CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Sadie went into her room and sat on the foot of her bed. I followed and plopped down next to her.
“Of course it’s raining,” she said, her voice catching, and I could see how she was struggling not to cry. “My shoe is gone, Mary-Ellen almost died, I looked like I was going to audition for the Blue Man Group, and now there’s torrential rain.”
Some irrational part of my brain wondered if Lilith had somehow caused this. Like she’d summoned the storm, or something. “I know it’s probably hard to see right now, but according to legend, this is a good thing.”
She gave me an incredulous look. “How in the world is this a good thing?”
“In lots of cultures rain is lucky on a wedding day. It symbolizes washing the slate clean and how strong your union will be. You’ve heard of the phrase ‘tying the knot’? There’s some debate over where it comes from, but one of them is from the Celtic tradition of handfasting. The husband and wife would literally have knots of cloth tied between their hands and if it rained ... do you know how impossible it is to undo a soaking-wet knot? It means your marriage will be solid and no one can unravel it.”
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“It’s not. And given all this experience and knowledge that I possess, I can tell you that I understand this is not what you were hoping for, but it’s going to be okay. The only thing that matters today is that you and Dan get married. The rest of it is all fluff.” Like cotton candy. That would melt in seconds in this weather.
I put an arm around her shoulders and squeezed and said, “Sometimes when everything gets messed up, all we can do is embrace the storm and ride it out. Rainbows come after the rain.” I was wandering into cheesy platitudes, but I would have said anything if it would cheer her up.
She gave me a weak smile, and I hoped that meant it was working.
The main door of Sadie’s villa slammed shut, and I heard Troy calling for Anton. “I’ll be right back,” I told her. I grabbed the box of tissues from her nightstand and handed them to her, just in case.
Troy was soaking wet and looked a little like a drowned cat. I almost asked him how things were going, but decided not to given his current expression. I tried for helpful instead. “Is there anything I can do? Do you have a backup plan?”
His glare was like two giant laser beams, set for destruction. “Obviously I planned for the completely unexpected rainstorm that didn’t show up on any weather report.”
I couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic. I hoped he was serious.
He put my fears to rest by adding, “There’s already a large tent up on the west lawn, next to the ballroom so that the reception would have an indoor/outdoor feel. I’m going to move the ceremony there. I just need some time and manpower to set it up.”
“Tell me what you want me to do.” I’d happily get out there and set up chairs if that’s what it took.
“Right now I need you to keep Sadie calm while I figure out what to do with a van full of peacocks.”
For a second I thought I’d misheard. “A van full of peacocks? Why do you have a van full of peacocks?”
“For ambience, Rachel!” he yelled and I knew I shouldn’t have asked. I got the kind of stress he was under.
Troy sighed and said, “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to take this out on you. I just need to get Anton so we can come up with a new battle plan. Keep your phone within reach so that I can call you if I need to.”
“I will absolutely do that.”
He rushed off and I squared my shoulders back, ready to do what I did best. Keep the women in this villa calm. I didn’t know how long it would take Troy to move everything over, but I’d have this bridal party ready when he was.
There were a couple of hiccups as we got ready for the ceremony—Mary-Ellen mistook spray deodorant for hair spray and there were little white flecks on her gray bridesmaid dress and Krista lost one of her pearl earrings—but in the grand scheme of things they were minor issues.
The wedding was delayed by only forty-five minutes. Troy’s assistants had umbrellas for us, including a massive one to cover Sadie’s dress, and we went to the spot he’d designated for us to wait in.
We stood there in anticipation as the music started and everyone followed Troy’s detailed instructions. The flower girl and the ring bearer made it down the aisle without any issues. Mary-Ellen walked down the aisle with Vance, followed by Krista and Rick. Then it was my turn. Camden waited for me and put out his arm so that I could put my hand through it.
Troy was an absolute magician. Somehow he had managed to move everything over and nothing seemed like it was out of place or missing. Flowers decorated the archway that the officiator stood under, and there were pale-pink and white flowers attached to the chairs closest to the aisle. A white runner had been staked to the ground for us to walk down. The rain outside gave everything surrounding the tent a misty, hazy quality so that it all seemed even more romantic.
The overabundance of romance made it hard to calm down my overactive imagination as Camden and I walked down the aisle together. I wanted this fantasy. This belief that love could conquer everything and that there was a happy ending waiting for me.
We separated once we reached the front and then everyone stood when Sadie entered the tent. Despite everything she’d gone through that morning, she looked absolutely radiant. I glanced at Dan, and saw that he had gotten choked up, and was trying to fight off tears at seeing his luminous bride.
To my surprise, she walked down the aisle with her stepfather and mother, but then I saw the wisdom in her making certain that they were on opposite sides of her and not able to interact. It seemed as if someone had forgotten to measure the aisle properly as her dress was hitting every row of chairs as she walked. A couple of the floral decorations tumbled down, but it somehow made the whole thing even more endearing.
When she got to the front her parents kissed her cheeks before taking their seats, separated by the aisle, and she handed me her bouquet before she took both of Dan’s hands.
“They’re totally going to make it,” Krista whispered to me, and I nodded. There was no doubt.
Now I was the one getting emotional as they said their vows to one another. Dan still seemed either nervous or overcome with emotion as he fumbled a couple of the words, like promising to love Sadie “in thickness and in health.”
Krista leaned in to say, “We’re witnesses. She never has to worry about gaining weight.”
I almost giggled, and my gaze slid over to Camden. I found that he was watching me with a knowing smile. His eyes didn’t dart away, like they would have if he’d been embarrassed that I’d caught him. It was more like he didn’t care if I knew that he was watching me, admiring me.
He was so handsome and amazing and fun that it made my breath stutter as I marveled at the fact that he liked me.
I just had to wait for Sadie to talk to him to see how all of this was going to shake out. I hoped he would give me a chance when he found out the truth.
The officiator announced that they were husband and wife and all the guests broke into applause as Dan kissed Sadie sweetly.
They made their way back down the aisle, waving to everybody as they went. Camden was there to escort me and we followed them, my heart thrilled at the idea that another happy couple had gotten married. I really did love weddings and everything they represented.
Troy was waiting for us, shooing us off to go with the photographer and videographer to do photos. Someone had found a pair of rain boots for Sadie, and there were all kinds of adorable shots of her with them on and everyone holding their black umbrellas.
That shifted into the family photos and I kept an eye on Brandy and Maybelle, hoping that everybody had the good sense to behave. So far, so good.
After an hour or so the photos were finished, and I wondered if Sadie was disappointed. They’d put double that amount of time on the schedule to do pictures, but with the wedding being pushed back and the weather, I supposed we had to make do with what we had.
Troy directed all of us into the ballroom so that Sadie and Dan would be able to make their grand entrance as Mr.and Mrs.Zielinski.
The reception had been going for a little while. Sadie had specifically requested that the food be served buffet style because she didn’t want there to be a time period where people were confined to their tables, thanks to her parents. I actually preferred being able to choose what I wanted to eat instead of being forced into something.
I started toward the food, but Camden stepped in front of me. “I seem to recall asking you to save a dance for me several nights ago.”
Trying to be nonchalant, I shrugged one shoulder. “That rain check has expired.”
He gestured toward the open ballroom doors. “It’s raining, so I think it’s still good.”
“Well, you do make a compelling argument.”
I let him lead me out to the dance floor, where there were only a few other couples dancing. The song came to an end and a slow one started up. Camden put his hands on my waist and I slipped my arms around his neck.
Initially there was a bit of distance between us, but he quickly took care of that.
“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?” His mouth was next to the top of my ear, and his warm breath sent shivers across my skin.
“You clean up pretty well, too,” I said.
I closed my eyes and leaned my head against his shoulder. I loved being close to him like this. His arms tightened around me, as if he were feeling the same way and wanted to draw me in even more.
He brought back those tingles when he asked, “So ... have you thought more about what I said? About seeing where things go when we get back to New York?”
“Have you talked to Sadie yet?”
“Sadie? Why would I talk to Sadie?”
I leaned back so that I could look in his eyes. “You have to talk to her first.”
He seemed thoroughly confused, but that was all I could give him. I went back to resting my head on him, and he raised one hand up to the back of my head, as if he were cradling me, keeping me safe.
I reveled in every second of it.
“Do you have your speech prepared?” Camden asked.
“More or less.” I could make a maid of honor speech in my sleep, given that I’d done it so many times. I had figured out a long time ago the formula to a good wedding speech: it would have something that made the crowd laugh, something that made them a little weepy, and something that would make them cheer for the happy couple.
“I’ve got mine in my pocket and I’ve practiced it, but I’m still nervous. I have no problem standing up in front of a room of investors trying to get them to give me money, but the thought of talking to this group of people is slightly terrifying.”
“That’s because you want to do right by Dan. Because you’re a good friend. And a good man.”
“Do you think so?” He asked the question in a way that made me think the answer was really important to him.
Despite not wanting to move, I lifted my head so that I could again meet his gaze. “I do. I think you’re a good man. And I ...”
I wanted to tell him. That I had feelings for him. That I most definitely wanted to see him again and date him and maybe adopt another cat with him and someday even more than that.
But Troy interrupted me before I could say too much. Apparently the camera crew wanted some specific footage of the bridal party toasting each other. He handed us flutes of champagne and we followed him to where everyone else was waiting.
“By the way,” I told him as we walked, “you are a total wizard.”
At my compliment Troy gave me an enigmatic smile and simply said, “I know.”
The six of us stood in a circle and I was at a loss as to what we should be doing. I started to ask Hank, the director, but he made a cutting motion across his throat and I remembered that this was all being broadcast live.
Camden took the lead and said, “To the bride and groom!”
“To Dan and Sadie!” we said back, clinking our glasses and taking a drink. I mean, I didn’t take a drink. The night wasn’t over yet and I needed to keep my wits about me. But I did pretend.
I glanced around quickly and spotted Mandy and Brandy sitting together at their table eating. Brandy was actually smiling, so I figured that was a good thing. I felt myself relax. It seemed like everything was under control.
Dan and Sadie made their grand entrance a couple of minutes later, and we all applauded for them. The cheering got louder when Dan bent her back, kissing her soundly. They went out onto the dance floor to have their first dance as husband and wife.
Then it was time to cut the cake, where Dan very wisely did not smash cake in Sadie’s face. I had never liked that tradition. Plus, that meant we were about to get cake soon, and that was good.
Camden and I were assigned to sit together and he got up to get food. He asked if I wanted anything, but I waved him off. I wanted to sit here for a second and take it all in. Sadie and Dan moved among the tables, talking to everyone. Troy was running around like a chipmunk on Ritalin. There were a lot more people dancing now and it was entertaining to watch how much fun they were having.
Krista came over to me and said, “We should go upstairs and get our luggage.”
I’d totally forgotten that we needed to grab our stuff and leave it with the bell services so that we could make a quick exit when our taxi arrived. Camden was helping himself to a bunch of roast beef when I leaned in to tell him that I had to take care of something.
He winked at me. “Don’t make me wait too long. I can’t promise I’ll be here when you get back.”
That was the thing—I knew he would be. That he was reliable and that he was the kind of guy I could depend on.
It didn’t take long to pack up my things because at this point I was basically a pro. I put an outfit into my carry-on bag so that I could change before I got on the plane.
I went back downstairs and left all of my stuff at the bellhop station, my keycard at the front desk to officially check out, and returned to the reception. The DJ had started playing “YMCA” and almost everybody was out on the dance floor, doing the arm movements along with the chorus. I felt a little like I should do a victory lap that it had all turned out okay.
Someone tugged on my arm, and to my surprise it was Sadie. “Would you come with me?” she asked.
“Of course.”
She led me out of the reception, into the hallway just beyond. “I wanted to let you know that Dan and I are leaving.”
“What? Now? But ...” I looked toward the doors. “The toasts, throwing the bouquet, you’re going to miss all of that.”
“You were right today. All of this is just fluff. I didn’t care about the wedding, I just wanted the marriage. Dan and I are headed back to New York because I don’t want to wait another minute to start our lives together.”
“But ...”
“We cut the cake, we did our dance, we talked to everyone. The camera crews will keep streaming until they realize that we’re gone, but they got what they needed from us.”
“Okay,” I said, realizing this was happening and was what she wanted. My job was to keep her happy, and this obviously made her very happy. “I’m guessing you didn’t get a chance to say anything to Camden.”
“No, I’ve been a little busy,” she teased. “You can tell him. I officially waive my rights or give you permission to tell Camden the truth.”
An uneasy pang settled in my gut. I had definitely been hoping for the cowardly way out. Now I was going to have to tell him. “I don’t think what you just said would hold up in a court of law.”
She shook her head. “It doesn’t have to. You are officially off duty. The rest of the night is all yours. Dan’s waiting for me out front. I have to get going.” Then she took her bouquet, placing it in my hands. “If I had tossed the bouquet, there’s only one person that I would have wanted to catch it. Now, go and get your man.”