04 Lowcountry Bordello (23 page)

Twenty-Nine

Saturday dawned sunny and mild. I’d stayed in my room at my parents’ house after the bachelorette party. Mamma, Merry, and I met Olivia, Moon Unit, Calista, and Sarabeth at Dori’s Day Spa for all day pre-wedding primping. Brunch, complete with mimosas, was catered in. We had the run of the place. At Mamma’s insistence, the photographer started at nine that morning and tailed us all day.

I slipped into the ladies room to check in with Sonny only once, in the early afternoon. Still no sign of Henry Prioleau, but they’d found a large knife with a leg sheath, some dark athletic clothes, and a ski mask when they searched William Calhoun’s house.

We all dressed at St. Francis Episcopal, ladies in the bride’s room. Mamma adjusted the brooch in my hair and stepped back. In the background, we could hear the string quartet playing “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”

Mamma had tears in her eyes. “It’s almost time. I never told you this. Maybe I should’ve. I knew Scott was a mistake from the first moment you brought him home. It tore me up inside to see you marry him. But you had your heart set.”

“Mamma—”

“Hush now,” she said. “Just as I knew he was wrong, I know Nate is the right one. You could’ve looked the world over and not found a better man.”

I teared up. “I know.”

“Here now, don’t be messing up your makeup. And don’t forget to touch up your lipstick after the ceremony. Your wedding photos are forever. You don’t want to look pale in them.” We’d decided on candid shots before the wedding, non-flash photos from the choir loft during, and posed group photos afterwards.

I laughed. “I will, Mamma.”

Nicolette opened the door. “Grandmothers. I need grandmothers.”

Grandmamma Moore, Mamma’s mother, gave me a hug. “You look so pretty,” she said. She and Nate’s grandmothers followed Nicolette out the door.

I thought about Gram and how much I missed her.

“Mothers, you’re up next,” Nicolette said.

Mamma looked around. “I can’t believe Glyn wouldn’t join us.”

I said, “She wanted her privacy. The ladies room is very nice.”

“She had entirely too much to drink last night,” Mamma said.

Oh, you have no idea.
Daddy wouldn’t’ve told her, though his favorite pastime was getting a rise out of Mamma any way he could. On any other occasion, he would’ve had a field day with the stunt Glynneth Andrews pulled the night before. But not on my wedding day. He would’ve known that would just create more tension. But you could bet your mamma’s pearls he’d trot that story out next week.

“Mothers,” Nicolette called. She looked around, confused.

Mamma said, “Come along, Nicolette. We’ll find Glyn.”

Nicolette called over her shoulder, “Flower girls, you’re next.”

Colleen’s nieces, her sister Deanna’s girls, Holly and Isabella, were my flower girls. Holly looked so much like Colleen it broke my heart.

The music changed to “Canon in D.”

Nicolette opened the door again. “Okay, line up, flower girls, then the bridesmaids. Just like we rehearsed. It’s show time!”

Daddy took my right arm in the narthex. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you, Daddy. You look mighty handsome yourself.”

“Well, thank you, Tuti.”

“Daddy, could you call me by my name, just for today?”

The music changed to “Trumpet Voluntary.” It was time.

“I’ll make a deal with you,” Daddy said as we stepped towards the door to the nave. “I’ll call you anything you like if this is the last time we do this.”

Everyone in the church stood and turned towards us. At the front, Nate waited for me. My heart was so full of love for him. “Deal.”

Daddy and I were still in the narthex just outside the nave. But I could see everything. I’d always loved this old church, decorated now all in white. I’d spent many a Sunday staring at the massive stained glass windows. Vases of white flowers, my favorites—magnolias and hydrangeas—mixed with gardenias, ranunculus, and roses—stood behind the altar. Our bouquets were hydrangeas and roses with cream and gold ribbon. Bows made from the same ribbon adorned the family pews.

Marshall stood by Nate, and Merry waited for me at the bottom of the steps to the altar. The bridesmaids and groomsmen lined up, half on each side of the altar, with Father Henry to the left.

I heard the front door to the church open, felt air. I turned my head just in time to catch a glimpse of Henry Prioleau as he stole in behind us. He pressed something metal against my right temple.

A gun.

Henry said, “Daddy, you stay real still, and maybe you won’t get your daughter’s brains all over your tuxedo.”

“Okay, friend,” Daddy said. “No need to get excited.” He tightened his grip on my arm.

Henry said, “We’re going to stand here for a minute, until the wedding coordinator comes to see why the bride isn’t walking down the aisle. When she brings me Heather, we’ll be on our way. If no one follows us, Heather gets to live. No one dies today.”

“What if Heather doesn’t want to go?” I asked.

“Oh, Heather wants to go. She’s my soulmate. We’re going to have a wedding that will make this look like a hog-hollering contest. Just as soon as I get her someplace safe.”

“But you’ll kill her if we come after you?” I asked. “Doesn’t sound like love to me.”

“You got me there, bitch. We’re going to have to take a hostage. I figure you’ll do fine.”

“Look here, now,” said Daddy. “You and your young lady can just leave us in peace and we’ll do the same. There’s no need for you to be taking anybody hostage.”

“I’d be arrested before I got a block away and we all know it. Nice try, old man.”

Over heads and between guests, I spotted Nicolette making her way down the side aisle. She stared towards me, but I wasn’t sure could see me, still in the shadows of the narthex. There was no way she’d spot Henry behind Daddy and my dress. The angle was wrong. In a minute, she’d be in front of us.

For the first time, I wished I’d worn the heels Mamma and Nicolette wanted me to wear. A spiked heel in the top of his foot would’ve made Henry lower the gun just enough.

I patted Daddy’s arm and slid mine out of it. I dropped my bouquet.

Guests in the back few rows whispered to one another.

“No moving,” said Henry.

The expression on Nate’s face changed. He knew something was wrong. None of the wedding party was armed, but all of the Stella Maris Police Department was inside this church. Every one of them except Blake carried a gun. None of them would risk getting me shot.

Dammit to hell, Henry Prioleau wasn’t leaving here with Heather. He’d kill her when he learned she wasn’t obsessed with him like he was with her.

He’d kill me first.

He wasn’t going to hurt either of us, and he damn sure was not going to ruin my wedding.

I’d practiced this move hundreds of times in class. I’d never done it with a loaded gun to my head.

With my left hand, I reached up and grabbed the gun.

Simultaneously, I dropped my right knee forward and brought my right arm up behind me hard, slamming Henry under his right arm.

I twisted right, redirecting the gun towards Henry.

He let go and stared at me in shock for a heartbeat.

Then he bolted for the door.

Daddy had stepped forwards and turned, ready to pounce. He was hot on Henry’s heels.

I picked up my bouquet just before Nate, Blake, and Sonny blew by me.

“Henry Prioleau,” I said.

“I saw,” said Nate.

Clay Cooper, Sam Manigault, and Rodney Murphy, Blake’s officers, scrambled from different corners of the church and sprinted by in the next wave.

Nicolette stared at me slack-jawed. She had no plan for this.

The music stopped. A roar of shock rippled through the church. Mamma, Merry, Olivia, and the other bridesmaids gathered around me.

“
E-liz-a-beth
.” Mamma pulled me into a hug.

Merry said, “I can’t believe you did that. He could’ve shot you in the head.”

“That was his intention,” I said. “I had to do something. Could you see what was going on?”

“Not until you went all Kung Fu,” said Moon Unit. “We could see you and your daddy.”

Calista said, “That was amazing. You’re so brave.”

“Not really,” I said. “I knew if I didn’t do something he’d kill me. I had way too much to lose. Krav Maga. It comes in handy.”

Tears rolled down Olivia’s face. Sarabeth and Heather each had an arm around her. Heather spoke softly. I couldn’t make out what she was saying.

“Olivia.” I moved towards her. “Everything’s fine. Why are you crying?”

“My big ole mess just ruined your beautiful wedding,” she said.

“That’s nonsense,” I said. “Nothing’s ruined at all. Trust me. I’m getting married in just a few minutes. Heather…” I didn’t know what to say to her. Did she love Henry Prioleau?

“I’m so, so sorry,” she said. “I—I had no idea he would ever do such a terrible thing.”

“You have nothing to apologize for,” I said.

The church doors opened. Nate rushed to my side, looked me up and down. “Are you all right?”

We made eye contact. “I’m fine.”

My daddy dragged Henry Prioleau back inside the church in handcuffs. “Well?”

Henry looked at Daddy like he’d lost his mind. Then he saw Heather. “Heather. I love you so much. Heather. I’m going to fix this, I promise.”

Heather shook her head, her eyes wide in horror. She backed away.

“Heather!” Henry said. “Heather…” The starch went out of him. He looked like a wounded puppy.

“I’m not a patient man,” Daddy said. He shook Henry good.

Henry said, “Miss Talbot, I apologize for intruding on your wedding and threatening your life.”

Daddy shook him again.

“And for the despicable and counterfactual name I called you.”

Daddy turned to Blake. “Who do you want me to give this to?”

Blake said, “Rodney, Sam, would you escort Mr. Prioleau to jail? Sonny, will you call someone to come get him?”

“Already taken care of,” said Sonny. Rodney and Sam each took one of Henry’s arms and took him away.

I turned to Nicolette. “Where were we?”

In her outside voice, Nicolette said, “Everyone, where you were, please.” For a few seconds, no one moved. Merry looked at me.

Mamma said, “You heard her. Everyone back where you were before we were so rudely interrupted.”

Then everyone hustled.

Within moments, “Trumpet Voluntary” had resumed. The church looked exactly as it had moments before, everyone in place.

Daddy and I stepped into the nave, and my eyes locked on Nate’s.

As he walked me down the aisle, Daddy said, “I should never’ve agreed to leave all my guns at home.”

There was still a bit of chatter among the pews. If I’d looked left or right, I would no doubt have seen wide eyes. But mine were only for Nate.

“Smile, Daddy,” I said. “Our guests seem nervous.”

We reached the front of the church and Nate, Marshall, and Merry turned to face Father Henry.

Father Henry smiled at me, his eyes twinkling. “Dearly beloved: We have come together in the presence of God to witness the joining together of this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony…”

I confess I held my breath when he got to the “speak now, or else forever hold your peace,” part. A part of me harbored a suspicion Scott would show up just to spite us all.

But we sailed into the Declaration of Consent, our “I wills,” without incident.

Father Henry asked, “Who gives this woman to be married to this man?”

Daddy turned to Nate and gave him a long, level look. Then he looked at Father Henry, nodded, and said, “I do.” He stepped back from between us and went to sit by Mamma.

Nate and I, along with Merry and Marshall, climbed the three steps to the level where Father Henry stood.

Next came the lessons, followed by the hymns, the Gospel, and the homily. Then we turned to face each other. Through our eyes, something mysterious and profound from deep inside connected.

Tears slipped down my cheeks as Nate took my right hand and spoke: “In the name of God, I Nathan Thomas Andrews, take you, Elizabeth Suzanne Talbot, to be my wife…”

Saying our vows was the most intimate moment of my life, and yet the communal bond with everyone standing witness was profound. I was left breathless and weak-kneed, feeling that I radiated boundless joy.

After the prayers, the blessing, and the peace, came the Holy Communion. Episcopal weddings often include a Mass, and you’d better believe Mamma saw to it we had one. It was a longer than average service.

When the recessional finally started, I noticed tiny sparkles, like fireflies, all through the church.

Colleen.

And then, she faded in and marched down the aisle right between Olivia and Merry. Her dress matched the ones the other bridesmaids wore. I smiled and shook my head.

“Who is that?” murmured Nate.

I knew he couldn’t see Colleen. I glanced around to see who he was talking about. “Who?”

“The redhead who has on a dress just like the other bridesmaids. I’ve never heard of someone crashing a bridesmaid lineup before.”

I froze. What was she up to now?

Above the music, I heard her say, “And the two shall become one flesh…”

I can tell him now
?

She bray-snorted exuberantly. “Yep. But you may need my help explaining.”

“You are so not coming with us to St. John,” I said.

“What?” Nate stared at me. We continued smiling down the aisle.

“I have so much to tell you,” I said.

Nicolette earned her paycheck. Mamma and Daddy’s tented backyard was transformed into a fairyland, with tulle, white lights, flowers, and candles. A black and white checkered dance floor sprawled in front of a bandstand. Round tables—eight tops with gold chairs skirted in tulle—formed a semi-circle around the dance floor.

At the perimeter, buffet tables and food stations were piled high with everything from beef tenderloin to shrimp and grits to crab cakes to a macaroni and cheese station. Even Mamma had never put on such as spread as Cru Catering did that night.

For our first dance, Big Ray and the Kool Kats played “With This Ring,” and Nate and I shagged. You don’t grow up in South Carolina and not learn the state dance.

“That sure is some fancy footwork, Mr. Andrews.” I smiled at my brand-new handsome husband.

He smiled back at me. “You’re not half-bad yourself, Ms. Talbot.”

“I think I’d like it quite a lot if you called me Mrs. Andrews.”

“Then I’ll do it often, Mrs. Andrews.” He spun me around, dipped me, and kissed me soundly as our dance ended.

Big Ray and the Kool Cats transitioned straight into “The Way You Look Tonight.” Daddy and I slow danced. He needed a drink or two of Jack Daniels before he’d be willing to shag.

I watched Blake watching Calista flirt with Marshall. My brother wore a thoughtful look. Moon Unit handed him a glass of champagne and commenced to distracting him. I smiled.

Daddy said, “Are you happy, sunshine?”

“I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my entire life.”

“That’s what I wanted to hear.”

Then the band played “Something to Talk About.”

And we all danced.