Chapter 42
Chapter Forty-Two
Saturday morning dawned with a spectacular sunrise. I scurried to the kitchen to make the coffee, then took my shower. Donning my underwear, I thought about everything we needed to do before heading to the church. For the time being, I slid into my robe and slippers, and met my mother for coffee.
She gave me a bright smile. “Good morning, honey. Are you ready for a fabulous day?”
I kissed her cheek. “I’m so glad you and Dad are here with me to celebrate. You’re helping to keep me calm.”
“There’s nothing to be nervous about. You’re marrying the kind of man I’d have picked for you, and I have no doubt you’ll be happy together.”
“I know we will, Mom. We just need to get through the next few hours. Poor Brad’s all alone.”
“No, he’s not. Your father drove next door while you were in the shower. They’ll have breakfast and hang out together while we get you gussied up.”
I laughed, delighted that Dad would keep Brad company while the stylist came to the apartment to do my hair and makeup. That was a gift from Angela and Mike.
Rita met us in the kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee while she chanted random words such as, “This is the day.”
“Thank you for the reminder,” I said, smiling. “You and Mom can handle breakfast because all I’m having is a piece of that crumb coffee cake.”
“We have sticky buns, too,” Rita noted with a grin. She loved her sweets.
Mom took both boxes from the refrigerator, as well as the butter tray. “We might as well set these on the table, so we can nibble all morning. Have you heard from Heather?”
“Not yet, but she has to get back here in time to dress in her bridesmaid gown.” I thought about texting her or Angela, but it was still early—and neither of them needed a reminder.
Brad called and I took the phone to my bedroom. “Good morning,” I murmured, feeling a sense of excitement. “Did you sleep well?”
He chuckled in his sexy way. “Sort of, other than waking up a lot. How about you?”
“The same. I wish you were here.”
“Me, too, but your dad says the groom can’t see the bride until we’re in church. He’s making breakfast, as we speak.”
I laughed. “Knowing him, you’ll have bacon, fried eggs, and toast, though sausage would also work. We’re having coffee cake.”
“You’ll be starving by the time we get to the reception. Don’t forget, the photographer will meet us at the church.”
“Right,” I said, “and I think the hair stylist has arrived so I have to go. I love you, honey.”
“I love you, too. See you soon.”
We disconnected and I held the phone to my heart for just a moment, wishing I could have felt his arms around me. It won’t be long, I thought, composing myself as I returned to the kitchen.
When we finished introductions, the stylist agreed with my mother that the laundry room had the best lighting to do my hair, makeup, and nails. She pulled a kitchen chair there while I cut a slice of the crumb coffee cake and popped it into my mouth.
“I’m ready,” I called. To Mom, I whispered, “I should have eloped.”
I heard Rita say, “Don’t worry. She’s kidding.”
From the laundry room, I could see the goings-on in the kitchen and hear most of the conversation between Rita and my mother. After chatting about the outfits they’d purchased for the occasion, Mom mentioned her memories of me as an only child whose world revolved around her parents.
“We were a close family, yet she was ‘daddy’s girl.’”
“That’s so often the case with fathers and daughters,” Rita noted. “I imagine it was the same for Heather’s daughter. She’s an only child, too.”
“From what I can distill from discussions about her, she’s not accepting anyone taking the place of her father.”
“Right,” Rita replied. “I feel bad for my grandson because he’s caught in the middle, yet he and Heather should be able to have a relationship without Alicia’s interference.”
“Couldn’t her father step in and reassure the young woman that he’s there to support her?”
My mother nailed it, I thought.
Rita echoed my sentiments. “I agree, but he’s unavailable whenever Alicia reaches out to him.”
The stylist turned on the hair dryer, drowning out their words.
My reflection, however, returned to my mother’s initial comment about our family.
We did everything together, although I preferred going wherever my father went.
I recalled one time at a diner where Mom wanted a booth, but Dad suggested we sit at the counter. I followed Dad.
I had totally forgotten about that.
Despite my being an only child, similar to Alicia, my life differed greatly from hers.
According to Heather, she and Ali often spent their summers at the shore while her husband couldn’t find the time to join them.
It’s no wonder the kid feels unloved. I had a whole new perspective on the situation.
When the stylist moved from my hair to my nails, I no longer heard any chatter from Mom or Rita.
I did, however, hear the sound of running water, so I assumed they’d gone to the two bathrooms to shower.
She and I conversed about her work with brides, and she told me how much she liked the traveling aspect. I couldn’t imagine.
While my nails dried, she began to apply foundation to my face. “This stuff’s remarkable,” she noted. “It erases every blemish, not that you have many of those.”
I chuckled. “Brad won’t recognize me.”
“Believe me, he won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”
A tap at the back door alerted me to company. “Come in,” I called.
Heather and Alicia walked in, stopping at the laundry room door. “Wow,” they said in one voice. I wasn’t sure if they liked the look or thought otherwise.
“Did Angela drive you over?” I asked.
Heather gave a shake of her head. “No, Brad and your dad picked us up, which we appreciated. They didn’t mind since they wanted to kill time.”
I chuckled. “I’m sure. Mom’s upstairs taking her shower, and I suppose Rita’s doing the same. There should still be coffee cake on the kitchen table, so help yourself.”
“We already ate,” Alicia said. Her eyes darted around the apartment before she added, “You look really pretty.”
“Thanks. You look nice, too.”
“She had her outfit with her,” Heather remarked, “but I’ll go upstairs and get dressed.”
The stylist turned to them. “I have time to do your makeup if you’d like.”
Ali’s face lit up. “I’d love it! Can you make me beautiful?”
I stared at her. “Are you kidding? You’re gorgeous!”
The beautician reinforced my words, although Alicia shook her head in disagreement.
Her reaction made me realize that some of her arrogance may have masked a poor self-image.
Rather than bicker, I invited her to pull over a chair and watch a professional at work.
“I think we can both learn some new techniques,” I said, smiling.
Before long, my mother and Rita both arrived to check on me, stopping short when they saw Alicia.
They welcomed her and Rita suggested she have a sticky bun.
When I explained that she’d be next in line for the makeup, Rita panned, “Better have that bun now, rather than later. They’re really sticky. ”
I wanted to hug Mom when she said, “Jodie’s dad and I are going to feel very alone when she and Brad pronounce their vows. She’s our only child, you know.”
Alicia shrugged, “Whatever. They’ll be fine.”
“Yes, they will,” Mom agreed, “but it’s hard for the parents. I wonder if you’d sit with us in church, just to give us strength. You could be our surrogate daughter.”
She slowly nodded. “I guess so, if Jodie doesn’t mind.”
“I’d appreciate it,” I said. It took everything in me to keep from ruining my mascara.