Jessie sobered and brought the subject back to Mark. “Do you think I should even bother? Maybe I better wait to hear from Mark.”
“Mark will forgive you, you’ll see.”
*****
Music filled the air. Jessie reached a hand out of her blanket cocoon and slammed down on the snooze button. Peeking with one eye, she gazed at the time. She figured she could sleep another ten minutes and still arrive at work on time.
Her cell jingled the tune for Mark. She sat up, and grabbed for the phone. A mixture of excitement and dread ran through her veins.
“Hello?”
Mark’s voice was the sweetest thing to wake up too. He sounded much better this morning. He wanted to meet her before work. She clicked the cell shut and scrambled out of bed. She had to hurry.
In record time, ready for work she grabbed up her bag and pulled the door open.
“Wish me luck, Bella.” She tossed the words over her shoulder.
As she walked into Java hut, she noticed Mark with two latte’s on the table in the corner. He stood to wait for her. A grin spread across his handsome face.
“Hey, princess.”
Relief weakened her knees. “Mark.”
His arms encircled her, his lips brushed her forehead. Stepping away, he pulled the chair out for her. She sat, picked up her coffee and waited. She would let him take the lead. She had a feeling things would be fine.
“Sarah has declared that if she doesn’t get to wear her Cinderella dress she’s not talking to anyone ever again. And she had so much fun with her Jessie and best friend, Missy, that she doesn’t see why everyone is so upset.”
Jessie wasn’t sure if that was a statement, or if she needed to form some response. She didn’t know what to say.
Mark chuckled. “Speechless? I didn’t think I’d see the day.”
“I am speechless. I feel so bad.” She smiled at the memory of the two little ones. “The girls did have a good time. Mama still picked up the dresses in case, but I wasn’t so sure the girls would have a chance to wear them.”
“What? You mean you thought one incident and I would leave you? What does that say about our love?”
“What I did was really bad.”
“Yes. I’m not going to pretend that it was okay. Even though it turned out well and you’re Sarah’s hero. Jessie, we’d be in serious trouble if our love couldn’t get us through this. We’re going to have fights and all kinds of problems in the future. That’s life. Are you up to it?”
Jessie didn’t think she could answer around the emotion clogging her chest. After several swallows, she was able to choke out a small squeaky, “Yes.”
Mark leaned across the table and captured her lips with his. The warmth of his mouth faded after he lifted his head.
“Princess, you better get your apron. Duty calls.”
Jessie threw a look at the clock in the corner. Damn he was right. Scooting away from the table, she cleared their cups. “I’ll see you tonight?”
“Nope, you have your date with the girls at Pandora’s remember.”
“And you have your guy’s night. Love you.”
“I’ll call you later.” Mark swatted her bottom. A zing of electricity shot over her. She winked at him then swung around to face her workday.
*****
Pandora’s swarmed with people. Jessie had never been to the club. She’d heard a lot from Katie and Joey though, almost enough to make it feel like she had visited on occasion.
Her friends had decorated a corner table. A few of her co-workers and cousins had been invited and from the look of it, everyone was here. She stifled the groan as she approached.
She had hoped it would only be her two friends and she could make an early escape. Now she would have to suffer the strippers.
“Jessie!” Katie called her name, as if she were walking in the wrong direction or something.
She had an idea the drinks had been flowing for a while before her arrival. It was time to catch up. She might as well have a good time.
“You sit here.” Joey led her to a chair at the end of the gift-laden table.
“We’re going to play a drinking game,” Katie announced. “Everyone has to say something they’ve never done. And whoever has done it has to drink a shot.”
Jessie restrained from rolling her eyes, barely. What the heck, she needed to forget how stupid she’d been. So let the game begin. “Do I get to start?”
A chorus of ‘yeses’ waved around the table. What could she begin with? “I’ve never been married.”
“I don’t think you can do that one.” Joey arrived with a tray of lemon drop shots in time to hear.
“Why not, she’s isn’t married yet.” Katie pointed out the obvious.
“Okay true.”
Joey placed the tiny glasses in front of everyone. Three of Jessie’s co-workers were married. Each eyed the yellow liquid dubiously. Now she sort of felt bad since she knew none of them were heavy drinkers. Well, it was her party, and they could live a little. If they drove, there was always a taxi. Together the three women shot them down.
“Next.” Joey pointed to Katie who was on Jessie’s left.
“I’ve never sky dived.”
At this rate, Jessie wouldn’t have to worry about a hangover. Her own party, and she hadn’t even had a drink yet.
Apparently, none of her friends and co-workers were daredevils, because no one had to take a shot of their lemon drop.
Several rounds of the game later she still hadn’t had a drink. How depressing to hear all the things she’d never done. At her ripe old age of almost thirty. Jessie tried not to think she only had one more year. A shiver ran over her.
Wrinkles would be next.
“Jess, your turn again.” Someone shouted from across the table.
“Is it okay if I just say ditto to everything that’s been said?”
“No.” Katie slugged her playfully in the shoulder.
“Oh, now I’m going to have a bruise for all to see on my wedding day.”
Katie only rolled her eyes in reply.
“Fine. I’ve never gone bowling.”
“What?” Joey stared at her as if she’d grown two heads or something.
“I have no desire to throw a black ball down a wooden floor at a bunch of pin thingers.”
Katie laughed. “Don’t knock it. You have no idea how fun it is.” Then she downed the lemon concoction in one swallow.
The rest of them followed Katie’s example.
Well hell, at this rate she’ll never find out what a damn lemon drop tasted like.
*****
“I’ll hold the door open. You two get her to the porcelain God before my carpet gets ruined.” Her Mother’s voice seemed to be coming through a ball of cotton.
Vaguely she was aware her friends were on either side trying to hold her up. Unfortunately, they could barely walk straight themselves. Now she wished she hadn’t found a way to win the game and drink all those lemon drops. The three of them came to her doorway and stopped to regard the space.
“I thing vwe can make ith, don’t you?” Katie’s words slurred past her left ear.
Then sandwiched in between them, her two friends gave it the ole college try, through the door at the same time.
“Ouch. Move over Katie,” Joey whined.
They stopped moving. Jessie could barely breathe with all of them stuck in between the doorframe. She felt a hand on her bottom and the next minute she was stumbling into her room only to land on her bed. Bags flew to the floor as Katie fell to one side and Joey to the other.
“That hurt.” Katie rubbed her hand over her arm where it must have been jammed against the door.
Her Mother rubbed her hands together. “It was the only way I could think of to get the three of you unstuck.” She turned to help Katie up, but before she could, Jessie swallowed and an agonized groan oozed up and over the room.
“Quick, help me with Jessie,” Her Mama ordered Katie and Joey
. “No time to waste. Hija is going to be one unhappy bride-to-be come morning. Any other time I’d smile and figure my Jessie deserved it. However, I wouldn’t wish a hangover on my worst enemy the day of their rehearsal dinner especially when Hija has to deal with the dragon woman, Mark’s Mother.”
Someone held her around the waist while Jessie emptied the contents of her tummy into the toilet.
“One of you grab a blanket and a pillow please. I think Jessie will be spending the night close to the commode.” Then her Mother arranged a makeshift bed on the bathroom floor.
Tidal waves rolled in her stomach; she didn’t care where she slept, as long as the dang room stopped moving.
Dear Diary:
Contraptions
My poor Jessie hasn’t made an appearance yet this morning. When her two friends brought her home late last night, I thought she was sick. I soon realized as with Cecelia, she’d gone to the ritual that all brides seem to do.
The bachelorette party.
Like Cecelia, Jessie had too much to drink. Carla had put her in the bathroom for some reason. First I could hear agonizing retching sounds, but it soon quieted and I haven’t heard a thing since.
Carla entered the room to check on her a few times during the night and again a couple of minutes ago. Now she was going through the bags Jessie’s friends had left on the bed before they left last night.
My attention was on the door leading to where Jessie had spent the night, wondering when she’d awaken. Today was a big day, the rehearsal dinner, another ritual where both sides of the family gather.
A soft gasp from Carla drew my attention. My beads quivered at the sight of her holding a pink object. I had no idea what it was.
“Mama, what are you doing?”
Carla’s gaze didn’t move from the thing in her hand. “What is this?”
Jessie walked very carefully to where her mother stood and reached to remove the item from her hand. “You really don’t want to know.”
Carla swung it out of Jessie’s reach. “Oh, yes I do.”
I heard Jessie sigh, “It’s a vibrator, Mama.”
“You mean like a massager?” Her mother swiveled to sit on the bed.
She put the pink thing to her neck, a humming sound filtered around. “Mm… oh, that does feel good.”
“Give that to me.” Jessie snatched it from her mother before Carla could protest and stuffed the pink thing back in the bag.
Jessie gathered the other bags and pushed them into her closet. Which made me wonder what other things were in the bags she didn’t want her mother to see. I don’t understand what the problem was. Sometimes people were just downright weird in my opinion.
Carla had watched her daughter with the same interest I did. When she spoke though I don’t think it was what she wanted to say, which I’m sure was to ask what Jessie didn’t want her to see.
Instead, Carla asked, “How’s the head?”
Jessie gave her mother a disgruntled glance. “It would have been better if you’d put me to bed instead of making me sleep on the bathroom floor. Mama, what were you thinking?”
“I put you where you needed to be.” Carla’s look was full of hurt. Or so I thought, until I saw the twinkle seconds before she continued. “Besides you could have gone to bed at any time during the night had you been able too. How were the strippers? Were they worth your hangover?”
Jessie gave her mother an annoyed look. “We left when the drums sounded.”
Carla’s expression was so disappointed my blind stitching tightened in mirth. Even if Jessie isn’t my soul mate, it’s fun to watch her wedding events unfold. Jessie and Mark loved each other to distraction. I hope Carla and his mother stop their arguing and it’s a wonderful wedding tomorrow.
Cecelia bought me to fill an obligation and when she saw herself in the mirror, she realized she didn’t want to settle. She wanted to fulfill her own destiny.
What is my purpose with Jessie? She wants a future with Mark, so what am I supposed to show her?
Chapter Fifteen
Her last day at her second job and she was going to be late. What had she been thinking agreeing to that stupid drinking game? How many lemon drops had she shot? She wasn’t positive, but Jessie was pretty sure she was still a little tipsy.
What would her boss do? Fire her? If she didn’t have such a raging headache, which is what she deserved, she’d laugh.
Only four hours of work, then she had go home and gather her things to take to Classic Manhattan tonight. That way if she forgot anything she could take it in the morning.
Tomorrow she’d be Mrs. Mark Taylor.
A mixture of joy and dread dashed through her. Joy because she was marrying the love of her life. Dread because her soon to be mother-in-law was the scariest person ever.
She knew the woman was still plotting to ruin her day.
It wasn’t Christmas but she had little drummer boys marching in her head as she made her way to the subway. Even with all the racket going on behind her eyes, she was able to make a to-do list while on the subway.
The nagging thought of Mrs. Taylor ruining her wedding day loomed. Mark’s father seemed to like her, anyway the few times she’d been around him he had. Maybe the man would diffuse any situations that arose.
Five minutes late, much better than she’d thought. However, she got the devil scowl from Ian her boss. “Nice.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll work a bit over.”
As expected, the news perked him right up and she had a sneaking suspicions her penance would be longer than five minutes.
Her feet were going to fall off. In all the time she’d worked at the bookstore she’d never been on her feet so much. At least she didn’t have to go to Java Hut like she usually did.
Tonight was the rehearsal dinner.
She glanced at the clock. She’d been right, she may have been five minutes late but she’d made up for it with staying much longer after her shift. Now she’d be rushing the rest of the afternoon. More time passed with well wishes from her co-workers.
Dashing into her room thirty minutes later, the sight that greeted stopped her in her tracks. Sucking in her gasp, she stared.
Afternoon sunlight glittered over Bella. Her beads seemed to glisten in a halo effect. Jessie dashed a hand across her eyes to mop up the moisture.
“Bella, you take my breath away.” Dropping her bag on the bed she went to the gown, gently reached her index finger to run around the edge of the lace bolero. “You deserve a bright happy occasion, not the tension filled event that will happen tomorrow.”
“So do you.” The words echoed over the room. Startled she gave fleeting look to see if her mother had stepped in. Only Bella, but that was impossible. Wasn’t it?
“I don’t have time to figure out if you can talk, Bella.” A laugh escaped at the absurdity.
Throwing the garment bag on her bed, she carefully lifted the folds of satin, lace and beads of the wedding dress. Once in the bag, making sure to avoid wrinkles during transit, she gathered the rest of the things she would need for her wedding the next day.
Her bags for their honeymoon were packed, had been for a week, and stood as sentinels at her door. Ready, she inhaled fortifying air into her lungs and opened her door.
“Mama, I’m ready. Is Aunt Virginia here?”
Her mother appeared at the door to help with her bags. “Yes, she’s been here for a while.”
“I didn’t see her when I came home from work.”
Her mother tsked, a habit that drove Jessie bonkers. “She had to go to the store for cigarettes. Those things are going to kill her and I won’t have a sister and Missy won’t have a Nana.”
It was an ongoing battle between the two women. So much so, Jessie barely heard her comment as she was too intent on her own dilemma. She really did deserve the happy fairy tale. Why was she on her way to the rehearsal dinner, when all she wanted to do was lock herself in her room?
Because Mark was her soul mate and
sometimes you had to sacrifice.
“Your wedding day?”
Jessie paused. She glanced down at Bella’s garment bag over her arm. “Did you hear that Mama?”
“What dear?” Her mother stood with an armload of flower girl dresses carefully placed in their own bags.
“Never mind. Let’s go I don’t want to be late.”
When she entered the main room where her Aunt and Missy waited, Missy’s voice greeted her. “Jessie, I’m going to be so pretty.”
“Yes you will. Are you staying here tonight?” She’d been so busy with everything she hadn’t considered anyone else’s plans. It wasn’t like Jersey was a million miles away.
“Yes, Aunt Carla said I can sleep with you.” Oh, joy that’s what she needed the night before her wedding.
She raised an eyebrow toward her mother but her dear mama was busy, conveniently, opening the door. There was a small smile on Carla’s lips. Her mother would enjoy the fact she wouldn’t get any sleep with the wiggly six year old.
It only took a few minutes to pile everything into Aunt Virginia’s ancient Buick. It was a wonder the rusted pile had wheels worthy enough to carry them all to Classic Manhattan.
As she walked through the door of the salon, Katie plucked Bella out of her arms. “Jess, let us help. Your bride’s room is magnificent.”
“Hi, I’m Darlene.” A young woman stepped over to Jessie and held out her hand. “The florist.”
“Oh that’s right. Ari said you’d meet us.” About ready to drop her cargo, she jiggled from one side to the other.
“Come, I’ll show you the way. Let me help you.” Without waiting for an answer, Darlene grasped one of the bags out of her hand and led the way.
The door opened into a spacious and airy room, and as Katie had said, it was magnificent. No other word could describe it. Katie and Joey took charge of Bella and draped her over the dress dummy in only minutes.
“Tonight I’ll be your hostess for the rehearsal dinner. I haven’t seen any of the groom’s family yet. I’ll come for you when they arrive. Tomorrow Ari will help you, while Cassie and I make sure the cake and flowers are perfect.” The woman beamed at her news.
The Taylor’s hadn’t arrived. A feeling of anxiety hit Jessie in the solar plexus and she sat. Joey had enough sense to push a chair under her before she landed on her bottom on the floor.
Three Weddings and a Dress Page 14
