Christmas Wedding (9 page)

My sister gave me a long level look. “Oh, that Ray is such a honey. I was just trying to fix him up with Kelly. He lives in New York. She lives in New York. They’d be a perfect match, don’t you think?”

“
Aarrg!” I growled, and turned quickly and stomped off toward the mansion. She was going to deny everything. She was going to spoil everything.

Jon followed. “Ashley, wait up.” When he reached me, he said, “Maybe it’s not what you think. Maybe she is trying to fix them up.”

“
Jon, you are so naive. You haven’t seen what I’ve seen.”

“
I know,” he said thoughtfully. “You told me.”

We found Scarlett sitting alone at one of the outdoor tables on the veranda. I wanted to have a private word with her. “Jon, would you mind going inside and filling three plates for us?” To Scarlett, I asked, “You haven’t eaten yet have you?”

Eyes downcast, she shook her head ‘no.’

I turned to Jon, and he got it. He read my expression. I wanted to be alone with Scarlett. “I’ll be glad to. Anything special you’d like, Scarlett?”

“
No, nothing special. You select. And thanks, Jon.”

“
I think I saw a platter of those wonderful curried chicken wings that Elaine makes,” I said.

As soon as he had gone, I sat down across the table from Scarlett. “You’ve been crying, haven’t you? Would you like to talk?”

“
Oh, Ashley, I’ve lived such a solitary life for so long, now that I’m back in the world, I don’t seem to know whom to trust.”

She lifted her eyes, to me, eyes that were golden green, so much like Melanie’s. So much like Mama’s. And she looked pretty in a creamy ivory pantsuit with a lacy cammie worn under the jacket.

I reached out and covered her hand with my own. “You know you can trust Aunt Ruby. And you can trust Binkie. And you can trust me. And Melanie.”

“
Ah, Melanie,” Scarlett sighed. “Will she ever accept me, do you think?”

“
I think she has, Scarlett. You know, learning about you has served to help us understand our mother. Mama always wore a cloak of sadness about her that try as we might we could not break through. I remember that Melanie and I tried so hard to make her happy. Daddy too, of course. Now I know that it is not the child’s job to make the parent happy. We were just kids. If I’m lucky enough to have children, I’ll never put them in that position.”

“
And you think she was grieving over giving me up?” Scarlett asked.

“
Yes, I think so. Probably the hardest part was carrying the secret inside her. I know my parents had a good marriage, so I don’t know why she did not eventually confide in my dad. He was good guy, and very understanding.”

“
My dad was too,” Scarlett said. “It wasn’t a problem for me to be raised by my grandparents. I knew from early on about my biological parents. Auntie Claire came to visit twice a year, and I was surrounded by my father’s memorabilia. There were pictures of him in every room of our condo, as a boy, as a man, in uniform. I’m sorry that my mother had such a miserable time of it.”

“
When she was diagnosed with dementia,” I said, “Melanie and I thought that explained some of her odd behavior. Now that we know what was really at the bottom of it, well, it’s a help. Scarlett, it has helped Melanie and me to know about you.”

Scarlett beamed at me. “Thanks, Ashley, it means a lot to me to hear you say that.”

“
I just wish we had known about you sooner. If it was fear that my dad would think less of her that prevented her from telling us, why didn’t she tell us after he died? He died eight years ago, when I was a freshman at Parson’s.”

“
Maybe by then it had become a way of life for her,” Scarlett said.

“
You are very wise,” I said.

“
Perhaps she did get around to wanting to tell you and then later it was too late. I had gone into the Witness Protection program and she couldn’t find me,” Scarlett suggested.

“
Yes, that could be it,” I said. “What was it like, living in Witness Protection?”

“
Very, very lonely,” Scarlett said wistfully. “I couldn’t communicate with anyone from the past. You can’t imagine how cut off that made me feel. But to do so might put them in danger. And I couldn’t make new friends because it was impossible to get close to anyone. Everything about me was a lie. And I missed dancing but I didn’t dare risk dancing professionally. That might have led Blackie to me. He had seen my face. He would have found out who I was. And then when I disappeared without a trace, he would have figured out the feds were holding me.”

“
So if you didn’t dance, what did you do? Where did you live?” I asked.

“
I was assigned to a U.S. Marshal. He made all of the arrangements for my relocation. They moved me to Phoenix, and enrolled me in a paralegal program at a community college. My new name was Susan Brown. Ha!” she laughed, “not very colorful. I worked at a law firm for five years. My job was very ‘behind the scenes’. Safer that way, the marshal told me. I was tucked away in an office. I had no social life to speak of. Maybe dinner with one of the other paralegals every now and then. I couldn’t get close to anyone because making up Susan’s life was just too difficult and I was afraid of getting caught in a lie and being exposed.”

“
So you led a very low-profile life,” I said. “And after the life of a Rockette that must have been difficult.”

“
Very difficult, Ashley. I had trouble sleeping, and suffered from migraines. Finally, it was all over. I testified before a Grand Jury about what I had seen that night. The feds had built a solid case against Blackie on additional charges, and there was enough evidence to put him away for the rest of his life. Both parties agreed to a bench trial, that is no jury. I testified there before the judge. He and his gang were sent away.”

The party was going on around us, with guests coming and going, but for the moment no one interrupted our conversation. If anyone wondered who this woman was who looked so much like Melanie, they might have assumed she was a cousin. That was how Aunt Ruby had been introducing her.

Scarlett continued her story. “If I thought Witness Protection was a lonely proposition, what I faced after I was returned to my own life was worse. I hadn’t danced in six years so there was no hope of asking for my old job with The Rockettes. The government had arranged for the very private, very discreet sale of the New York condo, so although I had money waiting for me in an account, I no longer had a home to return to.”

“
Oh, Scarlett. I know how I’d feel if I lost my house.”

“
Thanks for understanding, Ashley. I knew from the obituary in the Star-News online that my mother had died. I thought I would find Aunt Ruby. I went to Savannah and discovered that she no longer lived in the Chastain family home, that it was being converted into a museum. I couldn’t locate her. Then, a couple of weeks ago, I happened to look at the Society pages and saw the announcement of your double wedding. I came to Wilmington and found Aunt Ruby. I didn’t dare approach you first for fear of shocking you. And well, it was just uncomfortable. I know I’ve done nothing wrong yet still I feel like the black sheep of this family.”

“
Scarlett, now you listen to me. I want you to stop feeling that way. We are going to introduce you to everyone as our sister. We are going to include you in all our plans. Mama gave you the right name. Scarlett. Your namesake was a plucky, courageous heroine, and so are you!”

15

Our wedding day dawned clear and bright, morning light filtering into the bedroom around the shades. I was too excited to sleep past seven, and quietly left the bed so as not to wake Melanie. We had slept together last night, just like we had many times as little girls. We had talked until midnight. About Scarlett, and Mama and Daddy, and the young soldier Mama had fallen in love with at age seventeen. There had always been a shadow of sadness about Mama and now we knew the reason why.

I didn’t have the nerve to confront Melanie about Ray. I was waiting for the right moment.

I peeked out the window to view the day. Nun Street was quiet, still too early for traffic, even on a Saturday morning. Across the street, front doors were festive with red and green wreaths, and porch railings were festooned with colorful swags.

I pulled on my robe, snugged my feet into fuzzy slippers and tiptoed down the stairs. Wedding day! My wedding day. I hugged myself.

I missed Jon. In keeping with tradition he had slept at his home last night, and Cam had slept at his. But Jon is my best friend and I like to share my feelings and impressions with him, so I missed sharing this sense of elation I was experiencing. Tomorrow, I told myself. After today, we will be together always.

I brewed decaf coffee, a flavor called Death by Chocolate that I buy by the scoop out of the bin at Fresh Market. In a few minutes the kitchen smelled like melting chocolate.

As I was pouring my first mug and about to step out onto the kitchen porch to check the temperature, Melanie appeared. I don’t know how she does it, but Melanie’s hair never gets tangled like mine does when she sleeps. She never looks prune-faced like the rest of us in the morning. She always looks fresh and dewy.

“
Hi,” I said, filling a coffee mug and handing it to her. “How did you sleep?”

“
Like a baby. How’s the weather?”

“
Let’s check.”

We went out onto the porch. The air was a bit nippy and the grass was wet but the sun would burn that off soon and warm the air. The Carolina Jessamine that covered the gazebo was in bloom, pretty tiny golden yellow trumpet flowers against narrow, spiky green leaves. The pansies I had planted last month were flourishing, their faces sweet and open and every color imaginable.

I slipped my arm around Melanie’s silk-robed waist. “The whole world looks beautiful this morning, doesn’t it?”

“
Uhmmm,” she replied, sipping coffee.

I gave her a long look. “Melanie, you aren’t having any regrets are you? You know, your favorite expression used to be, ‘the grass is always greener.’”

Melanie gave me a smile. “You are not to worry about me and Cam. Not ever. I know I’ve been kind of . . . well, let’s just say, generous with my favors where men are concerned. But Cam is the only one for me. I’ll be true to him. I promised him and I’m promising you. This is one marriage that is going to stick.”

“
Mine too,” I said. “My old life, the part of my life that included Nick, that is all behind me. I have so much to look forward to. And so do you.”

Melanie turned back to the house. “We’d better get a move on. I’ve got calls to make. Elaine’s crew and the florist were supposed to be working through the night, setting up the tables in the drawing room at the lodge. Placing the flowers and setting the tables, and decorating the indoor garden room for the ‘Kindness Ceremony.’”

“
Mel, you know I have only one bathroom so we’ll have to take turns in the tub,” I said.

“
I’m going to have a lovely bubble bath,” she said.

“
You go first. I’m going to walk around the garden for a bit. I’ll see you inside. What time did you say the esthetician was coming?”

Melanie was entering the house and she turned back. “Nine. She’ll give us lovely facials. So relaxing.”

Then she walked back to my side. “It’s going to be hectic today, Ashley, so I may not get a chance to say this.” She put her arms around me and gave me a big squeeze. “You were the best baby sister any girl could ask for. I loved you then. And I love you now.”

She pulled back with tears sparkling in her bright green eyes. “I’ll love you forever. You are going to make a beautiful bride. And you and Jon, Cam and I are going to have a lifetime of fun and adventures.”

I was crying now, making little gulping noises in my throat. “Oh, Melanie, I miss Mama and Daddy so much. Wouldn’t they be proud?”

“
Wouldn’t they now?” she echoed. “Somehow I think they know. I think they are watching and giving us their blessing.”

“
Me too,” I said, and squeezed her hard.

Then, laughing, I called after her as she went inside, “Don’t use up all the hot water.”

I took a turn around my small garden, feeling chilly but the morning air was refreshing and crisp. I needed to talk to God. Why is it so easy to talk to God in a garden? “Bless us, Father,” I asked. “Bless our wedding, and bless our marriages. Keep us safe, and free from harm. May your angels surround us today and protect us from the many dangers we mortals face. We are so fragile, yet so strong at the same time. A complex miracle. Your creation.”

I bowed my head, made the sign of the cross, and silently wept with happiness.

Then I shook my hair out of my face, squared my shoulders, and marched into the house. I couldn’t wait to meet Jon at the church.

16

At ten o’clock Melanie and I were stretched out on adjoining massage tables in my guest room. A relaxing massage before things let loose was her gift to both of us. We had removed our engagement rings and placed them in a dish on the bed table. My ring was a Tiffany style diamond in a platinum band. Very simple but elegant and classic. Melanie’s ring was a one a half carat oval cut diamond with white and yellow diamonds set in white gold and yellow gold.