by Nancy Warren
She smiled to herself. Now that he was embarking on the gardening business he took a lot of interest in the weather.
He said, "Listen, I'm sorry but I'm not going to be able to drive you today after all. My parents gave their driver the day off and they want me to drive them to the wedding."
"Oh. Okay." How strange that neither Mr. or Mrs. Van Hoffendam could be bothered to drive themselves to the wedding. That they had to turn their son into their chauffeur. “I'll see you at the wedding then."
"I'm looking forward to it. I missed you last night, too." She heard warmth in his voice and hoped they’d be able to spend some time together after today's wedding festivities were over.
She caught a cab to the resort hotel where the bridal party were all meeting early. She wasn’t a big drinker, but she’d be having champagne and wine so she opted for a cab. Two hairdressers and two makeup artists had been hired so that everybody would be picture-perfect with plenty of time to spare. She liked organized brides. They made her life so much easier. And Kylie was definitely an organized bride.
However, when she got to the suite the family had hired for the day, Kylie was not looking cool or organized. In fact, she was close to tears.
"You won’t believe it," Kylie cried. For a moment all she could think of was that moment when Ashley dumped the wedding dress in her arms and she'd been left quite literally holding the bag. "Is it Donovan?"
"Donovan?" Kylie shook her head." No, it's nothing to do with Donovan, it's the hairdressers. It's a complete disaster. They canceled!"
Tasmine stared at the near hysterical bride. "They canceled? The hairdressers canceled on your wedding day?"
"Food poisoning. Can you believe it? They had a staff party last night and they all got food poisoning. Not one of them can stop puking long enough to do my hair."
Tasmine took a breath. This, in the end, was why people hired her. "Okay. This is not a disaster. I am here.” She put her hands on Kylie’s rigid shoulders and squeezed reassuringly. "If you or Donovan had food poisoning, that would be a disaster. This is a glitch. I will fix this." She was the first to arrive, of course, so at least she was spared the extra layer of hysteria if all the bridesmaids got into panic mode.
Kylie nodded sharply once, twice. "You're right. I'm sorry. Having hairdressers cancel is an inconvenience. It’s not the end of the world."
"That's the right attitude." Thank goodness Kylie was trying to be reasonable. It gave her time to actually do something about this crisis. "I'm going to get on the phone right now and I will have hairdressers here as soon as I can."
"I know we don't even know each other very well but right now you are my best friend in the world."
It was funny how close she and her brides became. In the last few weeks before the wedding she was like their therapist, design consultant, personal assistant, and best friend all rolled into one. As much as there was always some kind of disaster, crisis or meltdown, there was also a little bit of magic with every wedding.
Because she had been involved in so many weddings, she knew all the best wedding stylists. However, it was a busy Saturday in the height of bridal season and her first half dozen phone calls got her nowhere. Luckily, the other bridesmaids began to arrive so she didn't have to make calls with Kylie pacing up and down in front of her looking closer to tears every time Tasmine received a ‘No, I'm sorry we can't help you,’ from yet another salon.
Finally, she excused herself and ran downstairs to consult with the hotel’s special event coordinator. Who knew better how much money Kylie and Donovan’s wedding was worth to the hotel? Guests and family were staying here, the ceremony and reception were being held here, and Kylie’s family had ordered everything of the highest quality. Quickly she explained the problem and asked, "I wonder if your in-house hair salon could help us out?"
The special event coordinator at the hotel was a lot like Tasmine herself. Her eyes widened only the tiniest bit as she absorbed the news that they needed hairdressers on one of the busiest Saturdays of the year. Tasmine figured that along with their regular stylists they must have extra hairdressers on call. Sandra, the activities coordinator gave her a smooth, polished, most professional smile. "Let me see what I can do."
"Thank you."
She headed for the elevator and turned in time to see Sandra, in her impeccable blue hotel uniform, pull a cell phone out and hit dial even as she strode on blue pumps at top speed across the lobby floor.
Ten minutes later she received a call on her cell phone from the manager of the hair salon. Instead of sending two stylists up, she invited the bridal party to come down to the salon. Somehow, the hotel had worked magic so all the females of the wedding party could arrive at the same time and get both hair and makeup done. The two makeup artists that Kylie had hired came along and had help from two makeup artists on staff at the hotel.
Afterwards, the salon manager invited the wedding party to sit outside on the shady patio and enjoy a complimentary beverage and a salon luncheon. When they were all settled outside, all gorgeous and with plenty of time to spare, Kylie suddenly laughed. "Isn't it incredible? Because of hairdressers canceling this morning we ended up actually saving time by getting everything done at the hotel salon. I’m so much more relaxed."
"And you look absolutely beautiful.”
That disaster averted, everything else went smoothly. And, at four o’clock on the dot, the bridal party assembled outside the hotel chapel.
The wedding coordinator set them walking down the aisle in perfect sequence. She caught a glimpse of Eric as she walked up the aisle. Only years of dance and cheerleader training allowed her to keep moving when she saw that he was standing beside a young and very elegant-looking woman. Beside them were Eric's mother and father. They looked like two couples from different generations. The young woman even looked a little like Grace. Eric caught her gaze and he winked at her. She kept walking, the serene smile never wavering, but inside she was filled with confusion. Had Eric brought a date to the wedding? What the hell?
She went through the motions, the perfect bridesmaid as always. But a line kept running through her head: ‘Always the bridesmaid and never the bride.’ Kylie and Donovan were duly married and then the party began. Kylie’s parents had insisted on a receiving line, so she was forced to greet every person at the wedding, most of whom had no idea who she was.
When the Van Hoffendams and unexplained female escort passed her, Grace said, ”Why hello, Tasmine. You look lovely.”
“Thank you.”
Then Grace put a hand on Eric’s shoulder and a hand on the elegant brunette’s shoulder and said, “And I don’t believe you’ve met Anne. She’s Eric’s special friend.” Even the way she presented them, bracketed by her arms, made them seem like a pair.
“Family friend,” Eric corrected. But she’d seen the way Anne looked at him. She did not want to be a family friend and Tasmine had a fairly good idea that she had Grace as an ally.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
Then Grace said, “Come along. We must let Tasmine get back to her duties.” As though she was going to race back into the kitchen and cook the dinner, then run upstairs and turn down all the beds. Maybe with some help from her tiny bird and mouse friends.
Chapter 13
After the endless receiving line was over, Tasmine headed into the small ballroom where cocktails were served. The huge glass doors were open to the gardens and, while the rain had stopped, it wasn’t sunny enough to tempt even Kylie out there.
The party was already in full swing. She accepted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, and automatically checked to see that everything was as it should be. Bride and groom together and looking happy? Check. Best man in the vicinity, not looking like he was going to get too drunk to make a speech? Check. Parents of both bride and groom looking perfectly content? Check.
And where was the rest of the bridal party? She scanned the room looking for blue dresses that would indicate bridesmai
ds.
A male voice intruded. “Hey, if you’re looking for someone. I hope it’s me.” It was Jake, the groomsman who had been paired with her for the walk back down the aisle. She’d already pegged him as the kind of sleazebag who thought being in the wedding party guaranteed he’d get laid even before Kylie warned her about him.
“I was looking for the bride. I’m her maid after all.”
He sent her a grin so leering it made her teeth ache. “I don’t think you’re really a maid.”
She gave a noncommittal shrug. Not slugging one of the groom’s attendants was, unfortunately, one of her rules of conduct.
She walked away only to find Eric heading her way.
“Hi,” he said, stopping a foot away from her. “You look great.”
“Thanks. I helped choose the dresses.” This was a blue, flirty number. Had she thought of Eric peeling it off her when she’d helped Kylie with her choice? Probably.
“Well, it all went off without a hitch. You must be relieved.”
"I am." They stood for an awkward moment and then he said, "Anne’s a family friend. My mom wanted to pick her up on the way."
“Your mom wants to pick out wedding china for the two of you.”
He didn’t deny the obvious. He said, “Well, that is not going to happen.”
She glanced behind Eric and she could see his mother coming their way. She gave Tasmine a look so cold the temperature in the room seemed to go down a couple of degrees. She amended her expression to something much more pleasant when she reached them and Eric could see her. "Hello again, Tasmine."
"Grace. We were saying that it was a lovely ceremony."
"Yes. It was. I really see the value in adding hired bridesmaids to the group. Someone with your organizational skills brings a more polished, businesslike atmosphere to the proceedings." She turned to her son. "But, Eric, we mustn't monopolize Tasmine. She's not here as a guest, remember, she's a working girl."
Did Grace realize calling someone a working girl was akin to calling them a whore? It didn't really matter. Grace had made it very clear that they were invited guests and she was hired.
Eric looked down at his mother. "Mom, Tasmine is allowed to talk to me during the wedding. And she and Kylie are friends."
She appreciated that he was trying to make her seem like one of them. But behind his shoulder yet another woman was heading their way. This was turning out to be a worse disaster for her than Ashley and Eric's wedding. The woman bearing down on them was, in fact, Ashley herself. Something must have shown on her face for Eric turned and so did Grace and they all stood frozen as Ashley came towards them looking both defiant and embarrassed.
“How has she got the nerve to show her face here?" Grace was so angered her voice vibrated.
"Mom, why don't you go and see how Dad is doing? I'll be over there in a minute."
"But I have a few things I'd like to say that young—"
"Mom," Eric interrupted. "Not the time or the place."
Grace looked at him as though he had never spoken to her that way and Tasmine had a feeling that might be true. Grace squeezed her lips together and nodded stiffly, then turned and stomped away.
Before she could say another word, Ashley stood in front of them. "Eric. I wanted to come and say hello. Hi, Tasmine."
Tasmine said, "Nice to see you, Ashley. I’ll let you two catch up."
"No. Wait. I want to talk to you, too."
"I won’t be going anywhere. I'm part of the wedding party."
As she walked away, she heard Ashley say, “Eric, I’m so sorry. I really want to explain.”
“You don’t have to.” He sounded cool and fine and then there was muffled murmuring that made her think they were hugging.
She walked away, thinking there were far too many women in Eric Van Hoffendam’s life.
From the head table, Tasmine had a perfect view of the ballroom. In fact, some combination of fate and bad luck had placed the Van Hoffendams in her direct line of vision. She watched Eric and Anne catching up on old times, sitting beside his parents, who gazed on the couple fondly.
Meanwhile, at her own table, she had the dubious pleasure of being the object of Jake’s leering attention. And, as he treated the free bar like he'd be giving up drinking tomorrow and this was his last night to indulge, his attempts to hit on her grew increasingly sloppy.
She was so happy when the speeches were done, and the bride and groom headed out for the first dance together. She endured one dance with the drunken Jake, and then, saying she had to visit the ladies’ room, fled.
When she got to the bathroom she looked at herself in the mirror. She saw a woman who always seemed to be on the outside looking in. Maybe her dress and her makeup and her hair matched the other bridesmaids, but Grace was right. She was never going to belong with these people. She hadn’t gone to the right schools, her parents didn't have the right jobs or pedigree or yachts. Eric, on the other hand, was a natural part of this world.
She was about to leave the bathroom and was wondering how quickly she could escape and go home when Ashley walked in. "Tasmine, I am so happy to see you." She gave her former bridesmaid an impulsive hug. "I should have called you before, but I didn't know what to say. I didn't plan to run you know."
"Didn't you?" She’d been thinking for a while that Ashley had shown hardly any interest in her wedding plans. Probably because she’d never intended to be there.
Ashley wrinkled her nose. "I don't know. I think I still planned to get married right up until the moment that I was wearing the dress and we were ready to go. When I thought about walking down the aisle and joining my life with Eric's forever? I thought about those poor French people walking to the guillotine. I couldn’t make myself do it."
Not the most flattering thing that had ever been said about Eric, but she sort of understood what Ashley meant. “You didn’t love him.” Not like Tasmine did. She thought that walking down the aisle to marry Eric would be the happiest moment of her entire life. But, from the way things were going this evening, it didn't look as though that was likely to happen.
“No. I didn’t.” Then Ashley said, "Is everything okay with you?"
For one second she was tempted to unburden all her problems, blurt out her feelings. But the perfect bridesmaid didn’t unburden or blurt. She was there to hear the problems of overwhelmed and overwrought brides, their attendees, their mothers, and any other person who needed a sympathetic ear and good organizational skills. So, she said, "I'm fine. And how are you?"
Ashley didn't need to answer the question, the answer was written all over her. There was a glow of happiness that clung to her like expensive perfume. "I didn't think I could ever be this happy."
"So, running off with the screenwriter worked out for you?"
"You have no idea. We've been traveling in Mexico, where Ben had to do some research, and then we flew to Italy so that I could meet his parents.”
"You met his parents? In Italy?"
Ashley laughed. "I know. I feel like I'm living a fairy tale. You know, the kind with a happy ending."
"You look happy." Tasmine, on the other hand, felt like she was in a fairy tale too, only she had accidentally been given the role of ugly stepsister or some poor unnamed character who never gets what she wants in the end.
Ashley held out her left hand and Tasmine felt her eyes grow wide. "You're engaged? Again?"
"I know. It is kind of fast. But this is what we both want."
The ring was made of two different metals, platinum, maybe, and gold intertwined. Instead of a diamond she had chosen a ruby and something pale blue. It was different, unique, and quirky, exactly like Ashley herself. "Where did you get that ring?” Tasmine knew all the designers locally and she’d never seen anything like it.
"I designed it myself," Ashley said with pride. “I wanted to do something that would be different than what everybody else has. Something that means something to me and Ben. The two metals are our lives twining together.
And the stones are his birthstone and mine. I've also designed our wedding rings.”
"Wow. It's beautiful, and so completely you."
"Thanks." There was a tiny pause as another woman walked into the bathroom and stared at the two of them before heading for an open stall. They both moved to the outer area where a few armchairs sat in front of big mirrors with little shelves underneath that contained tissues and cotton balls. They settled in side-by-side and Tasmine said, "I need to ask you about your dress."
Ashley glanced down at herself. "This? I got it at a vintage store, isn’t it cool? I think it's from the sixties." Her dress was cotton with red and white polka dots.
"It's a great dress, but I wasn't talking about that. I was talking about the Evangeline wedding gown."
An expression of pain crossed Ashley's face. "Please don't tell me I ever have to see that dress again."
"Well, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. Your mom asked me to take it away and get rid of it."
"Good!"
"But it's worth a lot of money. I was thinking that the dress is really yours, and you might like to sell it online or take it to one of your favorite vintage stores and get some money for it."
"No. Actually, make that Hell, no. That dress symbolizes everything that I ran away from. Seriously, I never want to see it again. Can you get rid of it for me?"
She felt so bad for the dress. It was gorgeous, and since it had been in her life she’d become clearer about some of the things she wanted.
"Yes, of course I can. I just wanted to make sure you are okay with it."
"Honestly, you'd be doing me, my mom, and my aunt and uncle a huge favor."
"Done." Now of course she was stuck trying to figure out where to take it or who to give it to. It wasn't a dress that you just chucked in a second hand store and put on consignment. It was designer original with pedigree and elegance that no one had ever worn down the aisle. She felt sad for the dress that it should be robbed of all its possibilities.