Chapter 5 Pepper
PEPPER
An hour later, unable to stay in one place, Pepper walked the grounds with Maggie and Lisa.
Understanding the enormity of the crisis, Maggie left Lily with Jackson and the nanny to join them.
The men had agreed to talk to the restaurant and planning staff to see about adjusting the wedding by one day.
They didn’t talk as they walked across the graveled courtyard and down the steps to the restaurant, a modern structure built partially underground.
A bank of windows looked out into another courtyard.
They didn’t stop to look inside where the harried staff were setting up tables for the reception.
They crossed the lawn toward the pool, covered now.
Pepper turned to look back at the castle.
From this angle, with its turrets and towers, the old building looked imposing.
She could imagine what it must have been like hundreds of years ago as a fortress against the enemy.
In this case, the enemy had been within the walls.
She’d never have thought anyone would steal a dress.
But there were two factors she hadn’t considered.
One, she was famous. Two, the dress had cost thousands.
She cringed just thinking about how much she’d spent on it.
Lisa’s phone pinged with a message. “This is it,” she said. “Pictures from my mom.”
They gathered around the phone to look at the photos. The first was a simple silky sheath. “Kind of plain,” Lisa said.
The second was a classic A-line tulle skirt and beaded bodice. “That’s pretty,” Maggie said.
Lastly, there was a mermaid style with delicate lace and a sleeveless bodice. Between them, they voted on the second. After a quick phone call to Lisa’s mom, it was decided.
They walked into a dense area of trees. Maggie took the lead, swiping away cobwebs in their path.
As the thicket cleared, they came upon the river.
Green and still, the surface of the water appeared like glass under the afternoon sun.
A rowboat tied to the skinny trunk of a birch tree rocked in the water.
“Have you guys ever been in a rowboat?” Maggie asked.
Pepper nodded.
Lisa crossed her arms over her chest. “When I was a kid on the lake, sure.”
“What say we take a little ride?” Maggie asked. “To get our minds off things.”
“It’s not the best idea we’ve ever had,” Lisa said. “But I’m game.”
They crept to the water’s edge. Maggie untied the rope from the tree, then held the stern as Pepper, then Lisa, climbed in. Lisa took hold of the paddles and positioned herself on the middle seat. Pepper sat in front; Maggie took the back.
Lisa stuck an oar in the water and pushed away from the bank. Small fish swam along the sandy bottom of the river. A breeze rustled the red and gold leaves of the trees.
Lisa moved the paddles in smooth, even strokes until they were in the middle of the river. Although wide, it remained shallow as they approached the middle.
“There’s fish,” Pepper said, more excited than she should be, considering she’d thought today would be the day she married Stone. But what was one day?
“When we were waiting for our bags in Paris, a bunch of people recognized me,” Maggie said.
“They started screaming and running toward us. They scared Lily, and she started crying. That girl has a death grip when she’s scared.
Jackson’s face turned purple from the pressure of her little arms around his neck. ”
“Same thing happened to us yesterday,” Lisa said. “They scared me.”
“I loved it,” Pepper said.
They all laughed.
“Sometimes I wonder if this even makes sense, though,” Lisa said. “I mean, who gets their wedding dress stolen?”
“It’s the price we pay,” Pepper said.
She turned her torso to take a good look at her friends.
Maggie had put a hat on to protect her skin.
Her arms were wrapped around her small baby bump.
Lisa’s eyes were closed and her face lifted toward the sun.
Neither was wearing makeup, and they were dressed in loose jeans and sweaters.
For a moment, Pepper was transported back to a time when they were young and fueled only by their dreams. Now, so much of what they dreamed of had already happened.
They’d all found their “ones.” Professional success had come.
What they hadn’t expected was the cost they’d pay.
“I’m sorry those girls scared you,” Pepper said.
“I’m sorry they stole your dress,” Lisa said. “You had everything planned so perfectly.”
“I made the poor guys get measured for custom-made suits,” Pepper said. “And how many fittings did we go to? It’s a little over the top, maybe?”
“No, it’s the only time in our lives where we get to have exactly what we want,” Lisa said.
“I agree,” Maggie said, but there was something in her voice. Not judgment but a question.
“What?” Pepper asked her. “What’re you thinking?”
“So much of our current situations are decided by other people. Wardrobe, record producers, movie producers, stylists. I wonder if maybe that’s why we’ve been so weird about this wedding?”
“Pepper was weird about my wedding, too,” Lisa said. “She was the one who pushed Rafael and me to have it where I’d always dreamed.”
Pepper nodded, thinking through what she wanted to say. “True. But to Maggie’s point, I was feeling pretty out of control about everything back then, too. Maybe that’s why I insisted on making sure Lisa’s day was perfect.”
“What’s this have to do with Pepper’s missing dress?” Lisa asked. “Whatever our reasons for being a little controlling about this wedding doesn’t mean it’s right for someone to take her dress.”
“No, I know,” Maggie said. “It’s the only time in our lives we get to dress up.”
“Actually, that’s not true,” Pepper said. “Our whole careers are about dressing up.”
“I’ve said that before,” Lisa said.
Right then she knew what to do. Pepper sat up straighter as she prepared to make her case to her best friends.
“Postponing this wedding is stupid. I have the rest of my life to wear a fancy dress. I just want to be Mrs. Stone Hickman. I’ve made him wait long enough.
” Pepper ignored their stunned faces and picked up her phone to call Stone.
“Baby, let’s go ahead and do it tonight. ”
“Are you sure? What about a dress?” he asked.
“I have an idea. Just be there at five. I’ll be the one in white.”
When she hung up, she looked from one to the other. “Here’s what we’re going to do. First, Lisa, call your mom and tell her we don’t need a dress.”