Connie's Silver Shoes (The Candy Cane Girls Book 4)

by Bonnie Engstrom

  Connie was blown away. Cindy was so such a minister, and her prayers were so powerful. She would plant that church in Costa Rica. Connie was sure. She put her phone down, pulled up the covers and surrendered to a restful sleep.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Connie directed the 2 Guys Movers as they hoisted her old sofa up the stairs. She had given serious thought to replacing the furniture from her little house in Costa Mesa for new, fun stuff for the loft in Corona del Mar. But, she was on a frugal streak. Even with Jaeda’s donation of time modeling, and a few extra bucks in the coffers from her Memory Men windfall, she was trying to be prudent and wanted to feel secure for whatever the future might bring for her business, and for her and Jaeda.

  Them.

  She brushed her bangs aside in the heat and dreamed. Her gown was already designed, the engraved invitations mailed, the Balboa Pavilion reserved and as were the reservations at the Westin Kierland in Scottsdale for their honeymoon. Jaeda was so excited to introduce her to his new city. He had been there for over a month in his new position as bank manager for the bank’s biggest branch. He rode his cycle back every other weekend to help with the wedding planning, had rented a townhome in Scottsdale Ranch in an exclusive little community, only 145 homes, with a real human being at a real guard gate house. They would even pick up their mail there.

  Jaeda said Jake loves it, too. It was a real dog-loving community. Their little home was on a cul-de-sac with only fifteen others, and at least eight had dogs. Jake had already been introduced to Prince the poodle next door and Zoe the Miniature Schnauzer on the other side. He had ridden the almost four hundred miles from California to Arizona and back in the sidecar of the cycle twice and loved the wind blowing in his tiny face. He was a good traveler. It was settled.

  Was it?

  Connie wasn’t used to giving up control. She had spent so many years struggling to establish her design business, making her mark in the tenuous fashion world. She was grateful for Doug the Dog’s support and his belief in her, and he had finally smiled and bitten his bottom lip almost raw agreeing to let her off the hook. He even mumbled something about her creativity and wished her success. Alice would stay with her to keep doing her pinning and sizing and cutting, and grinning up at tall Jaeda with a gleam in her eye. Doreen vowed her allegiance, so she would continue to model for the disability line. All was good. Maybe.

  ~

  Jaeda adjusted his helmet and settled Jake in the blanket in the sidecar. Both of them loved the freedom of riding and the wind in their hair. Well, the wind on Jaeda’s scalp since his head was shaved. He chuckled at the vision of no hair, and under his helmet. Then he thought about the few times Connie had sat behind him with her hair escaping and blowing in billows from underneath the confines of her helmet. Once in a while, he could glance back at her and see brown wisp’s flying. But, because of the visor on the helmet, he could never see her eyes. Only feel her hands and arms gripping his body.

  “Off to Newport, little guy!” He patted Jake on the head and gunned it.

  ~

  Connie sighed a lot these days. Why was she worried? This should be the happiest time in her life. She loved weddings, had been in many, especially Candy Cane ones. Had even designed the gowns for each of the brides. This time it was her turn.

  Melanie and Natalie met her at the Pavilion to discuss details with the venue’s event coordinator. She shook the woman’s hand and turned to her Candy Cane sisters. “I need Jill.”

  Natalie’s eyebrows rose into peaks. “You mean Jill who went with us to Costa Rica for Cindy’s wedding?”

  “Yes. She also helped with Noelle’s, even Candy’s. I need her calm expertise, her input and advice.”

  “Then,” Melanie said, “let’s get out of here and call her.”

  ~

  Jill was flabbergasted. Another Candy Cane wedding? Unfortunately, she had a commitment for a wedding at a huge hotel in Dana Point. What could she do? She loved all the Candy Cane girls, but she had signed a contract with the other couple and the woman’s mother who was paying. She was a professional and couldn’t break a contract. The only one she had ever agreed to extend was Noelle Day’s. Hers was a special case, and Jill couldn’t tolerate abuse. So, she had agreed to keep the deposit and hold it until a time when Noelle found the real Mr. Right who treated her right. When it finally happened with Braydon Lovejoy, Jill was thrilled. Plus, she had never coordinated a wedding in The Sherman Foundation Gardens. It was a first for her, and turned out to be a fun challenge.

  Jill looked over the current contract again. No glitches, no opt outs. She repeated her grandmother’s phrases out loud to herself. “What will be, will be.” And one of her favorites, “Things will all work out, dear.” She hoped so and went to bed.

  ~

  Connie grabbed the offending phone and almost threw it. She blinked her eyes and looked at the ergonomic clock displaying five-thirty. In the morning? Who at this absurd time? She never looked at the caller I.D. hoping it was Jaeda. Or, worried it might be that nasty, angry Keona.

  The voice on the other end was excited. She finally identified it. Jill?

  “I can hardly believe it. The mother of the bride called me to cancel.”

  What? Who? Connie didn’t understand. But, Jill explained.

  “It’s a family thing, an ethnicity thing. The groom’s parents aren’t happy with his choice of a bride. So,” she went on, “their wedding is cancelled.” There was a dramatic pause, and Connie could hear Jill’s rapid breathing. “You still want me?”

  Connie sat up straight in bed and shook her head to rid it of the fog in her brain. Of course she wanted Jill; didn’t know why she hadn’t asked her before. Why had she been such a control freak to think she could do the whole wedding herself?

  “Oh, yes, yes! Please. When can you start to help me?”

  “How about today? Can we meet for coffee and you bring all the details and vendors you have contracted with for flowers and food and anything else you can think of?”

  ~

  Connie placed a file folder in front of Jill on her usual Starbucks table. She felt as if she should pay rent on it.

  Jill flipped through the folder and said, “Really?” She rolled her eyes and sighed. “Obviously you will get your flowers from Love In Joy, the Lovejoy’s floral shop. That is perfect. But, what about the caterer? You really serious about this one? Have you put down a deposit?” She scanned the printed pages and groaned. “Not them, surely? Can you get the deposit back?

  “Who’s doing the cake? Did you find one you like on a wedding site and give them a photo?”

  Connie felt so inadequate listening to Jill’s questions. She knew she had raced through all decisions and hadn’t read all the contracts thoroughly. Since the wedding was still three weeks away, maybe something could be done to correct her hasty errors.

  ~

  What had she done? Or, more specifically, not done? Connie collapsed on her red sofa and called Jaeda. He sounded excited to hear from her, but she was weepy. She felt like such a failure. Here she was a now almost noted fashion designer, but she couldn’t plan her own wedding without glitches. What, she wondered, happened to the days when brides’ mothers helped, even made decisions? Well, that wouldn’t happen with her mom who would only criticize and have a handy Bible verse to support her disapproval and her pre-formed opinions.

  What, too, about her parents’ and her mom’s attitude about Connie marrying out of her color? Sandra had been supportive, but neither of them had approached Mom about the fact that Jaeda’s skin was dark, a lot darker than Connie’s. Her parents would be coming to the wedding with expectations very different from what they would see. Dad was excited to guide her down the aisle. Yet, he had never met Jaeda. She had sent photos, but did they look at them carefully? Maybe it was time for a family visit.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  “Jae, take off that ridiculous tie. You don’t have to be formal in front of my parents.”

 
He scowled at her, removed the tie and folded it carefully to tuck in his jacket pocket. “Okay now?”

  “Yes, thank you. And try to remember how scared I was meeting your parents a few months ago. It wasn’t easy for me.”

  Sandra met them at the airport in the luggage retrieval area. She bounced up and down like a kid winning a soccer match. Connie and she threw their arms around each other squeezing hard. They both needed that.

  After kissing and hugging, Sandra looked beyond Connie. Was she surprised? Surely, she knew about Jaeda being African-American. But her face tilted up high to the tall black man. Then she hugged him, reaching only to his shoulders, and Connie felt okay. It was all going to be okay. Or, was it?

  ~

  “Oh,” Mom said as she grasped his hand. “You are taller than I expected.” Still, she smiled and held his hand tightly. That was a start.

  Dad gave him the guy hug and the pounding on the back thing. Never said a word about Jaeda’s skin color. But, Jeff, her brother-in-law, Sandra’s husband, did.

  “I don’t know how to, but I apologize for Jeff. He was so out of line.” She looked at Jaeda’s face. He seemed fine.

  “He was honest, has his diversity problems. Can’t fault him for that. It happens.”

  How she loved this man for being so accepting and understanding. She chalked Jeff’s comments to human frailty.

  They were eating dessert after her mother’s yummy enchiladas. Jaeda had taken a second helping and loaded his up with sour cream and Mom’s homemade guacamole. My, that man could eat! And she couldn’t cook, but barely. The dessert was Mom’s special Bundt cake soaked in orange juice. They all groaned but ate every bite on their plates. Even Jeff sucked it up while claiming he couldn’t eat another bite of anything.

  They had moved into the living room, mugs of coffee in hands. Mom finally had the courage to bring up ‘the subject.’ Dad just nodded and smiled; so did Sandra and, thankfully, Jeff. Maybe he had gotten the ‘talking’ from Sandra.

  “So,” she hesitated taking a breath. “How exactly did you two meet?”

  Connie said a silent prayer of thanks for Mom’s courage.

  Then, Jaeda took the legendary bull by the horns. He was her Jacob! Although he hadn’t waited for fourteen years to win Connie, he had waited almost fourteen months. He explained, nodding to Connie for affirmation, about the Memory Men and how they had gifted Connie’s entrepreneurial efforts. He even shared a sketchy and rather dramatic, Connie thought, account of their first date at the Balboa Pavilion, and the others on Little Corona Beach. Apparently, he wanted to confirm how special their relationship was, how special he felt about Connie. She nodded and blushed, noticed he did, too. It did show through his skin color.

  After a losing game of chess with her dad, Jaeda went back to the hotel. Connie slept in her old room, sans Sandra. So many memories; teen posters and wall colors she would never have chosen now at twenty-eight. She found her old diary in a drawer. It looked as if no one had opened it for ten years. Had Mom been that honoring of her secrets? Flipping through it, she found a tattered post-it. “Bless you, daughter,” it said simply. Mom had found it, but did honor at least a part of her scribblings. It was dated almost ten years ago.

  ~

  Jaeda and Connie stood in the long security line at the airport. Denver didn’t seem quite as frustrating as Phoenix, but close. She was ahead of Jaeda, but turned when she heard the TSA woman questioning him. “You the one in the U Tube adds? In the plaid?” She asked him another question, very brief since it was a long security line. “She the designer?” She gestured to Connie.

  Jaeda grinned and nodded.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Jill set things in motion, and Connie got her security deposits back. The wedding was only two weeks away, so both Jill and Connie had to hustle. “How can we salvage these horrible and hasty mistakes I made?”

  “I know you, Connie. You want everything perfect,” Jill quipped. Connie nodded with misty eyes.

  “I got ahead of myself and blew it.” She grasped Jill’s hand across the now almost rented Starbucks table. “My biggest concern, other than the obvious gown, cake, food, music and ceremony,” she said laughing, “is his family. I want it to be special for them, too. But, I don’t want them to think of me, or see me, as a bossy, bitchy, controlling white girl. I am me, and I want them to see me that way. Just me.”

  “I understand,” Jill said as she nodded. “I agree. But, I do have one suggestion that might help your design business. Wanna hear it?”

  ~

  Jill found a super cute young guy who did a U Tube video. It featured Connie’s wedding gown designs and the attire of the attendants. The venue and other parts of the wedding-to-be were not included. But, the gown designs got so many responses it put Winning Designs on the map. No other advertising was necessary. Best part, it paid for the expensive wedding.

  ~

  Jaeda called. “Two of my coworkers saw a U Tube video that promoted our wedding. What was that about?”

  “Not our wedding, Silly. Just a promotion about my wedding designs. You will not see my gown until I walk down the aisle.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Sandra called Connie. She was either beside herself with glee, or she was having some kind of fit. Connie opted for the former. She tried to remain calm.

  “Con! This is fantastic! You have hit the big time. You are a star.” Sandra went on, bubbling, babbling and confusing her words, but it made Connie feel warm and mushy inside. She was a good sister. Connie needed to feel that. Sandra, the daughter who had fulfilled Mom’s dreams to be a stay at home mom and provide their parents with grandchildren.

  “Con,” she said after a pause, “have you thought about, considered, a maternity line?”

  “You are expecting again?” Connie asked, hopeful.

  “Yeh, in five more months.” She paused to catch a breath. “Can you? Could you? I have so many women in my Bible study, all pg. They would lap up your designs.”

  This was overwhelming, over the top. She was planning a wedding, hers. Still, the opportunity to expand, as it had done with Doreen’s disability, energized her. Could she do it?

  ~

  Jaeda jumped on his cycle, adjusted his helmet and revved it up. The sound of the motor soothed him, helped him think. So many questions. What kind of wedding was Connie planning? He had left most of the details up to her. Wasn’t it the bride who cared about color and timing and food? Even seating arrangements? He had finally met with Jill the wedding coordinator last weekend when he was in Newport. She emphasized seating at the reception, the timing of the dances and speeches and the cake cutting. Thank goodness the wind was blowing against the visor of his helmet to distract him. He had really liked Jill a lot. After all, she had helped Noelle and Cindy and Candy with their wedding preparations, even flown to Costa Rica for Cindy’s. But, she scared him when she ticked off a list of what his expectations were. The worst of which was dancing with Connie’s mom. Even though they’d had a good visit in Denver, he felt she wasn’t really comfortable with him for a son-in-law. He feared the woman despised him because of his color. But, her sister Sandra said Mabel Winfield had come around. According to Sandra, Mrs. Winfield was more interested in grandchildren than what color they were.

  ~

  Connie tried to reassure him. They were seated at what she now definitely called her rented table at Starbucks. He looked confused, and weary from his five plus hour ride from Arizona to Newport even on his super speedy cycle. She gave a delicate touch to his hand. Would her love for him come through her fingertips?

  He grinned and rubbed the new stubble on his face. She said she wasn’t so sure about it, the Hawaii Five-O look, but it did exude sexiness. And, in her book, he was sexy.

  “Mom’s not so bad,” she said. “She is traditional. Maybe, in some ways, your mom is, too?”

  The comment and question hung in the air between a latte and a Frappuccino.

  ~

>   Jaeda thought about Connie’s comment about his mom and nodded. “You met her. What did you think?” he said throwing the gauntlet back to her.

  “I think, mmm,” she locked her eyes to his, “she is adorable. I would love to have her as a mother-in-law and a friend. Actually,” she continued staring at him, “I think if they got to know each other, our mothers could be great friends.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes. They are both strong Christians; both attend Bible study and both love their children. And,” she chuckled, “both want more grandchildren.” She noticed his eyes twinkled. “That good enough for you?”

  “Well, it’s good enough for me,” Jill said as she slipped into the chair next to Connie. “Sorry if I was eavesdropping a bit, but I couldn’t resist as I approached you two lovebirds.” She slapped a file folder on the table. “Now, to business, or even busyness. Lots to do in a short time.”

  Each had an assignment. Jaeda blanched a bit when he heard his part. He still hadn’t asked any of his friends or co-workers to be attendants. The wedding was only weeks away. Who would he ask? Who would agree and be happy for him and willing to fork out the money for a tux? Tomorrow he would find out.

  ~

  Jill left them with lists, a venti Frappuccino in her hand and a check from Connie for the caterers. Connie would pay Love In Joy directly for the flowers since they had agreed on a price, and it was owned by Rob’s and Braydon’s mom. She had some reservations about the caterers. Jill recommended them highly, and she trusted Jill’s judgement. After all, she had been a wedding coordinator for over twenty years. Surely, she would know.

  When she got home she called Jill with her concerns. “Can they do traditional Southern dishes? Sort of in honor to E-Ma?”

  “This is your opportunity,” Jill said, “to connect with his mom. Ask her for advice and suggestions.

  “But,” Jill concluded, “remember E-Ma is dead, and this is Jaeda’s and your wedding, not hers.” Connie heard the phone click. Guess Jill was over her peevishness tonight. One thing she didn’t want to be was a Bridezilla.