by Lynn Galli
Hustling down the steps, I reached out to help her with the case. “I’m so glad you’re here a little early. As we thought, the sisters and mom want their makeup done.”
“It’s always the way. No problem.” She took the extra work in stride. It was one of the reasons I’d hired her back when I was the associate producer.
When we got up to the dressing room, everyone had changed into robes. Jackie was unpacking her supplies and sitting Dallas in the captain’s chair. The other two hairdressers were getting ready to work on the sisters. Betsy set up her makeup bag and turned to the mother and grandmother to look over their makeup. She changed Dallas’s mom’s lip color to something that would work better with her black dress and went to work on getting a base layer done for the sisters.
My phone buzzed again. I nodded at Dallas and went back downstairs to fetch Isaac and the videographer. They were almost at the door when I stepped outside. I got them moving toward Gary inside and spotted the other two cars we’d hired for the evening pulling up to the curb. Colin, his dad and stepmom, and the friend he’d talked into being his other groomsman stepped out of the first car. Ainsley and her family got out of the second. My stomach tightened when I caught sight of her other cousin. He had hair down to his shoulders, and it needed a good brushing. Ainsley’s was wrapped in a full head scarf, but I wasn’t worried about her. I’d already planned to have Jackie check Colin’s hair like she did before every show, but now she’d have to make extra time for the cousin.
“You look great.” Colin reached down to sling an arm around me. “How’s my bride?”
“Trying not to act nervous. They’re limited to one glass of champagne before the ceremony.” Savannah hadn’t been happy when I made that declaration after she pulled out the champagne bottles she’d brought with her. “Same goes for you guys. Or one beer, whatever you brought. No one is going to be tipsy at this thing. Do you hear me?”
Colin lifted both hands and stepped back. Ainsley bit back on her smile. Her mum applauded me while her dad and Colin’s dad started laughing. “She was like this as our EP,” Colin let his family know. “Meet our cousin Logan and you know my buddy Ross.”
I shook their hands. “One beer. I’m serious. You can drink all you want after the ceremony, but only one before.” They turned their wide eyes and incredulous smiles to Colin for confirmation. “Look at me. As bad as you think I am, imagine his bride finding out you’re smashed when you’re up there.”
They lost their smiles and nodded. Ainsley was visibly biting her lip to keep from laughing with her parents.
“If I don’t get the chance to say it a hundred times tonight, thank you, Skye. You and Ainsley, thank you both.” His other arm coaxed Ainsley into his embrace, squishing us to each side of him. “I know this hasn’t been easy on you, but Dallas and I really appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome, Colin. I’d do just about anything for Dallas.”
“I’ve seen that.” He leaned down and kissed my cheek.
“You’re on the first floor. Fourth door on the left. Jackie will be down to polish you up as soon as she’s done with Dallas.” I lowered my voice. “She’ll be dealing with Cousin Logan, too.”
He smiled wide and patted my shoulder. “Aunt Elspeth warned him.”
“I’ll see you inside. Gary is down a person so we’re a bit on our own until just before the ceremony. He’ll come get you when you need to get out there.”
“Do you need help?” Ainsley stepped after me as I moved back toward the street to meet the quartet’s van as it pulled up.
“Just stay with Colin and keep him calm. Dallas has her sisters and mom doing that for me while I shuttle people in to Gary. These will be the last of them.”
“See you inside later.” She gave me an encouraging smile then turned to follow her family inside.
“Wait,” I said and reached into my bag. I handed over some travel tissue packs and three rolls of breath mints. “For after they have their beer and whatever else it looks like Logan and Ross smuggled in.”
“I’m afraid they’re meatball subs.”
“Jeez, don’t let them eat that without throwing towels around their necks.”
“I was thinking the same thing. Cheers.” She winked and started up the path with her grandmother.
I turned to direct the quartet to the side door and instruct their driver where to park. The parking lot was still fairly empty, most notably the hired shuttles to get guests to the reception weren’t here yet. I didn’t want to have to run back down here to check once I was in my dress. I’d just have to leave that to Gary.
Back upstairs, Dallas, her sisters, and mom were in tears. Her grandmother looked over at me and shook her head with an exasperated sigh. “They started talking about the last time they all got together and now they’re crying about nothing. You’re ruining your makeup, girls,” she scolded them.
“Skye!” Dallas crooned when she saw me. “We were talking about Denver’s wedding.”
“Wonderful, but listen to your grandmother. Cry after the ceremony and let Betsy get your makeup done.”
That made them snivel laugh. Tissues started blotting and finally they seemed composed enough to finish getting ready. I checked the time. Guests would start arriving in twenty minutes.
“Everything okay down there?” Dallas asked as Jackie showed her two versions of hairstyles.
“He’s here.” My news brought relief to Denver’s face, but Savannah showed a mix of happy and disappointed. She liked bedlam and might have hoped that her perfect sister’s gorgeous fiancé made her sweat a little on her wedding day. Dallas just smiled. She had no doubt he would be here. If anyone might bolt, it would be Dallas.
“Does he look good?”
“Except for the huge zit on the end of his nose, but I’m sure Betsy can do something about that, right?” I joked and got the desired response. We were back to the squeals. No more maudlin today; I didn’t have enough tissue for it. “I have pretzels to snack on if you’re hungry. They’re bland and won’t cause any issues with digestion.”
“Seriously, what else do you have in that bag?”
“A chef if it’ll get you to eat something before the ceremony.”
“We had brunch. I’m good.”
“You’re too tall for me to do anything if you start to faint up there.”
“Isn’t she the best?” she bragged to everyone in the room but took a few pretzels from the bag I shoved in her face.
“Is he here yet?” her mom asked me.
For a second I thought she hadn’t heard what I’d said about Colin, but then I realized she meant Dallas’s father. “I’ll call him.” I stepped out into the hallway to place the call. Even after a dozen years of divorce, they still couldn’t stand to be in the same room together. He picked up on the first ring and told me they were two blocks away. I let him know where to meet us.
Gary came racing up the stairs. “Skye, tell me you’ve got a hairdresser who’s free?”
“I’m sending her down. The cousin, right?”
“If we were in a Regency romance, he’d fit right in, but dear lord, he needs more than just a comb.”
“She’ll be done in five minutes.”
“Mia said everything is getting set up over at the reception, but I do want to warn you that the flu hit the catering staff. They’re down a few people. We’ll be spending time helping them once we get there. Can I ask for your help directing the photographer and making sure the band has what they need?”
“Sure,” I said because what else could I say? I’d been hoping to relax once I got to the reception and be more guest than MOH, but I guess it wouldn’t be my worst nightmare without another wrinkle.
“If you ever decide TV news isn’t for you, give me a call. You’ll have a job with me anytime.”
I laughed. Even with my newfound angst about my job, I couldn’t imagine repeating this process over and over for people I didn’t know.
“He’s two blo
cks away,” I reported to Dallas’s mom when I went back inside. “We’re about fifteen minutes out for guests to start arriving. How’s the hair?”
Jackie gave me a ten minute warning on Dallas’s hair, but I was more concerned about the other two hairdressers. They were still working on the sisters. I tapped one of them on the shoulder and tipped my head toward the door. Savannah immediately protested. “The cousin needs major help, Savannah.”
“Thank God.” Dallas sighed. “I was worried that Ainsley wouldn’t want to get her hair done.”
My jaw set. She didn’t like Ainsley’s hair? Her glorious, voluminous, one of a kind hair? Was she blind? “I was talking about the other cousin.”
“Oh, yeah. Long, straggly, looks like he bathes it in gel?”
“It’s not that bad, but he does need a little help. Plus Jackie’s got to put in some time with Colin, so decide which way you want your hair and let her get it done.”
“Which genius went to South America and made you boss?” she joked.
“Hair up or down, Dallas?” I reiterated.
The vote was split around the room but Dallas decided on up. It took five minutes for Jackie to finish with her and get packing downstairs. She’d have to return for touchups once we got Dallas into her gown.
The sisters began to pull their dresses from the garment bags but stalled when they glanced at me and shot a look at Dallas. We rolled our eyes at each other as I stepped out into the corridor. Straight women and their stupid stereotypes.
Betsy came outside with me. “I know you don’t normally wear a lot of makeup and you’ve done a good job here, but I can really make your eyes pop if you’ll let me.” I was shaking my head when she said, “Dallas will love it.”
She was right. Dallas would appreciate someone making an effort for her, and I didn’t want to look the odd woman out up there. Betsy sat me in a chair and went to town on my eyes. When she rubbed something on my cheeks, I batted her hands away.
“You said my eyes.”
“Just adding a little bit of color to your lips, then you’re done.”
I figured I could always wipe it off if it looked too much. “When you’re done, you might want to check in downstairs. There’s a best woman rather than a best man.”
“Nice,” she said with a tinge of disbelief.
“Can’t guarantee she’ll need anything, but stick your head in and ask. Then you can come back up and finish Dallas’s face after we’ve shoved her into the gown.”
“Have fun with that.” She stepped back and gave my face one last inspection. “Looks great. Did I tell you how much I like the red hair? You should have tried that color years ago.”
I laughed not correcting her assumption that I’d colored my hair red for this special occasion. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.” I turned back to knock on the door to see if they were ready for the lesbian to reenter the room with half naked straight women.
“Damn, you’re looking hot, woman. Did Betsy get to you?” Dallas asked, happiness permeating her being now.
“She said you’d like it.”
“Makes your eyes look so blue you can barely see the green and brown. With the red hair, you’re killing it today. You won’t be single after tonight.”
My head shook on its own. “Not my goal. Let’s get you married then fed.”
“I have to fit into this dress first. Mom, will you take the cover off, please? You want to change first, Skye?”
I nodded and ducked into the bathroom, taking my dress and heels with me. It made straight chicks nervous when lesbians disrobed in front of them, too. Not that I was that kind of person anyway. At the gym, I changed in the private shower cubicles.
A shriek sounded from the outer room. I’d barely had time to slip the dress over my head before I was back outside to find out what happened. Dallas’s mom was still shrieking and pointing to the tear in her nylons. Savannah was frantically spraying hairspray above and below the tear to prevent it from running but it was too big a hole.
“Go without, Mom,” Dallas told her.
“Or,” I said and rummaged through my bag. “Tip number twenty-nine. Someone always snags their stockings.” I pulled out a pair of sheer black and handed them to Dallas’s mom.
“You’re a lifesaver.” She snatched the package out of my hand and went into the bathroom to replace them.
“I’m getting a bag like that,” Denver said. “I thought I was prepared as a mom, but I didn’t think of half that stuff.”
“Here, let me get that,” Dallas said indicating my zipper. I’d left it undone when I heard the shrieking. “These dresses are awesome. You all look so beautiful.”
“Don’t start crying again, young lady,” her grandmother told her then turned to her daughter. “Let’s get out of their hair so they can finish up. You don’t want to be in here when what’s his face shows.” That was her grandmother’s name for Dallas’s father as if saying his actual name would invoke evil energy. Yeah, marriage is a blessed, lifelong institution.
“All right, my beautiful girl.” Dallas’s mother hugged her. “I love you. You’ve always made me so proud. See you downstairs.”
“Bye, Mom, bye, Gran.”
“Let’s get you dressed. Do you want…?” Savannah’s eyes drifted to me.
“Oh, for God’s sake, Savannah. She’s gay; she’s not a pervert.” She pushed the dress into my hands as she pulled off her robe. After the tongue lashing she just gave her sister, I almost felt guilty for noticing how incredible her body was. But anyone with eyes would think that.
With Denver’s help, we bunched up the skirt of the dress and lowered it to the ground. Savannah held Dallas’s hands as she stepped into the circle of the dress. Denver and I pulled it up to her waist where Dallas took over and shimmied it up her body. I returned the favor and started on the delicate buttons of the bodice.
“It fits like a glove, sis,” Denver told her.
“You look so skinny,” Savannah piped up. I thought it was a ridiculous thing to say, but Denver agreed, “Super skinny.”
The look on Dallas’s face told me they’d said exactly what she wanted to hear. This was one reason why I wasn’t the best choice for MOH. Dallas never showed any insecurities in the thousands of times I’d seen her get ready for a show or a date. I never would have guessed that she thought she’d look heavy in a dress that was designed for her sleek body.
“Gorgeous,” I said to add something and because it was true.
She turned to look at herself in the full length mirror. I handed her a tissue because I could see her eyes get misty. She dabbed twice and smiled at me. “This is the right thing, isn’t it?”
Her sisters gasped, but I stepped up behind her and clasped her shoulder. “You love him. He’s a good man. You’ll be great together.”
“I…I,” she stopped and swallowed, dabbing at her eyes again.
I flicked my eyes to the sisters’ reflections in the mirror and back up to Dallas. “Me, too.” And I meant it. She’d been the best friend I could ask for. I loved her like she was the sister I never had, but saying that in front of her sisters might be a little insensitive.
Jackie knocked on the door and came inside to smooth two escaped wisps of hair from Dallas’s do. “The boys are all set.”
“What about,” Dallas started then looked at me again. “Never mind. She does have rather fantastic hair, doesn’t she?”
I turned away before my cheeks started burning. Jackie stopped my escape and plunged her hands into my hair. She added some paste and changed the part amidst my protests. When I turned back to the mirror, the changes added a little volume to the top and tamed the tiny wave on the sides into something that looked purposeful. She really was a miracle worker. After blasting me with hairspray, she was done.
“Now I get to be a guest. Knock ‘em dead, ladies.” Jackie opened the door and nearly ran into Dallas’s father.
“Princess, you look beautiful.” He enveloped her in a hug.
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“I’ll check with Gary on time.” I ducked out the door and met Gary at the top of the stairs.
“Everyone’s set. We’re ready when she is.”
I nodded and pushed out a breath. Showtime.
Thirty-One
We gathered at the bottom of the stairs. Gary positioned Savannah first, Denver, then me and told Dallas and her father to wait out of the sight of the open doors. When he got the go ahead, he opened the double doors. The quartet transitioned into a familiar piece as he cued Savannah to start walking. She looked back and winked at Dallas before starting into a timed walk.
Everything I learned at rehearsal seemed to wash right out of me. Was I supposed to glide, step, glide, step like she was? I thought only the bride was supposed to make a show of walking down the aisle. I did remember that Dallas told me not to look like I was stomping through the bullpen to set fire to someone just ahead. I could manage that at least.
Denver got her cue and nerves came at me. I’d led full staff meetings and spoken in front of the network’s board of directors. Walking shouldn’t make me nervous, even if it was in three inch heels. I could do this, but I realized I’d never complain about having to attend a wedding again. What I wouldn’t do just to be among the seated guests right now.
I turned and smiled at Dallas when Gary signaled for me. Pushing the nerves down, I took my first step. My knees didn’t buckle and I didn’t twist my ankle, so I took a second. Okay, I had a handle on the walking thing. I remembered to tip my chin up because I’d been yelled at for looking down at my heels during the rehearsal. I tried not to focus on all those faces staring at me. It didn’t matter that I knew many of them from work. That seemed to increase the nerves. I never dressed like this at work. I never had this much makeup on at work. I’d been hiding the full effect of my red hair at work. This MOH gig bit hard.
Elspeth’s smiling eyes and encouraging nod fortified me. Her husband, Alastair, beamed at me from the front pew. I looked up and saw Denver and Savannah waiting off to the side. My eyes roamed over to Colin. He was resplendent in his designer tux and waistcoat in the now familiar tartan colors. Instead of a bow tie, he wore a black silk tie. Damn, Dallas would be a lucky woman if she weren’t even more beautiful than he.