by Nance Sparks
“Liv, honey, calm down. Sweetie, no, I cannot just come and get you. I’m three thousand miles away. Isn’t it after midnight there? What are you doing up? What? Can you get your dad? Olivia, put your father on the phone so I can figure out what’s going on.” Andrea pinched the bridge of her nose. “Sweetie, you have to calm down so you can tell me what happened.”
She kept talking but her words trailed off as she walked across the room and out the double doors. Riley sat there for some time sipping on her drink. The servers finished clearing the tables and started breaking down the room. When Andrea still hadn’t returned, Riley went into the back room and collected her rolling equipment tote and camera bag. She walked back across the vast space as slowly as possible hoping Andrea would show back up. She made it all the way to the elevators without an Andrea sighting. Sighing, she pressed the button for the fourth floor. What the hell was that about? Part of her wanted to wait longer, but the thought of Andrea not showing up at all was a disappointment that she wasn’t ready to face. Kids complicated everything. Andrea was no more available than she’d been fifteen years ago.
Chapter Seven
Welcome to the spa. Are you part of the wedding party?” A tall, slender young man asked from behind the counter.
“Hello, yes I’m part of the Sara Hernandez and Kay Martin wedding party. My name is Andrea Daniels.”
“Right this way, Ms. Daniels. The brides are already here.”
He led her through frosted glass doors. “That first door on the left is the changing room. There are lockers available for your belongings. You can undress to your desired level of comfort. Robes and slippers in the cloth tote are yours to keep, a gift from the brides. Once you change, you’ll proceed out the door on the far side of the room labeled Spa and that’s where you’ll find the brides.”
“Thank you. You’ve been very helpful.”
Andrea stepped into the changing room. It was a dimly lit aromatherapy haven of lavender and mint. She sat down and took a moment to breathe. Lavender was supposed to be calming, but it wasn’t working. She was a jumble of thoughts and emotions. She stripped down completely and hung her clothes up in the locker before donning her new robe and slippers. She wasn’t sure what all was on the agenda, but Sara had let it slip that a full massage was part of the morning and she could definitely use a massage. Maybe that would help.
“You’re here!” Sara and Kay were already in the Jacuzzi holding flutes of champagne.
“Of course, I’m here. Where else would I be?” Andrea sat in a chair near the Jacuzzi tub.
“Oh, I don’t know, maybe spending some time with a certain photographer. Where did you two disappear to last night? I forgot my purse behind the bar, and when I came down to get it the room was dark and empty.” Sara asked, a glint in her eye. “Did you get naked and have some fun?”
“Not so much.” Andrea sat farther back in the chair and crossed her legs. “It’s like the universe cannot cut me a break when it comes to Riley. We no sooner sat down and started talking, next thing you know, Olivia’s on the phone in full-blown meltdown mode. It took forever to get her to calm down. When I finally got back to the table, Riley was gone. I can’t imagine what she must be thinking right now.”
“Oh, shit. What happened with my little Livy?” Sara asked.
“Your little Livy had a seriously traumatizing day yesterday. Definitely rates in the scarred for life category.”
“Seriously? Shit, is she okay?” Sara sat up in the bubbles with a concerned look on her face.
“Olivia started her period after lunch at school, first one ever, and I guess it was a bit of a mess.”
“Oh, no!” Kay smiled sympathetically.
“Oh, yeah, I’m totally in the doghouse for not being there. Cathy was with Syd at the first away volleyball game, which was over an hour north and she didn’t answer her phone, so Liv asked Scott to take her to the store. He wanted to know why. She refused to tell him. Well, you know Scott, he wasn’t going to take her anywhere if she wasn’t willing to tell him exactly why she needed to go. There was a whole lot of screaming and tears and Scott’s yelling in the background for her to get off the phone and go to bed. Then, Liv asks me to tell her dad why she needs to go to the store because it’s too embarrassing. Once I finally got him on the phone, I started giggling while trying to explain her predicament and then Scott starts laughing and then I’m laughing, like snort laughing.”
She nodded when Kay shook her head. “Right? Olivia lost her shit all over again. Let me just say, I will not be winning any mother of the year awards, I can tell you that much. Finally, Scott says to go enjoy my vacation, that Cathy has stuff in the bathroom, and he’d take care of it. I was like score, maybe Riley hasn’t completely given up on me. So, I’m just outside of the double doors and I get another frantic call, more crying, more screaming because apparently all Cathy has in the cupboard are the super plus tampons without the fucking applicator. Like that’s going to work for a twelve-year-old! Olivia is done asking Scott for anything and insists I explain over the phone how tampons work. I mean come on, really, I’d had way too much whiskey for that conversation. Instead, I tell her the wad of toilet paper trick and she hung up on me.” She sighed and closed her eyes. “At this point Riley is nowhere to be found and I get a third call. Thank God Cathy finally showed up and had pads on a different shelf.” She finally took a breath. “Fuck my life, parenting is hard.”
“And that is why we are not having children,” Kay said to Sara before bursting out into laughter. “Come on in and join us. Chilled champagne and hot jetted water are a match made in heaven. It will cure what ails you.” Kay held up a full flute of champagne.
“Shit, Andrea, that sucks!” Sara said between giggles.
“I thought we were getting massages, so I’m afraid I’m extremely underdressed for the Jacuzzi.”
“Massages are next, but we’ve reserved the entire spa. No strangers. We’re naked too. It’s a huge Jacuzzi.” Kay smiled and stood up. “See? Naked. Come on in. It will make you feel better.”
Andrea lifted her robe as she stepped into the Jacuzzi and then turned away from Sara and Kay before removing it completely. She lowered herself the rest of the way into the steaming hot water. It did feel incredible. Kay handed her a flute of champagne. A few more of these and Andrea wouldn’t care who saw her naked. The conversation was light and fun. Everything needed for a relaxing wedding day, until a flash went off and then another. Andrea looked down to be sure her boobs weren’t floating on top of the bubbles. There were not enough bubbles to hide everything she wished to stay hidden. She spun around trying to find the source of the flash. She knew it had to be Riley, but she wasn’t prepared to be photographed while lounging in the Jacuzzi, naked.
“Are you serious?” Andrea whisper-shouted across the tub and then kicked Sara beneath the bubbles. Kay grunted, but it didn’t really matter who she kicked.
“We never know when or where she’s going to show up. It was all part of the contract. It’s called ‘Candid Photography’ for a reason. It’s why she’s the best,” Kay said. “And kick Sara next time.”
“Shit, I’m sorry about that, Kay. Sara, I owe you one, or perhaps two given the smirk on your face.” Andrea wanted to drop completely below the bubbles. This would all be over today, but how on earth was she going to get out of the hot tub now? “Will she be photographing the massages, too?”
“Who knows? She has free rein on all activities until ten o’clock tonight. She gets an itinerary and we get the best wedding shots ever.” Sara smiled. “Though, I think we should get a discount because ninety percent of the shots are going to be of you. I wonder if she snagged a couple of shots when you dropped that robe. It was hot. Kind of mysterious and seductive.”
“You really can be such a dick sometimes!” Andrea shook her head.
“It’s what you love most about me.” Sara ble
w some bubbles at Andrea’s face.
“Either one of you could have mentioned this yesterday when we talked at the welcome party.”
“We agreed not to tell anyone. It’s candid photography not posed for photography! Just relax and enjoy your day. No nudies, that we can promise.” Kay started to giggle again.
“Well, at least none that we’ll get to see.” Sara winked.
“I don’t think either one of you would care if she saw you nude.” Andrea glared at Sara. “I, on the other hand, am at least twenty pounds heavier than the last time she saw me naked. Shit, probably more like thirty.”
“It’s easier if you don’t think about it. Just be natural. It really will make for the best photographs,” Kay said. “You should see the stunning shots on her site.”
“Oh, yeah, just be natural, easy for you to say. You’re getting married in a few hours.” Andrea finished her glass of champagne. “Refill, please.” She pushed the glass into Sara’s hand.
“Did you try to find her after the Olivia meltdown last night?” Kay asked.
“Yes, but the front desk wouldn’t give me her room number. I looked everywhere this morning too, but no luck. I did write her a note and begged the front desk to be sure she got it. Hopefully, we can talk tonight.”
“Riley? If you’re still hiding in here somewhere, Andrea would like to talk to you. She’s sorry she was called away last night. Flash once if you heard me.” Sara spoke loudly to the room so that it echoed, then winked and wiggled her eyebrows.
They waited in silence for a moment before Andrea splashed Sara. “And you continue to be a dick!”
“Yeah, and it continues to be what you love most about me. Salute.” Sara lifted her glass in the air before taking a sip.
Andrea shook her head. Sara was so bold and outspoken, something she wasn’t. Still, she was disappointed that Riley hadn’t appeared from the shadows.
“Sara tells me she was your first love?” Kay asked. “I always thought you were straight. If I’d known you swung both ways, I’d have set you up with Jack a long time ago.”
“I’ve been getting that a lot lately.” Andrea glared at Sara, who shrugged in response. “No disrespect, Kay, because I love you for falling in love with the hot mess sitting next to me, but there’s nothing about Jack that floats my boat. She’s intense and a bit too obnoxious for my taste. Either way, I have zero interest in being set up with her.”
“No disrespect taken. Jack is absolutely an obnoxious ass, but she has a heart of gold and she’s been my best mate for a very long time.”
Andrea looked around the room once more. She didn’t see Riley, so she relaxed into the bubbles again. “And yes, Riley really was my first love, my first everything.”
“Has she always been into photography?” Kay asked.
Andrea tilted her head back against the side of the hot tub. She had no idea how many photographs Riley had taken of her in her youth. Hundreds. All she knew was that photos of her had been plastered all over Riley’s bedroom walls. And back then, she had loved being her focus of attention.
“She was thirteen when she got her first camera. Her parents gave her a thirty-five-millimeter film camera and some dark room equipment for Christmas that year. She carried that thing everywhere she went and always took the most incredible photographs, even back then. You two will be very happy you hired her.”
“We’re already glad we hired her,” Sara said. “And getting to see you squirm is an added bonus. I’ve never ever seen you care what anyone thinks about how you look. You walk around the locker room in your bra and underwear all the time. You’re like a nervous little smitten kitten.”
Andrea flicked water at Sara. “Others are coming out, stuff it, sweetie.”
“And just so it’s said out loud, when you two get married, I’m happy to be your matron of honor.”
“Who else is getting married?” Jack asked.
Andrea slid over in the Jacuzzi as others in the wedding party arrived. “No one, Jack. Sara’s just being her snarky self.”
“Are all three of you buck ass naked in those glorious bubbles?” Jack asked while untying her robe. She draped the robe over a chair and stood at the steps in a tank top and boxer shorts. “Looks like it’s my lucky day! Let’s see, who to sit next to—”
“You will sit next to me. I’ve known you long enough to know you can’t be trusted when left unsupervised. Oh, and hands will remain out of the water at all times, my little devil.” Kay accepted Jack’s high five and then handed her a glass of champagne.
Sara leaned over and shoulder-bumped Andrea. “All snarkiness aside. I’m glad you and the photographer found each other again after all these years. I hope it turns out to be a good thing.”
“Thanks, hon, me too.”
“You know, if it works out, I’ll take full credit for fixing you up after all these years.” Sara tapped her champagne flute against Andrea’s.
“There wasn’t a doubt in my mind.” Andrea looked over at Sara and smiled just as another few flashes went off. This time Andrea looked up in time to catch Riley’s eye. There was that sexy ass half grin and the nod. She raised her eyebrows a few times and winked at Andrea, something she used to do when passing her in the hallway in high school. Andrea returned the wink, just as she had so many years ago. The exchange made her warm and tingly all over. Perhaps this day wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Chapter Eight
The limo was waiting for the group at the main entrance to the lodge. Andrea climbed in next to Sara, and it was quiet for a moment until Jack flopped into the seat across from them.
“I have never, ever, ever in my life had so many lovely ladies touching me all over my body and there was not a single orgasm for anyone. Instead, you let them wax and pluck and poke, file and clip parts of me that no one is ever going to see! This was not discussed when I agreed to be the best woman, Kiki. I don’t for the life of me understand how any of that was supposed to be relaxing. Manicures and pedicures are fucking dumb, and my eyebrows were just fine.” Jack rubbed the newly revealed skin on her forehead.
“Sweetie, you had talons for toenails and a serious unibrow. It was getting out of control,” Amelia said.
“You’re just jealous because I’m the best woman. That’s why you made them torture me.” Jack opened another compartment between the seats. “Isn’t there a bottle of booze anywhere in this glorified station wagon? I need to numb the pain.”
“It’s almost empty, but you can have what’s left.” Kay’s sister, Tami, passed a silver flask over to Jack.
“Jack, I can’t remember a time when you’ve smelled so delicate and floral and yet I also detect a subtle earthy undertone.” Kay inhaled deeply.
“Screw you, Kiki! Like I always say, I’m all leather and no lace. I make no apologies for being a crewcut butch. I ride a Harley, for fuck’s sake! I can’t tell if it’s the massage oil that stinks or the lotion that they slathered all over my feet and hands, but it’s a god-awful smell.” Jack’s face twisted up when she lifted her hands to her nose. “Did you design your entire wedding day to torture me?”
“Oh, so you know what’s coming next?” Sara leaned forward in the limo seat.
“No, what?” Jack’s face went pale. “Kiki, all you asked me to do was stand next to you and give you the ring. You said nothing about all of this fluffy bullshit!”
Sara’s sister, Kelly, began to quietly giggle. The other bridesmaids started giggling too.
Andrea leaned closer to Kelly’s ear. “You’re so quiet. Are you sure you aren’t adopted?”
“Believe me, I have my moments, but today’s her day. She deserves it. She’s done so much for all of us. Our folks both worked long hours and she stepped up and took care of the four of us, no matter what we needed help with. Since she’s been with Kay, she radiates peace and happiness that I’ve never seen her e
njoy before and it’s long overdue. Those two are good together. They balance each other.”
“You’re a great sister. Would you adopt me?” Andrea smiled.
“You’ve been part of the family for quite some time whether you knew it or not. Sara raves about you all the time, says you’re the only reason she made it through nursing school.” Kelly squeezed her hand.
“Seriously, ya’ll are giggling with these sneaky sideways looks. What’s happening next?” Jack’s brow was starting to sweat.
“Excuse me, Ms. Martin, the photographer wanted a heads up before you arrived for hair and makeup. Shall I make the call that we’ll arrive in fifteen minutes?” The driver came over the intercom. The giggling in the car intensified.
“Thank you, Stacy. Yes, please make the call,” Kay said into the intercom.
“Hair and what? Oh, fuck no! I’m out. That’s a line I can’t cross. Kiki, stop the car. Seriously, stop the fucking car!” Jack jumped across the seat and knocked on the divider glass.
“Jack, it’s okay. Calm down.” Kay grabbed the back of her jeans and pulled her back into her seat.
“Let go of me.”
Andrea watched, hoping her irritation at Jack’s behavior didn’t show. She was always a bit over-the-top, a little too loud, a little too dramatic. She didn’t want anything ruining this day, especially the best woman who clearly wasn’t onboard with being teased this way.
“Jack, look at me.” Kay grabbed her face. “Hair and makeup is for those who want it. We won’t make you participate. The four of us are going to get dressed in our suits and have some pictures taken.”
“No makeup, you promise!”
“No makeup, no hair stylist for you unless you want to trim the high and tight. I promise, on our friendship.”
“I’ve had enough things trimmed for one day.” Jack flopped farther back into the seat.
“I don’t know, I still think she should try on the wig. The mullet is making a comeback,” Tami said in a deadpan tone.
