Chapter 51
The morning of the wedding dawned dew-washed and glistening. The scent of salt and pine and sunbaked surfaces rode the breeze. There were hardly any people out as Ingrid, dressed in Edie’s old pajama pants and GREETINGS FROM SAVANNAH, GA T-shirt, emerged onto her front stoop.
Next door, on his own stoop, Dean Remington watered his begonias with a hose. He pushed his tortoiseshell glasses up his nose and waved at Ingrid. “Wedding day, is it?”
She smiled and waved back. “It is.”
She’d been so busy since Sailor was back in her life that she hadn’t seen much of Dean and Sheffield or Gloria and Harmon either.
She felt bad about that. Later, when she was more secure in her place in the Loeffler family, she’d have all of them over for a wonderful dinner.
Introduce them to the new and better generation of Loefflers.
“I thought the festivities started in the evening,” Dean commented over the splash of the water.
“Sailor asked me to come by earlier, to be with her while she gets ready. It’s a very stressful time.”
“Ah.” Dean looked at her with an expression she couldn’t read. “I take it you’ve worked out … the other issue you were having. With the Loefflers.”
“I think I probably overreacted that day in your garden,” she said. “About all of that.”
He looked doubtful, but thankfully let it go. “I hear Scoot’s back home.”
“Yes.” Ingrid really didn’t want to talk about this. “Sailor’s very relieved. She really wanted her mother at her wedding.”
“Good,” he said. “That’s good. Just …”
She lifted her eyebrows.
“Have fun,” he said even though she was fairly certain that’s not what he intended to say.
“Oh, I plan to,” she replied.
He gave her a look of consternation, but she didn’t stop. She needed to stay positive and focused. Today was an important day, in more ways than one.
The Loeffler mansion gleamed in the morning sun.
It appeared that sometime in the night, a cleaning crew had washed the whole exterior.
Now the place swarmed with a different sort of staff.
Stylists, glam squad, caterers, photographers, and assistants buzzed through each room, up and down the stairs, communicating solemnly with one another on slim headsets.
They were all dressed in black, all focused on one goal: preparing Sailor Loeffler for the moment when she and Jude would become husband and wife.
“She’s been asking for you.”
Ingrid turned to see the one person she’d hoped to avoid being alone with.
Scoot, the Great and Terrible.
The woman looked impossibly healthy, fresh-faced and clear-eyed, barefoot in silk pajamas and a matching kimono. Her toes were painted an extraordinary shade of bright blue.
Ingrid sucked in a deep, fortifying breath. “Nice to see you, Scoot. How have you been?”
Scoot gave her one of her signature sweeping looks, mentally tabulating every flaw Ingrid possessed.
“I don’t think we want to get into that, do we?
I mean, we should focus on the future, right?
On making sure today is a perfect day for Sailor, don’t you think?
” She smiled, maybe the most genuine smile Ingrid had ever seen on her.
Thank the Goddess.
She must not know about Ingrid’s spell—and she must not remember that it was Miles who had been with her in the car that terrible night. Ingrid was in the clear.
Scoot leaned toward her and kissed the air beside her cheek. “On that subject … she’s up in her room. That’s all I’ll say.” The woman sailed off in the direction of the kitchen. “Good luck.”
That definitely didn’t sound good. Ingrid hurried up the stairs, nerves jangling. She knocked softly on Sailor’s bedroom door then pushed it open a crack. “Sailor?”
The door flew open. “Ingrid!” Sailor was standing before her, also in pajamas, red-nosed and watery-eyed. Her hair was wet. “I’m so glad you’re here!” She launched herself at Ingrid, clutching at her.
Ingrid hugged her back. “Sailor, what is it? What’s wrong?”
Sailor didn’t release her grip. “Poppy’s sick.”
Ingrid’s brows knitted. “Sick? What do you mean, ‘sick’?”
Sailor finally let go. “They admitted her to the hospital. Walking pneumonia.”
“Oh no. That’s awful.”
“I know.” Sailor wiped her eyes. “And she’s my maid of honor.
My lifeline. She knows everything. The order of the ceremony.
Where the bouquets are, the rings—Mom’s already sent Mrs. Leimberger over to her apartment to collect everything.
It’s fine. It’s just … I’m really freaking out.
” Sailor glided across the room to an antique dressing table and sat.
Ingrid felt the sudden break in their connection. “Sailor, whatever I can do to help, just tell me. I’m here for you.”
Sailor picked up a brush and started running it through her already combed out hair. She watched herself in the mirror.
“Sailor?”
The brushing continued. “Did you do something, Ingrid?”
“Do something?”
“Cast a spell.” Sailor twisted in her seat to face her.
The shock of the accusation shot through Ingrid. She tried to swallow, but her throat had suddenly become uncomfortably dry. “No. No, Sailor. Of course not. I wouldn’t—”
Sailor tilted her head, not smiling.
“I wouldn’t do that again. I swear to you. I swear.” Her voice broke.
Sailor’s expression remained grim. “Ingrid, I have to know. You have to be honest with me.”
“Sailor, I promise. I didn’t do a spell.”
Not on Poppy.
“Because if you did, I don’t know what I’d do—”
Ingrid knelt on the rug at Sailor’s feet. “Sailor, I’m begging you—”
She turned her face away. “Ingrid, stop—”
“I am begging you,” Ingrid repeated. “You have to believe me. I did not cast a spell on Poppy. I would not do that. I know she’s your friend. That you love her. I will do anything to make this day perfect for you. Anything. Just say the word.”
Sailor heaved a sigh. “Get up.”
Ingrid scrambled up. “I’m sorry,” she repeated helplessly. She couldn’t think of anything else to say.
“Don’t be,” Sailor said at last. She stood and went to Ingrid, clutching at her. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I shouldn’t have doubted you. I’m just …” Her breath hitched. “Ingrid, I really need you right now.”
“Anything …” Ingrid said in a breathless voice.
“Be my maid of honor.” Sailor looked into her eyes and Ingrid felt something leap inside her. It was triumph, she recognized. She had finally worked her way to a place right beside Sailor. She was almost there.
“Yes.”