by Rossi, Carla
She sipped mint tea to calm her nerves and drown the rampage of mutant butterflies in her stomach. She had peace. She wanted to marry Rocky. That didn’t make it any easier to sit in a stranger’s spare bedroom and wait to be summoned to the judge’s den for the ceremony.
Max’s Uncle Asa and Aunt Delores were kind. They’d made her comfortable, brought a tray of tea and cookies, and told her to take all the time she needed to get ready.
But she’d done all she could do to get ready. Simple, gauzy white sundress trimmed in pink she already had, freshly painted iridescent glittery toenails, hair down—at Rocky’s request—and a single pink rose from the bouquet he’d brought home yesterday. A rose, she knew, that was mere moments away from being too wilted to carry down the aisle—or across the large braided rug to the sunny window in the den.
She knelt on the window seat, peeled back the curtain, and scanned the length of the pecan tree-lined drive. Sluggish cows ambled in the wide open field nearby, inching toward the dried-up pond. A couple of teenaged calico kitten-cats stretched and panted in the shade of an out building, but there was no sign of a car coming back up the drive. Rocky had dropped her off and left to get Max and get himself ready. It took her ten minutes. What could be taking him so long?
She stepped into the adjacent bathroom and put the rose in the sink with cold water. “This might help,” she told the flower. “It can’t hurt.”
There was a knock on the door as she dried her hands. She expected Max’s aunt. What she got were total strangers. Three women, crushed together in the doorway and laden with boxes and bags. One had a guitar case.
And they were happy strangers. All grinning from ear-to-ear and seemingly eager to burst in the room.
The one around her age in the middle extended her hand. “Giavanna? I’m Candi. Giavanna. Am I saying that right?”
“Yes, but call me Gia.”
“OK, Gia.” Candi nodded to the others. “This is Kelly, and this is Carol Ann. We’re sorry we’re late. May we come in?”
Gia stepped back and nodded. The youngest woman, Kelly, set her guitar case along the wall and the older woman, Carol Ann, dropped a bag on the bed and started digging inside.
“I’m sorry,” Gia said, “but what exactly are you late for? Are you sure you’ve got the right Giavanna?”
Candi shot her a playful glance and then winked. Her sparkly green eyes with lashes that went on for miles were some of the prettiest Gia had ever seen.
“Aren’t you the soon-to-be Mrs. Rocky Lionakis?”
She hadn’t yet thought of herself that way. “Yes.”
“Then we’re in the right place.”
Candi set a large silver box on the bed and removed the lid. Shiny tissue paper rustled as she smoothed it over the sides. “Do you have a bouquet?”
“What about a veil?” Carol Ann asked.
Gia backed up until her legs brushed the seat of the Queen Anne chair near the window. She sat and gripped the armrests. Who were these women, and what did they know?
“Hold up,” Kelly said. “I think we’re overwhelming the bride. Someone want to tell her what’s happening?”
“Yes, please,” Gia said. “You’re talking about being late, and I had no idea anyone else knew about this, let alone that an actual time had been set.”
Carol Ann abandoned the bag and took Gia her water bottle from the nightstand. “Here you go, hon. We’re sorry. We should have been clearer, but we’re so excited for you and Rocky.”
Candi sat on the edge of the bed. “We are part of the worship band from Cornerstone Fellowship. There’s also Max, who you’ve heard of, and Shade, Kevin, and Wild Bill. Kevin is Kelly’s twin. Wild Bill is our sound engineer but he’s not here because he had a stroke not too long ago, and he doesn’t need the excitement. He sends his best. Shade is my...I guess you’d call him my boyfriend.”
Kelly snorted. “Boyfriend. They’ll be married before the year is out.”
“I’m thinking a Christmas wedding,” Carol Ann mused.
Gia clutched the cloth across her stomach. “I didn’t think anyone knew. I thought Rocky was only going to talk to Max and this was not going to be a huge deal.”
Carol Ann sat in the window seat near the chair and took Gia’s hand. “But it is a huge deal,” she said. “You’re marrying a wonderful man. Don’t be mad at Rocky. This is not his doing.”
Candi, too, came over, kicked off her sandals and dropped to the floor in front of her. “Let me explain. Our band is a tight knit little family. Rocky went to Max and explained what was happening. Max didn’t think it was right that you two would be out here doing this on your own, especially since it wasn’t the right time to bring your families into it. It’s an exciting time. He came to the band and we prayerfully considered what to do for you.”
“So you know... uh... everything.”
“It doesn’t matter what we know, Gia. If you belong to Rocky, you belong to us. No one in this group is going to say a word. I don’t think you’re going to have any trouble settling into your new life and meeting Rocky’s family and church community, but if you do, please know that we’re here as a buffer for you.”
“Sure, darlin’,” Carol Ann added and squeezed her hand before she let go. “If anyone wants to know something, the band is the first place they’ll come for information. And we’ll smile and nod and tell everyone how happy you two are.”
Gia relaxed, but not much. Max’s intentions were good, but it wasn’t his place to tell their news. Of course people would learn of their marriage and her pregnancy. She never fooled herself into thinking it wouldn’t be awkward, but the first people were finding out. She was sure others would not be as kind or accepting.
“I’m afraid Rocky’s parents are going to be angry with us, and I hate it that he’s not being married by his own pastor, but we needed to do this quickly. I don’t think we would have passed the pre-marital counseling phase.”
“I wouldn’t worry,” Kelly said and brought Candi the box from the bed. “You can always have a big church deal next year on your first anniversary.”
“Good idea,” Carol Ann said. “By then no one will remember or care about this. Babies have a way of giving people amnesia. Especially grandparents. How are you feeling, by the way?”
“Great, actually. Better than great. I saw my doctors Friday. Everything’s fine.”
“That’s all that matters. I’m a nurse, by the way, so if you have any questions please call me. If I don’t have an answer, I’ll get one for you.”
“Thank you, that’s sweet.”
“May I ask the due date?”
“Sometime around the middle of January. We’ll know more the next time I see the doctor. We’re not sharing that yet. It’s very early.”
“All right,” Candi said. “Let’s get you married before we paint the nursery. Do you have a bouquet?”
“I have a pink rose drowning in the sink.”
Kelly started for the bathroom. “C’mon, nurse. Time for you to do CPR.”
Gia smiled. “I don’t think it’s going to bounce back. You can let it go with dignity.”
“In that case,” Candi said, “may I offer you these?” She pulled a bouquet out of the box. It was a bundle of three stargazer lilies and a few white roses with pink tips. She handed her the flowers. “I kinda had a pink feeling about today.”
“It’s gorgeous. You didn’t have to do that.”
“I did,” Candi said as she stood and smoothed her short, pastel peach pencil skirt. “My mother got married with a grocery store bunch of flowers and I have but one ragged picture of the whole event. Every bride must have a lovely bouquet and a decent wedding photo.” She pulled a fancy camera and two lenses out of another bag. “I intend for you to have both.” She attached a lens and aimed Gia’s way. “May I?”
Pictures. Something she hadn’t thought about but would someday regret not having. She straightened. “Yes.”
“Now you’ve done it,” Ke
lly said. “Next thing you know she’ll be yanking you down the scrapbooking aisle at the craft store.”
“About the veil,” Carol Ann said and went back to her bag, “do you have one?”
Gia shook her head.
“Do you want one?”
“Do I need one?” Gia asked
All three women paused to look at her and consider it.
“You don’t need anything, hon,” Carol Ann said and dumped the bag’s contents on the bed, “you are truly stunning. But it’s your call. I made a bird cage veil for one niece and a very simple tulle headpiece for the other. I have remnants from both.”
Candi moved the camera from her eye and checked the shots on the digital screen. “You are stunning, Gia. And the camera loves you.”
Kelly held up a piece of white netting. “A bird cage veil will only work if she wears her hair up.”
“Down,” Gia said. “I’m leaving it down.”
Then she blushed and her new friends didn’t miss it.
“Ooooooooo,” they all chimed in a goofy sing-songy way.
“I see how it is,” Candi teased. “Somebody likes it when she wears her hair down.”
“C’mon over to the mirror,” Carol Ann said. “Plug that glue gun in, would you Kelly?”
Kelly moved in a hurry. “Sure, Mama.”
“I didn’t make the connection,” Gia said. “You two are mother and daughter?”
“No,” Kelly answered. “We all call her Mama once in a while because she mothers us.”
“Yeah,” Carol Ann huffed. “That’s their way of saying I’m the bossy old lady of the group.”
“Smile!” Candi snapped a picture of the fitting.
“Here’s what I’m thinking,” Carol Ann said. “I have this basic comb. If I pinch up this tulle and attach it, we can let it hang down to match the length of your hair. Then we’ll add a row of either crystals or small silk flowers to it and voila! A simple and elegant veil that does not take over your head or your hair. We’ll set it right at your crown and you can fluff it out as much or as little as you want. What do you think?”
“I think I look like a real bride,” Gia choked. She felt a large tear pool in her right eye. The one in her left quickly caught up. Sneaky hormones. She’d never experienced so many waterworks.
“Stop,” Kelly said and pushed her away from the mirror. “Don’t make her cry and ruin her makeup,” she scolded the others. “Think about something else, Giavanna.”
“Call me Gia.”
“I will, but I like saying Giavanna. Sounds so exotic. Giavanna.”
“Flowers or crystals?” Carol Ann asked.
“Crystals,” everyone said in unison.
“Next,” Kelly said, “did you bring any music to play?”
She hadn’t thought about it. “I have some pretty music on my phone. I guess we could find something.”
“If you’d like, Kevin and I can play something on our guitars.”
“Live music. That would be beautiful.”
“Do you have a certain song you’d like to hear? No guarantees, but we can see if we know it.”
“Um... Let Rocky choose.”
“Great. I’ll text Kevin and have him ask him.”
Gia returned to the window and glanced at the drive again. “Where is Rocky, anyway?”
“He’s with Max, Kevin, and Shade. He had a couple things to do and the guys are helping him.”
Gia searched her brain for what they could be doing. She and Rocky had gotten their license, visited doctors, picked up his suit from the dry cleaners, and managed to find two basic wedding bands at the jewelry counter in the warehouse store. She tried so hard to keep it simple and easy for them both. There was so much regular daily life stuff they still had to do—he had to work, she had to find a job—and now they were in the midst of a real live wedding. With guests and everything. She felt a little scared and a lot overwhelmed.
She also felt like a hopeful bride.
Candi pulled her phone out of her sunny yellow designer handbag. “Yep. Shade says they’ll be here soon.”
“Did Rocky know about any of this?”
“Nope. He was as surprised as you when the guys ambushed him after he dropped you off here. It’s been like the plot of Ocean’s Eleven the last couple days. Everyone working on their part of the plan. We even had a plan on top of a plan in case you came to church with Rocky this morning and we couldn’t keep a straight face when we met you.”
“We decided I’d wait until after we’re married to attend church. Seemed easier that way.”
“I can see that.” Candi spotted the tea tray and moved to pick it up. “You need more... uh... whatever this is?”
“No, thanks. It’s a weak mint tea.”
“Why is it yellow-brown?”
“I don’t know. Delores gave me a handful of teabags to choose from. I picked the one with the most colorful wrapper that listed the ingredients. I added a drop of honey.”
“Yum.” Candi abandoned the tray and sat back on the bed. “Anyway, tell us more about yourself. What do you do?”
“My degree is in psychology. I hope to specialize in child psychology, particularly Christian child psychology, but I need more education for that—which I’m figuring out how to get. At this time I need whatever work I can get.”
“Anything specific you’re looking for?”
“I’ll take what I can get. Social services, child development. I got a response on a job with the city. They’re hiring someone to oversee activities in the county-run after school program. I’d plan activities, coordinate them with the school calendar, visit elementary schools. I don’t know. We’ll see if they call me back for an interview.”
“Have you thought about teaching?”
Kelly moaned. “She tries to get everyone into teaching because she’s a teacher. She wants me to think about it, and I can’t get past college algebra.”
“No, that’s not why I’m asking. I was only going to suggest substitute teaching. It pays OK with a degree and you can choose which schools and ages to work with. Once you get a good reputation on a campus, teachers will request you and you’ll have all the work you can handle. It’s nice because if there’s day you have an appointment or aren’t feeling well, you don’t have to take a job.”
“But school’s out for the summer.”
“Well, it takes a few weeks to apply and get through all their orientation. School will be in again before you know it. You can start the process in case you don’t have something else by then.”
“Which school are you at?”
“I’m in the music department at the college, but I know lots of people in the local district. We can talk about it more if you want to.”
“About finished with the veil,” Carol Ann called out.
“Smile!” Candi hopped up and snapped a picture of Carol Ann wielding the glue gun and wearing an exaggerated look of concentration.
“Next,” Kelly said again. “Wait. What’s next?”
Candi ticked off items on her fingers. “Flowers, veil, music, Delores is setting things out in the dining room—”
“What’s in the dining room?” Gia blurted.
“It’s nothing fancy,” Carol Ann said and started toward her in a fluffy white cloud of net. “A few snacks, a cake...”
“A wedding cake?”
“Well, yeah, you’ve seen Rocky eat. There had to be food. And did you think we’d let you get married without a wedding cake? There’s one thing you should know, darlin’. This band likes to eat.”
Candi shrugged. “We do. It’s ugly, but it’s true. That’s why we go to buffets on Sunday after church. It’s terrifying for the restaurant owners, but it’s more cost effective for us. Those men are so hungry after two services they’d eat the business end of a skunk.”
Gia laughed. “Wow. That is not an appealing image.”
Candi sighed. “It’s what we do.”
Carol Ann secured the headpiece and poin
ted her toward the mirror. “Take a look. Absolutely stunning.”
Gia didn’t have time to well up or let it soak in before they bustled on to something else.
“Now,” Candi said. “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.”
“Your veil is something new,” Carol Ann said, “and I also have something old and borrowed.” She retrieved a plastic baggie from her purse. “It’s my great-grandmother’s wedding hankie. You can carry it with your bouquet, or tuck it in your bra. Whatever you want, but know it’s caught the happy tears of many brides, so don’t be afraid to use it. It’ll wash. That’s what it’s for.”
“Thank you.”
“Now something blue.”
“Got it,” Kelly declared and twirled a lacy blue garter on her finger.
Again, Gia blushed. Again, they gave her a hard time about it.
Candi took pictures of it all, including her looking all embarrassed when they made her slide it up to her thigh.
Someone knocked.
Gia jumped and yanked the skirt of her dress down. “If that’s someone else I don’t know, I swear I might throw up.”
She bit her lip and her stomach raged as soon as the words left her mouth. These ladies had done so much and she’d insulted them. She expected ugly stares.
They laughed instead.
“Giavanna,” Kelly said. “I like you. You’re gonna fit right in.”
Candi cracked the door. “Yes? Oh, OK. Get in here.”
Delores entered the room and grabbed the sides of her face with a gasp. “Gia, you’re breathtaking. Have you brushed your teeth?”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Have you brushed your teeth? You know, to be ready for the big kiss. Me and Asa do this all the time and you’d be amazed how many brides forget to brush their teeth so I’ve learned to ask that question.”
“Come to think of it, I haven’t since this morning. Be right back.” Gia took her bag and darted into the bathroom. She made sure the rose corpse had been discarded and then proceeded to scrub the layer of enamel off her teeth. When she returned, the women had formed a circle.
