by Lotta Smith
By Lotta Smith
PROLOGUE
On a sunny morning in August, Clara Rowling checked herself in the mirror and gave a contented nod to her own reflection. She looked great in her Oscar de la Renta trumpet gown in midnight blue, and adding a pink sash embellishment made the look perfect. One of the perks of being dead was that she didn’t need to pay anything to dress nicely.
Applying some rouge on her lips, Clara was excited. It was a special day for her. Rick, her only son, was putting the period in his life as the most eligible bachelor to rest and getting married.
Not that she gave birth to him, but she’d raised him since his biological mother walked out of Dan’s and Rick’s life. At that time, Rick was just three years old, and Clara was a fresh college graduate working as an au pair for the Rowlings. Clara could recall the day when Alice, Rick’s biological mother, left their mansion on Park Avenue. Clara still remembered the warmth of the child, how his voice trembled, and how much her heart ached for the little boy.
“Clara… Mother went to some faraway place because she’s so busy… but I won’t cry,” Rick said, burying his face in her chest.
Before she knew it, she burst into a full-blown sob. But at the same time, she was impressed to see the little Rowling exhibiting such strength, apparently inherited from his father.
“It’s okay, Clara. Don’t be so sad.” Rick gently stroked her back, as if to console her.
Holding Rick in her arms, Clara kept weeping, feeling absolutely sorry for the little boy and loathing Alice for her bad decision. She knew the child she was looking after was an apparent prodigy. Despite his age, he spoke like an adult. At the age of two, he had already mastered four arithmetic operations, and he could even read and comprehend adult books. Sometimes Clara found herself wondering who was caring for whom.
“Clara, I have an idea,” Rick said abruptly and raised his head. She found his face dry, completely free of tears. “If you feel so sorry for me because my mother abandoned me, you can be my mom.”
“Excuse me?” Hiccupping, Clara blurted, “What are you talking about, Rickie?”
“Oh, it’s just a little proposition of mine.” The little boy shrugged. His mesmerizing emerald eyes twinkled playfully. “My father likes you so much, and I like you too. Also, I feel safe around you. So I’d be really, really happy if you’d marry him and become my mother.”
Clara’s jaw dropped. She was speechless, but she was secretly fond of the child’s proposition. Still crying, she started to giggle. The boy was beyond a handful, but she couldn’t help cherishing him.
“Well…” Wiping the tears from her eyes and whisking a strand of stray blond hair from Rick’s forehead, she managed to say, “Before making any moves, I have to learn more about your dad’s opinion and his feelings.”
“Okay,” he said, hugging her. “I hope things work out fine, because you’ll make a great mom for me. You know, Clara, I like you very much… perhaps I like you more than that lady who just left home.”
“Rickie, you shouldn’t talk about your mother like that,” Clara chided the little boy, but her tone was warm and sympathetic.
“Okay. I won’t,” Rick complied without arguing. “Clara, between you and me, can I call you Mom?”
She gasped, but she didn’t have the heart to say no. Rick acted nonchalantly and playful, but Clara could feel the pain in his little frame. She took a deep breath, embracing him. “Yes, you can… just between you and I.”
Three months later, Clara married Dan, giving Rick a reason to call her Mom in public. Although she didn’t get to give birth to her own child, her marriage to Dan and her new life as Rick’s mom lasted for fifteen years, until her life expired after she lost the battle with multiple sclerosis.
Looking at her own reflection, which couldn’t be seen by most people, Clara chuckled. She was dressed to the nines, but she wasn’t holding high hopes of being seen by Rick and Dan, much less talking to them. Still, she had to look presentable even though no one at the wedding could see her. Crashing a wedding in inappropriately casual attire was rude—especially when your son happened to be the groom. Also, she had caught rumors that Brian Powers, Rick’s buddy from childhood and a minister, was officiating the wedding ceremony. When she was alive, she’s heard him telling Rick that he often saw dead people’s spirits. Clara wasn’t sure if Brian was just bluffing like many kids or if he was serious, but she wanted to look her best just in case he could actually see her.
Smiling to herself, she flew over to the premier wedding venue in Tribeca.
* * *
When Clara arrived at the venue featuring an unobstructed 360-degree view of the Manhattan skyline, the last of the bridesmaids was walking into the ceremony room full of guests. Then she caught a deep male voice saying, “Please rise.” She smiled, recognizing the voice as Brian’s. He had been on best friend terms with Rick since kindergarten, and it was nice to see their friendship still continuing.
The orchestra started playing Pachelbel’s Canon, the same music to which she walked down the aisle when she tied the knot with Dan. Just listening to the tune, she felt the tears welling in her eyes.
The bride was standing just outside the entrance, looking happy and pretty in a gorgeous and elegant lacey wedding gown with floral embroidery and, of course, the veil and train. With one hand, she was holding that of a gentleman’s. Clara assumed him to be the father of the bride.
When Clara saw another person with the bride, her eyes widened. On the other side of the bride’s father, was a… what was the term? A drag queen? There was a tall, muscular person sporting long, shiny, flourishing blonde hair and a dress—and to her surprise, the drag queen was floating in the air just like Clara was.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe this day has finally come.” The drag queen, clad in a skimpy pink sapphire dress sparkling with Swarovski crystals, dabbed her eyes with a lace handkerchief. “You know, Mandy, you look so, so beaaautiful! And guess what? I had a hunch that you’d be marrying Rick someday when I saw you guys for the first time at Pier 26. My hunch morphed into faith when you went to Rick’s place to care for him when he got hurt. Oh my God, this is beyond touching! Who would’ve thought I’d have such a glory of being your maid of honor? Your dad’s so strong, you know. I didn’t have a chance to become a mom or dad, but I’d totally cry at my daughter’s wedding.”
The ghost of a drag queen was practically sobbing—out of joy, perhaps.
“Come on, Jackie. Don’t cry.” To Clara’s bigger surprise, Mandy reached for the ghost, cooing and moving her hand as if she was gently patting Jackie on the arm.
“What’s going on, Mandy, love?” the bride’s father asked.
“It’s Jackie. She’s crying her eyes out.” Mandy filled him in and turned to Jackie. “You’re my maid of honor, and you want to look your best, you know. Hey, you really want to fix your eye makeup. The mascara’s running, and you’re practically looking like Alice Cooper.”
“Oh my God! That’s embarrassing.” Jackie gasped and covered her eyes with her hands. “How about this? Do I look presentable?”
When she released her hands from her eyes, the smudged mascara was gone and she had perfectly gorgeous makeup.
“Wow, how did you do that?” Clara exclaimed.
“Oh it’s easy. All you have to do is visualize your flawless skin, and—” Jackie started to explain, but Mandy gasped as her eyes set on Clara.
“Yo-yo-you must be…,” she stuttered.
Clara waved at her, smiling. “Hello, I’m Clara Rowling. Rick used to call me Mom, even though I’m his stepmom. You must be his bride, Mandy. It’s such a pleasure to meet you. You know, I think he’s absolutely smitten with you.” She extended her hand toward the bride, who couldn’t touch it but still moved hers to look like shaking hands.
“Hello, Clara. I’m Mandy. As you know, I’m marrying your son,” she said, and then she turned to her father, who was looking clueless. “Sorry, Dad. Clara, Rick’s step
mom, has come to join us for our wedding. Isn’t that wonderful?” At her father’s nod, she pressed forward with the introductions. “Clara, this is my dad. Dad, this is Clara.” Mandy gestured at Clara with the palm of her hand, for her father’s benefit.
“Hello, Clara. I’m Steve Meyer. Lovely to make your acquaintance.” Steve waved at the indicated direction. Clara caught a British accent as he spoke.
“Pleasure to meet you!” Clara waved back at Steve.
“Dad, Clara says she’s pleased to meet you,” Mandy said, then turned to Clara, introducing the ghost of a drag queen. “Clara, this is Jackie, my maid of honor.”
“Hello, Clara. I so wanted to meet you!” Jackie shook Clara’s hand with the perkiness of a cheerleader.
“How lovely to meet you, Jackie. Wow, I never expected to encounter another ghost today,” she said, genuinely meaning it.
“Me, neither, but it’s sooo lovely to chat with you.” Jackie air-kissed her.
“Oh my goodness!” Mandy exclaimed. “Rick cherishes and adores you so much. I mean, he practically worships you. We were saying how lovely it would be if you could drop by on our wedding today, and now you’re here!”
“That’s sooo true!” Jackie chimed in. “Actually, we visited the cemetery so Rick could tell you that he’s getting married to Mandy. And you know, Mandy here can communicate with people like us, so Rick and Dan thought it’d be nice if they could talk to you through Mandy’s interpretation.”
“Oh how sweet. When did you visit me?” Clara asked.
“We visited you like three times in May, July, and last week,” Mandy answered.
“Did you visit me during the daytime?”
“Yes,” Mandy and Jackie said in unison.
“When I couldn’t find you, both Rick and Dan tried to be positive, saying you were in a better place, but I think they miss you a lot. For the first time, they were quiet,” Mandy said.
“Oh what a shame. I’ve so wanted to see Dan and Rick.” Clara shook her head. “I’d been visiting St. Barthélemy in May, and then I was off on a European cruise for the past few months. And even when I was back in the city, I often had to attend meetings and committees for charity balls and so on. Besides that, most of them happen in our side of the world, meaning living people have no access.”
“Excuse me?” Mandy’s eyebrows shot up. “Do you have committees and charity balls?” She didn’t dare say, “When you’re dead,” but Clara knew that’s what she meant.
“Oh yes,” Clara admitted. “The idiom ‘Rest in peace’ is so overrated. Actually, I’ve been way busier after my death—not that I was busy when I was alive, since I had to spend most of my final years in bed as I developed multiple sclerosis. Good thing my neighbors were listening in when you visited me in my absence, as they filled me in for the date, time, and location of the nuptials. Anyway, I’m so glad I made it to your wedding.” She couldn’t stop grinning.
“Me too.” Mandy smiled, and Jackie joined her, saying, “Me three! You know, Rick and Dan will be totally thrilled. Oh, did I mention Brian, who’s officiating their marriage, also happens to see and communicate with people like us?”
“Wow, are you sure?” Clara’s eyes widened.
“Of course.” Mandy winked.
“Oh my God! This is going to be so much fun. This will be the wedding of the century! No one has ever had a wedding with not just one ghost but two as attendants,” Jackie exclaimed.
While the bride and two ghosts were catching up, Steve cleared his throat. “Um… Mandy?”
“Yes?” Mandy glanced at her father.
“If you’re actually marrying Rick, I think we’d better go inside. I have a hunch we’re a tad bit later than fashionably late,” he said bashfully.
“Oh… you’re so right.” Mandy gasped. “We’ve got to hurry.” The music was already halfway through.
“Excellent.” Steve nodded. As Mandy reached for his hand, he smiled and repeated, “Excellent.”
“Let’s go.” Hand in hand, the father-daughter duo proceeded into the room, welcomed by blazing applause.
Clara and Jackie went after them, entwining their arms with each other’s. As they moved, Clara caught Rick and Dan on the podium, surrounded by Brian and the bridesmaids. She started to giggle. Dan, sporting a black tie and black suit, looked as handsome as Clara remembered, and she was glad her widowed husband was aging nicely. As for Rick… he was taller, more muscular, and way more handsome than when she was alive, absolutely stunning in a black tuxedo. She couldn’t be prouder of them.
“Look at Rick and Dan,” Clara whispered to Jackie. “I’ve never seen them so tense and helpless.”
“Perhaps they were afraid Mandy ran away, changing her mind,” Jackie whispered back, and Mandy snorted.
“Hello, ladies,” the bride shushed the ghosts without looking back at them. “Please don’t make me laugh. I’m in a heavy-weighted dress and killer heels, and distraction is the last thing I need. I need to focus on my footing.”
“Okay, we’ll be good girls.” Jackie blew a kiss at Mandy.
Brian’s eyes widened as they approached the podium. He whispered something to Rick and Dan, prompting the Rowling men to simultaneously suck in air and then break into wide grins.
When Dan and Rick mouthed, “Clara” and “Mom,” Clara’s heart overflowed with joy and happiness.
“Mandy,” Clara said, “I’m so glad to have you as my daughter-in-law.”
“Thank you for the kind words,” Mandy whispered, smiling at her. Her smile grew wider as her eyes set on the groom. “Hi, Rick. Did you miss me?”
“Hello, beautiful.” Rick kissed her forehead. “Yes, I missed you. Not to mention I slightly panicked when the orchestra kept playing the music without you and Steve showing up. But now I know the reason why.”
“I know. I just bumped into your mom, Clara.” Mandy kissed him on the jaw. Whispering softly to the groom, she showed him where Clara was floating with her gaze. “She’s waving at you, saying hi.”
“Hi, Rick!” Clara greeted. “I’m so glad you’re marrying a wonderful lady, and I’m so proud of you.”
“So, Mandy, how’s Mom doing? Is she breathing without difficulties?” he asked.
“Of course,” Jackie chimed in. “She looks waaaay stronger than most living humans. Mandy, will you convey my words to him?”
Mandy nodded slightly and relayed her words, adding, “You know what? She’s been so busy with attending committees, charity balls, and vacationing to places like St. Barthélemy and on European cruises.”
In Clara’s opinion, that piece of information could’ve waited until after the ceremony, but the bride seemed so eager to pass on all her mother-in-law’s words to the groom.
“Wow!” Rick’s lips quirked up into a smile that Clara had cherished since he was a toddler. He winked in her direction, whispering, “Hi, Mom. I’m glad you could make it today.” Then he pulled Mandy close to him, kissing the top of her head.
Brian rolled his eyes at the couple and cleared his throat. “Hey, wait. I know the two of you want to be close to each other, but you’ve got to wait till I say, ‘Now, you can kiss the bride.’ Is that clear?”
“All clear,” Rick replied, prompting the room full of over seven hundred guests to roar in laughter.
Clara’s initial plan for the wedding was taking a glimpse of her beloved son and husband and discreetly celebrating the beginning of their happy new phase in life. She wished she could tell them how much she loved and cared for them, but she hadn’t believed she’d be able to communicate with them. Just being able to see her son’s nuptials made her happy enough.
She didn’t hold high hopes about actively taking a part in their wedding; however, after the couple exchanged rings and “I dos,” she found herself dancing with Rick and then Dan.
Of course, Clara being a ghost and having no body to dance, under normal circumstances, she couldn’t have imagined dancing with her living loved ones. Then again,
the bride’s ability to see and communicate with Clara was beyond normal, not to mention her maid of honor being a ghost.
When Rick suggested she might be able to borrow Alice’s body for a little while, Clara didn’t take it seriously; however, miracles happens sometimes…
Still, she felt a little bad for Alice when she caught her muttering, “How come I don’t remember dancing with Dan and Rick?” during the after-wedding brunch the following day.
“That must be because of your overwhelming happiness to see our son marrying the girl of his dreams,” Dan reassured her, gently squeezing her hand. Clara was delighted to see him being kind to his ex-wife, and she was both relieved and happy to learn her own feelings.
“Overwhelmed by joy? Hmm… maybe?” Alice tilted her head to the side, looking unconvinced. Her choice of attire was a sparkling silver ball gown that almost looked white, but Mandy said she didn’t mind it.
“Yeah, right, Mom,” Rick chimed in. “You rocked when you were dancing with us. That was fun.” Then he cast a playful glance in Clara’s direction, but at the same time, she sensed an apologetic tone in his voice.
Clara asked Mandy to tell Rick that he shouldn’t feel bad about calling Alice “Mom.” After all, she was the person who brought Rick into this world. When Mandy whispered that in his ear, he mouthed “Thank you” to Clara.
“Hmm… maybe you’re right,” Alice agreed. She looked at the screen showing her body dancing with Dan on the previous day, she and Dan moving flawlessly to fast-paced foxtrot music. “You might be right. Look at me, I’m dancing like a pro. Perhaps I was zoned out a little, but everybody saw our rocking ‘parents of the groom’ dance. We had very little practice, but you know, I might have talent in dancing.”
Alice happened to be one of those people whose body was extremely easy to slip into. Perhaps that had something to do with her being an actress.
“Yeah, right,” Rick agreed, winking at Clara with the help of Mandy’s navigation.
“Mandy, one thing you want to learn from Alice is her positivity, you know. Not everyone can be convinced about her dance genius, totally forgetting about her memory loss,” Jackie told Mandy, prompting Clara to snort with laughter.