by T. J. Quinn
Leah thought about it for a few more seconds before she finally accepted, hoping she wouldn’t regret her decision. “Very well, Miss Southerland,” she said. The woman jumped up and came around the table to throw her arms around Leah, so happy with her acceptance. Leah pushed her chair back, and stood moving away from the woman. “I accept your offer, but I won’t be needing the hotel room. If I’m to have the chapel ready for your wedding, I’ll have to work all night on it, so I’ll stay at the chapel,” she explained, backing away.
“Call me Joanne. But you can’t stay at the chapel, you’ll freeze to death,” she protested, getting up as well.
“No, I won’t. I’m used to low temperatures,” she replied, in a firm tone. “Now, if you don’t mind, I would like you to take a look at the unicorn so I can start working on the chapel.”
“Of course, of course.” She finished her coffee and followed Leah out. “Are you sure you’ll be alright at the chapel?” she asked, putting on her fake fur coat as she walked down the street after Leah.
“Yes, I’m sure.” They reached Leah’s truck, and she opened the back door for the woman to look at the ice unicorn.
Joanne was delighted. The unicorn was so perfect and had so many details it seemed it could jump to life at any moment.
“It’s amazing. I can’t thank you enough,” she said turning to hug Leah again, but she stepped back just in time.
She didn’t like being touched. That had gained her the nickname ‘ice princess,’ but after a while, she didn’t care. “I’m glad you liked it.” She closed the truck. “I’ll take it to the hotel and deliver it there before I start working on the chapel.”
“Thank you. Will you stay for the party?” she invited, with a broad smile. “I would love to have you there.”
Joanne was a tourist in town. Otherwise, she would have known Leah didn’t go to any parties, nor did people invite her to them. “It’s kind of you, but I’ll go back home as soon as I finish decorating the chapel. I want to be home before the storm hits,” she refused, as gently as she could.
“If you change your mind, you’ll be more than welcome,” Joanne assured her.
“Thank you.” She jumped in her truck behind the wheel, and a few seconds later, she was driving away towards the hotel.
Chapter Three
The chapel had been built in the hotel grounds so she wouldn’t have to go far to start working on it. She just hoped Joanne had informed the hotel she would be staying at the chapel.
Once at the hotel, she unloaded the sculpture and took it to their freezer, so it didn’t melt overnight.
“I’ll be working at the chapel. The bride wasn’t happy with the decorations,” she told the manager after she had him signing the delivery papers.
The man pursed his lips and frowned. “She told me about it, yes. She chose the right person for the job, that’s for sure,” he pointed out with a mocking tone. “You haven’t changed a bit, have you, ice princess?” he asked, grabbing her by the arm.
Leah looked at his hand for a few seconds, doing her best to keep her temper under control, resisting the urge to freeze the bastard. He had been one of the guys at high school that bullied her, and he thought he could still do it, with impunity.
“Why would I change, Howard?” she asked, in an ice-cold tone, turning her skin under his arm as cold as possible, until it started to freeze his hand.
He released her immediately, looking at her with incredulity. “How did you do that?” he asked, taking a step back, startled.
“Do what, Howard? What are you talking about?” she asked, with a fake innocent look. “Make sure I’m not disturbed, Howard, I’m sure your client wouldn’t like that.” And with those words, she walked out of there.
The ice chapel was exactly as Joanne had described – simple and not at all, what you expected when you thought about it. It wasn’t entirely made of ice, and she understood the hotel used other materials to make sure the structure was safe enough to have a few tens of people in it.
Of course, they could have done a better job at hiding those materials, but it still looked sloppy and rushed. Leah guessed fixing the mess was now her job. Making sure she was alone, she started working, putting her extraordinary talent to good use.
Taking a deep breath, she blew towards the chapel’s roof, covering it with shining frost. The walls followed, leaving the ice bricks columns free of it, and soon it felt as if she was inside an ice cave, lightened by a blue light.
Moving her hands, she molded the air into delicate stalactites, she then hanged from the square windows, giving them a more romantic look, as the bride had requested.
Next, she conjured hundreds of snowflakes, some as small as the palm of her hand and others as big as a pizza, making sure each and every one had its own design. It took her several hours to make them, but when she finished hanging them from the ceiling, the result was astounding. They looked as if made of crystal and the light of the candles that lit the chapel, made them sparkle like thousands of stars.
It was way past three in the morning when she dared to go outside to work on the chapel’s exterior. The last thing she needed was for someone seeing her conjuring snow and ice out of thin air. People in town had always suspected there was something different about her, but she did not intend to confirm their suspicions.
She had always been aware of her unique talent, and so had her parents. They couldn’t explain it and had never tried, but they had forced her to hide it her whole life. They didn’t want other people thinking she was a freak or something worse.
When she was a child, their attitude had hurt her a lot, and during her adolescence, she had challenged them several times threatening to show all the people at school that gave her a hard time for being different, just how different she was.
She had never gone that far, but it was as if people sensed she was different. Perhaps it was her almost white hair, or her deep blue eyes, or even her fair skin, probably the fairest most had ever seen in their lives.
Of course, there was also the rumors she was adopted, that her parents had found her out in the snow, in a winter night and had decided to take her in. That story actually made a lot of sense, considering how different she really was, but her parents had always denied it, and her birth certificate didn’t mention any of that.
Sighing, she walked around the chapel relishing the cold breeze of the night caressing her cheeks. Cold had never bothered her, and she had never used a coat or anything warmer than a sweater, and she only put on those because she had grown tired of hearing people ask her why she wasn’t cold. But now she was alone, so she was just wearing one of her favorite t-shirts.
After making sure she was alone, she started working on the chapel’s exterior, covering the roof with a fluffy layer of snow and frost before she hung stalactites all around it.
By the time the morning came, the chapel had looked as if it were taken out of a fairytale story. Pleased, she went inside to pick up her sweater when a small cry of happiness and awe startled her.
“God… please, please… tell me I’m not dreaming, tell me this is real,” Joanne asked, standing at the door, with tears rolling down her cheeks.
Frowning, Leah closed the distance between them, worried. “Is there a problem? I thought this was what you wanted…” she started saying.
Joanne shook her head and took her hands. “This is perfect! More than I ever dreamed of,” she assured her. “When I decided to have my wedding here, most of my friends said I had lost my mind, that it would be dark and uninspiring, but you were able to capture exactly what I had always dreamed of and bring it to life.”
Leah smiled, a bit uncomfortable. She wasn’t used to that much flattery. “I’m glad you like it. But if you want this wedding to be on time, you should send the decorators to finish prepping the chapel,” she warned her, taking a step back. “I can help them put on the flowers if you want,” she offered.
Joanne shook her head, with a broad smile. “Y
es, that would be great… and of course, you’re right. I’ll send them right away,” she turned to walk out of the chapel, but changed her mind and looked straight at Leah. “I know I’ve asked you before and that you explained why you couldn’t stay, but it really would mean a lot to me if you could stay for the wedding. If you don’t have anything to wear, I’m sure we can find you something in one of the hotel shops.”
“It’s very kind of you…” she started rejecting the invitation, but Joanne stopped her.
“Please, think about it. Thanks to you, I’ll have the wedding I’ve always dreamed of and having you at the ceremony would make things perfect. You’re my fairy godmother, woman,” Joanne insisted, almost begging.
Leah opened her mouth to say no again, but for some reason, she couldn’t, and before she knew, she agreed to stay.
Joanne hugged her and kissed both her cheeks. “Thank you, thank you. I’ll send the decorators right away and when you’re done here, please, come to meet me at the hotel. I’ll have a dress for you in my room.”
Leah nodded her consent. She would need a dress. She had never owned a dress, pants were more comfortable. Since she had never dated a man, she had never felt the need to get a dress.
Joanne finally left the chapel, and a few minutes later, a few men carrying the flowers arrived, followed by the decorator. She too was quite impressed with how Leah had decorated the chapel.
“Girl, I’m starting to think you’re really a fairy godmother,” the woman assured her. “This place is amazing. It almost makes me want to get married again,” she mocked herself, with a broad smile.
Leah smiled back but didn’t comment. “How can I help you with the flowers?” she asked, instead.
“Oh, yes… we’re behind schedule on that,” the woman admitted, and a few seconds later she was giving her crew and Leah instructions on where to put the flowers they had brought in.
The pale light of the sun lit the chapel and made all the snowflakes shine like diamonds, and the effect was breathtaking. Along with the white flowers, and light pink bows and silks, the place really looked as if taken out of a fairy tale.
Pleased, Leah left the chapel and headed back to the hotel. The receptionist instructed her on how to get to the bride’s suite, and though she felt a bit out of place, she headed towards the elevator.
Chapter Four
She got in, and the doors were about to close when a man stepped in at the last moment.
“Just in time,” he said, with a smile.
She nodded but looked away. The man’s presence inside such a small cubicle upset her in a way she couldn’t quite explain. Like most men this time of the year, he was wearing warm clothes and a black wool hat covered his hair, but not even the extra layers of clothes were able to hide his powerful, built body. He was taller than most men she knew, and she figured that was the reason why she felt so awkward near him. He projected danger and power just by his presence.
He pushed the last floor button and turned to look at her. “Are you here for the wedding too?” he asked, with a smile.
She gave him a faint smile and nodded, looking away once more, wishing the elevator would get to her floor as soon as possible.
“Are you a friend of the bride or of the groom?”
The man was persistent. “Of the bride,” she finally answered, considering there was no need to be rude.
“No wonder I don’t know you, I don’t know many of Joanne’s guests. I’m the groom’s best man. My name is Zorban,” he replied, stretching his hand out to greet her.
Leah looked at his hand for a moment, not sure she wanted to touch him but feeling compelled to do so. Slowly, she put her hand in his, and the moment they touched, a jolt of energy rushed up through her arm and spread all through her body.
She had never felt anything like that, and she almost pulled her hand back, but the strange look on the man’s face stopped her from doing it. He had felt it too.
“What’s your name?” he asked, after clearing his throat.
“Leah, my name is Leah,” she replied, in a low tone, finally pulling her hand out of his.
The elevator chose that moment to stop, and Leah almost bolted out of it.
“I’ll see you later, Leah,” he shouted as the elevator doors shut between them.
“Not if I see you first,” she mumbled, as she walked down the hallway looking for Joanne’s room.
She was about to knock on the door when it opened up, and a woman dressed in light pink showed up. “You must be Leah. I was about to go get you,” she said with a smile, pulling her inside, into a living room where four other women lingered around, all wearing the same light pink dress.
“I just finished helping with the flowers,” she explained, with a faint smile. “If I’m too late, it’s alright, I don’t want to cause any trouble,” she added, feeling a bit unsure.
“No trouble, Joanne has been waiting for you,” she assured her as she quickly introduced her to the other women.
“Hannah, is that Leah?” Joanne asked from the bedroom.
“Yes, it’s her.”
The other woman came out of the bedroom, already wearing her wedding dress. She looked terrific, and the dress was perfect for the scenery she had built in the chapel. No wonder she had been so fascinated with the whole thing.
“Oh, I was starting to think you wouldn’t come,” Joanne confessed, with a smile. “I found the right dress for you. I’m sure you’ll look amazing.”
Leah pasted her best smile on her face as Joanne hugged her. “I would have been here sooner, but someone ordered way too many flowers for the chapel,” she teased her.
Joanne laughed. “I’m sure you were able to put them all, to good use,” she replied, dragging Leah to the bedroom.
“Yes… I’m sure you’ll love it,” she assured her.
“I know that.” She walked to the closet and picked a blue navy dress from it. It had so many crystals it shined each time it moved. “Well, what do you think of it?” she asked, showing it to Leah.
“It’s amazing,” she admitted.
“It’s for you. I can’t wait to see you in it.”
Leah took a step back. She was sure the dress had cost more than Joanne had paid for her work. “That’s too expensive, Joanne,” she protested, with a slight frown.
“Not for me, Leah. The moment I saw it, I knew it was the right dress for you, and just you,” she explained. “I really want to see you in it.”
Leah opened her mouth to protest, but then she thought she could always leave the dress behind when she left after the wedding. Soothing her conscience with that thought, she nodded. “I need a shower first,” she said, scowling.
“Of course, you do. You must have worked the whole night,” Joanne nodded. “Make yourself at home, we still have a few minutes before we have to go to the chapel,” she warned her.
Leah nodded and rushed into the bathroom with the dress and the underwear Joanne gave her at the last minute.
A few minutes later, she came out of the bathroom wearing it. Her long hair fell down her back, enhancing the strapless dress that clung to her body like a second skin, down to her knees. There, it formed a lovely flared skirt that reached her ankles.
The women were all gathered in the bedroom chatting, but the minute she entered the room, the conversation died, abruptly.
“What?” she asked, with a frown, bracing herself for the women’s rejection.
“Girl, you look amazing,” Hannah said, jumping up from her chair. “Are you sure you want her at your wedding, Joanne? She’ll steal all the attention from you,” she added, in a teasing tone.
Leah stiffened, looking at Joanne flustered.
“She looks beautiful, yes, but I’m the bride, no one shines more than me,” Joanne assured her friend laughing. “Sophie, can you comb her hair, really fast? We have to go to the chapel in just a few minutes.”
“Of course, I can,” Sophie replied, coming forward and asking Leah to take a seat
.
And she did. In just a few minutes, she combed Leah’s hair into a sophisticated braid, just before a man announced from the hallway the sleighs were already waiting to take them to the chapel.
“That’s my father. He’ll love to meet you,” Joanne said as she dragged Leah after her.
The man waiting outside the door looked too young to be Joanne’s father, but he was. The other woman introduced her to him, and he too complimented her on the ice sculpture.
“I can’t wait to see what you did at the chapel,” he assured her.
“Thank you,” she mumbled, feeling a bit out of place, and hating to have that much attention on her. She was starting to regret having accepted Joanne’s invitation.
They finally left for the chapel, and once there, Leah was able to hide in one of the back seats, away from the attention, but genuinely enjoyed people’s reaction to her work.
The ceremony was beautiful, but she had trouble concentrating on what was going on at the altar, thanks to the best man. He looked even better in his black tuxedo, especially considering the color of his hair. For the first time, Leah had found someone with the exact same hair color as her. He too had it long, but for the ceremony, he had it tied at the back with a black strap of leather.
He seemed focused on the ceremony, but she noticed his eyes on her several times, as if he couldn’t help it, just like the way she couldn’t.
When the ceremony was over and after all the pictures had been taken, some with a very reluctant Leah in them, they finally went to the ballroom where her ice sculpture welcomed the guests.
Feeling proud of her work, she wandered around the room, for a while, sipping her glass of champagne.
Soon they were called to take their places at the tables, and a real feast was served to the guests. She was happy Joanne had put her at a table next to Hannah and the other girls. That way, she was able to actually enjoy the meal and the speeches that followed it.