Page 190 of The Wedding

Bonita took over the room as she and her two assistants fluttered in and dictated this woman move here and that man get his ass out. Jamie was hauled from her vanity to the center of the room, where a dais was placed for her to stand upon while three Italian women mauled her.

The dress was brought out of its case, the gold detailing shimmering in the bright, natural light coming through the bedroom windows. Everyone oohed and aahed at the glistening gold and beadwork traveling through the room as Bonita made Jamie model it, making sure it moved well.This is more about her than me.Jamie would go along with it. She wasn’t enjoying all the attention on her anyway – the more for Bonita? The better. Although Jamie hoped she could get out of the heels soon. There would be plenty of time for heels later.

Two hours before the ceremony began, the bridal party was done up in their dresses, hair, and makeup. Natasha was radiant with her loose blond hair and the purple dress swishing through the air whenever she walked. Seena was feistier, a bit tomboyish but still delightfully feminine with a loose black bun and enough jewelry to make her rattle with every step. Tosh put on the suit and allowed Raul to smooth out his hair – actually, Raul insisted, refusing to let a single member of the bridal party go out without his touch to their heads.

Adele and Jenny came to the room to confirm that the others were finished having their photos taken in the garden. Now it was Jamie’s turn, and after she received further confirmation that Etta would not see her in the dress, she allowed her mother and Natasha to help her down the grand staircase, where several people saw her in her regal glory. More than a few claps and whistles sounded in the main foyer as they hustled to the backyard. The ushers had done an admirable job of relegatingthe early arrivals to a reception area to wait for the ceremony.

There were two photographers on hand. One was the professional Etta hired to take their personal pictures. The other was the lead photographer for a society magazine, who would not only use his photos exclusively for an upcoming spread, but also sell a few choice ones to newspapers and other magazines around the world. Jamie tried not to think about that as she was posed around fountains and flowers, the sun reaching its zenith and spreading sunshine across the gardens.

After that, she was led back upstairs, where they would wait for the ceremony to begin.

I’m getting married. She thought that while her mother kept excusing herself to wipe tears from her eyes.Today, I will begin my journey as a married woman.She thought that while people continued to make sure she looked “perfect,” and speculated how Etta would react when she saw her beautiful bride tour the catwalk through the garden.

Ah, the catwalk. Carpenters had worked around the clock to create the perfect flow. Jamie would leave from the bedroom balcony and walk among the guests, arranged in an intricate pattern through the garden, then to another catwalk connecting to the main balcony where she and Etta would be married. The officiant arrived with only a half hour to spare, going over the last-minute vow details with Jamie before going off to bother Etta about the same thing. Jamie had only that half hour to sit down and rest up before the ceremony. She perched on a stool in the middle of the bedroom, where her gown splayed around her in its glittery grandeur.

One by one, people had to leave, until – for a mere five minutes – Jamie was left alone in the bedroom. She looked at herself in the vanity mirror, marveling at her hair, her light makeup, and the lack of jewelry she decided to go without.

Something squeaked beneath the bed. Barbarossa braved coming out, to Jamie’s surprise.

“What are you doing here?” She thought Beatrice had rounded up the cats and locked them in the salon, where they wouldn’t be bothered. Yet here Barbarossa was, mewling in self-pity over everything that was going on. “I thought you went to the other room…”

She yowled, sitting down and swishing her tail as a glint of Jamie’s dress caught her eye.

“I’m sorry about all of the commotion. It’ll be over soon enough.”

Barbarossa cocked her head, eyes traveling up the golden lines on the skirt. Although Jamie knew this was kitty curiosity, she couldn’t help but imagine Barbarossa taking her in. Well, she was the closest thing to a child Jamie had.

“We’ve come a long way, huh? Your mama went from living in that shack to being the new missus of this mansion. We didn’t do too badly, I suppose.”

Barbarossa yawned. Jamie wanted to pick her up for a hug, but knew better. If she didn’t claw Jamie up, she’d get fur all over the wedding dress.That would be so like me, though.

Someone opened the door. Barbarossa shot beneath the bed again.

Jamie expected anyone: Raul, her mother, Bonita, even Adele. Instead, she saw two small feet gingerly step before her, followed by a very petite, yet very pregnant woman.

“I wanted to come see you before all the fuss in a few minutes,” Monique said, dressed in a pale red dress that conservatively hid her bulge. She held a felt box in her hands. “And to give you this. By the way, you are beautiful.”

Jamie smiled. “Thank you. Not half as beautiful as you were a few months ago.”

“I’ll accept the compliment and say it was pregnancy hormones making me glow.”

“Can’t say I have that going for me today.”

Monique glanced her over again. “This dress is certainly new. Anythingblue?”

Jamie’s smile grew. “My garter, of course.”

“Oh, of course. How convenient.” Monique rolled her eyes. “Something old?”

The bride gestured to her sapphire jewelry set, minus the collar. “Do you like it?”

“It’s very befitting. Practically your trademark.” Monique pulled up another stool and sat down, her stomach settling deep into her lap. “Now… how about something borrowed?”

“No, can’t say I have that.”

Monique opened the felt box. “Now you have something.”

Jamie thought she was seeing things. A diamond choker peered up at her, sparkling more than the gold in her dress. “Is that…”