by Terri DuLong
It didn’t escape me that I saw her looking at Suellen for some backup.
“Right,” my friend continued. “You do have to really love what you choose, and apparently so far ... you just haven’t found it.”
“Thanks,” I retorted. “So I am being too picky. This is supposed to be such a happy time, and the thing is, I won’t ever be choosing another wedding gown in this lifetime, so ...” I felt my crankiness ratcheting up and glanced at my watch. “You know what? I’m starved. I’ve had enough shopping for today. I can’t help it if this is our second trip to Gainesville for a wedding gown. I’m done for now. Let’s go eat lunch,” I said, heading out of the department store without glancing behind me to see if they were following.
Two hours later with my tummy full and working on my second glass of Cabernet, I felt decidedly better.
“I’m sorry, guys,” I said. “For being bitchy during the shopping.”
“Hey,” Suellen said, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand. “It’s allowed. All brides get stressed and nervous.”
“Absolutely,” Chloe said. “You should have seen me before my wedding. It’s a wonder anyone would come near me.”
“Really? You were in St. Simons Island then, so I didn’t see you much before you got married. I’m not stressed—I want to marry Lucas. I’ve never been happier.”
“Yes, of course, you’re happy,” my sister said. “But the stress is just natural. You want your wedding day to be perfect. All of it—the flowers, the setting, the music, and your gown.”
“Chloe’s right, honey,” Suellen confirmed. “Every bride wants her special day to be perfect, and yours will be. Including your gown.”
“I hope you’re right,” I mumbled, then took another sip of wine.
“Hey, did Lucas hear from his cousin about being best man?” Chloe asked.
“He did, and it looks like you’ll have a Frenchman as your partner to walk down the aisle. He called Lucas last night and said he thought it would be good for him to come here in October, and he was very pleased that Lucas asked him.”
“Oh, that’s great,” Suellen said.
“Yeah.” Chloe took a sip of her coffee. “What ... ah ... does this Jean-Paul look like? I mean, you know ... I was just wondering.”
Both Suellen and I burst out laughing. “Oh, right,” I said. “It’s always good to know something like that. Well, he’s a few years older than you are, and from the photos I’ve seen of him, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.”
Chloe waved a hand in the air. “Aw, come on. The poor guy just lost his wife. I didn’t mean to insinuate I was interested.”
“Right,” both Suellen and I said at the same time.
Later that afternoon the three of us were gathered in Aunt Maude’s living room.
“No luck again, huh?” she said. “That’s really a shame.”
“I don’t know what to say,” I told her. “I’m not even sure exactly what kind of gown I’m looking for. I just know I haven’t found it yet.”
“Well ... maybe I can help,” she said, getting up and going into her bedroom.
Chloe, Suellen, and I exchanged a glance.
My aunt returned carrying a large, rectangular box held together with string. “Let’s go into the dining room,” she said, and placed the box on the table.
From the looks of the faded cardboard, the box was pretty old but in good shape. We watched my aunt carefully untie the string.
Before removing the cover, she looked at Chloe and me. “This was your mother’s wedding gown,” she told us. “And her mother’s before that.”
She lifted the cover, and my first glimpse of the gown literally took my breath away. I gripped the edge of the table and momentarily felt transported to another time, another place. I had seen this gown before. This was it—the gown I knew I wanted without understanding how I had known this. It was in that second, while my aunt removed the dress from the plastic where it had been ensconced, that I knew where I’d seen this dress before—it was the one that Bess Coachman or whoever she was had been wearing the last time she appeared to me. And I also knew I had been incorrect. It wasn’t Bess Coachman who had visited me—it had been my mother.
I heard myself gasp as I reached out to touch the smooth ivory satin. Aunt Maude held the dress up in front of her. Sleek and elegant, a net yoke tipped in satin was above an I-shaped panel of cotton appliquéd bows. Making the gown even more stunning was the rich ruching to the center front bodice and side seams of the bust. When my aunt turned the gown around, I saw that the appliqués continued around the back bust and waist. This was the only adornment—no lace, no beads, just a simple, classic beauty. The sleeves were capped, and I noticed there was also no ostentatious train that many wedding gowns had.
When my left hand reached out to touch the gown, my right one had flown to my mouth where it still remained. I let out a breath and whispered, “This is it. This is the gown I was looking for.”
“Oh, my God, Grace,” I heard Suellen say as she also touched the gown. “This gown was meant for you. It’s beyond stunning.”
“It is,” Chloe agreed. “It’s so simple and yet ... positively spectacular.”
I felt her arms go around me as she pulled me into an embrace.
“You’re going to be the most gorgeous bride ever, Gracie.”
I smiled as I felt myself returning to normal and watched as Aunt Maude carefully arranged the dress across the table.
“Why didn’t you show me this right away?” I questioned. “I never even knew you had it.”
“I wanted to give you the chance to choose your own gown, but when you seemed to be having so much difficulty I felt perhaps it was time to bring out this heirloom.”
“Wow,” Suellen said. “And so this originally belonged to Grace’s grandmother?”
My aunt nodded. “Yes, and she passed it on to my sister when she married. The gown was handmade by a dressmaker in Paris in the twenties. My mother told me that she had a vision for the dress she wanted and found a dressmaker who agreed to do it.”
Chloe laughed. “Sounds like you got a bit of our grandmother in your genes. You were so stubborn about the precise dress that you wanted.”
“I know, and now I know there was a reason for that.”
“Was there a veil with the dress?” Suellen asked.
“Oh, I don’t want to wear a veil,” I said, before my aunt could answer. “I want silk flowers in my hair.”
My aunt smiled. “There was a veil, but I’m afraid it got damaged at your mother’s wedding. It had been ripped by accident, so I imagine your mother just got rid of it.”
“That’s fine with me,” I said, glancing at the gown again.
“So what do you think Chloe and I should wear? You’ll probably want something similar in style?”
“Oh, I know,” my sister said. “There’s some vintage shops in Gainesville. Maybe we should look for something there?”
“Great idea. And maybe a color that’s soft or muted. Nothing loud or flashy.”
“Exactly,” Chloe said, and I could hear the relief in her voice.
“Okay, so next week’s excursion to Gainesville will be to find something for Chloe and me. I’m so thrilled you have exactly what you want, Gracie. I need to get going. Time to feed my Freud. I swear he has an internal clock.”
“I need to leave too,” Chloe said, giving me a hug and placing a kiss on Aunt Maude’s cheek.
“Well,” my aunt said after they left. “Sometimes what we want most is right in our own backyard. I’m glad you’re so pleased with the gown. How about a cup of tea?”
“Sounds good. I’d like to talk to you about something.”
“Okay. Let’s go into the kitchen and after our tea I’ll find a spot where we can hang the gown.”
I waited till my aunt placed a mug in front of me before I said anything. “Remember when we first moved in here and I told you I thought I had a ghost appearing to me?”
“And I was pretty certain that it was Bess Coachman, the original owner?”
My aunt nodded again.
“I don’t think it was her at all. The last time she appeared to me, she was wearing a dress identical to that wedding gown.” When my aunt remained silent I went on. “Her face had been misty, but I’d thought she looked vaguely familiar to me the first time I’d seen her.” I waited a fraction of a second before I blurted out, “I think it was my mother.”
I saw the raised eyebrows on Aunt Maude’s face, but her expression showed no surprise.
“Really?” was all she said.
“Yeah, but it makes no sense. My mother never lived here. What the heck would her spirit be doing here?”
My aunt let out a sigh. “Love follows us, Gracie. Even in death. Spirits have no geographical boundaries. They go where they’re needed.”
I leaned forward across the table. “So you’re saying those visions probably were my mother? But why? Why would she take those two sweaters I’d knitted for Monica’s babies and then return them the last time she appeared?”
“I don’t have any answers for that, but I think that sometimes spirits move items in order to get out attention. It’s their way of communicating. As to why Yvette was here—you’re her daughter, Grace. You always will be. You had a lot to sort out with Beau and also with Lucas. You needed to work through all of it—and maybe she wanted to be near you to make sure that you did.”
I recalled the voice that I’d heard, either in my head or from the apparition. About listening and paying attention. A warm and loving feeling filled my senses.
“You could be right,” I told my aunt. “You could be right.”
44
By the second week of September all of the arrangements for the wedding seemed to be in place. Flowers had been ordered, confirmed invitations returned, music selected, the caterer chosen, and in six weeks I’d no longer be known as Grace Stone, but rather as Grace Trudeau. I liked the sound of that.
“So Jean-Paul’s flight is all set?” I asked Lucas as we finished up dinner at his place.
“All set. We’ll go to Tampa Airport the end of the month to pick him up.”
“I’m glad he’s arriving a few weeks before the wedding. It’ll give me a chance to get to know him, and both of you will enjoy visiting.”
“I’d say the only thing left is our vows. Have you given that any more thought, Grace? Do you want the traditional ones or will we be writing our own?”
I laughed. “Since when have I been traditional? We still have plenty of time. Let’s write our own.”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” he said, getting up to stack the dishwasher. “The words from our heart mean the most.”
I walked up behind him and kissed the back of his neck. “How lucky am I to have such a romantic man.”
He turned around and pulled me to him as his lips found mine. “How about I skip the knitting group tonight?” I said.
Lucas laughed. “No, no. This is your evening with the women. You must go. I’ll be here waiting for you when you get back.”
“I think I’d much prefer to stay here,” I said, nuzzling his neck with kisses. “But you’re right, and I’m bringing Aunt Maude’s carrot cake, so they’ll never forgive me if I don’t show up with that.”
I walked along Second Street toward the yarn shop savoring the cooler air that had recently arrived on the island. With much less humidity, six weeks from now should be perfect for a garden wedding.
As I approached the yarn shop I thought it was odd that the lights were off and it looked closed. When I reached for the doorknob and stepped inside, lights flashed on and I heard loud voices hollering, “Surprise!”
It took me a second to understand what the heck was going on, and then my eyes spied the tables of food that had been set up, a chair decorated with white satin ribbon and bows flanked by beautifully wrapped gifts, and it hit me that this was my bridal shower.
“Oh, my gosh,” I said, as my hand flew to my mouth.
Suellen and Chloe came running forward to give me a hug. “You didn’t suspect?” my sister asked.
I started laughing. “No. Not at all.” And I hadn’t. I guess most women do have a bridal shower, but I hadn’t thought about it.
“Well, come on, come on,” Suellen said, leading me to the decorated chair. “You’re the guest of honor, so have a seat.”
I looked around and shook my head. I felt like most of Cedar Key had turned out for this event. Sitting on the chairs, sofas, and folding chairs were Aunt Maude, Monica, Sydney, Miss Dora, Polly, and so many others who frequented the bookshop and coffee café, and each and every one was special to me in their own way.
“Okay,” Chloe said, taking charge. “We knew that between your house and Lucas’s, you guys really had all the household stuff, so Suellen and I decided that your shower would be personal items.”
“Right,” Suellen said. “You know.” She rolled her eyes. “Things that a new bride would use.”
I joined the laughter of the crowd. “Oh, God,” I said. “Maybe I don’t want to open these gifts in public.”
This brought forth more laughter.
“No, no,” Chloe assured me. “They’re in good taste. Well, at least I think they are. So let’s get started.” She passed me one of the gifts.
I opened the card to see Monica’s name and removed an exquisite cream-colored peignoir set—what a bride traditionally wears on her wedding night and something I had never owned. I held it up so the women could see the delicate apparel with thin spaghetti straps and a long, flowing robe to match. Oohs and ah’s filled the room.
“Thank you so much, Monica. It’s beautiful and will be perfect for my honeymoon in Paris.”
“Oh la la,” Polly said, causing the women to laugh again.
The next gift was from Sydney, and I removed a breathtaking, black vintage nightgown from the box. With a long and full sweep of skirt, the lace chevron bodice added elegance and sensuality. “Oh, Sydney,” I said, holding it up for a better look. “This is just stunning. I’d bet anything you got this in Paris when you were there this summer, didn’t you?”
“I did, and as soon as I saw it, I thought of you.”
The next card read, For those practical evenings as a new bride. —Love, Eudora. I removed a gorgeous pair of silk charmeuse pajamas in a pink pastel. I fingered the soft, light fabric and noticed how the satin finish caught the light. “These are beautiful, Dora. I know I’ll enjoy wearing them. Thank you so much.”
The box from Aunt Maude was quite large, so it was easier to kneel down on the floor to open it. Her card said, May you and Lucas always be wrapped in your love ~ With all my love, Aunt Maude. I removed one of the most gorgeous oatmeal-colored afghans I’d ever seen. Cables of various twists had been worked vertically. Spaced between the cables were bobbles and other intricate stitches. I could only imagine all of the hours and hours that went into this work of art. I jumped up to give my aunt a tight hug.
“Thank you so much, Aunt Maude. Lucas and I will treasure this forever.”
“Open mine next,” Polly yelled.
I opened her box to discover lingerie that bordered on the risqué and started laughing. Bras, tiny underpants, and garter belts in red and black filled the box, along with a few pairs of black mesh seamed stockings. I held up a few of the items and said, “Lucas thanks you very much, Polly.”
She joined our laughter and said, “I figured he would. You know, when you’re married to a sexy Frenchman, you want to make sure you keep his interest. Figured maybe one evening you might want to cook him dinner in one of those hot numbers.”
“You’re too funny, Polly, and thank you very much. I’ll be sure to remember that.”
When I unwrapped Suellen’s gift I couldn’t stop laughing.
“Come on, come on,” everybody yelled. “Show us too.”
I held in the air an upstairs maid costume complete w
ith lace bra, G-string, matching apron, and gloves. I reached back into the box and pulled out a feather duster, and the room erupted in laughter.
“Hey,” Suellen said. “Wouldn’t want Lucas to get bored when you’re doing your housecleaning.”
When I finally got my laughter under control, she said, “That was the fun gift. There’s another one there from me.”
I opened that one to find a beautiful powder blue silky nightgown and an assortment of French bath products.
“Thank you,” I told her. “I’ll be sure to put that maid’s outfit to good use.”
When I opened my sister’s gift, I laughed again. “Gosh, Chloe, you’re no better than Suellen.” I held up two peekaboo bras that were designed with a hole in the center to expose the nipples. Adding to the matched sets were two pairs of thong panties in silver and black.
These brought a round of applause and more laughter from the women.
“There’s another one there from me too,” Chloe said, still laughing.
I opened that box to find another gorgeous peignoir set, this one in black, along with a pair of beautiful black slippers with a one-inch heel and rhinestones across the front.
“Oh, I love it, Chloe. Thank you so much.”
I continued opening boxes of nightgowns, bras, panties, scented candles, bath products, and even a couple bottles of wine. I was overwhelmed with the kindness that everybody had shown. Standing up to thank the women, I felt moisture in my eyes.
“You guys are simply the best,” I said. “From the first day I arrived on Cedar Key, you welcomed me, and even more important, you accepted me. Each and every one of you women is an inspiration to all women in one way or another. I hope you know that. I love you all and thank you so much.”
After more clapping, Chloe said, “Okay. Now it’s time for some nosh. We have all kinds of desserts, coffee, tea, and wine, of course.”
I got myself a glass of wine and went over to Chloe and Suellen. I had no doubt that it was the two of them who had gotten all of this together. After placing my wineglass on the table, I put an arm around each one. “Thanks,” I told them. “Thanks for all of this, but thanks for being my sister and my best friend.”