“You are a miracle worker, Leah.” I said, staring at my own shocked expression in the mirror.
“Does this mean I’ve been forgiven?” she asked.
“What? Oh, yes. Definitely. You are redeemed. For another day.”
“Well, good. Now, let’s get you back to the bridal suite. We have a wedding dress to put on!” she practically squealed.
We all made our way back up to the suite, and it was my turn to laugh when Leah, having had one too many mimosas, pretended to be my own wacky version of secret service, jumping ahead to check around corners, and clear hallways to protect her “asset” from the men. She was taking her maid of honor role very seriously and we managed to arrive upstairs without being seen by anyone.
As we entered the suite, we were greeted by my mother and Cece, who had an exuberant Maddie in her arms. She was telling her soon-to-be grandmother all about her adventures in the salon, and Cece was hanging on every word like it was the most important conversation in the world. Ella was in the corner rocking her little one, humming a soft lullaby. Her hair was curled and pinned to the side, just below her ear.
“Oh my, Sweetheart! You are a vision,” my mother said.
“Mommy! What happened to your other hair?” Maddie asked, which caused us all to laugh.
“Well,” I started, leaning down in front of her, “I decided I wasn’t cool enough to have that hairdo, so we thought this might be more my style.”
She gave me an appraising look, her eyes wandering up and down my long red locks, before she said, “You’re right. It’s much better.”
I don’t know if I was more relieved that she liked it or a little hurt that she agreed I wasn’t cool enough. But either way, we were ready to move onto makeup, and that is where Leah came in. She was a wizard of all things cosmetic. She’d been doing my makeup for special events ever since we were old enough to have special events.
“Plant it right here,” she said, pointing to an empty chair at the desk. It was a perfect spot, situated in front of a large mirror so I could watch as she did her work.
Half an hour later and with a little help from Ella, she was done. She’d done a beautiful job of making me look classy and sexy but not over the top. Just enough, with shimmery natural shadows and peach blush and gloss, and I looked radiant.
With Leah standing over my shoulder, our eyes locked and held in the mirror. I knew she was thinking about the last time she did my makeup for a major event—the day I married Ethan. Her lip quivered and my hand went up to my shoulder to grasp hers.
“I know,” I said. It was all I had to say. I knew, like her, that we were all still grieving and always would be. I knew that this day was hard, even though there was so much joy. I knew this all because sometimes when a friendship goes beyond normal borders and you find a sister, rather than an ordinary friend, conversations aren’t necessary.
“Well, let’s get you married,” Leah said, trying to steady her now shaky voice.
“Yes, let’s do that,” I agreed.
Both mothers gushed over my makeup, and complimented Leah on her fine job. She politely thanked them and we all made our way to my gown, which was still hanging in its bag by the closet.
“So Laura was telling me that your original dress was ruined?” Cece asked. She had obviously been caught up on the dress drama by my mom when they shared their hair appointments that morning. Both were sporting sophisticated updos that made them look regal and lovely. Their updos didn’t resemble Lady Gaga at all.
“Yes, the airline ate it. But, it worked out well,” I said, as I slid down the zipper and pulled the dress from its bag to a collective gasp.
“This one is much better.”
“Oh my goodness, Clare,” Cece said, at the same time my mother said, “Oh, sweetheart, you’re going to be stunning!”
“Well, let’s get it on me!” I exclaimed. The gown I’d chosen wasn’t overly complicated which fit our outdoor wedding perfectly. It was vintage in style, with champagne satin underneath a beautiful lace overlay that flowed slightly behind me in an elegant train. A matching champagne colored satin bow completed the look and wrapped around my waist.
With everyone’s help, minus Maddie who was jumping up and down shouting her Mommy was the prettiest Mommy ever, I was soon standing in front of the floor-length mirror in my gown.
“It’s just…” Leah started.
“Perfect,” I finished.
With teary eyes, Cece asked, “Do you have your something blue?”
Panic. Pure panic took over and I looked at everyone standing behind me with wide eyes.
“Oh my God. I completely forgot. Everything. The something old, the something new…I don’t even have something blue! Is my marriage doomed?”
Leah’s face curved into a smile and I seriously wanted to turn around and smack her for smiling in my time of need.
“Why are you smiling?” I nearly shouted.
“Logan knew you’d forget.”
“What?”
“He knew you’d forget, with everything being so last minute and rushed. He knew this, so he took care of everything and asked me to deliver the goods to you.”
“And you’re just deciding to tell me now?” I asked.
“It was worth that face, that’s for sure.”
As I was silently chanting I love my best friend, I love my best friend in my head, Leah ushered me over to a plush chair where I sat down while she gathered whatever it was that Logan had planned.
She took a seat on the sofa adjacent to me and began.
“He wrote a letter. Do you want to read it, or shall I?”
Fearing I wouldn’t make it through reading the letter myself, I gave her the go ahead, and she began.
“Clare,
Today you will become my wife, and I will give my sacred vow to always take care of you and Maddie. It is my honor and I will spend every day of my life trying to prove I’m worthy of the task. Ever since the day I met you, I’ve wanted to protect you from everything that may harm you, or cause you pain or stress. I know this impromptu wedding has been less than ideal, and if the circumstances were different, we would have had time to plan something different.
In all the craziness, I knew you would forget the small things. It is your nature to focus on everyone else’s needs—Maddie’s and mine….the guests. I knew you’d eventually realize the small traditional elements of the wedding you’d overlooked and by then it would be too late. So I took matters into my own hands and did them for you. This is my wedding gift to you—with a little help from Leah and our mothers.