Chapter 23
TWENTY-THREE
Her mother had a backup wig.
Of course it was the hideous wig she’d originally picked out, the one Dax had gotten her out of buying. Ariel stared at her mother’s hard face and the Kardashian-like hairpiece in her hand while Tiffany chewed into Marshall about wearing a tie, an argument Tricia and Terry had already gone through with the other boys. Marshall had held out the longest. She was tempted to channel his rebellion.
Firming her shoulders, she faced her mother. “Mother?—”
“I’m not listening to another word, Ariel.” She stepped closer, her eyes hard, her hair spray so strong Ariel’s nose twitched. “I knew this would happen, which is why I went to the store and got the wig I’d originally wanted you to buy. As for the wig going missing, Jeffrey was involved in this, wasn’t he?”
She wasn’t going to throw her brother under the bus. “Mother, I really don’t want?—”
“Ariel!” Her mother’s voice put a pause on Tiffany’s mini battle with Marshall in the corner. “You will not be in this wedding if you don’t wear this wig!”
Someone grabbed her arm and squeezed gently. Turning, she watched as Tiffany confronted their mother, lifting her chin with sheer Deverell determination. “Mother, I changed my mind. Bride’s prerogative. I think Ariel’s hair looks perfect as it is.”
Terry and Tricia gasped in their matching pale pink robes, clutching their more champagne than orange juice mimosas, their towering bouffant blond hair sprayed into perfectly shaped birds’ nests, if you asked Ariel. Mother must have gotten Botox sometime before the wedding, because Ariel could tell she was trying to lift her eyebrow in derision. Only her perfectly dyed and waxed eyebrows wouldn’t budge.
Tiffany touched the ends of Ariel’s short hair. “I think it’s pretty. Besides, it suits her. Let’s keep that wig for another time. Like always, you have impeccable taste. I might wear it for the next Deverell event.”
As she said it, Tiffany grabbed the wig from their mother’s hand. A brief tug-of-war ensued before Mother reluctantly let it go, long burgundy nails curving into clawlike shapes before resting beside her peach silk pajamas. “Well, it’s your wedding, darling.”
That voice was code for: I’ll remember this and you will pay at a future date.
Ariel was too relieved and deeply moved by Tiffany’s gesture to care. “Great!” she pronounced. “So let’s let the makeup artist do her thing now that everyone’s hair is done, and I’ll go and check on the setup. The sparkler contractor is arriving shortly, and I want to make sure the koi fountain has been installed.”
At this point she would invent an errand to get out of there.
Tiffany half hugged her, jangly but excited. “It’s all coming together, isn’t it? There were moments when I thought the wedding was going to be canceled. Especially when my dress didn’t fit. But Jeffrey took a picture of it and sent it to me, hanging in the bridal cottage. I can’t wait to get into it. Even with the back looking like a bodice. I’m getting married today. Oh, Marshall! Come and hug your mama.”
His shoulder lifted, his entire body tensing in defiance, and he didn’t move until Terry gave him a gentle cuff to the back of his head. He glared at her before trudging forward, so slow a turtle could have beaten him.
Tiffany rolled her eyes toward everyone after pulling her son toward her, careful not to wrinkle her white silk robe. “Honey, today is going to change everything. We’ve got a whole new life awaiting us.”
“I don’t want to move,” he ground out.
She kissed the top of his forehead and firmly took his shoulders. “I know it’s going to be hard to leave Pensacola. I’m leaving my friends too, but San Diego is going to be great. You’ll see.”
His mouth remained mutinous as she kissed him again. Finally pulling away, he stormed out of the resort’s bridal suite and slammed the door.
Tiffany leaned closer to Ariel and whispered, “What I wouldn’t give for a drink.”
She caught herself before she looked at her sister’s flat stomach. She realized she didn’t even know how far along her sister was. Well, there’d be time for all of that after Tiffany made her announcement.
“You’re doing great.” She patted her sister on the shoulder, hoping to start inching toward the exit. “Thanks for backing me on not wearing the wig.”
They both glanced over to where Mother was pouring herself a large vodka on the rocks at the Art Deco bar cart.
“She’s going to be wasted by the time the ceremony rolls around,” Tiffany whispered.
“Maybe it will make things easier.” Ariel did her best not to run to the door. “I’ll see you later.”
“Be sure and come back so Carly can do your makeup,” Tiffany called.
Ariel let herself out. Right. So she didn’t have to wear the horrible wig, but she needed to have Tiffany-approved makeup. She could deal with that, so long as she didn’t look like a clown version of herself the way she had at Terry’s first wedding. Betty Boop mascara eyes had made her look slightly cross-eyed in the wedding photos.
Glad she was wearing her flip-flops and not the cream satin pumps with feathers Tiffany had bought everyone in the bridal party, she crossed quickly back to the wedding site. What she saw had her shoulders finally lowering from her ears. The tent was up. The tables and chairs in the interior were all in place. So were the chandeliers and the oodles of stringy white lights.
Off to the right of the tent, the place where Tiffany and Rob were going to say their vows was also set up. The arbor with the pale roses and other greenery stood romantically at the apex of the groupings of white chairs. The white sweeping mesh curtains blew softly in the breeze. The florist was starting to tie the small bouquets at the ends of the aisles of chairs now that she had something to work with.
“Everything is coming together,” Jeffrey called behind her.
She spun around and rushed him, banding her arms around him tightly. “You’re a prince for stepping in and helping.”
“I know, honey,” he drawled and they both laughed. “How did the Deverell women take the wig going missing?”
“Mother had a spare wig—the one she’d picked out?—”
“Of course she did! The devil probably visited her in a dream and told her our plan.”
When he removed more holy water and made the sign of the cross, she dissolved into near giggles. “All your good juju must have worked because Tiffany stepped in and backed me up. She said my hair was pretty and I didn’t have to wear the wig.”
“You’re kidding me!” He made the sign of the cross again. “What is the world coming to? Has a better day dawned in the Deverell line? Is it possible our spiritual attunements broke the wedding curse at last?”
“I’m sure it was the evil eye tattoos.” She gave him a kiss as she heard her name shouted. “That’s my cue.”
Bubba was waiting beside the sparkler display inside the tent. “You ready for the sparkler show of your life tonight?”
She was so giddy at their progress she did a little knee-slapping dance. “Can’t happen soon enough, let me tell you.”
“Your fella caught me as I was coming in.” He wiped perspiration from his brow. “Told me about the mud pits and all. Bad luck that.”
“Yes, but we turned it around.” She dug out her phone. “Let me call in the Navy boys who’ll be in charge of lighting the displays.”
“Do you want to see the final result? I added a little whimsy. Since you’re a Gamecocks fan and all.”
“Sure.” She started typing as she walked.
I’m ready for you. You can’t know how much. LOL. Sparkler display training is ready.
Captain Hotpants
Ready for me, huh? Promises, promises. Coming your way. How’d the wig thing go?
Tiff backed me over my mother, who’d bought the wig she picked out. She smelled deception in the air apparently.
Captain Hotpants
Deception, huh? LMAO. I only smell bourbon. Rob is hitting the lucky bourbon hard. Might need to take him on a walk. He’s a wreck. Nervous as hell. Worse than before our winging ceremony. See you soon.
She smiled as she pocketed her phone. Bubba was waiting for her beside two large crates. “Let’s see it!”
Grinning, he smartly snagged off the tops of both. Go Navy was on the right. Just Married on the left. Hundreds of sparklers stood at attention. “Awesome! You’re the best.”
“Glad you’re pleased. I added the biggest sparklers we can legally get away with in the corners. They’ll last longer and give you a little more fire so y’all should light them first. Hey! Looks like the Navy is here.”
Turning toward the wide entrance of the tent, she felt her mouth water. Dax was decked out in dress whites and looking as good to eat as a slice of red velvet cake, which she couldn’t wait to have later when they cut the groom’s cake. The other men wore their uniforms well, but Dax had an extra swagger. When he flashed her one of his make her knees weak smiles, she felt her heart flutter in her chest. Goodness, he was gorgeous. Not that Carson, Perry, Gunner, Frank, and Rob didn’t look just as good.
But she had eyes for only one pilot…
When Dax reached her, she gave in to the urge to touch his wings and ribbons before tracing the gold and black epaulets on his wide shoulders. “Goodness,” she purposely drew out in a Southern accent. “I’m having trouble concentrating.”
He leaned in and kissed her, adept even with his military style cap with the black visor. “You always do that to me.”
“Look at these!” Rob fairly shouted. “Better than I could have expected. Man, did you personally make them?”
Bubba patted his massive chest and nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Awesome.” Rob fingered a few of the sparklers as the other guys circled the crates.
“That’s a buttload of sparklers,” Carson remarked with a whistle. “Run us through the lighting process.”
Ariel was glad to hear his can-do attitude. She knew he and the other guys harbored reservations, but clearly they’d gotten the memo. Rob wanted to get married. End of story.
“I brought four blowtorches.” Bubba gestured to the large canvas bag on the ground and unzipped it, showing off the goods. “You’ll have to work in tandem?—”
Rob swung his arm around Carson’s neck, leaning heavily. “We’re used to that. Aren’t we, boys?”
Dax put his arm around her and squeezed reassuringly. “Your job today, Rob, is to sit back with your bride and enjoy yourself. We’ve got this.”
She was glad Dax had said this because she wasn’t sure having Rob near a blowtorch—not now and certainly not later given how much more drinking he might do—seemed a good idea.
“Ariel!”
The cry of her name was almost a scream. She dashed off in the direction of the sound, Dax running beside her. She heard the other men’s footsteps behind them. Spotting Tricia and Terry running in their cream satin pumps, pale pink robes gaping, she increased her pace to intercept them.
“What is it?” she asked when she reached them, heart hammering.
Tricia’s eyes were wild. “Tiffany’s wedding dress?—”
“It’s not in the cottage!” Terry was panting, suddenly gripping her arm. “We’ve looked everywhere.”
“ What?” She felt like someone had socked her in the face. “Are you sure?”
“We put it in the cottage.” Dax’s voice was full of conviction.
Jeffrey was running toward them. On the grass. In his shoes. Something had to be really wrong for him to do that. She took off toward her brother.
“Ariel!” He was gasping as he reached her. “The wedding dress is not in the cottage anymore.”
Dax reached them. “What happened?”
Jeffrey pushed his green glasses up his nose. “I don’t know. Tricia texted me and asked where we’d put it. I told her. She said it wasn’t there. I went to show her in case she’d had too many mimosas. But it’s not there.”
Her stomach felt like it had tumbled from the penthouse to the ground floor. “You’re sure?”
His nod was so convincing he had to right his glasses after they slid down his nose. “I looked everywhere. It’s like that dress up and left and followed your wig into the ocean.”
“But we hung it where we were supposed to,” Dax ground out. “How could it?—”
Suddenly, Rob was whipping Dax around. “You son of a bitch!”
His fist nailed Dax in the jaw, making his head swivel. Carson and Perry had their arms around Rob before he could take another swing, Gunner and Frank in the wings. Ariel told herself not to step in, but she stayed where she was. Although she was glad Terry and Tricia were screeching, running off until they stood out of range.
Dax touched his face and glared at his friend. “What the hell, man?”
“You took the dress!” Rob’s shout had the blood rushing out of Ariel’s face. “You didn’t want me to get married. You’ve tried at every turn to talk me out of it.”
“Rob!” Carson’s grip tightened as he tried to take another lunge at Dax. “Get a hold of yourself. Accusing Dax of something like that would be like accusing me or any of us guys.”
“You’re talking crazy!” Perry cried, muscling Rob in place as the other men nodded.
Ariel turned to Dax. He was pale, but his green eyes were hot with anger. He’d even fisted his hands at his sides. She didn’t know what to do. But one thing was for certain: Rob was totally out of line. This betrayal had to be cutting Dax deep.
“You know I wouldn’t do something that low,” Dax ground out, his voice clipped.
“Do I?” Rob practically spat, shoving at Carson and Perry. “Well, here’s the punch line, buddy. You’ve been trying to stop something you can’t. Tiff and I got hitched in Vegas two months ago.”
Ariel’s mouth dropped open. They were married? How could her sister not have mentioned this?
Jeffrey cried out like a dog who’d been stepped on. “OMG! That’s why her dress didn’t fit! She’s pregnant!”
She whipped her head around to frown at him as she heard Terry’s and Tricia’s outraged cries. He’d slapped both hands over his mouth, his brown eyes wide with shock. She was sure she didn’t look much better.
“Jesus, Rob!” Dax exclaimed, taking her attention back to him. “You’re married—and having a baby—and you didn’t say a word! To any of us. What the fuck?”
“Yeah, dude!” Carson echoed harshly. “We’re your buddies.”
“Your friends,” Perry added hollowly, looking as hurt as the other two men who were glaring at Rob.
He tried to wrestle free, but they continued to hold him. “Tiff didn’t want anyone to know because of something I don’t want to go into. It’s our private business, isn’t it? But maybe I should have told Dax here so he wouldn’t steal my wife’s fucking wedding dress!”
“I didn’t steal it!” Dax shouted back, taking his cap off and slapping it against his thigh.
“Who else would have?” Rob tried to wrestle free of Carson and Perry’s hold, but they held him back by the arms. “You’re the only one who’s made a big deal of wanting this wedding to be canceled since you imagined she hit on you.”
God, how many proverbial cats could get out of the bag?
“When the hell did that happen?” Perry shouted out.
“It doesn’t matter.” Rob started struggling again. “Dammit! Let go of me!”
“Not until you get a hold of yourself, man,” Carson bit off, his cap tilting to the right. “You’re totally over the edge right now. I’m tempted to tell you I took the dress to save you from yourself.”
“Give her dress back, Dax!” Rob’s voice was cold, his eyes flat and mean. “All she’s wanted is a perfect wedding. Don’t fuck this up for her. Because if you do, you’re fucking it up for me too.”
The two men faced off in a silence thick with bad feelings. Dax’s ears were bright red from repressed anger. Rob’s face was flushed with rage.
Dax held up a hand like a white flag, his jaw locked. “I give you my word that I did not take her wedding dress.”
“Bullshit!” Rob started wrestling to get free, fighting for all he was worth. Gunner and Frank joined in to hold him. Dax only stood there silently, his face rigid.
Jeffrey stepped up behind her. “Did you know?” he whispered.
She leaned closer, desperately wanting to put her head on his shoulder, close her eyes, and pretend this wasn’t happening. “Only about the baby,” she said for his ears only. “When she disappeared that day she told me. She never mentioned being married already.”
God, she still couldn’t believe it. But right now wasn’t the time for shock. Rob was continuing to fight his friends, his hard eyes locked on Dax like he wanted to take another punch at him and not stop.
If they let him go, she knew he would knock Dax on the ground and hit him until he confessed. Someone had to defuse the situation. “Rob, I know you and Dax have had your differences, but he’d never do this.”
“Shut up, Ariel!” Rob spat back, surging forward.
Dax was in Rob’s face in a hot second. “You don’t talk to her like that.”
Rob kicked at him, making Dax jump back to avoid being kneed in the balls. “That’s rich, coming from you. Dammit, give Tiff back her dress.”
“I don’t know where the dress is, man.” Dax’s jaw cracked audibly. “Listen to me. I didn’t take it.”
Ariel walked over to her visibly shaken sisters. “You checked to make sure it’s not in the bridal suite?”
They both nodded, their faces pale with shock. “We texted Tiffany,” Terry said, choking back tears.
Oh God!
“Ariel!”
The air fairly crackled after her sister’s anguished cry, and Ariel wouldn’t have been surprised if lightning had struck something. A tree. A happily swimming koi in the wedding pond. The four-tiered wedding cake.
Disaster was joining danger in the air, and this time, it had the Deverell name written all over it.
Mother was striding toward them in her silk pajamas, Tiffany right beside her. Hands pumping at her sides, she didn’t notice her robe was gaping open. No, there was murder in her sister’s wild eyes.
“Where’s my dress?” Tiffany practically screamed.
Ariel stood rooted in her spot. Her brain wouldn’t process anything but the one problem she didn’t have an answer to. She had an entire bag filled with disaster-solving items, everything from wet wipes to extra extension cords, but nothing that would solve this. Checking the time, she noted they had ninety minutes until the wedding started.
Ninety minutes!
The Lord of the Flies boys were suddenly running toward them and skidding to a halt, staring up at the adults. When she glanced around, everyone was staring at her. Right. Because she always knew what to do. A surge of nausea shot up her throat like she’d downed a vinegar shot. She had no answers. Only the urgent pounding of her heart in her ears, making her pant rapidly.
Dax’s hand on her shoulder brought her back into focus. God knew how much that had cost him at such a fraught moment. Oh, she couldn’t have loved him more.
She walked toward her sister and leaned close to make direct eye contact. “Somehow your dress got misplaced, Tiffany.”
“Misplaced?” Her sister’s voice was full of venom. “Well…then you’d better find it—or you won’t be getting what we agreed to.”
She could feel everything inside her drop. Yeah, this was the other shoe she’d feared was coming. Swallowing the ball in her throat, she reached for her famous calm, the kind she gathered when she faced impossible odds. “I know what’s at stake. Don’t worry. We’re going to find it.”
Her voice sounded more assuring than she felt. Surely they would find it. A wedding dress didn’t just up and walk off on its own. If her family was the kind who could joke, she’d say maybe a bunch of crabs, relatives of the one who’d worn her wig, had taken the dress off into the ocean. Perhaps a mermaid had needed it for her perfect wedding under the sea.
But they weren’t that kind of family and never would be.
Her sister’s wedding dress was missing. They had less than ninety minutes to find it. And if they didn’t, after all this, the one thing she’d wanted all along would never be hers.