A Merry Vested Wedding

by Melanie Moreland

  I was often compared to my father. I had inherited his business acumen and his stern resting face. While other little girls were playing with dolls, I sat on my dad’s knee, listening and learning. I was known as severe and humorless. Emotionless. I had been referred to often as “a chip off the old block.” Strangely enough, that comparison didn’t bother me at all. I considered it a compliment. Like my father, I didn’t much care what the business world thought of me personally. I let my record speak for itself.

  But the faces we showed the world and those we showed the people we loved were vastly different. My dad was one of the kindest, generous, and most loving men in the world. Behind closed doors, with his family and those he treasured, he smiled and laughed. Teased and cajoled. Thought nothing of getting on the floor and wrestling my siblings or giving me a piggyback ride when we were younger. Sitting beside us, explaining homework and helping us understand. His patience with us always amazed me, given his cut-and-dried persona with business. With his extended family, he showed the same love and caring. He was loyal and protective. Always ready to help out or offer encouragement.

  His adoration for my mother hadn’t diminished over the years. Their love was a constant, steady light—a beacon for me and an example I wanted to live by. They still looked at each other with love and lit up when the other would enter a room. My father fussed over my mom, constantly bringing her gifts of soft shawls or fuzzy socks to keep her warm. Every floor in the house had been redone with radiant heating—he couldn’t bear to see her cold. She watched over him zealously, accepting his need to care for her easily, knowing how much it meant to him. She made him smile, even on the darkest days, and reminded him, more than once, life and family came first.

  The same lesson she drummed into our heads.

  I touched his hand. “You okay, Dad?”

  He smiled. “Of course.”

  “You look tired. I’m getting married today. You should be happy.” He’d seemed fine when I went up to bed last night. “You’re finally getting rid of me. All that is left is Chloe and you’ll have the place to yourself again.”

  He sighed and flipped his hand over, encasing mine. “Forgive my moroseness, my girl. It hit me after you went to bed, it would be the last night I had you under my roof. Still mine to look after. As of today, Brayden will be the one who cares for you.” I was shocked to see the glimmer of tears in his eyes. “Your home will be with him.”

  “Daddy,” I whispered, the childish word slipping out.

  “I walked the house all night, thinking—remembering. The day you were born and we brought you home. I was terrified. You were so small and helpless, and you needed me so much. I was so sure I would mess it up. But your mother told me I was being ridiculous, and as usual, she was right. I learned all of it. The diapers, the feedings, the tricks of surviving on no sleep and endless parades up and down the halls when you wouldn’t settle.” He paused. “I used to snuggle you right here—” he patted his shoulder “—in the crook on my neck and hum and walk. Sometimes it was the only thing that soothed you.”

  I squeezed his fingers.

  “I watched you grow from a baby into this incredible young woman sitting in front of me, Addi. I cheered every accomplishment and success, even though I knew each one was a step that took you further away from me.” He shook his head. “I am so incredibly proud of you—of the person you are, the businesswoman you’ve become.” His voice caught. “I’ll miss having you here.”

  “You didn’t get this emotional when Thomas moved out.” My brother had gone to university in BC, studying to become a marine biologist. He was still in school, working on his master’s and had plans to pursue his PhD. He came home on occasion, hardly looking like the baby brother who had left when he was eighteen. My parents flew out regularly to see him, and we kept in contact via text and phone.

  He smiled, lifting a shoulder. “That was different. You’re my baby girl. My firstborn.”

  “And Chloe is still here,” I reminded him. My younger sister eschewed anything to do with the business world. Her love was animals, and she was in school to become a veterinarian assistant. She lived at home; although her hours were so crazy, I rarely saw her anymore.

  He smiled. “Not for much longer, I think. She graduates soon and has her eye on a clinic in Burlington. She’s getting ready to fly on her own, as she should be. I’ll suffer then too.” He paused. “All my children—gone from my house. It’s too fast.”

  I was out of my chair in a second. My dad caught me and pulled me into his lap, hugging me. It was rare for him to be this emotional. I snuggled my head onto his shoulder, feeling the strength of his embrace and the warmth of his love surround me.

  “It’s been a long time since you sat on my lap,” he chuckled.

  “I think I used to fit better.”

  He held me closer. “You fit perfectly.” He kissed my head. “I want you to be happy, Addi. It’s all I ever wanted for you.”

  “Brayden makes me happy, Dad. He loves me so much.” I plucked at the sleeve of his heavy sweatshirt. “I love him. He gets me.”

  “I know,” he sighed, resting his chin on my head. “That is the only reason I can do this. You two were always meant for each other.” I felt the press of his lips on my forehead. “Forgive your old dad, Addi. Today is a happy day, and I’m thrilled. Brayden is going to take good care of my little girl, and you’re going to have a wonderful life together.” He hugged me again and released me. I slid to my chair, wiping my eyes.

  “Promise me you’ll save me a dance or two.”

  “Always.”

  “Be happy, Addi. And if you ever need me—I’m right here.”

  “I’ll always need you.”

  “Brayden is going to step into my shoes. In many ways, he already has. He’ll watch over you and be your protector.” He smiled ruefully. “Just like you will be for him. But I’ll be watching, and I’ll be right here. Always. You always have a place here.” He squeezed my hand. “Not that I expect you ever to need it. Your mother and I love him like one of our own, and despite my silly emotions of the moment, I am overjoyed for you.”

  “I kinda like your silly emotions.”

  “Your mother will kick my ass and withhold scones if she thinks I’ve upset you on your wedding day.”

  I grinned. My father fell in love with my mother and her scones simultaneously. She was tiny but fierce, and most people would be shocked to know who the real boss was in the household. My father deferred to her in most things, always saying she was smarter than he was by far.

  “You haven’t upset me, Dad. I like knowing how much you love me.”

  “I do.”

  I winked. “That’s my line today.”

  He laughed. “So it is.” He slid a box my way. “For you, my girl.”

  I opened the slim box, unable to hide my tears. A delicate bracelet lay on the satin, the white gold shimmering in the low light. A small heart embraced a pearl, creamy pink and pale. The tiniest of diamonds highlighted the curve of the heart. I knew that pearl. It was one that belonged to my grandmother—one of the few precious items my dad had of hers. Its mates were worn around my mother’s neck—she rarely took off the necklace. As a child, I was fascinated with them. The smooth texture, the pretty color, the way they glimmered in the light. My mother let me touch them, quietly telling me how precious they were and that I had to be careful. I would trace them with the greatest of reverence. When I was older and knew the story behind them, my love for them, and my father, only grew.

  “Dad,” I breathed.

  “Your mom thought you should have one of the pearls. We redesigned her necklace and had this made. We know you prefer bracelets to necklaces.” He leaned over and helped me put it on.

  “I’ll never take it off.”

  He smiled. “It’s your something old for today, Addi. Besides me walking you down the aisle.”

  I laughed as I wiped away my tears.

  “Thank you.”

&nbs
p; He leaned close and pressed his lips to my cheek.

  “Love you, baby girl.”

  My breath caught. “I love you, Daddy.”

  He winked. “I know.”

  The sounds of laughter and gaiety filled the room. I looked in the mirror at the cluster of women around me, smiling as I took a sip of champagne. I met my sister’s eyes in the reflection, and she winked, knowing what I was thinking.

  How incredibly lucky we were to be surrounded by these amazing women.

  The winery had been designed to accommodate weddings and other events. I discovered it one day while out with Gracie. The wine was superb, but the land underutilized, the main building crumbling, and the business dying. ABC purchased it, kept the people who knew about wine, and demolished and rebuilt the rest. When I saw the designs, I knew it was where I wanted to get married, and we had, in fact, deferred our wedding until it was ready. The room I was in was on the top floor, facing the water, the wide sweep of windows showing the waves as they danced in the afternoon sun, the scattering of snowflakes delicate and beautiful amid the wildness of the water.

  My mom sat on the sofa, a glass of wine in her hand, her golden hair catching the light. She was laughing at something Cami said, her head thrown back in amusement. She was a tiny dynamo, the center of my father’s world, the rock for my siblings and me. She was always there, a constant in my life, my father by her side. Every school event, outside activity, achievement, victory, punishment—they handled together—for my siblings and me. They were hands-on, dedicated, loving parents. I knew we were wealthy, but we weren’t spoiled. We earned our allowance, followed the rules, and acted like kids. My mother often joined in on the antics and dragged my father with her.

  There was no doubt who the free spirit in the relationship was.

  She was sitting with Cami and Dee, Becca, Liv, Fee, Katy, and of course, my Nan, Sandy. A close-knit group of women, strong, fierce, and the role models I tried to live up to. All were special, all a significant part of my life. Aunts in name only, they were as close to me as if joined by blood. So were their offspring.

  Flitting around the room were my attendants. Shelby, Brayden’s sister; Ava, Aiden’s daughter; and Heather, Richard’s younger daughter, were checking on gowns, chatting, helping one another with their hair. We didn’t want stylists or makeup artists with us today. It was all about family, so we were spending the hours before my wedding together. The only one missing was Grace, Richard’s eldest daughter and my best friend.

  I frowned at my sister. “Chloe, where is Gracie? She should be here by now.”

  Chloe shrugged, glancing over her shoulder. “Hey, Hedda,” she called, using an old nickname, “Where is your sister?”

  Heather picked up her phone. “She’s en route.”

  Katy VanRyan, her mom, frowned. “She’s cutting it close. That’s not like Gracie.”

  Heather poured some more champagne. “I think this case has her distracted. Something has.”

  She stood and came over to the small area we had called the salon. She bent to pour some more champagne in my glass, keeping her voice low. “Her text says she’s bringing a plus-one and she hopes that’s okay.” She snorted delicately. “She says you don’t have to feed him. Stick a chair outside for him, I think was her quote.”

  I lifted my eyebrows. “Him? Gracie is bringing a date?” I whispered. Gracie never had time to date. She was too busy with her career.

  Heather looked perturbed. “She hasn’t said anything to me until now. I’m as shocked as you.”

  “We’ll have to grill her,” Chloe muttered.

  I laughed. “That’ll produce nothing. You know how intensely private she is. We’ll have to sic Nan on her.”

  If anyone could get Gracie to talk, it would be Sandy.

  Cami stood, cinching the belt on her robe. Her dark hair was swept into an elegant chignon, and her face was youthful, the small lines around her eyes only evident when she smiled. She clapped her hands. “Girls, you need to get dressed.” She met my eyes. “And we need to get you into your gown.”

  I looked at the elegant, gossamer dress hanging in the window, designed and made by Cami. She had done the girls’ dresses as well. The bodice of my dress was tight-fitting, heavily beaded with shimmering pearls and crystals. Strapless, it clung to me like a second skin. The bottom was layers of ivory tulle that burst forth from my waist like a cloud of air. Delicate flowers were embroidered on the skirt. Brayden was going to love it. I could already picture his smile as I walked toward him. The way he would bend low and whisper how beautiful I was. The way his eyes would glow. How his voice would deepen as he told me he looked forward to getting me out of my dress later.

  I felt my cheeks flush simply at the thought.

  Hanging beside my dress was a thick, knitted ivory sweater with matching mitts and a pair of ivory, faux fur-lined ankle boots. A matching sweater hung in Brayden’s closet.

  Because ours was not a traditional wedding. No church, no long ceremony or wait time between the wedding and reception. No gifts—we’d asked our guests to donate to a local animal shelter instead.

  We were getting married downstairs in a room filled with garlands, trees, lights, music, and flowers. Surrounded by our family and closest friends. Then, thanks to the staff and the muscle of all the boys, Brayden and I would don our heavy sweaters and boots and would have our pictures taken outside surrounded by the woods and snow. They had cleared a couple of areas so the pictures would be lovely.

  Brayden and I loved everything about this place and this season. Skiing, skating, walking in the snow. Snowball fights and cold noses. We wanted the winter backdrop, and it was the winery’s manager who suggested the two areas for pictures of the two of us. The rest, including family pictures, would be inside, although my mother insisted she wanted a couple done outdoors.

  My father had looked askance at the idea, reminding her of how easily she got cold. In reply, she shook her head, laughing. “Relax, Rigid. I often sit by the fire pit in the winter. And we go for walks.”

  “Not in a dress,” he argued.

  “It’s for a couple of pictures. I think they’ll be charming.” She leaned close to him, brushing her lips on his cheek. “If I get cold, you can warm me up.”

  He turned his head, kissing her hard. “I will.” He looked at me. “You get a few pictures fast, and then she goes back inside.”

  “Done.” I chuckled over their exchange. I was used to their displays of affection and my father’s overprotectiveness with her.

  Chloe interrupted my musings, setting down a box beside me. “Jen brought the flowers. Here’s your headpiece.”

  “Where is he?” I asked, anxious to see him. The eccentric wedding planner would make sure everything was in place for me.

  “Downstairs, checking on everything. He’s in his element down there.” She grinned. “Dressed to the nines as usual, bossing them all around. He says he will be up shortly.”

  I laughed. Jen had come into my parents’ lives when they were getting married and had become a member of the family. Outrageous with his own style, he was elegant and perfect with details for events. It was he who suggested the color of the dresses for the girls, insisting the red and green would be so “cliché.” He had been right, and the color scheme of ivory and gold, with punches of red and green, was beautiful. Each girl had a dress designed especially for her, and Cami had done an exquisite job. The boys would all be in simple black tuxes, their ties and cummerbunds a striped combination of the ivory and gold. I loved all of it.

  I opened the box with eager fingers, and Chloe settled the circlet around my head. It matched the bouquets and decorations everywhere. Holly, ivy, sprigs of balsam and cedar, entwined with red roses, tiny pinecones, and white freesias. My headpiece had a few crystals to match my dress woven into the greens. Chloe skillfully pinned the headpiece and stood back, nodding happily.

  “There. You’re ready.”

  My hair, the same golden wheat co
lor as my mother’s, hung in loose curls over my shoulders. Chloe had woven some pearls and sparkles into the front, and the headpiece looked pretty. I smiled at my sister as she bent down, laying her head alongside mine. Our facial features were similar, but other than that, I had my mother’s coloring with my dad’s blue eyes. Chloe had my dad’s hair and my mom’s wide, dark eyes. We were both small like my mom. Our brother, Thomas, had my dad’s height, coloring, and his eyes.

  “If you decide the vet helper thing isn’t your calling, you could always fall back on hairdressing,” I teased.

  She winked. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  The door opened, and Gracie stumbled in, dragging a suitcase. Her dark hair was a mess, her usually calm blue eyes filled with panic. Her coat was half buttoned, and her cheeks were flushed.

  “Oh my god! I made it.” She dropped her bag, shrugging off her coat, hugging and kissing everyone. “I’m so sorry!” She made a beeline for me, and I stood and hugged my best friend. Though she was older than me by a couple of years, Gracie and I had always been close.

  “Thank god.” I held her fiercely. “The day wouldn’t have been right without you.”

  “Not happening. A bad engine, a delayed takeoff, a snowstorm—nothing was keeping me from being here.”

  I studied her closely. “Are you okay, Grace? You look frazzled.”

  Grace never looked frazzled. She always had everything under control.

  She waved me off. “I’ve been running since yesterday, trying to get here.” She accepted a glass of champagne from Heather, downing it in one long tip of her head. “I need another one of those.”

  I met Heather’s shocked gaze. I had never seen Grace drink like that. Small, measured sips were all she ever took. I noticed a couple other things. A patch or two of pink on her neck as if she’d rubbed against something rough. A tiny bruise not quite hidden by the collar of her blouse. The brightness of her eyes. I held back a gasp when I noticed her finger. There was a thin pink line on her left ring finger. Her wedding ring finger. It looked as if a band had been there, then removed recently.