City Wedding (3 page)

For one long moment, Willa actually couldn't
speak. “Jessica Elaine” she said, finally. “Some things are simply
not done.”

When her mother resorted to that sort of
rationalization, Jessica knew further argument was fruitless. Her
father would have backed her up, she knew, if she'd wanted backup.
But she knew also that, given the choice, Antonio Scarpelli would
always prefer the big, bold affair. He didn't care so much about
the concept of elegance, as her mother did. He just liked people,
and laughter, and food, and fun.

Thanks to the success of her father's Italian
restaurant chain, Scarpelli's Kitchen, her parents could afford
whatever sort of wedding they could all agree upon. So, because she
loved them, and because the trappings ultimately weren't what
mattered to her, Jessica handed over the reins of things to her
mother and let her run with them. With a sophisticated affair in
Manhattan for nearly two hundred people, both Antonio and Willa had
what they wanted from their daughter's wedding day.

While there was some satisfaction in
satisfying them – a lot, actually – Jessica hadn't expected any
particular personal gratification from the event. Beyond actually
getting married, of course. Which, she reminded herself with
greater and greater frequency as the big day approached, was what
mattered anyway.

But when she came forward in that gown, and
looked into the sincerely admiring faces of her family – she felt,
in that moment, like a princess. And it occurred to her that maybe
it wasn't so bad after all to be that for a day.

“You look like the fairy queen,” said Megan,
coming forward with wide eyes.

“She just read a story with a fairy queen in
a white gown,” Autumn explained.

“You're prettier, Aunt Jess,” Miranda went
on. “Prettier than the fairy queen.”

Jessica hugged her. “Thanks.”

“Do you want her to stand anywhere
particularly for pictures, Noah?” Willa asked – directing, as she
was wont to do.

“Nope,” was Noah's cheerful reply. “Just go
about your business, Jess...all of you. Forget about me.”

Jessica laughed. “I'll do my best.”

“The veil,” Megan said, suddenly. “That's
what's next. Go sit down, Jessie. We'll get it for you.”

She and Autumn, with Ed's little sister,
Felicity, put the veil on her, fussing over it.

The moms – Willa and Pippa – came over to
help. Marla and her daughters, with Pippa's friend Georgiana, and
Georgiana's daughter, Charlotte, and the aunts, all oohed and
aahed, as Noah snapped his pictures.

A knock on the door brought in Autumn's
brother Josh.

He grinned when he saw Jessica and nodded his
approval. “Limo's here,” he announced.

She allowed herself to be wrapped in a warm
shawl, smoothed and straightened. And then, with her entourage, she
swept from the room.

And, in so doing, she assumed the identity
she would wear for the rest of the night: She was the bride.

*

The ride to Saint Patrick's Cathedral was
tranquil enough – though Jessica shared it with both of her
parents, as well as Megan, Autumn, Felicity, and Miranda. But
everybody's focus was on Miranda.

There should always be a small child around
for the awkward moments, thought Jessica. How could anyone help but
smile, at least a little, when faced with an adorable
three-year-old's bubbling enthusiasm?

And then they were there.

The cathedral was so beautiful. Jessica loved
cathedral architecture. One of her favorite things about living in
England was her ability to explore the historic buildings there.
The aesthetics, the history. They soothed her soul on some deep
level. This was no exception.

And then she was inside – in the same
building with Ed. She couldn't see him, but she knew he was there –
and she relaxed perceptibly.

The hard part, she thought was, nearly
done.

She was left alone for a moment with her
mother in the little chamber used by so many brides before her.

Willa was smoothing her veil again.

“I think that's as good as it's going to get,
Mom.”

“Well, it looks good,” Willa said. She looked
at Jessica critically. And her eyes softened. “You look beautiful,
Jessie. That dress was such a great choice.”

“I think it was too.”

“I'd say, don't be nervous. But you don't
look at all nervous to me.”

Jessica laughed. “I'm a little nervous. But I
want to get up there and see what Ed looks like in his tux more
than anything right now. That helps.”

Willa smiled. And then, to Jessica's
surprise, she turned absolutely serious. “You chose well in him,
Jessica. I'm proud of you.”

“I know you like him...”

“I've been excited about his heritage...his
connections. I'm sure I've expressed that.”

“I believe you have,” Jessica smiled.

“But I don't know that I've expressed how
much I like him.
Him
.” Willa paused. “I like how he is with
you. I like how he supports you. I like how you look when you're
with him – how content you are, how centered you seem.”

“I feel that way when I'm with him,” Jessica
admitted. “Centered. Content.” She smiled. “But that's the essence
of a partnership, right? That's the way it should be. Somebody to
halve the burden and all of that. That's the purpose of getting
married.”

Willa nodded, slowly. “Ideally, that's what
it is. But not everyone is smart enough to know that. Or strong
enough to hold out for that. Or just aware enough,
self-aware
enough, to determine whether or not they have
that. I was pretty ignorant – and willful besides. I didn't choose
my husband with any of those things in mind.” She took a deep
breath. “But this isn't about me. Or your father. Except,” the
corners of her mouth lifted, “perhaps just in the sense that I'm
very grateful you somehow got such a healthy view of relationships,
despite living with us all those years.”

“Mom...”

Willa just shook her head – and pressed
Jessica's hand. “I think there's every chance in the world you'll
be extraordinarily happy in the months and years to come. And
that...pleases me. That's what I wanted to tell you. I love you.”
She hugged Jessica.

Jessica held on for a long minute. “I love
you too, Mom.”

Megan poked her head in. She glanced quickly
from one to the other of them, took in the damp eyes. “Sorry to
interrupt, but are you ready, Aunt Willa? They're saying it's time
for you to be seated.”

Willa nodded. With a kiss for Jessica, tissue
in hand, she left the room.

Megan took a good look at Jessica's face.
“Are you okay?”

Jessica took a deep breath. “Yeah. Am I
smeary?”

Megan peered at her. “No. That's some good
mascara.”

“I think it is. I guess we'll know for sure
by the end of the night. That can't be my only emotional
moment.”

“I have wipes – those makeup remover ones –
in my bag. As does Autumn. If the worst happens, we'll just clean
you off and reapply.”

“Good to know.”

Megan smiled. “Ready for this?”

Jessica pressed a hand to her stomach as the
butterflies rose. “I'm ready.”

“Here we go.”

*

It was a long walk down a long aisle – made
longer by her gregarious father, who was pausing to nod and smile
at what seemed like every single one of his acquaintance. And he
knew a lot of people.

Jessica just focused on Ed. On his warm dark
eyes. On his smile. Watched him getting closer and closer as the
distance between them grew shorter and shorter.

And then she was at the top of the aisle. She
noted Liam off to one side of Ed, ridiculously handsome in his tux,
grinning widely. Con and Nigel, Ed's twin brothers – products, with
Felicity, of his mother's second marriage – stood beside Liam,
looking as grown-up as their ten years would allow. Megan and
Autumn, with Felicity, stood on the other side, smiling. Miranda
was bouncing up and down in her excitement.

Antonio Scarpelli kissed his daughter and
passed her hand to Ed. He moved back, beaming at Jessica.

She shifted to return his smile - and her
gaze was caught by the crowd of people.

Her stomach, always roused by stage fright,
did a little heave.

But then Ed's hand closed over hers and her
world leveled out.

After that, everything was easy.

*

The reception was lovely – though it all
passed in a bit of a blur for Jessica. Later, she was to remember
it as a collection of moments, rather than one unified whole.

The moment when she walked into the space,
hand-in-hand with Ed, to the applause of the guests. That amazing,
rooftop space, with Saint Patrick's cathedral spires at one view,
Rockefeller Center's skating rink at another. New York City all
around, and sunset above. Pure magic.

The moment when she moved onto the dance
floor, to the sounds of Ellie's beautiful voice – Ellie, her
college roommate, who had so wanted to make a career of music.
She'd given it up and was now a music teacher, a good one. But to
hear her sing was to remember the past, the best parts of it – and
to be grateful for the talent that graced this day.

The moment her parents moved together into
the dance. With their social faces on, they almost looked as though
they liked each other.

The moment she turned her head – just in time
to see a waitress trip and go crashing, full tray of hors d'oeuvres
in hand, right into her cousin Sam, knocking him to the floor.

The moment – several moments – when Miranda
practiced the pirouettes she'd learned in her preschool dance
class.

The moment Zach tried to copy Miranda.

The towering confection that was the cake –
and the wide eyes of the children who beheld it.

The beautiful song Liam played and sang for
them, in lieu of a toast – a song co-written, surprisingly, with
Megan, who hadn't indulged in that side of her writing for a very
long time.

And Ed. The many moments of Ed. Dancing with
Ed. Laughing with Ed. Walking hand-in-hand with Ed as they mingled
with their guests.

It was, all in all, a pretty perfect
night.

She hadn't expected it to be. She'd expected
it to be something of an ordeal. But it was...lovely.

Over Willa's objections, she and Ed had
decided to forgo the bouquet and garter tosses. That was one area
where she'd found herself able to hold her ground with her mom
without any assistance. The garter thing, in her mind, was just
embarrassing. And she really wanted to keep her bouquet. Angeline
had promised to dry it and somehow mount it behind glass for
posterity – an idea Jessica couldn't quite imagine coming out
attractively, but was intrigued by nonetheless.

And so, when the time came, she and Ed,
simply and quietly, made the rounds one last time. And then they
slipped out.

*

When the elevator doors closed them in
together for a few seconds of privacy – their first of the day – Ed
put his arms around her. “Should I make the obvious observation, or
the sentimental one?”

Jessica smiled into his eyes. “Both. We have
a minute.”

“The obvious is: We made it! We're done.”

She laughed. “That we are. And though it was
much nicer than I expected, I have to say: I'm glad it's over.”

“That makes two of us.”

She lay her head against his chest for a
moment and sighed. Then she raised it. “What's the sentimental
observation?”

He kissed her forehead before meeting her
eyes. His were glowing. “That I have everything I need...here, with
you. I was thinking about that at the reception, when we were
walking around.” He flushed a little. “I know it sounds trite. Like
a cheesy line in a date movie or something. But it's true. I feel
like...this, today...it's the beginning of something good. Really,
really good. And I can't wait for...well, all the other days.” He
was laughing at himself as he kissed her. “I love you, Jess.” He
was kissing her again as the doors opened.

An elderly couple stood there, just
beaming.

“Don't you two look beautiful?” gushed the
woman.

“Congratulations,” said the man. He looked
from one to the other of them and a slow smile spread over his
face. He took his wife's hand as they entered the elevator Ed and
Jessica had just vacated. “I'd wish you luck, but I think you don't
need it.”

“Oh, we'll always take luck when it's
offered,” Jessica smiled. She looked at Ed – and the rest of the
world faded away. “But I think we're going to do just fine, no
matter what.”

###

Thanks for sampling the
City
Wedding
series!

I hope you've enjoyed this glimpse into the
day around which the series pivots.

*

I'd love to hear what you think!

Connect with Me Online:

http://www.maggiepublishing.wordpress.com

http://www.maggieseverythingblog.tumblr.com

and also on Facebook

*

Please continue reading for a sneak peek at
City Wedding: Megan and Liam
, the first
full-length novel in the
City Wedding
series.

Available December 2011.

CITY WEDDING: MEGAN AND LIAM

“I'm out of wine. Is it too late to get more
wine?”

Megan patted the knee of the tipsy woman
beside her. Some people took sedatives to deal with airplane
phobias. Some meditated or prayed. For Grace Maxwell, a casual and
responsible drinker in her non-airborne life, the way to get over
the anxiety was to down as many of those little airplane bottles as
possible. She invariably spent the next day hungover as well as
jet-lagged, but the day after that found her perky, happy, and
ready to enjoy whatever challenges life handed her next. Meg had
witnessed the routine many, many times, and it rarely failed to
amuse her.