Page 12 of The Wedding

“Just tell me you love me. Please.”

Whatever Helen said must have cheered Monique up, for she put on a smile and finished wiping the tears from her face. Jamie turned to leave. Monique saw her and flushed in embarrassment.

Jamie couldn’t hustle to her bedroom fast enough.

Chapter 5

“Hold still.” The silk sash tightened around Jamie’s waist, throwing her off balance in her stilettos. Before she tumbled into the floor-length mirror in front of her, Etta snatched her into a protective embrace.

“Oh, my God,” Jamie heaved, still wobbly in her heels.What made me think these were a good idea?Probably the fact that they were cute, open-toed, and wrapped around her ankle in such a way that they complemented the skirt that flared above her knees. “I’m gonna die before the wedding is over.”

Etta made sure she was steady before releasing her girlfriend. Jamie saw her in the mirror, charming in her three-piece suit with a sapphire-blue shirt. Usually, Etta saved the fancy suits for charity dinners, but the wedding of the year worked as well.At least she got to pick out her outfit.To be fair, so did Jamie. All Monique requested was that her bridesmaids wear the same shade of blue and have their dresses approved by her. Jamie chose a halter dress with a bust-boosting sweetheart neckline, a likewise heart-shaped waistline, and a cute skirt that showed off her calves. She accessorized with the sapphire jewelry set Etta had given her over the firstfew months of their relationship. Necklace dangling, earrings sparkling, bracelet clutching, ring glistening, and barrette fitting snugly in her wavy black hair. When it came to colors, everyone agreed that blue was best – although the grapevine said that Monique’s favorite color was actually black. Hence it being the accent color, along with white, at the wedding.

No black for Jamie, aside from her hair, and the bruise she would probably sport on her knee later. “Thanks for helping me. Everyone is in the other room trying to get Monique to fit into her wedding dress.” Every once in a while they heard Eve shout in frustration. Stuff along the lines of,“Didn’t the seamstress just take your final measurements two weeks ago? What the hell have you been eating? Ramen and mac and cheese every day?”It was especially the sight because the usually tomboyish woman was running around in a flirty dress like Jamie’s. Every time the Amazonian with spiky hair and glaring makeup clomped through the room, she sent people running for cover.

“It’s my pleasure.” Etta had come in there to pay her respects to Monique before the wedding.I’m surprised she took today off from work.The woman hadn’t had time off since last Sunday night, when Jamie returned from Miami, weary and in need of a serious bath. “I want to see you before anyone else does, anyway.” She brushed something off Jamie’s open back, sending tingles through her body.

“Etta…” Jamie stifled a giggle. “What are you saying?”

She looped her arms around Jamie, hands placed on top of her abdomen while mouth nibbled her neck. “I’m saying that I, as your partner, should get to see you in this gorgeous dress before anyone else.”

“You like it, huh?” Jamie wouldn’t mention the black lingerie set she wore beneath.I discovered the straps are detachable. Perfect for this cut.“You should. You paid for it.”

“Did Ieverget my money’s worth.” Etta squeezed the breath out of hergirlfriend.

“All right.” Jamie had to put an end to the pawing before things got too far. She was sure her girlfriend would love to ravage her in the small changing room for anyone to walk in on, but Jamie had other things to worry about. “That’s enough. You get yours later.”

“Later?” Was she seriously put out? Apparently. Etta was used to getting what she wanted, whenever she wanted. “Fine. You think it’s safe to go in there yet?”

“About five women are trying to get Monique in that dress.”

“What? That seems strange.”

Jamie shrugged. “She didn’t drink hardly anything last weekend, but she was snacking a lot. Probably nerves. Water retention is a bitch.”

“Crisis averted!” someone called. “Don’t bend over and you’ll be fine!”

“I don’t see how I could possibly bend over!” Monique retorted.

Jamie had no idea how Monique struggled to fit in her dress. It was flowy. Not quite an empire cut, but damn close, with fabric flowing free starting from her bust and down to the ground. She looked like a veritable princess as she floated past brightly lit windows, heading toward a different room to have her makeup done. Someone – one of her girls from the Manoir, Jamie believed – chased after her with a brush and comb, demanding she slow down to have her hair fixed.

“Welcome to a woman’s most stressful day,” Jamie said. “I don’t envy her.”

Etta looked askance at Jamie. “Not in the mood for a wedding, are you?”

All the blood rushed to her face. “What are you saying?”

“Absolutely nothing. Just giving you a hard time.”

“Not today of all days, please.”

Etta kissed her girlfriend’s forehead. “Everything will go fine. Trust me. I saw the wedding planners Monique hired. If something goes wrong, they’ll make sure it looks like it was on purpose.”

“Jamie!” someone shouted from down the hall. “Pictures!”

It had been a long time since Jamie went to a wedding, andthatone was held in a community center with minimal fuss. Nor was she in the bridal party. So to have her day micromanaged by a wedding planner named Jenny was one of the most grueling things in the world. That’s what Jamie told herself when Jenny panicked that the maid of honor’s sash was slightly off-center before they took the bridal party pictures. She also insisted on fixing Jamie’s hair. She was more involved with the posing of the picture than the actual photographer, who was mostly concerned with whether to include Monique’s veil. They ended up focusing on the circlet of diamonds she wore on her dark head.

Portraits lasted an hour. This did not include the pictures that would come later that afternoon during the reception when Helen and her party would finally be included. For now, Monique followed the staunch tradition of not letting her fiancée see her before the ceremony. That was easy to do at Warner Estate, which had three living quarters to keep everyone separated until the ceremony was held at a nearby chapel.