. Stubborn washed over her stance.

  “I’m staying with Jessie. We’ve been on an adventure and we’re getting our flower girl dresses.” She turned her head and glared at Missy as if daring the other little girl to defy her. “Aren’t we?”

  Missy squared her shoulders, her petite Adams apple bobbed, “Yes, we are.”

  Jessie grabbed the two little hands, “Excuse us we’re going to find our Cinderella dresses.”

  “Yeah we’re going to be Cinderella’s,” Missy agreed.

  Their exit was ruined when Mrs. Taylor and her Mother both stepped in front of them. Mrs. Taylor was the first to speak. “I don’t think so. You are not going anywhere with my granddaughter.”

  There was enough space between the two women to afford Jessie a view of the Woman’s department and what she saw made her want to curl up and hide. Marching toward them was a security guard. He really didn’t look like he loved his job. Correction he might like it a bit too much.

  “Is there something wrong ladies?” The officer asked.

  “This woman kidnapped my granddaughter.” Mrs. Taylor looked down her nose at the man.

  “Mine too.”

  “Mama.” Jessie glared at her mother.

  “Okay so she kidnapped my grand-niece.”

  “Mother.” Jessie still held the two girls hands. Who clung to her legs like glue.

  “Jessie didn’t do anything she just took us on an adventure, sir.” Sarah peeked around Jessie to impart her portion of the conversation.

  “Yeah. We’re buying Cinderella’s.” Missy chimed in.

  “Miss, please let go of the girls.” The officer instructed.

  “Arrest her.”

  Jessie stared, “Mother.” The word was getting old, but it seemed to be the only thing she could say.

  “Why don’t we all go to the office and sort this out?” He asked more kindly than Jessie would have thought possible under the circumstances. When none of them budged he added, “Please?”

  “Okay, come on Missy, Sarah.” Jessie led the way after the man.

  This left the two older women to follow the parade. Jessie kept her gaze glued to the officer’s back. There was no way she wanted to look at any of the gawkers.

  How embarrassing.

  The small office seemed to shrink when they all piled in. Once seated, the officer regarded the crowd of females with a puzzled look of how to proceed.

  “Would someone like to explain what’s going on?”

  When all three of the women started to speak at once, he raised a hand. “Hold on.”

  Sarah and Missy stood on either side of Jessie as if she needed protection. She placed an arm around each of them, letting them snuggle into her. With the warmth of these two little ones wrapped around her, she could face anything.

  She knew her mother would cool off eventually. Mark’s mother caused the most worry. Would she really press charges? Jessie was sure she’d soon find out.

  “I’m Officer Callie.” He gave a brief nod then directed his attention to Jessie. “Miss?”

  “Perez.” Jessie tightened her hold on her little bodyguards. “Call me Jessie.”

  “Okay Jessie, start at the beginning please.”

  Where did she begin? Before that morning? Good as place as any. Maybe she should tell him to settle in and grab some coffee. She could use some.

  By the impatience radiating around Mrs. Taylor, it probably wouldn’t be prudent to suggest anything. She might as well get the explanation over.

  “Sarah and Missy.” Jessie indicated the little ones next to her. “Are go
ing to be my flower girls…”

  “Sarah is not going to be a flower girl after this fiasco.” Mrs. Taylor interjected.

  “Grandmother!” Sarah lowered her brows to glare at the woman.

  Jessie continued as if she hadn’t been interrupted. “…I planned to bring them here to Macy’s to buy them the Cinderella dresses you have.”

  Missy bounced up and added, “Yeah we’re going to be Cinderella’s.”

  “And both of you are going to be beautiful.” Jessie winked at each of them. “Anyway, Mrs. Taylor thought I should go to another store to buy the dresses.”

  “Yes. She thinks my Hija is full of money.” Her mother added and turned to glare and her adversary. Apparently, Jessie was forgiven for her escapade with the little ones.

  Officer Callie frowned, “Hija?”

  “Daughter,” her mother answered. Her tone indicating he was something less than intelligent for not knowing the word.

  Thankfully the officer chose to ignore her sarcasm. “I still don’t understand.”

  “The little girls were in my room looking at my wedding dress.”

  “Bella. She is so pretty.” Missy’s tone clearly wistful.

  “Who’s Bella?” Callie asked in bewilderment.

  “Bella is Jessie dress,” Sarah said.

  Jessie held her chuckle in over Sarah’s disgruntled tone.

  Officer Callie turned his attention to her, his expression bemused. “You named your dress.”

  “It’s a long story and doesn’t have anything to do with the situation.”

  He gave her a look that clearly stated he thought she was nuts and fast losing his patience.

  “Mother and Mrs. Taylor were in the living room arguing about where to buy the dresses. I can’t afford to shop at Neiman Marcus so I left with the girls and brought them here while they were still occupied.” Jessie didn’t see any reason the security guard of Macy’s needed to know she’d left via the fire escape.

  “You forgot how you kidnapped the two girls.” Mark’s mother interjected.

  “Oh, for goodness sakes I didn’t kidnap them. You brought Sarah over for me to take shopping. I went out the back way. We took the subway to the store. What in the world is the big deal?”

  Claudia Taylor stood to glare down at her. “The back way was four flights down the fire escape.”

  Jessie didn’t meet the woman’s eyes. She swallowed down her mounting guilt and muttered. “There is that.”

  Officer Callie raised his shaggy brows, or was it just one big one? Jessie couldn’t tell. “You took these two little girls down the fire escape?”

  “We were really careful. It was an adventure.” Missy beamed, and Sarah nodded in agreement.

  More and more, Jessie wished she’d never thought of the idea. At the time, it hadn’t seemed so bad. They had been careful. Nothing had happened.

  One of the girls could have died if they’d fallen. The acid in her stomach returned to boiling and settled in her chest; heartburn of a different kind.

  Once again, she wondered what she’d been thinking?

  Dear Diary:

  Consequence time

  I had a bad feeling when I watched those two little girls follow Jessie out the window. Trepidation tangled along my chapel train when the two mothers had discovered what they’d done.

  It had been hours since the women had left together to find Jessie and the little ones. I hope everything’s fine.

  The sun has started to dip. Shadows are lengthening across the room. It’s irritating to listen to nothing but the ticking of the clock on Jessie’s dresser.

  My bead’s shimmered in relief at the sound of someone arriving home. I waited. Still no voices.

  Then the bedroom door swung wide. Jessie marched in, Mark close behind. The snap of it closing behind him caused a tremor to run over my lace.

  I didn’t like the anger spread across Mark’s cheekbones. He was not happy with his bride. And the pout on Jessie’s usual soft mouth indicated she wasn’t exactly joyful herself. He must have found out about the afternoon escapade out the window.

  “Jessie, I love you. Please tell me what you were thinking?” His long legs carried him to the window.

  He pushed it up and leaned out. I could see a shudder race down his spine. He pulled himself in but stared out the window without turning.

  My Jessie still hadn’t said a word. Nor had she moved from the side of the bed where she had stood since she’d walked in. Her gaze focused on me. A ruffle of unease jiggled my ribbon at my bodice. What was she thinking?

  “I can’t even think what my sister would have done if something had happened to Sarah.”

  Slowly Mark pivoted around to face Jessie. I now noticed the glimmer of tears as they streaked down her cheeks.

  “I’m sorry Mark. I don’t know what else to say.” Jessie took a step so she could drop to her bed. “I just wanted to get the girls away from our angry mothers.”

  “And the only way you could do that was to put those two little ones in danger?”

  “It was careless of me. It was an adventure. I didn’t think it through. I remember the first time I went down that way. I was even younger.”

  Mark sat next to her, “Jessie look at me.”

  I could see Jessie’s throat work as she swallowed. My lace bolero tightened around my shoulders. Would he call off the wedding?

  Finally, Jessie looked at him and if I could have done so, I would have held my breath.

  “I love you. I don’t need to lecture you. I’m so stunned you even thought to do something so… I can’t even think of a word to describe my feelings.”

  Mark pushed from the bed to stand and look down at Jessie, she tilted her head up to stare at him. I could tell he was fighting for words.

  “I’ll call you in the morning.” And he left just like that.

  I could feel the pain emanate off Jessie. She threw herself back to lie on the bed. I didn’t hear a sound from her.

  My Alarcon lace quivered in dread. I was afraid there was another bargain basement sale in my future.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Why had she been so careless? Why was hindsight twenty-twenty? She’d been going up and down the metal rungs for as long as she could remember. It came as second nature to her. Until she’d experienced Mrs. Taylor’s and her mother’s reaction, she hadn’t thought about the danger. Okay, so she had, but she’d buried the worry for the thrill of adventure.

  Now the damage was done. Would Carmon ever forgive her? Hell. Would Mark?

  These were questions she had no way of answering. Only time would tell. A pit of molten heat took residence in her tummy. In the morning, she’d probably have to cancel all the wedding plans.

  She rolled her head to the side and Bella came into view. Sadness swept over her. She’d thought her tear ducts had emptied, but a new reservoir had been found it seemed.

  “Bella, I so wanted to wear you.” The gowns beads shimmered in the moonlight. Anyway, that’s what the moisture in her eyes made it seem. “I’m sorry. I wish you were magical and could help me turn back time.”

  A weight pulled her back to the bed when she tried to get up and ready herself for bed. Forcing herself to sit took all her energy. Finally on her feet, she almost sat back down. Good grief she felt old. Emotions had drained every ounce of vigor in her body.

  A soft knock, then without waiting for an answer her mother entered. “What did Mark say?”

  “That he’d call me tomorrow.”

  “That’s all?”

  “Yes. Mama I don’t know how to fix this. Even if Mark forgives me, Carmon and his mother never will. I took their precious little one and put her in danger. I didn’t even think.”

  A rock of guilt formed in the center of her chest. It went nicely with the burning heat in her gut.

  “No, you didn’t think. And there probably aren’t enough words that will take away the hurt you’ve caused.”

  So much for her mother making her f
eel better. Jessie went back to her bed, and plopped down. Maybe she’d never get up again. Yes, she was indulging in a pity party. Unfortunately, it was only making things worse.

  Her mother took the space next to her on the bed. “Oh, Hija, I know you didn’t mean Sarah and Missy any harm. Mark knows this. He loves you. Things will be fine.”

  “Will they?” She leaned into her mother, and the comfort of her mother’s arms had never felt so good. “I need to apologize to Carmon and Mrs. Taylor.”

  A soft chuckle slipped from her mother. “That’s going to be hard for you. I know my girl and she’s made of stern stuff. Are you going to be okay?”

  “Yes, Mama.”

  “I bought the dresses for you before I came home. I knew you wouldn’t have time to return to Macy’s.”

  Jessie snuggled deeper into her mother’s embrace. “Thank you. Do you think Carmon will let Sarah still be a flower girl?”

  She felt her mother’s head move. “I don’t know. I’ll leave the tags on and we can return it if she won’t. I hope things will work out. Little Sarah wanted to wear the Cinderella dress as much as Missy.”

  “You’re the best Mama. I don’t know what I’d do without you. Even when I do crazy things you’re there for me.”

  “I’ll always be here, Hija. You need to sleep. You have a big day tomorrow. Katie and Joey asked if I wanted to go with you to Pandora’s.”

  Shock brought Jessie to her feet. She stared at her mother. That was when she saw the teasing glint in her eye.

  “Oh, you are so bad. You’re joking.”

  “Would it be so bad to have your Mama come to your bachelorette party?”

  Her mother pushed herself to her feet, went to the door and paused waiting for her answer. Jessie considered for a moment. Would it be so bad?

  “No, Mama, do you want to go?”

  “I’m too old. You go and have a good time. I’ll give you some ones.”

  A laugh bubbled up, and damn, after the day she’d had, it felt good. “Ones? Thanks, but no.”