“It’s a beautiful silhouette but it’s all wrong for you.”
“Are you saying I can’t have what I want?”
“Of course you can have what you want, but that doesn’t mean it will look good on your body.”
“You’re just saying that because you’re plus size.”
“So are you, Jennifer, and the sooner you accept that, the easier it will be to find the perfect wedding gown for your shape.”
“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes.
About to lose her cool, Paige took a few breaths and pulled out her tape measure. “I need to take your measurements, so if you’ll put your arms out this will only take a minute.”
Jennifer reluctantly put her arms out and Paige rapidly measured her.
“So what’s the verdict?”
“It looks like you wear a size 14 in blouses and about a size 18/20 in pants and skirts, depending on the cut. Am I in the ballpark?”
She looked surprised. “How did you know that? Are you a seamstress too?”
“No. I’ve just developed a keen sense when it comes to size. Sewing isn’t my forte at all. I leave that for my sister, she’s the designer in the family.”
“Really? Have I heard of her?”
“You may have. She has a boutique on the Upper East Side, Style by Siobhan.”
“I’ve seen the shop. She does wedding gowns, too?”
Paige nodded her head. “As a matter of fact she’s created gowns for celebrities.”
Jennifer was impressed in spite of herself. “Wow. Can she make a dress like Sophie’s for me?”
“Of course she can, but I can guarantee you she won’t.”
“Why wouldn’t she do it? She likes money, doesn’t she?”
Spoken like a spoiled brat, Paige thought. “Her reputation is more valuable than money. The only thing worse than not having someone in one of your designs is someone wearing a design of yours that doesn’t look good on them. No amount of money is worth that.”
“So you’re saying I’d look ugly.”
“What I’m saying is it’s not the right thing for your shape, Jennifer. You’re a petite pear-shaped woman so our goal is bring balance to your shape.” Paige walked over and turned Jennifer to face the mirror. “The focus of your gown should draw attention to your delicate shoulders, long neck, and oval face. An off-the-shoulder, strapless, or sweetheart neckline would frame you nicely. Then for the silhouette we can look at an A-Line or Empire-style gown. Even a ball gown with a natural waistline would look great on you.”
“Isn’t A-line for fat girls?”
“No, it’s not for fat girls. It just happens to be an all-purpose silhouette, which means it looks good on everyone, which isn’t a bad thing.”
“So a lot of tulle is out of the question?”
“A lot of tulle isn’t a good idea. It draws attention just where you don’t want it. You have wonderful God-given assets, Jennifer. We just have to find the right gown to show them off, that’s all.”
Jennifer seemed to relent. “Can we go to your sister’s boutique?”
“Sure, that’s not a problem. We would need to go in rather soon.”
“How about Wednesday?”
“Wednesday sounds good. I’ll clear it with my sister.”
When the doorbell rang, Jennifer lit up.
“Michael’s here.” She beamed as she flew out of the room.
Thank God. I thought I was going to take her over my knee. Paige sighed as she followed Jennifer.
The Smythes looked like a family torn from the pages of Town and Country. Paige couldn’t help noticing the Smythes were holding hands when they walked in, a far cry from the standoffish society marriages Paige heard about. The Kleins greeted them. Jennifer ran right up and kissed her fiancé Michael. She looked like a doll next to him; he had to be at least seven inches taller. They made a cute couple.
“Please come in.” As Mr. Klein led everyone back to the parlor, Paige tried not to get in the way. “Paige, come over here. No need to hide.” Mr. Klein smiled.
Paige walked over to him. When she saw Matthew she wanted to gasp, but that would have raised suspicions, so she played it cool.
“Douglas and Margaret, I’d like you to meet Paige Baldwin. She’s the wedding planner.”
Matthew was only mildly interested until he saw who the planner was. It’s her! The woman from the hotel. It must be fate.
“It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Baldwin.”
“Likewise, Mr. Smythe. Please call me Paige.”
“Very good, Paige. This is my wife Margaret.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Paige. You’re a brave woman,” she said warmly.
“Thank you, Mrs. Smythe.”
Before Matthew could butt in for their formal introduction, Jennifer walked over hand-in-hand with Michael. “Paige, this is my fiancé Michael.” He caught her a little off guard when instead of shaking hands he kissed her on the cheek. “So you’re the one who is going to put this whole show together.”
“That’s the plan.” Paige’s heart beat so fast she thought it was going to burst forth any minute.
“Well, I am looking forward to marrying this girl in style. I’d marry her anywhere.”
They made eyes at each other.
“Ahem. There is still one introduction yet to be made.” Matthew cleared his throat.
“Sorry about that, Matt,” Michael said.
“I thought I was chopped liver for a minute.” He smiled.
“Paige, this is my big brother Matt.”
Paige did her best to keep her composure. This could only happen to me. The one time I took a chance and let my hair down this happens. I guess my one night stand isn’t so anonymous anymore. Paige was a little taken aback when Matthew kissed her on the cheek, too. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Paige.” He winked when he drew back.
“Likewise, I’m sure,” she stammered.
I’m here for business. Now is not the time to have a neurotic breakdown. She sighed. I have to get through lunch.
“Now that we’ve made all the introductions, lunch is ready in the dining room,” Mr. Klein announced.
Once seated at the table Paige was on autopilot. She was there for the wedding preparations, trying not to think about what a hot night she’d spent with the groom’s brother. She watched Jennifer and Michael to see how they interacted with each other. Michael was an attentive fiancé and Jennifer softened up around him. She wasn’t the spoiled little bitch Paige had seen earlier. The Smythes were a very affectionate couple. Even in the midst of deep conversation there was an unspoken language between them. They even finished each other’s sentences. When it came to relationships, Michael and Matthew had good role models.
“Michael, will you pass me the bread, please?”
“Sure, sweetie,” he said as he handed her the basket.
“Don’t you think you should go a little easy on the bread?” Mrs. Klein asked pointedly.
“No.” Jennifer took two rolls.
“You have a gown to worry about, dear.”
Jennifer defiantly put a piece of roll in her mouth.
Mrs. Klein shot Jennifer a look Paige was all too familiar with since she had been a big girl growing up under the watchful eye of no-nonsense nutritionist and mother Coreen Baldwin.
Coreen had watched what Paige and Siobhan ate as they were growing up. Occasionally their dad Chase could get her to lighten up. Now that Coreen was a grandma she had a different outlook altogether. When Max stayed with his grandparents he had his choice of muffins, sweet cereal, pancakes, or instant flavored oatmeal for breakfast from the woman who’d served plain oatmeal every morning and dared her daughters to put sugar on it. Paige and her sister had done: they’d found a Mission Impossible system to get at least a teaspoon of sugar without Coreen knowing it.
And here I thought Siobhan and I perfected the passive-aggressive tango with Mom, Paige thought as she watched them. Poor Mr. Klein. I bet my dad knows how he feel
s. It’s not easy being the middle man in this show.
Matthew watched Paige as she ate. Look at that luscious mouth. He flashed back to her kissing his chest. Her lips are so soft. His thought trailed off.
“Matt!”
Matthew came back to earth. “Yes?”
Michael looked at him strangely. “I asked you to pass the wine. Where were you?”
Matthew passed the wine. “Sorry, I was lost in thought.”
His and Paige’s eyes met.
“That must have been some thought,” Michael laughed.
Matthew looked dead at Paige. “Believe me, it was.”
Unsettled, Paige nearly dropped her fork. She turned her head so she wouldn’t turn into a pile of goo. I can’t look in those eyes. His eyes were what got me in trouble in the first place. His eyes and his hands.
After lunch the party retired to the living room for angel food cake, macaroons, and coffee.
“Thank you for lunch, Mr. and Mrs. Klein. It was very good.”
“You’re welcome, Paige.” Mrs. Klein smiled.
“Now that we are all here I’d like to discuss the reception and ceremony site for the wedding.” Mr. Klein stirred his coffee.
“We’ve been giving the matter a lot of thought, too, Hiram.” Mr. Smythe replied.
Oh dear, I know what’s next. Paige waited for the other shoe to drop.
“We’d like the ceremony to take place at our synagogue. It’s the same one where Jennifer had her bat mitzvah,” Mrs. Klein said.
“I understand where you’re coming from, Isabelle, but we’d like the ceremony to reflect Michael’s religious upbringing as well. Our church is one of the oldest in the city and it’s where both our boys took their first communion.”
“We’re Jewish, Margaret. We’d like our rabbi to officiate.” Mrs. Klein’s tone was firm but polite.
Michael and Jennifer silently watched the verbal tennis match. It was clear Jennifer was mortified, but a kiss from Michael set her right and her disposition lightened up. Meanwhile Matthew stared at Paige, who was trying to find a way to mediate the discussion. “Pardon me. May I make a suggestion?”
Paige’s voice reminded them there were other people in the room.
“Certainly, Paige, we’d like your input,” Mrs. Klein said.
“We can have a chapel set up with a Chuppah and both the rabbi and reverend can perform the ceremony.”
“That’s a great idea,” Michael nodded.
“It’s a good compromise. Which reception sites are you thinking about, Paige?”
“Well, Mr. Smythe, the two I have in mind are the Waldorf Astoria, which can host three events at a time, and Tavern on the Green, which can handle two events at a time. The good news is that neither has a problem with brides crossing each other.”
“So it’s just a matter of preference?” Matt added.
“Exactly. It depends on what Jennifer and Michael want.”
“I’m glad someone remembered this is our wedding,” Jennifer pouted.
“No one has forgotten us, Jen, honey.” Michael rubbed her hand.
Mr. Klein poured cocktails for the Smythes.
“Excuse me, Mrs. Klein. May I use your powder room?”
“Certainly. Charles will show you the way.”
“Right this way, Ms. Baldwin.”
“Thank you.” She followed him.
“Here we are, Ms. Baldwin.”
Paige needed a few minutes to regroup. Oh, my God. He’s my client’s future brother-in-law. How in the world did this happen to me? Her thoughts then changed gears as she remembered their night together. Oh, God, I loved running my fingers through his soft wavy hair, the feel of his lips…I don’t think I’ve ever had a kiss awaken so much passion inside me. Paige suddenly remembered she was working. She looked in the mirror. Come on, girl, pull it together. You don’t have time for starry eyes, she scolded herself. After waiting a few minutes she went back to the living room. Only Matthew was there.
“Wondering what happened to everyone?”
“It crossed my mind.” Paige felt a little timid as she sat down.
Matt got up and sat next to her. “They went in the other room to talk about the guest list.”
“Oh, I see.”
“I’ve been thinking about you. I can’t believe my luck.” The words rolled out of his mouth like a babbling brook.
“That makes two of us.”
“Don’t you think this is fate at work?”
“Maybe, but it seems like fate has a great sense of humor.”
“It is kind of funny having such a formal meeting, when we already know each other.”
“In the biblical sense. Yes, it’s a riot.”
“So you’re a wedding planner and you’re in charge of this shindig.”
“Yes, indeed.”
“That’s terrific. That means you’ll be hanging around for a while, right?”
“Right up until the wedding day.”
“You might stay beyond the wedding day. What do you think about that?”
Before she could answer, someone turned on the music.
“Do you hear that?” he asked.
“It’s Gustav Mahler’s Symphony Number 1. It’s in my top twenty classical list,” Paige said nonchalantly.
“You have a top twenty classical list?”
“What can I say? I’m a nerd.”
Just as Paige turned towards Matthew he kissed her, surprising both of them. Within an instant they were overwhelmed by the same sense of hungry passion that had led them to a room in the Marriot.
Paige pulled away. “What are we doing?” She straightened her jacket.
“I know you felt that.” His heart raced.
“Whether I did or not isn’t the issue. I’m working here.”
“So you would think about continuing this if you weren’t working?”
“Stop twisting my words around,” Paige protested.
“Shakespeare said it: ‘Methinks the lady doth protest too much.’ ”
As if Paige were being saved by the bell, both sets of parents along with Jennifer and Michael returned to the living room. They had reached an agreement.
“Paige, we’ve come to a decision about the reception and ceremony,” Mrs. Klein said.
“Okay.” Paige already had her notebook out.
“We’re going with the Waldorf on either the ninth or sixteenth of December.”
Paige stood up. “I’ll make the appointment. What day works best for your schedule, Jennifer?”
“Any day this week is fine. Just make it in the morning.”
“All right then. If you will excuse me, I’ll give Henri a call and make sure the dates are available.”
Paige went into the hallway to make the call. She was a little disappointed her conversation with Matt was cut short, but she was the one on the clock.
“Hi, Henri. It’s Paige Baldwin. How are you?”
“Fine, Paige. It’s good to hear from you.”
“Thanks. I need to see if you have any time open for Thursday morning and if you have December ninth and/or the sixteenth available for the Klein/Smythe wedding.”
“So you’re the planner on the event. Congratulations.”
“Thanks, Henri.”
“We have a 10:30 consultation open on Thursday. As for the dates in question both are available for an afternoon or evening event and the Grand Ballroom is available.”
“Terrific. Hold on a minute for me, please?”
“Sure.”
Paige went back into the living room.
“Pardon me, Mr. and Mrs. Klein. I’m on the phone with the Waldorf now. They have both the dates available for the afternoon and evening. Perhaps you would like the ninth since the sixteenth is the first day of Chanukah.”
“Oh, that’s right. Make it the evening of the ninth.”
Paige stepped back into the hallway. “Henri, put the Kleins down for an evening ceremony and reception on the ninth. We’ll hammer ou
t some of the preliminary details Thursday, along with taking care of the deposit.”
“Very good then. I will look forward to seeing you.”
“Thanks, Henri. Have a good day.”
Paige walked into the room again. “We’re all set for 10:30 Thursday morning, Jennifer.”
“Terrific. Are you coming to the Waldorf with me, Michael?” She batted her brown eyes at him.
“If I can switch a few things around I’ll be there with you.”
“In other words you mean no,” she pouted.
“I said I would try. I can’t promise you anything, but I will do my best.” Michael kissed her. “You know I love you.”
She smiled. “I love you, too.”
Paige looked at her watch. “Unfortunately for me, I have to catch a train back to my office.”
“You have to leave already?” Mrs. Klein asked.
“I’m afraid so. It’s getting late, which means it’s almost sardine hour on the LIRR. Have a lovely afternoon everyone. Jennifer, I’ll see you Wednesday morning for the dress boutique and Thursday morning at the Waldorf.”
“Okay, Paige.”
Paige took her briefcase and walked into the hallway, where Charles was waiting with her coat.
Michael nudged Matthew. “Here’s another chance for you to talk to her,” he whispered.
“Is it that obvious?”
“Only to me. Make your move.”
Matthew tried to look casual when he left the room. Charles was just about to help Paige with her coat when he interrupted.
“Charles, I’ll help Paige into her coat. Would you mind getting mine, please.”
“Not at all.”
Matt slowly helped her into her coat, taking a little time to caress her arms and shoulders. Her perfume made him heady. “You smell so good,” he whispered, his lips just a hair away from her ear.
Paige felt a chill run down her spine but maintained her composure. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. If you can hold on a minute we can leave together.”
“Okay,” she said more calmly than she felt.
Once Charles returned with Matt’s coat, he was ready to go.
“Ready when you are.”
“I’m ready. Have a good day, Charles.”
“Thank you, Ms. Baldwin.”
Paige and Matt got into the elevator. As he came closer Paige moved away until she reached the wall.
Bliss, Inc. (Indigo Love Spectrum) Page 5