Chapter Forty-Six

Jen

 

Hannah arrived in a sweatshirt, leggings, and curlers in her hair, carrying way too many things, including lunch. “I got it! I got it!”

I grabbed her dress off the top, anyway. “You could’ve taken two trips, crazy woman.”

“That’s inefficient.” She followed me to the master. “Ooo, I’ve never been in this room before. Where’s Beth?”

“Still doing family stuff or whatever. What smells so good?”

“Tamales.”

“Ooo!” Shelley leapt at the chance to take the takeout bag from her. “I’m starving.”

“Breakfast was three hours ago,” I said.

“I’m a growing girl.”

Once she’d set down her burden, Hannah grabbed my hands. “Six hours to your wedding!”

“Thank you for keeping me distracted,” I said to the room. “Dylan’s got it easy, but I’m trying to not think about all the moving parts.”

“Honey, you have the schedule from Beth. All we have to do is follow it,” Mom said.

I exhaled anxiety. “I know.” And with my sister digging into the food bag, right now that included lunch.

“What’s with the curlers?” Shelley asked, sitting on the bed with a container.

“My hair is stick straight,” Hannah replied. “If I want any body in it to last the night, a curling iron alone won’t cut it. All the boxes are chicken with the same sides, so it doesn’t matter which one you grab.”

“I’ve never had a tamale before,” I said.

“My dad was Spanish, so we always had seafood at Christmas when my parents were still together, but growing up in Arizona, a lot of my friends had abuelas—grandmothers—that made them every Christmastime, so I grew to love them. I found a place to reserve a few for my first Christmas in California.” She opened the corn husk to get to the filling.

“How’s it been melding you and Mikey’s traditions?”

She chewed, swallowed, then said, “He’s let me do whatever, especially since we’re spending yesterday and today here. Some of his ornaments are on our tree. His mom gave us stuff to bring home.”

“Like the vintage lights.”

“Well, thank you for sharing this, Hannah, and for not picking something too spicy,” Mom said.

“Mike can’t stomach hot peppers, so that part was easy. His Danish constitution was built for other things.” Her smile said she liked some of those things very much.

“Is it true he has a lion tattoo?” Shelley asked.

“Shelley!”

“Mom, everybody has tattoos these days.”

Hannah chuckled. “It’s okay. Yes, it’s a lion from the Danish flag on his left pec over his heart. Jake might be the only band member with no marks.”

Shelley’s gaze swung to me. “Dylan has a tattoo? Where?”

“It’s notes from the first song he had published.”

Mom sighed. “I hear the Rams are considering moving back to L.A.”

Hannah took the hint. “Did you know tamales go back thousands of years?”

We finished eating in time for the hair and makeup girls to arrive. The photographer wanted to get shots of at least me at sunset even if I didn’t stay in my dress all the way to the ceremony. I brushed my teeth, changed into the robe, then they set up at the vanity, working on me simultaneously.

Beth came in with her camera. “Oh, good, right on time.” Her hair was styled into a side part with a low bun in the back and she wore a pantsuit. “Sunset is at 4:49 and we don’t want to miss the golden hour.” Beth the Wedding Coordinator in residence.

My hair was sprayed and curled and tugged into some magical confection that would hold the jewelry I chose with Monique. We’d decided on classic and timeless for my makeup and all the products were supposed to last for hours. Though…

“Are we going with a red lip or subtle?” Beth asked.

“I vote red,” Shelley said. “It goes with the dress.”

“Jenny usually wears pink,” Mom said.

“Not on special occasions, Mom. Let’s start natural, then decide when I’m in the dress.” Though I leaned toward red—not a garish one, but a shade that went with the fabric and looked like it belonged on me at the same time.

“There’s a red for every woman,” Hannah said.

Beth was documenting things now, but we’d taken a few photos today before she arrived. I didn’t want to obsess about a camera or my phone, but I did want memories, and Hannah helped with that, making group selfies fun.

Once I was primped to the nines, the artists backed off, giving me my first glimpse of my transformation. The me in the mirror looked way more elegant than I ever had before.

“Jen.”

I looked at Beth when she said my name and her camera clicked.

“Gorgeous.”

Time for the under-layers, then everyone helping me into the gown without wrinkling the skirt. Not that the fabric crinkled if you looked at it funny, but we wanted it to be perfect for the walk down the aisle. Fastened up, then time for shoes and jewelry.

My engagement ring went on my right ring finger.

Mom opened an earring box. “Something old. Your great-grandmother’s.”

A delicate cascade of crystals and pearls.

“I have your something new,” Hannah said, and picked up a white gift box. She placed it on the bed and removed the lid.

I peeled back tissue paper and my fingertips brushed something incredibly soft. I lifted the fabric out of the box. “Oh, Hannah…”

“Hannah, that’s beautiful,” Beth said.

“It’s cashmere.”

The white knitted capelet was fastened with a pearl, rhinestone, and gold button. I slipped the button out of the loop and flung the cape around my shoulders.

Beth snapped more pics, then checked her watch. “We need to get you outside.” She left the suite.

Hannah adjusted her work on me until it fell properly, then nodded with satisfaction. “With bare shoulders and arms in December, you’re going to get cold, but a jacket wouldn’t work with your dress. I’m glad the pattern was true to size since I couldn’t measure you.”

I stopped in front of a mirror. “You’re amazing. When did you do this?”

“Can I have one?” Shelley asked.

“I started as soon as you picked the dress, and maybe a yarn that’s not dry clean only.”

“Jennifer,” Mom said, her tone reminding me to move along.

“Right.” I walked out of the suite with them trailing me.

Beth was at the patio doors. “The coast is clear and this was delivered on time.” She handed me my bouquet.

The white roses with sprigs of evergreen looked and smelled wonderful.

I wasn’t sure where to go until I saw the photographer’s tripod set up. I would be positioned in front of the natural beauty of the property with the golden light illuminating me and the winter grasses behind me. Beth did her poseable doll routine with me again.

After every way I could look and not look at the camera, they pronounced me done.

“Red lip,” Beth said. We headed back to the front house.

“Really?”

“The natural gloss is nice in person, but look.” She showed me the screen on her camera and zoomed in to my face. “See? If this was a day wedding, sure, but as the light faded…”

“So did I. Thanks. It’s what I wanted, anyway.”

She grinned, and we entered the great room before anyone saw me who shouldn’t, yet.

“You can change and get comfortable if you like. Your group shoot is at six and Dylan’s at six-thirty, so if you’re hungry, I can bring leftovers. You won’t get to eat real food until you get to your hotel late tonight and I doubt Dylan’s mind will be on dinner.”

I laughed. “You are correct.”

We returned to the suite. Mom had her purse in hand.

“I’m going to pick up your grandmother.”

“Okay. Drive safe.”

She left and the remaining three helped me out of the gown to hang it up for a couple hours, the capelet carefully draped over the hanger. I rewrapped in the robe.

“You’ve got your something blue taken care of,” Hannah said, referring to my lingerie. “What’s your something borrowed?”

Beth slipped her hand in her jacket pocket. “This.” A lady’s pocket watch. It was smaller than the typical kind you think of, and open-faced. “I never relied on one clock when I managed Jacob’s schedule and this has been a good luck charm for a long time. Keep it in your dress pocket.”

“Thanks.” I hugged her. “That’s really sweet.” I dropped it in the right pocket, then sat on the bed. “Two hours.”

“Everything is going great,” Beth said. “Text me or Maria when you’re hungry.” She left the suite to make sure all the pieces fell into place as we came down to the wire.

Having my bouquet meant the florist was here putting fresh flowers in the barn and great room. The photographer was building our image story. The cake wasn’t on the table, yet, but would be an hour and a half before the reception.

There was only so much parking, so the guests would be shuttled up to the compound.

This protected Beth and Jake’s privacy, too.

We waited until Grandma was here to request food.

“You’re so beautiful, Jennifer,” she said after I hugged her.

“You look pretty fetching yourself.”

She fluffed her fresh ‘do. “Why thank you.”

Grandma Jean wore a stylish Christmas green suit that would’ve flattered many women under seventy-five. Diamond studs were in her earlobes and silver sandals on her feet.

“Now why aren’t the rest of you dressed?”

“They still have an hour before photos, Mom,” our mother said. “We’re making sure Jen eats so she doesn’t faint while dancing tonight.”

“Oh, well, that’s practical.”

Maria arrived carrying a large tray with five plates. “The best leftovers supper, ladies.”