Three Weddings and a Dress (19 page)

“Have you ever thought about disposing of her?” Katie eyed her over the rip of her glass.

“You mean like Jessie’s going to hire some thug to take her out or something?” Joey sounded like she actually liked the idea.

“No, maybe trip her so she’d fall down the hole of an outhouse or something,” Katie explained.

Jessie smothered a laugh, “Yes, and there are so many of those around Manhattan.”

“You know what I mean.” Katie pouted.

“Actually I don’t.” Jessie let the cool sweet liquid slide down her throat.

Katie scowled at her but at least her friend let the subject drop. If there had been a privy in New York though, it would have been a great idea.

“What are you doing for flower girls?” Joey sipped her gaze focused over Jessie’s left shoulder.

When she twisted to see what had Joey’s attention, she wasn’t surprised to find six foot of gorgeous hunk. Too bad for her friend he had an equally gorgeous date.

Jessie grinned at Joey. “Focus, the man’s got a woman hanging on his arm.”

Katie snapped her fingers. “See, they’re
all
taken.”

“Yeah. It’s depressing.” Joey drained the rest of her martini glass as if to solidify her statement.

Jessie laughed then brought the subject around. “Flower girls? Remember those little ones who prance down the aisle ahead of the bridesmaids?”

Joey frowned in her direction. “Okay, make us talk about your happy day while we’re wallowing in our little pity party about having no men in our lives.”

“See this?” Jessie held up her index finger and thumb and rubbed them together. “It’s the smallest violin playing for your sorrow.”

Katie snorted, then coughed having just taken a sip of her Cosmo. “She has you there Joey. Alright Miss Bride, are you having your aunt’s granddaughter?”

“Yes, and because Mama found such a bargain on Bella I’m having Mark’s niece Sarah also.”

“What are they wearing?” Joey then turned to the waitress who had arrived at the table. “I’ll have one more, please.”

Jessie contemplated her almost empty glass. She would be taking the subway. “I’ll have another one also, Kate?”

“Oh you bet. These are the best.”

The waitress’s chuckle floated over her shoulder as she left their table. Jessie realized she felt more unruffled than she had in the last month.

Friends were the best medicine. Or maybe it was the pink cocktails, she didn’t care. She felt better.

“I wanted to wait to see what you two decided for your dresses. I have a date with the two little ones tomorrow. We’re going to Macy’s over on 34
^th
.”

“Is Mark’s sister okay with that?” Katie asked, as if taking his niece to anywhere but Neiman Marcus would be a tragedy.

To hell with Mark’s pampered family, Jessie chose to misunderstand. “What’s wrong with Macy’s?”

Joey barked in what Jessie thought might have been a laugh. “Just that the prices aren’t over the moon, what are you
thinking
Jessie? Bargain basement?”

“I’m sorry. I refuse to break my budget to please. And Carmon isn’t like her mother the snobby Claudia Taylor.”

The look Katie gave her was a skeptical, ‘If you say so.’

“I say so, now let’s change the subject.”

“Bachelorette party, when and where?” Joey raised her martini along with a brow.

“I tell you, Pandora’s is the place.” Katie shrugged.

“Okay Pandora’s but don’t be disappointed when I don’t dance on the tables.”

“Deal. Now when? Between your two jobs, and wedding obligations you’re always busy.” Joey had pulled out her notepad to scribble, Jessie wasn’t sure what.

“Friday night.”

Katie gave a soft squeal. “As in this week? That’s two days away how are we supposed to plan it that fast.”

Jessie looked to the heavens and then to her two friends. “You’ve been bugging me for how long I thought you’d at least have it planned if not the date. One of the girls at Java Hut needed to switch nights with me. I only found out this morning. I don’t mind if the three of us have a girl’s night at my house.”

“No way, this has to be the event of the year. It’s your send off party so you don’t forget your friends,” Joey declared.

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m getting married for hell sakes. Mark will let me out from time to time for good behavior.” Jessie laughed. Sometimes she cracked herself up. Her friends were acting as if she was moving to Siberia or something.

Between her soon to be mother-in-law, if she could even think of Claudia Taylor in those terms, and her friends, she was going to be bonkers before the wedding. Poor Mark.

When the waitress made another appearance, Jessie thought it prudent to call a halt to their afternoon Cosmos. She needed to be sober in a few hours to work at her second job. Though being a little tipsy might help pass the time.

Outside, they gave each other hugs and set off for their various stations. Bleecker was close to most the trains, but since they all had to take different ones they had to part ways.
Jessie smiled as she watched her friends leave. What would she ever do without those two? Good thing she didn’t have to find out.

She slid her card through the scanner and waited on the platform for the Six train. Once on board, she closed her eyes and went over her list of to-do things for the wedding.

Slipping a mickey to Claudia before the wedding so she wouldn’t cause problems should probably be crossed off.

Why not? It was a damn good idea.

Dear Diary;

Flower girls

I’ve decided little girls are a delight. I’d never had any experience with the little darlings until now. Jessie had plans to take the two girls to some place called Macy’s. An argument had ensued the minute Mark’s mother had arrived.

 
Jessie had escaped into the room with the two little ones. I assume to escape the quarrelling between Carla and the burlap bag, Mark’s Mother, about their destination. I couldn’t blame her. It sounded like they might even be tearing out each other’s hair.

Carla had very pretty hair, I’d be sad to see it go.

“Sarah what do you think of Bella?” Jessie stood in front of me, a girl on each side.

Sarah angled her head to look up at Jessie, “Why did you name her?”

“Yeah?” The other little girl, Missy, piped in.

“I didn’t, the lady who made Bella is a very famous designer and she names all her creations. I’ve watched her on a TV show.”

Two pair of bewildered eyes stared at her. Clearly neither of them had seen the show. The only reason I knew about it was because Heidi had been so excited about her interview. She had gushed about it for weeks until all of us had wanted to stuff lace in her mouth.

 
“Well it’s a program on television and Heidi, that’s the lady who made Bella, said she calls them all
her girls
. They also have certificates with their names, like when you were born you had a birth certificate.”

Sarah’s eyes widened in her small face, wonder radiated. “You mean Bella was borned?”

“Not exactly, she was designed.” Jessie grinned at the girl. Then she reached out and gently touched my lace. A ripple of pleasure raced over my ribbons.

“Bella is made of satin, lace and these little beautiful beads. Heidi started with a bolt of fabric.”

Missy jumped and raised her hand as if she were in school. “Oh, Oh, I know. It’s like Nana does when she makes my dresses for church.”

“That’s right.” Jessie beamed at the little girl for knowing what she meant.

Sarah still looked bewildered. “How come you don’t go to the store and buy your dress for church?”

Missy shrugged, apparently she didn’t know any different. Jessie patted Sarah on the shoulder. “Dresses at the store are made also. My aunt, Missy’s Nana, takes delight in making Missy’s dresses herself. Sarah when you go to school aren’t you proud when you draw a picture for your mommy?”

Sarah considered so long I didn’t think she was going to answer. “I guess so.”

Clearly, the small girl still wasn’t grasping what Jessie was trying to impart. Apparently, my bride came to the same conclusion.

“Sarah, Missy, gently feel this material.”

Two small hands reached out, my satin was aquiver. I can’t describe the energy that transferred to my lace. These two small ones would grow up and want to wear a dress like me someday.

From this day forward, I would be in their fantasies.

Chapter Thirteen

Jessie tried to ignore her mother and Mrs. Taylor in the other room. That was, until she heard the obvious sound of glass shattering.

“Girls, you stay here. Be careful of Bella.”

“Why can’t we go? Aren’t we going to get our dresses?” Missy slanted her young face to the side in question.

“In a minute, honey. I’ll be right back.” She left before either of the young girls could stop her.

The battle zone looked worse for wear. Her favorite dish, the one she’d found at a swap meet, was nowhere to be seen. A flash of blue caught her eye and with a sinking feeling she bent to pick up the shard that twinkled with the morning sun.

Upon closer inspection, she knew the bowl would never hold an orange in her new kitchen when she and Mark set up house. Anger ran the gambit through her nerves.

She squared her shoulders to face down the dragon lady and her normally nice Mama.

“Just what the hell is going on here? Are you trying to kill each other? Or teach the girls bad manners?” She let her brow lift and waited.

“
She
doesn’t want any dresses from a cheap store like Macy’s.” Her Mama referred to Claudia as if she were the lowest form of bug. Why had she brought Sarah instead of Carmon? Didn’t matter now, the damage was done.

The gargoyle had probably insisted she accompany her granddaughter, afraid Jessie would corrupt her with her bargain basement tastes. Gritting her teeth, she tried counting to ten. When that didn’t work, she did fifteen.

No use, nothing could salvage the situation.

“It’s not going to do any good to break things. Missy and Sarah are ready to go. Are you two?”

Jessie wondered if she could pull off sneaking down the fire escape to take the girl’s shopping on her own. Straightening, she sucked in her breath.

She looked from her mother’s beet red face to Claudia’s equally crimson one. It could work.

“You two
try
to play nice. I’ll get the two girls.”

As the door closed behind her, she barely caught Mrs. Taylors words. “We are going to Macy’s over my dead body.”

To bad that couldn’t be arranged.

Jessie would settle for the next best thing.

She found the two little girls, ogling Bella. Both turned when they heard the soft snap.

“How would you two like an adventure?”

Their eyes lit up, and both little heads nodded eagerly. Jessie placed her slim finger to her lips cast a glance over her shoulder at the door. Voices raised in anger.