The Tulip Terror

by C L Bauer

  Abby could feel the phone in her pocket vibrate with a text. She knew immediately what it meant. She placed her hands on Lily’s shoulders and faced her near the door. “I want you to keep looking at that door. Don’t move.”

  Lily turned to face her commanding and now demented assistant, but Abby moved her straight again. “What the heck, Abby?”

  All the insanity became sane reality, sort of, when she saw her sister waving through the large glass window and entering the shop.

  Lily and Elizabeth ran toward each other into a head-long embrace. Both were pushing back tears. “What are you doing here? You look great and tanned. How was your trip to the Bahamas? Did the girls enjoy it? Wait, what are you doing here? Dev is here too.”

  Elizabeth nodded to Abby who presented Lily with her purse and phone. “Boss, you have the week off.”

  “Abs, I can’t. We have that wedding Saturday.”

  The assistant pushed her boss closer to the door, a smile as wide as the Missouri river at flood stage crossed her face.

  Lily was becoming increasingly concerned with Abby’s behavior. Was Abby dying? Wait, maybe they were all here to tell her she was dying? No, she was fine, but she was wondering about Abby’s claim on sanity.

  “No, boss, I have the wedding Saturday.” Abby smiled at Elizabeth. “Do you want to tell her?”

  “Nope, Dev said you have the pleasure.” Lily now knew her own sister was part of some sort of scheme, apparently orchestrated by an ex-Special Forces officer. A chill went up her spine. What had he done?

  “Ms. Schmidt,” Abby said proudly, “I have the honor of doing your wedding flowers this Saturday at your church. The service begins at one. Your sis can fill in the rest, so scoot. I have work to do.”

  In shock, Lily couldn’t move. She couldn’t talk. What had Abby just said? Her wedding? Her ears heard the word; her brain wasn’t functioning.

  “Um, I don’t understand.”

  Elizabeth patted her hand. “You will. Let it sink in.”

  Lily shook her head. “Nope, not sinking in. I don’t get to plan my own wedding?”

  Elizabeth planted her hands boldly on her hips. “Have you ever planned what your wedding would be like, look like? The answer is no. You never thought you’d get married, even when you thought you would to that jerk.”

  “He was a minister and we were going to have a small ceremony.”

  “Fine, he was a jerk minister. You loved dating and being around men, but you’ve always been so busy doing other people’s weddings. You told Dev you didn’t care. So, we have. It has been a team effort for several months.”

  Lily stood in brief silence, her head tilted in contemplation. “I am marrying Dev, right?”

  Abby laughed out loud. “You better after all of this. We’ve all been playing and planning nicely, even Gretchen.”

  Lily closed her eyes in prayer. Lord, all those questions from Gretchen was for this? Her heart was beating faster but soon a smile crossed her lips. She was well loved. “Apparently, I have flowers and a church. Do I have a dress, guests and a reception?”

  Her sister and assistant nodded then Elizabeth answered. “No, yes and yes so we need to go shopping.” She looked outside to see her daughters holding iced coffees in each hand. Lily saw them too, brushing the tears out of her eyes.

  Lily began to jump up and down. “I’m getting married. We’re going to get a dress, my dress.” Suddenly, she stopped her happy dance. “I can’t get a dress for this Saturday.”

  Elizabeth pushed her toward the door. “Yes you can and you will.”

  “But, I need to lose twenty pounds, yes that would be good. We need to wait.”

  Elizabeth shoved her out, nearly careening into one of the girls. “The only one waiting right now is Gretchen. Dev talked to her, and she has some dresses picked out.”

  Lily looked at her with concern. “No! Of all that is holy, I can’t.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Lily and her small entourage were ushered into a private bridal salon, given glasses of champagne and sparkling cider, seated on a fluffy sofa and encouraged to eat the fruit and cheese set on the table near them.

  She almost spat out her drink when Gretchen entered the room in true Gretchen fashion. She was dressed in a cobalt blue silk jumpsuit with numerous gold necklaces layered down her ample chest. Her strappy high-heeled sandals and long gold drop earrings completed the look which Lily figured was between gypsy dancer and harem girl. If she was going for that look, she’d nailed it.

  “Bestie,” she said loudly as she glided into the room with arms outstretched in model fashion. “I’m so happy for you. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you anything, but you must know by now that Devlin, yes Mr. Delicious, is the most magnificent man ever. I have never seen anything more romantic. How did you get him? You’ve never told me. There was this one man I knew--”

  “Does she want you to answer?” Elizabeth whispered.

  “Nah, she’s just talking. She may never stop. Wait, she’s getting to the part where they go to the zoo. No, just a brief interlude. Now she’s onto the time she dated this much younger Marine in San Diego. She’ll be done soon.” What had Devlin Pierce been drinking when he concocted this entire production, including Gretchen Malloy? Maybe she wouldn’t marry him now. Really, Lily? Are you crazy?

  “And then we had crabs.” Wait, what did she just say? Oh, they had dinner on the pier!

  The epic stories were over as Gretchen grabbed her own glass of champagne. “Your sister and Abby told me a few things and of course, I wrangled some bits of info from you. As an older bride, we need to be selective.”

  Lily rolled her eyes. Seriously, Dev? Gretchen was making her sound like she was ancient, she hadn’t had time to lose weight and her tan was reserved for only her neck and arm areas. Desperately, she wanted to call and tell him it was all off. Before she could, Gretchen was pulling her up and over to a rack of fluffy gowns.

  “I’ve pulled some dresses in sizes ten, twelve and fourteen. We don’t have time for too many alterations.” Gretchen looked Lily up and down. “It looks like you’ve lost a little weight. We can work with that.”

  In true hostess fashion, Gretchen waved her hand over the dresses. “Lily, select the ones you want to try on. Your sister and I will pick out a few and then you are trying on until you find your dress. No pressure, but you have no time to leave here without making a choice.”

  Lily gulped. No pressure. Find a dress that will fit you. Find a dress that doesn’t make you look like a cartoon hippo in a tutu. Find a dress so you can walk down the aisle and marry the man you love on Saturday. No pressure at all.

  She touched the lace on one dress. It was too scratchy. She pushed right past the strapless number. Who put that on the rack? She laughed at the next one’s plunging neckline. Obviously, Gretchen had selected that dress. Dev wouldn’t be able to say his vows.

  “Lily, what about this one?” Elizabeth held up an ivory and champagne gown. Were angels singing? Lily saw an A-line satin dress with a narrow waist. The bodice was straight across with nothing showing, but in the middle was a slightly plunging open v-cut. Lovely lace was under that part of the dress with long sleeves. The lace continued up to the neck buttoning at the back, but there was an open back which would probably hit her mid-back. The lace wasn’t too scratchy and the satin wasn’t too stiff. It was just right. Were those pesky angels singing again?

  Her eyes widened. Could this be the perfect dress? It looked like something Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn would wear as they floated down the aisle to their prince or leading man.

  “Yes, I want to try that one on.” The words came out before her brain engaged. Calmness expelled her nervousness. Her heartbeat lowered; reality was setting in, a reality she was living in nicely.

  Gretchen picked up another gown. “We can take this in too.”

  Lily casually looked in her direction. “No, I want to try this one.”

  Her nieces were clapping. Eliza
beth went charging into the dressing room before Gretchen could pull another strapless gown off the rack. Elizabeth knew her sister. If they made Lily happy and she decided quickly, she’d be happy with everything and not worry about anything. The worrying and indecision would set in later but by that time Dev would be there to push all the fears away. Hopefully. Little Miss Over-Organized needed to be handled very carefully in the next few overwhelming days or she’d bolt. Elizabeth was there to insure that would not happen.

  Elizabeth and Lily stood in the dressing room gazing at the hanging wedding gown. “I don’t even have the right underwear on. Is this really happening to me?”

  Her sister touched her arm softly. “This is. When Dev suggested all this, I thought he was crazy. Our brother wanted to have him checked out for severe PTSD. I mean, every girl wants to plan her wedding, except you. His plans were perfect. The bonus was you wouldn’t have the opportunity to say no.”

  Lily mocked her sister with a put-on shocked face. “Have you seen him? No way I would say no to that man.”

  “Let’s try on this dress. Let me see how it’s constructed.” Elizabeth unwrapped the dress and began to unloop the small buttons down the back. “Good news. There’s support built in, oh and it has pockets!”

  “I do love pockets,” Lily whispered. She stood closer to the dress as though it was a priceless antique. She touched the lace and satin. They were soft. The coloring was rich and non-white. She looked terrible in plain white. It was romantic, yet is was modern.

  Eventually, after much debate on what size it was and whether or not it would fit, Lily took a deep breath and stepped into the gown. The skirt fit over her hips. So far, so good.

  “How is it going in there? Usually I help the bride.” Gretchen was tapping at the door. Why did she always tap?

  “We’re fine,” the sisters yelled in unison.

  Slowly, Lily removed her bra and pushed the sleeves over her arms and the dress toward her body. Her hands were shaking; her throat dry; her stomach churning. What was she going to look like? An old blimp, was the answer.

  She chose not to look at herself as her sister buttoned the dress.

  The door knob turned. “I’m coming in. I can’t take the suspense any longer,” Gretchen announced. “Lily, how are you doing?”

  “I’m praying.”

  “Lily,” Gretchen said softly, “please look at yourself in the mirror. Please. You’re beautiful.”

  Lily’s eyes opened and slowly she raised her head. Her sister and Gretchen were crying. Her reflection was of a bride. She was that bride. Her sister fussed with something on the back and asked Gretchen to look at it. They fumbled with something back there. Some discussion was happening about letting this out and adding--

  “It doesn’t fit, does it? This isn’t going to work. I need to call Dev.” Lily was panicking propelling her into reality.

  “Hush,” Gretchen reprimanded. “You march out there and get in front of the large mirrors. We need to find something for your hair.”

  Lily grabbed her head. “My hair is awful. I can’t do this.” Her breaths were fast and uneven.

  Gretchen pulled her by the arm, turned her body and pushed. “Stop it, right now. Go out there. Your hair will be fine. Go.”

  “It’s too long,” Lily complained as she pushed the dress forward with her feet. “I’m too short and, I look like one of the M&M’s, the new one, champagne.”

  Gretchen shook her head. “We can fix the length. Get up on that pedestal, young lady.”

  Lily was mumbling something about murdering a certain wedding planner with a stiletto as she became surrounded by mirrors. This was not good for an uneven psyche, and it was sheer hell for someone with no self-confidence. But the dress was everything she never knew she wanted. Hmm, just like Dev.

  Gretchen returned with a pearl laden lace band with a veil attached. Lily had pearl earrings somewhere in her bedroom that would be perfect. The wedding coordinator fluffed the back of the dress and stood back. There was no need to try on any more dresses on this nervous bride. She was perfect. Lily’s nieces were clapping and cheering. Her sister was crying. This just might work.

  Gretchen Malloy backed away and stood near the corner of the room away from their celebration. This was a first for her in a long time. Oh, not the surprise wedding. She’d planned many surprise celebrations and events, but never had a groom planned it alone without the help of the bride. Of course, Dev had the help of one of the best wedding coordinators in the business. She patted herself on the back.

  For once in a very long time, Gretchen Malloy cried in public. It had been a long time since she’d been this happy. She had friends, friends who tolerated her outrageous behavior. She was happy for the bride who stood in front of her. This bride wasn’t her client; she was her friend. This wedding might just come off without a hitch, but only with her guidance.

  All of the women went out for a late lunch, including Gretchen. It was almost dinner time when the sisters and nieces reached the flower shop. They went on to meet up with Lily’s brother-in-law at the hotel and Lily wanted to check on Abby, especially now since those flowers were for her.

  “Abs, I wanted to check on you,” she yelled as she entered through the door.

  Dev was sitting at the table, looking up at her and smiling. His eyes were twinkling. Of course they were. “Hello Ms. Schmidt. I’m Devlin Pierce. I’m here for a consultation. I’m planning a wedding.”

  She looked him over, seemingly unnerving him a bit by her examination. He looked very uncomfortable for a man who was almost always in control. “Planning a wedding all by yourself? Mr. Pierce, you look very familiar. There was this federal agent who walked in here a couple of years ago. He was an interesting man, but he had his problems with commitments.”

  He stopped smiling. “Get over here.”

  “Where?” He opened his arms and her willpower left the shop through the closing door.

  She fell into his lap and kissed him, ferociously, all over his face. “I really, really missed you.”

  “I can really, really tell. How was the dress shopping?” She sat on his lap, surrounded by his arms.

  “It was hell,” Lily paused, “and it was heaven. I have a dress. But you and I need to have a serious talk.”

  Dev touched her forehead with his. “If we have a serious talk you’ll think of hundreds of excuses why this isn’t going to work and then I’ll start to think you might be right because you always think everything through and then we will lose all our deposits and money on this party on Saturday night. I want to marry you. I love you. How about this Saturday?”

  “I do have the day off,” Lily joked.

  “Woman, is that a yes?”

  “Yes.” She gulped and sighed. “You really think that we can make this work?”

  Dev’s face was void of any doubt. “I know it. I want you, believe it or not, and I’m going to spend every day making you believe it.”

  She nodded her head. “Got it. You may have to hold my hand. So, what’s next for the week?”

  He fumbled with something in his pocket and pulled out a yellow post-it note. “I’ve made a list.”

  She grabbed his face in her hands and kissed him softly on the lips. “I love you!”

  Chapter Fifteen

  The week flew by with appointments, meetings and checking over list after list. Between Dev, family, friends and Abby the guest list was perfect, including everyone Lily would really want in attendance at her wedding. It seemed like the only one missing was the groom’s brother. His job prevented him from coming. The rehearsal had gone well. Between Dan and Father Mac, laughter filled the church most of the hour. There was some talk of the two priests forming their own comedy team and taking it on the road. The songs and readings were perfect. There was also a plan for Judge Stanley to join the priests as the couple said their vows.

  The vows would be the tricky part. Lily had never made such a solemn pledge to anyone in her life. Now she’d
be saying them in front of an audience. Of course, that group contained those who loved her, but still she knew her voice would quiver or she’d break down in tears, collapsing at Dev’s feet.

  But when he held her hand, she felt stronger. She felt like she did belong by his side; they did fit as Gretchen had told her. She fit right under his shoulder. She’d be a little taller for the ceremony. Her shoes were AMAZING!

  Lily looked down at her nails. All of the ladies, including Dev’s two aunts, had their nails done yesterday and then off to a bridal luncheon hosted by her sister. Obviously, she wasn’t working. Her hands looked too good. Putting together flowers always gave you the occupational hazards of thorn-pricked fingers and green nails.

  But usually she didn’t wear makeup at all. She was complaining as she stepped out of her jeans in her bedroom. “I feel like I have two layers of paint on my face, like I couldn’t decide what shade to paint the wall.”

  “You do not,” Abby yelled. “It’s very natural looking. You’re just not used to it. My strap won’t stay up.”

  Lily looked up to see Abby wrangling her shoulder strap. Abby had certainly stepped up to the plate this week. She was still silly and goofy, but she had become a woman who could be relied upon. Elizabeth went over to help her. Apparently there was a button involved. Once the crisis was averted, Abby was out the door back to the shop to pick up the flowers for the church and all of their bouquets.

  The front door opened again and Gretchen stood in her full glory.

  “I’m here dearies and I brought the bubbly.”

  Lily peered around the doorway to see a woman with a champagne bottle in one hand and a small brightly wrapped package in the other.

  She walked by the bride on her way to the kitchen. “I need to open this bottle. Don’t worry, I know where everything is.”

  Lily’s sister looked confused. “She’s been here?”

  “Don’t ask. It involved vodka and wine. It wasn’t pretty.”