“Snapped out of it yet?”
“What the hell? Was that necessary?”
“It’s called tough love. I can see those pre-wedding jitters brewing inside your head, and of all people, you have nothing to freak out about. So I’m freezing those thoughts before they can turn into anything else. You love my brother and he loves you more than he loves himself, and that’s saying something.”
Despite the burning cold water, I can’t help but giggle.
“The two of you are a match made in heaven, and you know it. Every bride freaks out a little. It’s normal. Most brides don’t wake up and try to shoot someone, but now that all that drama is done and everyone walked away intact, it’s time to set aside negative vibes and anxiety and focus on the celebration. This is the beginning of the rest of your life. Let’s not waste a second of it freaking out.”
“I wasn’t freaking out,” I protest. “You didn’t give me a chance to freak out before you put me in the ice storm. Jesus, I swear this thing has a sleet setting. It’s freezing”
“Uh-huh, sure, whatever. Now shake a leg. I think I just heard the hair and makeup people get here.”
I shower quickly then slip into my robe. My bedroom is buzzing with activity. The hair and makeup team have arrived and set up shop. Katie and Grandma Maggie are in chairs with stylists putting their hair in curlers.
Charlie hands me a cup. “Blueberry, acai, and almond smoothie made with love by Uncle Clay. I can’t imagine it’s as good as my peanut butter chocolate shake, but you’ll probably like it.”
I take a sip. “It’s delicious. I’m amazed he knows what acai is, let alone could find it in Dillon?”
“I told you Clay has upped his game. Chase sent him to some cooking school last year for Christmas, and since then, he’s been serving fruit-infused water and adding miso to everything. He’s saving up for a sous vide machine. Aunt Jilly said he has a deal with one of the distributers to bring him products he can’t find around here, and he gives her a great deal on some of the pork from Grandpa’s farm.”
“Well, he’s about to get that machine. Chase and I are revamping the diner, and I think we should give his home kitchen a professional-level renovation as well. I spent all week at a resort that’s supposed to have the highest culinary quality, and this is by far the most spectacular thing I’ve had.”
“Ari!” I hear from across the room.
I spin around to see Stella, the makeup artist I’ve been working with for years, run over to me.
“Look at you. I’m so happy to be here on your big day.” She stops short before hugging me then puts her finger under my chin, tilting it one way then the other. “Obviously you slept in your makeup. Your pores are clogged, and I can see the free radicals eating away at the proteins as we speak! Oy vey, I have my work cut out for me!”
“I know. I was carried to bed last night, that’s how tired I was.”
“I was told you were at a spa,” she replies as she walks me to the chair she’s claimed as her station. “I was expecting you to have at least had a facial, maybe a peel.”
“I got my eyebrows waxed last week. That’s about it.”
She looks at her watch. “I should have been here hours ago. We’d better get to work.”
Trying not to be offended that she thinks I need more than four hours to be presentable, I sit and drink my smoothie while she attacks my free radicals and clogged pores.
*****
Charlie closes the door as the hair and make-up team leave my room so I can get dressed. Katie takes my dress off the hook then carries it over to me. “Are you ready?”
Charlie kisses my cheek. “Time to get married.” She slaps my bottom. “Now strip because we’re way behind schedule.”
I pull the straps of my dress over my shoulders then look in the mirror. It fits perfectly. I twist so I can see the back. The veil covers the back of the dress, but the veil’s so sheer it doesn’t take away from the dramatic look. I couldn’t be happier.
I give the tiara one last check, and it’s securely in place. It weighs a ton and I’m worried it may slip off, but I’ve been assured the thousands of bobby pins digging into my scalp will keep it from going anywhere. Instead of the elaborate braid updo we had planned, Marcia, my hairstylist, decided the best style for the headpiece and veil was to pull my hair half back and leave the rest in soft curls.
“My son is a lucky man,” Katie says as she comes up behind me. She looks gorgeous in her plum sequin-and-lace gown.
I smile at her then take one last look. “I’m the lucky one.” I walk toward my bed. “Of course, he gets to wear really comfortable shoes, and I have to shove my swollen feet into one of these.”
When I couldn’t get my feet into my pumps for my first meeting in Boca and had to send Chase out to buy me a pair two sizes up, I asked Shelly to bring a few extra pairs to Dillon for me. I’ve tried them all, and they all hurt like hell.
“None of them fit?” Charlie asks.
“The glitter Louboutins fit a little better than the Manolos, but they’re five inches versus four. By the end of the reception, that inch is really going to make a difference. At least with the Manolos, my feet’ll just be numb.” I pick up the gorgeous stiletto. “Such a shame it’s going to be covered in blood by the end of the night because these are going to slice into my swollen feet.”
“Well, if that happens, you could dye them red to blend in with the blood.” Charlie reaches under my bed then pulls out a huge box. “Or you could try these.”
“What’s this?”
She smiles. “My brother proving how awesome he is.”
I tug on the silver bow, releasing the ribbon, then open the box. I look at Charlie, confused. “Cowboy boots?”
“Not just any cowboy boots. Pleather cowboy boots, made for you and your pregnant feet by Blake.”
I’m the last person in the world who would ever consider wearing cowboy boots, let alone at my wedding, but right now, they sound like heaven. I set them on the floor and slip them on. “Oh my God, I have never loved your brother more than I do right now. I may actually be able to walk tomorrow! I was seriously worried if I got those shoes on, we’d have to cut them off when I lost circulation.”
“I’m so proud of Chase,” Charlie says. “He came up with the idea completely on his own. I said you’d rather have your foot amputated than wear cowboy boots, but he was right.”
“One more gift,” Katie says. She holds out a small box with Frosty the Snowman wrapping paper.
“What’s this?” I ask.
“Mom and I have been going over your something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue list,” Charlie replies.
I wince. “Oh, I totally forgot about that.”
Charlie puts her arm around my shoulders and gives me a squeeze. “That’s what you have me for. Anyway, Mom and I were coming up with the list, and Mom had an idea. We looked everywhere for it—your jewelry box at Aiden’s, your condo. Oh, I borrowed your silver Stuart Weitzmen pumps by the way.”
“Just don’t stretch them out,” I warn.
“My feet don’t swell like yours. Anyway, long story short, we searched high and low for this thing and couldn’t find it. But Mom was one hundred percent certain that when she went Christmas shopping with Aiden when we were about ten, something was purchased. But none of us remember you having said something. And then I remembered—”
My breath hitches. “Daddy’s hiding spot.”
“Or forget-me spot,” Charlie mutters.
Katie chuckles. “Your daddy could remember every play of every game he ever played, coached, or watched, but things like remembering birthdays, or where he left his keys, or presents he bought, those thoughts disappeared into a black hole in his brain, never to be thought of again. I told him to stop using that cubbyhole. The moment he shoved anything in there, it was like it never existed.”
I can’t help but wonder if Daddy had CTE. I’ve seen enough of his game film to know h
e had his bell rung more than a few times, and it would explain a lot. It can only be diagnosed postmortem, and at the time of his death, it was so far off my radar that I never thought to have him checked. But after how much I’ve researched the lasting effects of repetitive concussions, I’m curious. It would explain a lot, but I’ll never know for sure.
“I hope you don’t mind, but we sifted through the boxes until I found this one,” Katie said. “I was tempted to open it to make sure it is what I think it is, but that didn’t feel right. Either it is, or we need to come up with a new something blue on the fly.”
Holding the box in my trembling palm, I stare at it. There’s probably a pound of tape on this tiny square box. Daddy was the worst wrapper and could never figure out how to fold the sides the right way, so he’d just use more paper and more tape to try to make it better. His gifts look more like the piles of wrapping paper that litter the floor after kids open presents. A shapeless blob that is so uniquely Daddy. Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I blink back the tears.
“Just open it,” Katie says.
I run my fingers over the clumps of tape—I can make out fingerprints on a few of the pieces. He used to cut off pieces and stick one to each of his fingers as he wrapped. “But if I open it, then I’ve opened it and it’s gone. I know it doesn’t make sense, but it feels like I’m losing the last little bits of him that he left behind.”
Katie strokes my hair carefully. “I can see how you’d see it that way. But you could also see that whatever is in that box, you can keep it with you always, as a daily reminder that he’s always with you.”
“Oh… I never thought of it that way.”
I slowly unwrap it, not only because I want to take my time but because it’s just a tangled mess. Slowly is the only way. Eventually I get to a black velvet box. The box creaks as I open it to find a round-cut sapphire set in platinum and surrounded by diamonds. The necklace dainty, as it was bought for a ten-year-old, but its simplicity is perfect for today. I wouldn’t want anything big or flashy. It’s as if he picked it with this day in mind.
I throw my arms around Katie. “Thank you so much for remembering this and finding it and forcing me to open it. I probably never would have, but I’m so happy I did.”
“You’re so welcome, honey.” She pulls away. “Let’s put it on you.” Katie slips the necklace out of the box then clasps it on me. “It’s perfect, and so are you.” Tears fill her eyes. “I wish they were here. They would be so proud.” She pulls a handkerchief out of her purse and blots her eyes. “You know, Savannah always said you and Chase were meant for each other.”
Blinking back tears, I chuckle. “Do you think she’d be happier I’m getting married, or happier that she was right?”
Katie and Charlie laugh. “She would be blissfully happy because you’re happy, but she would be sure to let us know, for the rest of our lives, that she was right.”
Pat pops his head in. “They’re calling for you. Are you ready?”
“I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.”
Chapter Fifty-Two
Arianna
The hardest part of planning the wedding, all three of them, has been thinking about walking down the aisle. Every time I thought about it, I felt as though a vise around my heart was squeezing tighter and tighter. I debated walking by myself or walking with Charlie. Before Jeb died, I had considered asking him.
No matter what I contemplated, I always came back to one answer—Pat. After Mom died, Daddy was gone a lot, and Pat and Katie became my second parents. They stepped in and helped me feel as though I was still part of a home, giving me all the structure, guidance, and love I needed. Plus, I know if Daddy could choose his proxy, it would be Pat.
After taking one last look in the mirror, Charlie, Katie, Pat, and I leave the house and hop onto the shuttle to take us to the other side of the property for the wedding. I had hoped to get down here before the ceremony, but there just wasn’t time. No matter how many pictures Bryan showed me, I couldn’t recall this place on the ranch. I’ve seen all the design plans, but for the life of me, I have no idea what to expect. At this point, I have to trust that Bryan knows what he’s doing.
The drive across the ranch is long. I forget how big this property is, and I’m thrilled someone had the foresight to think about shuttles.
After driving past one of the horse pastures, the driver comes to a stop. He radios to someone—Bryan, I assume—that we’ve arrived. “Congratulations, miss. You look beautiful.”
Pat offers me his hand to help me out of the shuttle.
I look over my shoulder at the driver as I’m stepping out. “Thank you.”
He points at a path between two rows of enormous willow and oak trees. “Just head on down there. Bryan’s waiting for you.”
“I’ve got to get down there and get in my seat.” Putting a hand on either of my shoulders, Katie stands in front of me. “I love you so much, and nothing in this world could make me happier than I am right now. All a mother wants for her children is for them to be happy, and I know that with you in Chase’s life, he will always be happy.” Katie kisses my cheek then blots her red-rimmed eyes. “I don’t know why I bothered with eye makeup!”
“You’d better go, Katie,” Pat says. “I’m sure Ari’s going to want to stop and look at everything. We’ll be a few minutes, but you should get down there and make sure everything’s as it should be.”
She sniffs. “You’re right, I’m going.” She blows me another kiss then hurries down the path.
The photographer, a lovely woman named Eve who thankfully doesn’t make my skin crawl, takes pictures as Pat and I slowly walk down the path. Each tree is adorned with a climbing vine of white flowers. In front of each tree is an easel holding a frame with a black-and-white picture of either Chase or me growing up. Pictures of Chase are on the right side, I’m on the left. The path has got to be three hundred yards long, so there are a lot of pictures.
“Mom and I put this together. I know we showed a lot of you two in the video invitation, but we wanted to do something here to show the journey you’ve taken to get here,” Charlie says. “We were careful not to have any repeats though.”
“They’re beautiful,” I say as I look at a picture of me at my kindergarten graduation. “Thank you so much for doing this.”
She winks. “My pleasure. It was a lot of fun.”
Looking ahead, I see the path veer sharply to the left. I can hear a choir singing, so I assume we’re getting close. The last picture in the row isn’t of Chase or me—it’s my parents. I notice on the tree behind it, the initials AA + SS are carved in a heart. My eyes fill with tears as I step forward and run my fingers over the letters.
Pat puts his arm around my shoulder. “Your daddy carved that when they were young. Thirteen, I think, maybe fourteen. I know it was the first time Savannah came to visit. They used to come back here to this clearing and have picnics and climb trees and what have you.”
I try to blink back the tears. “I had no idea this was here.”
“I had completely forgotten about it until I came down to help Bryan the other day. He said the moment he saw that tree, he knew this was where you had to get married. It wasn’t the easiest place—he knew it would take a ton of hard work to pull it off—but he said it had to be here.”
Using the knuckle of my forefinger, I try to catch a stray tear before it smears my makeup. “I love that man.” I kiss my fingers then touch the picture of my parents. “We’d better keep going. Don’t want to keep everyone waiting.”
We follow the curve, and the path is narrowed by Bryan-constructed trees with willow-like branches made out of rose petals. Votive candles hang from the branches, creating a warm glow under the shadows of the huge oak trees overhead. The path leads to an opening.
The boys’ choir in their red-and-white robes are off to the right, next to the harpist. The church choir in their white robes is off to the left, next to the string quartet. A
cream silk runner is set between rows and rows of guests, leading to the raised wedding canopy embellished with rose-petal wisteria and vines of white flowers wrapped around the four pillars and arches. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined something so beautiful.
Standing under the platform is Chase, looking so unbelievably handsome in his tan suit. Spencer taps him on the shoulder then whispers in his ear. Chase turns, and our eyes meet. A smile so big and bright that it takes my breath away creeps across his face. It takes everything I have not to sprint down the aisle into his arms.
“So,” Bryan says from beside me, “how’d I do?”
I look around the clearing in complete awe. He transformed this patch of grass into a dream. “There are no words. This is a fairy tale.”
“It really is.” Charlie turns me toward her. “And I don’t know anyone who deserves it more. I’m so happy for you, and I’m so grateful for you. Chase is a part of me. When he’s sad, I feel it. When he’s happy, I feel it. And I know in the deepest depths of my soul how happy you make him, and for that, I will always be thankful. You’re the perfect woman for him, and I thank God you two finally got out of your own way and found your way back to each other.”
“I love you.” I pull her into my arms. “Now I understand why brides wear veils. To hide the tear marks and mascara smears.”
She laughs and pulls away. “Well, they don’t give bridesmaids veils, so I need to pull myself together.” She wipes under her eyes.
“You’re good,” I say.
She nods then takes her bouquet from Bryan. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
Bryan hands me my bouquet of white hydrangeas, peonies, tea roses, and gardenias. “I couldn’t have said it better myself. We’re running behind schedule. Plus, there’s a young man very eager to marry you waiting down there. Let’s not keep him waiting much longer, okay?” He adjusts my veil. “Perfect. You know, I’ve worked for the White House, several princesses—both real ones and ones who just think they are—Hollywood starlets, and music divas. I have to say, this has probably been the most challenging job I’ve ever done, but it was so worth it. It has been my privilege and honor to work with you, and seeing the two of you together reminds me why I got into this business. You and Chase are the real deal.”
Love To Love You (Love/Hate #3) Page 45
