A silvery, sparkling, magical forest. Branches are arching high above me as I look up. Flowers seem to be growing out of clumps of earth. There are vines and fruits and an apple tree covered with silver apples, and a spider’s web covered with dewdrops… and are those real birds flying around up there?
Colored lights are dappling the branches and falling on the rows of chairs. A pair of women are methodically brushing lint off every upholstered seat. A man in jeans is taping a cable to the carpet. A man on a lighting rig is adjusting a silvery branch. A violinist is playing little runs and trills, and there’s the dull thud of timpani being tuned up.
This is like being backstage at a Broadway show.
I stand at the side, staring around, trying to take in every detail. I have never seen anything like this in my life before, and I don’t think I ever will again.
Suddenly I see Robyn entering the room at the far end, talking into her headpiece. Her eyes scan the room, and I shrink into my hooded jacket. Before she can spot me, I back out of the Terrace Room and get into the lift to go up to the Grand Ballroom.
As the doors are about to close, a couple of elderly women in dark skirts and white shirts get in.
“Did you see the cake?” says one of them. “Three thousand dollars minimum.”
“Who’s the family?”
“Sherman,” says the first woman. “Elinor Sherman.”
“Oh, this is the Elinor Sherman wedding.”
The doors open and they walk out.
“Bloomwood,” I say, too late. “I think the bride’s name is Becky…”
They weren’t listening, anyway.
I cautiously follow them into the Grand Ballroom. The enormous white and gold room where Luke and I will lead the dancing.
Oh my God. It’s even huger than I remember. It’s even more gilded and grandiose. Spotlights are circling the room, lighting up the balconies and chandeliers. They suddenly switch to strobe effects, then flashing disco lights, playing on the faces of waiters putting finishing touches to the tables. Every circular table has an ornate centerpiece of cascading white flowers. The ceiling has been tented with muslin, festooned with fairy lights like strings of pearls. The dance floor is vast and polished. Up on the stage, a ten-piece band is doing a sound check. I look round dazedly and see two assistants from Antoine’s cake studio balancing on chairs, sticking the last few sugar tulips into the eight-foot cake. Everywhere is the smell of flowers and candle wax and anticipation.
“Excuse me.” I jump aside as a waiter wheels a cart past.
“Can I help you?” says a woman with a Plaza badge on her lapel.
“I was just, er… looking around…” I say.
“Looking around?” Her eyes narrow suspiciously.
“Yes! In case I ever… er… want to get married.” I back away before she can ask any more. I’ve seen enough, anyway.
I’m not sure how to get back to the suite from here, and this place is so huge I’m bound to get lost, so I head back down to the ground floor and walk as inconspicuously as I can past the Palm Court to the elevators.
As I pass an alcove containing a sofa, I stop. There’s a familiar dark head. A familiar hand, holding what looks like a gin and tonic.
“Luke?” He turns round and peers at me blankly — and I suddenly realize my face is half hidden. “It’s me!” I hiss.
“Becky?” he says incredulously. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see it all. Isn’t it amazing?” I look around to see if I’m being observed, then slide into the chair opposite him. “You look great.”
He looks more than great. He’s looking completely gorgeous, in an immaculate dinner jacket and crisp white dress shirt. His dark hair is glossy under the lights, and I can just smell the familiar scent of his aftershave. As he meets my eyes, I feel something release inside me, like a coil unwinding. Whatever happens today — whether I pull this off or not — the two of us are together. The two of us will be all right.
“We shouldn’t be talking to each other, you know,” he says with a little smile. “It’s bad luck.”
“I know,” I say, and take a sip of his gin and tonic. “But to be honest, I think we’re beyond superstition by now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Oh… nothing.” I count to five, psyching myself up, then say, “Did you hear about your parents being delayed?”
“Yes, I was told.” Luke frowns. “Did you speak to them? Do you know when they’ll get here?”
“Oh, soon, I expect,” I say vaguely. “Don’t worry, they said they would definitely be there to see you walk down the aisle.”
Which is true. In its way.
Luke doesn’t know anything of my plans. He’s had enough to deal with as it is. For once, I’m the one in charge.
I feel like I’ve seen a completely different Luke over the last few weeks. A younger, more vulnerable Luke, whom the rest of the world doesn’t know anything about. After he had that meeting with Elinor, he was very quiet for a while. There was no huge emotional outburst, no dramatic scene. In some ways, he simply went back to normal. But he was still fragile, still exhausted. Still nowhere near being able to go to work. For about two weeks, he just slept and slept, fourteen or fifteen hours a day. It was as though ten years of driving himself too hard were finally catching up with him.
Now he’s gradually becoming his usual self. He’s getting back that veneer of confidence. That blank expression when he doesn’t want people to know what he’s feeling. That abrupt, businesslike manner. He’s been into the office during the past week, and it’s been like old times.
Although not quite. Because although the veneer’s back, the point is, I’ve seen underneath it. I’ve seen the way Luke works. The way he thinks and what he’s scared of and what he really wants out of life. Before all this happened, we’d been together for over two years. We’d lived together, we were a successful couple. But now I feel I know him in a way I never did before.
“I keep thinking back to that conversation I had with my mother,” he says, frowning into his drink. “Up in the Rainbow Room.”
“Really?” I say warily. “What exactly—”
“I still find it confusing.”
“Confusing?” I say after a pause. “Why’s that?”
“I’ve never heard her speak that way before. It didn’t seem real.” He looks up. “I don’t know whether I should believe her.”
I lean forward and take his hand. “Luke, just because she’s never said those things to you before, it doesn’t mean they aren’t true.”
This is what I’ve said to him nearly every day since he had the meeting with Elinor. I want to stop him picking away at it. I want him to accept what she said, and be happy. But he’s too intelligent for that. He’s silent for a few moments, and I know he’s replaying the conversation in his mind.
“Some of the things she said seemed so true, and others, so false.”
“Which bits sounded false?” I say lightly. “Out of interest?”
“When she told me that she was proud of everything I’d done, from the founding of my company to choosing you as a wife. It just didn’t quite… I don’t know…” He shakes his head.
“I thought that was rather good!” I retort before I can stop myself. “I mean… you know… quite a likely thing for her to say—”
“But then she said something else. She said there wasn’t a single day since I was born that she hadn’t thought about me.” He hesitates. “And the way she said it… I really believed her.”
“She said that?” I say, taken aback.
There was nothing about that on the piece of paper I gave Elinor. I reach for Luke’s gin and tonic and take a sip, thinking hard.
“I really do think she meant what she said,” I say at last. “In fact… I know it. The point is, she wanted to tell you she loved you. Even if everything she said didn’t sound completely natural, that’s what she wanted you to know.”
“I suppo
se so.” He meets my eyes. “But still. I can’t feel the same way about her. I can’t go back to where I was.”
“No,” I say after a short silence. “Well… I think that’s probably a good thing.”
The spell’s been lifted. Luke has finally woken up.
I lean over and kiss him, then take another sip of his drink. “I should go and put my frock on.”
“You’re not wearing that fetching anorak?” says Luke with a grin.
“Well, I was going to. But now you’ve seen it, I’ll just have to find something else, I suppose…” I get up to go — then hesitate. “Listen, Luke. If things seem a bit strange today, just… go with it, OK?”
“OK,” says Luke in surprise.
“You promise?”
“I promise.” He gives me a sideways look. “Becky, is there anything I should know?”
“Er… no,” I say innocently. “No, I don’t think so. See you in there.”
Twenty-one
I CAN’T BELIEVE I’VE made it to this moment. I honestly can’t believe it’s really happening.
I’m wearing a wedding dress and a sparkly tiara in my hair.
I’m a bride.
As I’m led by Robyn down the empty, silent Plaza corridors, I feel a bit like the president in a Hollywood movie. “The Beauty is on the move,” she’s muttering into her headset as we walk along the plushy red carpet. “The Beauty is approaching.”
We turn a corner and I catch a glimpse of myself in a huge antique mirror, and feel a dart of shock. Of course I know what I look like. I’ve just spent half an hour staring at myself in the suite upstairs, for goodness’ sake. But still, catching myself unawares, I can’t quite believe that girl in the veil is me. It’s me.
I’m about to walk up the aisle at the Plaza. Four hundred people watching every move. Oh God.
Oh God. What am I thinking?
As I see the doors of the Terrace Room, I start to panic, and my fingers tighten around my bouquet. This is never going to work. I must be mad. I can’t do it. I want to run away.
But there’s nowhere to run. There’s nothing else to do but go forward.
Erin and the other bridesmaids are waiting, and as we draw near, they all begin to coo over my dress. I’ve no idea what their names are. They’re daughters of Elinor’s friends. After today I’ll probably never see them again.
“String orchestra. Stand by for Beauty,” Robyn is saying into her headset.
“Becky!” I look up, and thank God, it’s Danny, wearing a brocade frock coat over leather trousers, and carrying a taupe and bronze Ceremony Program. “You look amazing.”
“Really? Do I look OK?”
“Spectacular,” says Danny firmly. He adjusts the train, stands back for a look, then takes out a pair of scissors and snips at a piece of ribbon.
“Ready?” says Robyn.
“I guess,” I say, feeling slightly sick.
The double doors swing open, and I hear the rustle of four hundred people turning in their seats. The string orchestra starts to play the theme from Sleeping Beauty, and the bridesmaids begin to walk up the aisle.
And suddenly I’m walking forward. I’m walking into the enchanted forest, carried on the swell of the music. Little lights are twinkling overhead. Pine needles are giving off their scent under my feet. There’s the smell of fresh earth and the sound of birds chirruping, and the trickle of a tiny waterfall. Flowers are magically blooming as I take each step, and leaves are unfurling, and people are gasping as they look up. And there’s Luke up ahead, my handsome prince, waiting for me.
Finally, I start to relax. To savor it.
As I take each step, I feel as though I’m a prima ballerina doing the perfect arabesque at Covent Garden. Or a movie star arriving at the Oscars. Music playing, everyone looking at me, jewels in my hair and the most beautiful dress I’ve ever worn. I know I will never experience anything like this again in my life. Never. As I reach the top of the aisle, I slow my pace right down, breathing in the atmosphere, taking in the trees and the flowers and the wonderful scent. Trying to impress every detail on my mind. Relishing every magical second.
I reach Luke’s side and hand my bouquet to Erin. I smile warmly at Gary, Luke’s new best man — then take Luke’s hand. He gives a little squeeze, and I squeeze it back.
And here’s Michael stepping forward, wearing a dark, vaguely clerical-looking suit.
He gives me a tiny, conspiratorial smile, then takes a deep breath and addresses the congregation.
“Dearly beloved. We are gathered here together to witness the love between two people. We are here to watch them pledging their love for each other. And to join with them in celebrating the joy of their sharing of that love. God blesses all who love, and God will certainly bless Luke and Becky today as they exchange their vows.”
He turns to me, and I can hear the rustling behind me as people try to get a good view.
“Do you, Rebecca, love Luke?” he says. “Do you pledge yourself to him for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health? Do you put your trust in him now and forever?”
“I do,” I say, unable to stop a tiny tremor in my voice.
“Do you, Luke, love Rebecca? Do you pledge yourself to her for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health? Do you put your trust in her now and forever?”
“Yes,” says Luke firmly. “I do.”
“May God bless Luke and Becky and may they have happiness always.” Michael pauses and looks around the room, as though daring anyone to argue with him, and my fingers tighten around Luke’s. “May they know the joy of a shared understanding, the delight of a growing love, and the warmth of an everlasting friendship. Now let us applaud the happy couple.” He smiles at Luke. “You may kiss the bride.”
As Luke bends to kiss me, Michael determinedly begins to clap. There’s a slightly uncertain pause… then a smattering of people join in, and soon the whole room is applauding.
Gary is murmuring something in Luke’s ear, and he turns to me, looking puzzled.
“What about the ring?”
“Don’t mention the ring,” I say through a fixed smile.
My heart is beating so hard, I can barely breathe. I keep waiting for someone to stand up. For someone to say, “Hang on a minute…”
But no one does. No one says anything.
It’s worked.
I meet Michael’s eye for an instant — then look away before anyone notices. I can’t relax yet. Not quite yet.
The photographer comes forward and I take Luke’s arm firmly in mine, and Erin gives me my bouquet, wiping away her tears as she does so.
“That was such a beautiful ceremony!” she says. “The bit about the warmth of an everlasting friendship really got to me. You know, because that’s all I want.” She clasps my bouquet to her chest. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“Well, you know, I’m sure you’ll find it,” I say, and give her a hug. “I know you will.”
“Excuse me, miss?” says the photographer. “If I could just get the bride and groom…”
Erin gives me my flowers and ducks out of the way, and I adopt my most radiant, newlywed expression.
“But, Becky,” Luke says. “Gary says—”
“Take the ring from Gary,” I say without moving my head. “Say you’re really embarrassed that it got left out, and we’ll do it later.”
Some guests have come forward to take photographs, and I rest my head on Luke’s shoulder and smile happily at them.
“Something else is wrong,” Luke is saying. “Michael didn’t proclaim us husband and wife. And don’t we have to sign something?”
“Sssshh!” There’s a bright flash, and we both blink.
“Becky, what’s going on?” He pulls me round to face him. “Are we married?”
“That’s a good shot!” says the photographer. “Stay like that.”
“Are we married?” Luke’s eyes scan my face intently.
“Well… OK,” I say reluctantly. “As it happens, we’re not.”
There’s another blinding flash. When my eyes focus again, Luke’s gazing at me incredulously. “We’re not married?”
“Look, just trust me, OK?”
“Trust you?”
“Yes! Like you just promised to do five seconds ago! Remember?”
“I promised to do that when I thought we were getting married!”
Suddenly the string orchestra launches into the “Bridal March,” and a team of minders usher away the guests with their cameras.
“Go,” says a crackling, disembodied voice. “Start walking.”
Where on earth is it coming from? Are my flowers talking to me?
Suddenly my eyes zoom in on a tiny speaker, attached to a rose-bud. Robyn’s planted a speaker in my bouquet?
“Bride and groom! Walk!”
“OK!” I say to the flowers. “We’re going!”
I grab Luke’s arm tight and begin to walk down the aisle, back through the enchanted forest.
“We’re not married,” Luke is saying disbelievingly. “A whole bloody forest, four hundred people, a big white dress, and we’re not married.”
“Sssh!” I say crossly. “Don’t tell everybody! Look, you promised if things were a bit strange you’d go with it. Well, go with it!”
As we walk along arm in arm, rays of sunlight are piercing the branches of the forest, dappling the floor. Suddenly there’s a whirring noise, and to my astonishment the branches creakily begin to retreat, to reveal rainbows playing on the ceiling. A heavenly chorus breaks into song, and a fluffy cloud descends from the sky, on which a pair of fat pink doves are reposing.
Oh God. I’ve got the giggles. This is too much. Are these the tiny additional details Robyn was talking about?
I look up at Luke, and his mouth is twitching suspiciously too.
“What do you think of the forest?” I say brightly. “It’s cool, isn’t it? They flew the birch trees over from Switzerland especially.”
“Really?” says Luke. “Where did they fly the doves over from?” He peers up at them. “Those are too big to be doves. They must be turkeys.”
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