by Joy, Dani
“Thanks for volunteering me.” He kissed my neck. “If I didn’t adore you I would probably strangle you.”
I turned and put my arms around his neck. “If I didn’t adore you I wouldn’t have volunteered you.”
I was startled when I heard Vince speak. “You realize that was a marketing idea that is nearly genius.”
Sam saved me from saying anything. “Terra I need you to come with me. I raided the clothes they have for you and I can’t do this up myself.”
“Excuse me.” I said to everyone around me. Did I mention that I love my friends?
I closed the bathroom door behind us. “Thanks for saving me.”
Sam just grinned. She changed her shirt and surprisingly she did need me to do up the back of it. It was one of those stupid halter tops that if you get it over your arms you can’t do up the zip. If you do up the zip you can’t get your arms through the arm holes. They look fabulous on, if you can get it on. It was a dark peach color. I nodded to Sam. She looked fabulous in it, except… “When Rose gets back you need some of her bronzer too.”
We walked back out and there were four roses on the center table. I chose the most dilapidated one and left it there. Then I walked the pristine ones over to the other tables. I put the most pristine one on one chair. Then I put it on the table. I pointed to Sam. “Sit there with the rose across the table from you.” I walked to the other table and motioned to Rand. “If you sit there please and put one hand on the rose it will be perfect.”
I walked to my stool and sat resting one of my feet on the first bar of the stool. Rose ran up with a pair of shoes that I wouldn’t be caught dead in. They had a two inch platform and six inch heels. I shook my head at her. “No way can I stand in them. I thought that you wanted me barefoot.”
“Trust me. You’re not going to be standing. I saw these and knew that they were right.” They had an open toe and wound around the foot in a way that even I thought was sexy.
I smiled at her then turned to Bray. “When you’re ready boss man.”
He nodded to Stubbs and he did the count down with his drum stick and off we went. When we were all done, it was done. It couldn’t have been more perfect. I kicked off the silly ass shoes and even though the song was heart wrenching I did a happy dance. I twirled and hugged everyone that was close to me. Then I nearly ran to Rose. “Dress up time.” I drug her and Sam to the bathroom.
I changed in record time. I did a twirl in the dress. It didn’t flair at all but I could move just fine. Sam stood there and shook her head at me. “Sorry Terra. The underwear has got to go.”
I was already down to the dress, the earrings and a cotton thong. I glared at her.
She shrugged.
Rose giggled. “She’s right.”
I glared at her too. But I shimmied the dress up and shed them. “I’m not sitting down in this dress without underwear.”
They both grinned. I squared my shoulders and walked out of the bathroom hoping that nobody caught my walk of shame. I had never, ever performed without underwear on.
Rose did my makeup and hair with me refusing to sit down. She just worked around it by pulling out a step stool so that she could reach me. I was the one to move around her. I walked in the studio. I made it about three steps before Rand was right in front of me. His eyes went from mine then traveled down to my bare toes that peeked out of the bottom. They slowly made their way back to mine before he smiled at me. “You’re wearing that dress home tonight. I don’t care if we have to buy it or steal it.” He kissed me lightly on the lips carefully as not to smear my lipstick. “Then I’m going to…”
Bray cleared his throat. “Did I mention that there are great acoustics in the room? I don’t want to know what you two are going to do later.”
I didn’t know if I wanted to blush or drag him home at that particular moment. Then I looked around the room. I decided that blushing was in order. Stubbs, again, came to my rescue. He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and gave me a fatherly kiss on the cheek. “They have a backdrop for you.”
He walked me to where a black shiny backdrop was hung from a standing contraption. It had ripples in all the right places and layered over the floor. It was softly back lit so that I stood out and the dress took on a life of its own. I approved and just stood there waiting for everyone to settle. The camcorder was on a tripod about six feet in front of me with a still life camera photographer on her knees right in front of that. She was kneeling on a foam pad. I even liked that more. The band was scattered throughout the room waiting for their cue. Bray nodded to Stubbs and the countdown started. One long note and I closed my eyes then opened them again. I kept my eyes open through most of the song until the end when I couldn’t any longer. Rand came up behind me and wrapped me in his arms. He was in a dark black t-shirt that blended in with the back ground. One of his arms went across my chest between my breasts and up to my neck. His other arm went under my breasts. I put both my hands on that arm and let my head fall back. The one tear formed and when I pulled my head forward it fell down my face. I heard my name from right in front of me and I opened my eyes. The photographer was right there snapping wildly. I smiled at her.
“Cover.” She stood up and hit a few buttons on her camera. She turned it towards me. If you made a wrong conclusion you would assume that I had a naked man holding me from behind. My eyes closed with one huge tear just before the apple of my cheek. Even I thought the picture was beautiful.
I whispered, “You’re an artist.”
“Yeah. One that needs to get this backed up. Pronto. Got to find my laptop. I don’t want to lose this shot.”
I turned in Rand’s arms. That song always left me emotionally drained. I wrapped my arms around him and collapsed against his chest.
I heard from behind Rand’s shoulder Vince’s voice. “Take her home. Let her rest. She’s earned it today.”
I felt Rand nod.
“Here’s her shoes.” Rose set them down. I slipped them on with her help. “The dress belongs to her by the way. All the clothes from today do actually.”
Rand walked me out the door. I didn’t have it in me to say goodbye to anyone. I just wanted to rest for a few days. With my eyes closed. Without the tears.
**
I woke up a few hours later when I smelled food. So much for a few days. I had on Rand’s t-shirt and nothing else when I climbed out of bed. I vaguely remember him pulling the dress off and over my head then redressing me in his shirt. He was sitting shirtless at the bar. Obviously not replacing the one he put on me. He had also lost his shoes. He had a game playing quietly in the background. I didn’t even bother to notice what kind of game. The food smelled too good. He was also reading over my contracts for the album.
More power to him. They put me to sleep.
Rand had a plate of something in front of him that looked wonderful. The breadstick that he was munching on looked even better. He handed what was left of it to me. “I started without you I was starving.”
“Where did you get this?” I said as I swallowed and picked up his water bottle and took a swig.
“Sam dropped it off on her way to the bar. Vince and Bray sent it over for you.” He was standing in front of the oven pulling a pan out. He dished some for me then added my own bread stick. “There is a green salad in the fridge if you want some of that too.
I shook my head no and dug in. I had no idea what it was called but it was heaven. Pasta with a creamy white sauce that wasn’t alfredo. Lots of mushrooms. That always made everything good.
Rand started talking while I was eating. “Sam called every one of your friends to let them know that we got engaged today. She said it was too good to hold back. At least that is what Adam said she told Keiley.”
I smiled. “That’s Sam for ya.”
“So Keiley enlisted Adam to call me. She told him that your mom is a list planner and you were going to need my mom’s help so that there won’t be any bloodshed. Her words not mine.”
I started giggling. “You have no idea.”
“I guess when my mom got involved it calmed Keiley’s mom down enough that they made it through it with only a few fights about shoes. Whatever that means.”
“Keiley’s mom wanted dress shoes for the kids. Keiley wanted them to be comfortable. Something about the photographer was the problem.”
Rand just shrugged. “She suggested that you call your mom, then I call mine and tell her when you hung up. Then my mom can call yours.” He stopped and took a deep breath. All of that came out sounding like one very long sentence. “Then my mom can get all of her friends involved and we don’t have to do much more than show up.”
He started chuckling. “Keiley took the phone from Adam then. He obviously wasn’t either translating fast enough or well enough. She said to set the date quick or drive down to Vegas next weekend.”
Keiley knew what she was talking about. She had seen my mom in action more than once. Two weeks was about her patience level. Anything that took longer than that to plan, instigate and pull off, pissed her the hell off. I told Rand that.
“Even I know that a wedding takes longer than two weeks.”
I shook my head. “Not for my mom.”
“Wow.” He mumbled.
“Yeah.” I went to the fridge and poured myself a glass of wine. I also handed Rand a beer. “We have two choices since the cat is out of the bag. We leave in the morning and you take Monday and Tuesday off of work and drive to Vegas, quick like.” I took a swallow, “Or you just take Monday off and we go to the court house and get it done. There isn’t a waiting period in Colorado.” I rubbed my eyes. “If my mom even thinks that my dad’s wife may get involved, which she will, it probably will be bloodshed.”
Rand shrugged. “Honestly. I don’t care how or when we get married,” He smiled at me, “As long as we get married.”
He ducked his head. “I also have selfish reasons to do it fast.”
I simply waited for him to continue. He was picking at the label on his beer bottle. I finally gave up. “Rand?”
“When your album comes out I want everyone to know that you are mine.” He finally lifted his eyes and looked at me.
“I already am.” I said quietly to him.
“If we go to Vegas will you wear the dress?”
“I’ll wear it whenever you ask me to.”
Rand just smiled at me.
Then he took me back to bed after I finished eating.
Chapter Twenty Four
Monday morning we were at the court house at nine. Married by ten-thirty. I sent a quick text to Vince.
Tell HR I’m married now. Terra Frasier.
I got back a quick text.
HR?
I sent one back just as quick.
HR/PR. Same thing.
My phone started ringing. Before I could even say hello Vince was talking. “We go live in less than a month and you think that we can change all of your bio and contracts that fast?”
“Yep.” I answered him
“All your contracts are under Chapman. It doesn’t work that way.”
“I’m keeping Chapman for that reason. I was just telling you that I married a Frasier. Eventually I will add a hyphen. Legally.”
“You’re killing me here Terra. You owe me another album.” He said as he hung up on me.
I burst out laughing as I told Rand what Vince said and did. We were sitting in Rand’s car with the air running in a parking garage. “Your turn.” I said to him.
He dialed his parents and found that they were home. We had found a jewelry store first and both of us were sporting simple gold bands. Rand was holding my hand spinning mine against my finger slowly as we drove. We parked and I was almost dancing in my seat with my excitement. I hopped out and nearly ran around the front of him to get to the door. He chuckled at me as his mom opened it up.
I ran up the front steps. All four steps dragging Rand behind me. I held out my hand and Della broke into a huge smile. “I didn’t even know that the two of you had talked about getting married.” She said as she led me to the kitchen.
I didn’t know how to answer that. We hadn’t been talking about it. I don’t know that we had much thought about it. Luckily Rand answered for both of us.
“We hadn’t Mom. We just did it.”
Ron walked in the house from the back door. He was holding a pair of gardening gloves and had a cowboy hat on. He pulled it off and wiped his forehead with a paper towel. “What are you two doing here?” He asked with a grin.
I held up my hand to show my ring. Ron grinned then scowled. “Why the sudden change?” One eyebrow went up, “Is there something that you two need to tell us?”
“No Dad. We just decided to do it.”
I blushed. “It’s kind of my fault, or my mother’s.”
Della gave both of us the mother stare. You know the one that says, “If you tell me the truth now, your punishment will be less later.”
“None of you know my mom. She is kind of a takeover everything planner. Keiley reminded me of that and suggested that we run to the court house or to Vegas. Neither one of us has time to go to Vegas.”
“I understand why Rand doesn’t have that kind of time since he hasn’t been working that long, but you?” Ron asked.
“I just burned a bunch of vacation with the album. Besides I love my mom but having her takeover everything would drive me crazy. Then there is the whole second, or third family thing with my dad’s newest wife. She would feel like she needed to get involved too.”
“That’s why we’re here. Keiley and Adam told us to get you involved mom.”
Della beamed at the praise. “I’d love to help. What do you want?”
Rand and I looked at each other. I shrugged at the same time he did. I finally looked to Della. “Family dinner?”
“Oh nonsense. We can just do a small reception here. Your girls can run interference between your two families and keep them separated. Everyone needs at least a small party for getting married. Especially if it is a first wedding.” She raised an eyebrow at me.
“First and only.”
She nodded. “Have you even told your family yet?”
I shook my head no. Della gave me another mom look.
I dug in my purse and pulled out my phone. I turned it on and shifted nervously in my seat while it powered up. Rand reached his hand out and put on the back of my neck to let me know he was there for me. I dialed and nearly jumped when my mom answered.
“Hey sweetie.” She said, “Going in for a facial right now. Shawn paid for a spa day. Call you back tonight. Love ya.”
“Mom I got…” I managed to get out before she disconnected the phone.
I had three sets of eyes trained on me. “She’s getting a facial. Guess you get to do whatever you want Della.” I smiled hugely at her. “Guess I panicked for nothing.”
“Good. We’ll have a barbeque. Probably the last one of the year in,” I could see her doing mental calculations, “Two weeks. Not enough time for anyone to get too involved yet enough time to do it right. That good for the two of you?”
I looked to Rand. He grinned at me. “You thought that your mom was the quick one.”
I couldn’t help it. I laughed out loud.
Chapter Twenty Five
It was edging towards the holiday months. Halloween candy. Yeah.
Lots of food. Yeah.
Presents. Yeah to opening. Boo to buying.
I had a love/hate relationship with the holidays. I didn’t go for the, “Yes dear, you do have to choose who you want to spend the holiday’s with.” That only happened one year until I put my foot down after I turned eighteen. I chose neither one. I opted to work every holiday. A double shift so that someone else could enjoy them with their family. This year was going to be different. I was choosing Rand’s family. Except Halloween. I didn’t have kids outside of the hospital so I was going to spend it there. I had made scrubs with every type of material that I could find
that had holiday themes on them.
The album was up and Bray assured me that it was selling well. I mostly ignored it. Well except for my own copy that I had downloaded to my iPod. I didn’t listen to it except for the first time I had bought it. The cover was beautiful. It was the picture of me and Rand with my eyes closed. The one tear on my face. I had showed it to some of the other nurses. They made a small fuss but that was all the recognition that I got. More than I expected actually.
I was standing with a to-go cup from the cafeteria at the nurses’ station. My back towards the elevator. I had just gotten back from lunch with Rand when I heard the commotion from behind me. There was a man standing taking pictures. He started walking towards me still snapping away. I hastily set my cup down and advanced towards him holding out my hand to try to block him and his camera lens. “Sir you cannot have a camera in this area. You need to leave immediately.”
The second bank of elevators opened and two security guards poured out. They walked up behind him and each one grabbed a bicep. The man quit taking pictures. Mostly because he had to. The camera was held to his wrist with some kind of strap. I watched them turn the man and march him back to the elevator that was held open by a third security guard. I heard the rip of Velcro as I watched the door close and the camera was held by one of the guards.
I whispered to no one, “What the hell was that all about?”
I didn’t know that I had three of the other nurses behind me. Megan, the perkiest CNA that I had ever met, stood closest to me, “That is the price of fame, I think.”
I turned to her stunned. “Wha…” I stammered, “Price of what?” I finally stuttered out.
“You’re The Terra Chapman? I should have realized when I saw your picture.”
I turned quickly to see who was speaking behind me but also too fast for my non-skid shoes. I slightly wrenched my knee and lost my balance. If Rasmussen hadn’t caught my by the arm I probably would have fallen into him. I didn’t know his first name. I only knew is last name because it was on his shirt. He was one of the more friendly security that we had around the whole place. I whispered under my breath, “Shit.”