by J. L. Berg
After a few minutes of undivided attention, where she showed us her perfect hair, sparkly pins and every single detail of her dress and matching shoes, she looked up and paused.
“Mommy! Your hair! You look just like that lady on TV!”
Confused, I asked, “What lady?”
“The one who sings those songs that Aunt Leah loves that you won’t let me sing?”
Trying to think back and remember the many inappropriate songs Leah listened to, I remembered a conversation I’d had with her a few weeks ago, when Leah and I were watching the MTV Music Video awards.
“Lady Gaga?” I asked.
“Yep! That lady has hair just like you!”
I gave Leah a panicked look and the laugh that she’d been previously holding back suddenly burst out of her like a volcano and she doubled over.
“Hey baby, why don’t you go find Grammy and see what her hair looks like?” I suggested, giving Leah a sideways evil glare.
“Okay, Mommy!” she said, skipping off in search of my mom.
“Oh my God. First, I’m going to kill you, and then I’m going to find someone to fix this bird’s nest on top of my hair. No…scratch that. First, you’re going to find someone to fix this…and then I’m going to kill you.”
“Calm down, Clare-bear. It’s going to be okay. I’m going to go find the manager, and we’ll get this crazy disco stick disaster fixed and you’ll be back to looking like you.”
One hour, two hair stylists and several mimosas later…I had a brand new do. It was stunning. Leah had talked me out of an updo and we instead went with something more natural. Loose curls cascaded down my back and were pinned with small antique pearl clips that framed my face perfectly.
“You are a miracle worker, Leah.” I said, staring at my own shocked expression in the mirror.
“Does this mean I’ve been forgiven?” she asked.
“What? Oh, yes. Definitely. You are redeemed. For another day.”
“Well, good. Now, let’s get you back to the bridal suite. We have a wedding dress to put on!” she practically squealed.
We all made our way back up to the suite, and it was my turn to laugh when Leah, having had one too many mimosas, pretended to be my own wacky version of secret service, jumping ahead to check around corners, and clear hallways to protect her “asset” from the men. She was taking her maid of honor role very seriously and we managed to arrive upstairs without being seen by anyone.
As we entered the suite, we were greeted by my mother and Cece, who had an exuberant Maddie in her arms. She was telling her soon-to-be grandmother all about her adventures in the salon, and Cece was hanging on every word like it was the most important conversation in the world. Ella was in the corner rocking her little one, humming a soft lullaby. Her hair was curled and pinned to the side, just below her ear.
“Oh my, Sweetheart! You are a vision,” my mother said.
“Mommy! What happened to your other hair?” Maddie asked, which caused us all to laugh.
“Well,” I started, leaning down in front of her, “I decided I wasn’t cool enough to have that hairdo, so we thought this might be more my style.”
She gave me an appraising look, her eyes wandering up and down my long red locks, before she said, “You’re right. It’s much better.”
I don’t know if I was more relieved that she liked it or a little hurt that she agreed I wasn’t cool enough. But either way, we were ready to move onto makeup, and that is where Leah came in. She was a wizard of all things cosmetic. She’d been doing my makeup for special events ever since we were old enough to have special events.
“Plant it right here,” she said, pointing to an empty chair at the desk. It was a perfect spot, situated in front of a large mirror so I could watch as she did her work.
Half an hour later and with a little help from Ella, she was done. She’d done a beautiful job of making me look classy and sexy but not over the top. Just enough, with shimmery natural shadows and peach blush and gloss, and I looked radiant.
With Leah standing over my shoulder, our eyes locked and held in the mirror. I knew she was thinking about the last time she did my makeup for a major event—the day I married Ethan. Her lip quivered and my hand went up to my shoulder to grasp hers.
“I know,” I said. It was all I had to say. I knew, like her, that we were all still grieving and always would be. I knew that this day was hard, even though there was so much joy. I knew this all because sometimes when a friendship goes beyond normal borders and you find a sister, rather than an ordinary friend, conversations aren’t necessary.
“Well, let’s get you married,” Leah said, trying to steady her now shaky voice.
“Yes, let’s do that,” I agreed.
Both mothers gushed over my makeup, and complimented Leah on her fine job. She politely thanked them and we all made our way to my gown, which was still hanging in its bag by the closet.
“So Laura was telling me that your original dress was ruined?” Cece asked. She had obviously been caught up on the dress drama by my mom when they shared their hair appointments that morning. Both were sporting sophisticated updos that made them look regal and lovely. Their updos didn’t resemble Lady Gaga at all.
“Yes, the airline ate it. But, it worked out well,” I said, as I slid down the zipper and pulled the dress from its bag to a collective gasp.
“This one is much better.”
“Oh my goodness, Clare,” Cece said, at the same time my mother said, “Oh, sweetheart, you’re going to be stunning!”
“Well, let’s get it on me!” I exclaimed. The gown I’d chosen wasn’t overly complicated which fit our outdoor wedding perfectly. It was vintage in style, with champagne satin underneath a beautiful lace overlay that flowed slightly behind me in an elegant train. A matching champagne colored satin bow completed the look and wrapped around my waist.
With everyone’s help, minus Maddie who was jumping up and down shouting her Mommy was the prettiest Mommy ever, I was soon standing in front of the floor-length mirror in my gown.
“It’s just…” Leah started.
“Perfect,” I finished.
With teary eyes, Cece asked, “Do you have your something blue?”
Panic. Pure panic took over and I looked at everyone standing behind me with wide eyes.
“Oh my God. I completely forgot. Everything. The something old, the something new…I don’t even have something blue! Is my marriage doomed?”
Leah’s face curved into a smile and I seriously wanted to turn around and smack her for smiling in my time of need.
“Why are you smiling?” I nearly shouted.
“Logan knew you’d forget.”
“What?”
“He knew you’d forget, with everything being so last minute and rushed. He knew this, so he took care of everything and asked me to deliver the goods to you.”
“And you’re just deciding to tell me now?” I asked.
“It was worth that face, that’s for sure.”
As I was silently chanting I love my best friend, I love my best friend in my head, Leah ushered me over to a plush chair where I sat down while she gathered whatever it was that Logan had planned.
She took a seat on the sofa adjacent to me and began.
“He wrote a letter. Do you want to read it, or shall I?”
Fearing I wouldn’t make it through reading the letter myself, I gave her the go ahead, and she began.
“Clare,
Today you will become my wife, and I will give my sacred vow to always take care of you and Maddie. It is my honor and I will spend every day of my life trying to prove I’m worthy of the task. Ever since the day I met you, I’ve wanted to protect you from everything that may harm you, or cause you pain or stress. I know this impromptu wedding has been less than ideal, and if the circumstances were different, we would have had time to plan something different.
In all the craziness, I knew you would forget the small things. It is your natu
re to focus on everyone else’s needs—Maddie’s and mine….the guests. I knew you’d eventually realize the small traditional elements of the wedding you’d overlooked and by then it would be too late. So I took matters into my own hands and did them for you. This is my wedding gift to you—with a little help from Leah and our mothers.
For your something old—your grandmother’s lace handkerchief. Your mother was gracious enough to pass this down to you, with the intention that we will one day pass it on to Maddie on her wedding day.”
Leah handed me the lace handkerchief I’d always seen laying in my mother’s cedar chest when I was growing up. I’d never been allowed to touch it, knowing it was delicate and old. I tried to hold back the tears as I felt it in my grasp for the first time. I glanced up and found my mom. She had the same teary eyed expression on her face, and I met her halfway, jumping from the chair to fall into her arms.
“I love you, sweetheart.”
“I love you, too, Mama.”
“Love that man with everything you have, for as long as you have, baby girl.”
“I will, Mama.”
With my handkerchief clutched between my fingers, I settled back into my chair and braced for whatever else Logan had in store for me.
“Are you ready?” Leah asked, and I just nodded.
“For your something new, I didn’t need any assistance at all. I had everything I needed, because your something new is me! So, you’ll have to wait until later to put me on. Our love is still young and new, and I will spend every day of my life making sure the love we feel for each other when we take our vows not only is the same but only grows stronger and deeper.”
I laughed, and shook my head.
“Goofball,” Leah said as we all laughed.
“Sweet goofball.”
“For your something borrowed, I asked my mother to help out. As you know, my mother used to be quite the hoarder of labels and anything designer. But, when she met Richard, she gave it all up, keeping only a few things that had sentimental value to her. The pearl earrings she is lending you today is one of those pieces.”
Cece came forward then and handed me a box.
“These were handed down to me by my mother, and were always very special to me. It would be an honor if you wore them on the day you married my son.”
I simply nodded, the lump in my throat now reaching epic proportions. I wasn’t going to survive the day. I really hoped whatever makeup Leah put on me was hurricane proof because I saw a lot of tears in my future.
She opened the box and enclosed where a beautiful set of pearl earring that matched my gown beautifully.
“Thank you, Cece,” I said.
“From today on, you call me Mom.”
We came together in a hug and silently thanked the man who had tamed the untamable woman and given Logan his mother back.
“Okay, Leah…how much more? I don’t know if my makeup can handle more.”
“Your makeup is just fine, and I will be there to touch it up if needed, so calm down. There’s just one more thing and I think you’re going to like it,” she said with a wicked grin.
“For your something blue, I considered doing the blue garter thing, which is both traditional and sexy, but then I decided to take it one step further. So, I went shopping, and forgive me….my one step further went a little crazy. But picturing you in blue on our wedding night kind of drove me insane. Enjoy, and I’ll see you soon. I love you, Logan.”
I gave Leah a look, and asked, “Do I need to send my mother out of the room?”
“Oh please, Sweetheart. Like I didn’t know why you two were late last night,” my mother said with a flick of the wrist.
“Oh my God, I’m going to go in the corner and die now,” I said, as Leah muffled a laugh.
“Oh, come on. It’s only lingerie. It’s not like your mom hasn’t owned a thong or two,” Leah said.
I gave her a hard look and motioned over to Maddie who was busy reading a book on the floor, completely oblivious to our conversation. Thank God.
“First of all—Maddie is right there. Second of all—gross.”
“You know, you always use Maddie as an excuse, but ninety percent of the time, she’s never paying attention when I’m talking, so it’s a really lame excuse.”
I opened my mouth to offer a rebuttal, but she was actually right. How did that happen? I wonder if Leah was more observant than I thought. Nah.
“So, let’s see this lingerie!” Cece exclaimed and I tried not to think about the fact my mother and soon-to-be mother in law were getting excited over my wedding night lingerie.
Leah pulled out an elegantly wrapped package and waited and watched as I unwrapped it.
“Oh, hurry the hell up, Clare!” she huffed as I carefully opened the gift.
“The wrapping paper is pretty!”
“And you’re going to take it home with you?” she asked.
“Well, no…”
“So, then…hurry! Otherwise, you’re going to be late for your own wedding!”
“Okay, okay!”
I hurried up and had the box opened and was face to face with the most gorgeous undergarments I’d ever seen.
“These did not come from Victoria’s Secret,” I said.
“No. No, they did not,” was all Leah could manage. I think I heard Ella say holy shit under her breath at the same time.
There must have been thousands of dollars of lingerie in there. A beautiful dark blue satin and lace corset with a matching blue thong lay amongst layers of tissue paper. White stockings with little blue bows and, of course, a blue garter was also in there.
“You know what this means?” Leah said.
“My fiancé has a shopping problem?”
“Nope, we’ve got to strip you down again and get you all sexified.”
Awesome…putting on the lingerie I will wear on my wedding night…with my mom and new mother-in-law.
Great way to bond.
~Logan~
I was quickly discovering that being the groom on the day of a wedding was vastly different than being the bride. As Clare was being primped and pampered, going from appointment to appointment doing whatever it was that women did for these types of things, I was sitting in the bar with the guys.
“We really should have planned this day out a bit better,” Colin said, taking a swig from his half empty beer.
“When I woke up this morning and realized I had an entire day with nothing to do, I thought we had it made. But dude, this is fucking boring. I’d rather be golfing.”
I hated golfing. It was what rich people did to appear outdoorsy, and I’d been around it my entire life. My father was a huge golfer, and I had spent many summers caged up in a golf cart following him around while he tried to explain the virtues of the game.
“Golf is important Logan. I’ve made many important business deals over a good game of golf,” he’d said. Yeah, whatever.
The fact that I’d rather be out hitting golf balls spoke volumes of the depth of my boredom.
“How long does it take to get ready for a wedding?” I asked.
“Really fucking long,” Colin answered, “Don’t you remember doing this same damn thing at my wedding? Those girls were gone for years getting ready. Damn if I couldn’t tell the difference when she walked down the aisle either.”
I gave him a look, the look I’d been giving him for years that told him he was crossing the line into his douchebag alter-ego. Colin and I had been best friends since college and I’d quickly learned he was cocky, self-assured and outspoken. Sometimes the combination of those got out of hand, and he went from being what women would classify as cute and cocky to instant jackass.
“No, man…I don’t mean it like that. I just meant that she was already gorgeous. She could have spent an entire week getting herself pampered and ready to walk down that aisle, or she could have showed up in a paper sack, and I still would have thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“Damn, Colin. I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say something so poetic before in my entire life. Garrett—write this down,” I said, motioning to my soon-to-be brother in law who was also nursing a beer next to us. “Colin just said something heartfelt and touchy-feely. I want evidence.”
Garrett just shook his head and grinned.
“So, ‘Colin the Wise’, what last words of wisdom do you have for me before I take my vows?”
He gave me a doubtful look, “You seriously want me to give you advice…about marriage?”
“Well, it’s not like we have anything else to do,” I said, motioning to the rest of the bar which was completely empty except for the three of us. Make that four. I greeted my future father in law as he strolled in, taking a seat next to his son. He ordered a beer and then turned to our small group.
“Afternoon, gentlemen. What did I miss?” he asked.
“Colin was about to give me marriage advice,” I answered, pointing to Colin who grinned like an asshole.
“This should be good,” Mr. Finnegan, or Tom as he liked to be called, said. We all chuckled and agreed.
“Hey! For your information, I am a damn good husband. It’s not easy, and it’s not always hearts and flowers, but if you find the right woman, like Ella….it’s worth it. Every damn minute. And if you’re really lucky, she’ll give you the greatest gift imaginable….a mini version of the two of you all mushed together. It’s incredible.”
“You had me,” I said, clutching my chest, “right here….until you starting talking about mush, and then I got lost.”
“Shut up Logan! You asked for wisdom and there it is. Work at it, every day. They may drive you crazy, run you ragged and send your mind spinning, but one look from Ella and I’m a goner. Still. She’s it for me, and I will spend every day of my life reminding her that I’m the same for her.”
“That was actually pretty good Colin. I’m mighty impressed,” Tom said.
