Eden (2 page)

“
Not listening!” I said,
massaging shampoo into my hair. I wondered if she was curious about
Jared’s fading bruises, or if she’d even noticed. Surely Chad
would. If they spent the morning together, eventually he would see
them. Jared would explain them away, but if Beth asked me about
them and I told a different story, it would complicate things. It
was easy to convince her that I needed a bodyguard—she’d witnessed
my run-in with Mr. Dawson, after all. Unless it was due to
training, Jared’s bruises were a telltale sign that I had been in
danger. Two years of experience told me that Beth was too
preoccupied with wedding details, so I put that worry to the back
of the line.

Thinking of Jared’s bruises made the
rest of his face form in my mind, and suddenly I couldn’t get out
of the shower fast enough. It made me feel anxious to wait so long
before I was allowed to see him again.

I rushed into the casita in my towel,
my hair dripping wet, and slipped on the sleeves of my
robe.

“
What are you
doing?”

“
I’m just going for a
walk,” I said, slipping on a pair of sandals.

“
Oh, no, you’re not. We
have a day’s worth of primping to do in just a few hours! Get your
backside in this chair, young lady!” Beth said.

“
I’ll just be a minute,” I
said, waving her away. I swung open the door of the casita to find
Bex standing in my way.

“
Morning,” he smiled.
“Going somewhere?”

“
Just for a walk,” I
shrugged.

“
Don’t you have some girly
things to do? You’re getting married in a few hours.”

I frowned. “Are you here to keep me
captive?”

Bex mirrored my expression. “No,
Paranoid Schizo. Your guardian-slash-almost husband is across the
island, and you and your unborn baby are two of Hell’s Most Wanted.
I’m here to keep you safe. If you wanna leave, leave. I have to
walk with you, though.”

“
Oh,” I said, feeling
silly. “Okay, then. I want to leave.”

Beth grabbed my wrist, a
hair dryer in her other hand. “I jumped on a plane at a moment’s
notice. I rode a boat across an unknown body of water—in the
pouring rain. There is mud caked under my newly painted to nails,
and I’m pretty sure a bird crapped in my hair on the walk here.
I’ve endured all this to come here and help you get ready for a
wedding that I’ve kept a secret for
two
years
. You can give me a few
hours!”

“
Okay! You’re right, I’m
sorry,” I said. I followed Beth back into the casita, sitting in
the chair she’d placed in front of a makeshift salon
counter.

“
Whoa,” Bex said, sitting
on the bed. “Girls are crazy.”

The counter was covered in wires that
led to various hot irons, makeup, brushes, curlers, combs and hair
products. The black wires were hooked into an orange extension cord
that led outside to the solar-powered generator Jared had rigged
outside. The mess of wires were an eyesore, but at least we had
power without the annoying drone of a gas-powered generator. Beth
brought several lamps to make up for the limited natural light
filtering through the windows, and a manicure and pedicure kit. A
large camera also sat among the clutter, beside two packages of
fresh memory cards for her camera.

“
Thank you, Beth,” I said.
The planning alone had to have been time-consuming.

“
That’s what best friends
do.”

After hours of combing, scrubbing,
powdering and polishing, I was finally ready to slip on my wedding
dress.

“
I’ll step outside,” Bex
said. “I need some fresh air, anyway.”

“
Good idea,” I smiled. “No
telling what that much hairspray will do to a young man’s
lungs.”

Beth waited for Bex to leave, and then
sighed. “We have to wait to put on your dress,” she said,
fidgeting.

“
You’re joking,” I said. I
took a step toward my dress, but Beth ran around me, holding her
arms up and out, shielding the dress from my hands.

“
I’m not! I’m not joking.
We’re waiting.”

I frowned. “You’re losing it, Beth,” I
said, sitting in the chair in a huff.

“
You look beautiful,” she
smiled.

“
I’m used to being in the
dark for the most part, but on my wedding day, I would like to be
in the know.”

“
I understand,” Beth said,
thick with regret. “It’s just that….”

A small knock at the door immediately
changed Beth’s demeanor. “Coming!” she said, relieved.

Cynthia stood in the doorway. As
usual, her face was devoid of emotion. “Well?” she called behind
her. “Put my things in the adjacent building. Thank you.” Her tone
was opposite her words—also her usual.

“
Mother,” I said,
surprised.

She wore a champagne-colored sheath
dress. Even after marching through a tropical rain shower and the
mud in six-inch heels, her dress and matching shoes were
immaculate. Her hair was pulled back into its usual tight French
bun, making her eyes even more severe when she pulled of her
sunglasses and huffed.

“
I apologize for my
lateness, Nina dear. I had several functions to reschedule, since
my presence was demanded at such late notice.”

“
Sorry,” Beth and I said
at the same time.

“
Well,” she sighed. “You
are my only daughter. We do what we must.” I smiled, and Cynthia
took the few steps to offer a cold embrace. The awkward gesture was
the most she could offer; knowing that made me appreciate it more
than others might have. She quickly let go, and offered a polite
smile. “You look wonderful, dear.”

“
Thank you. I was just
about to step into my dress….”

“
Oh. Well, then, I’ll just
step out,” Cynthia said.

I fidgeted. “Would you mind
helping?”

Cynthia hesitated. “Er…Isn’t that why
Beth is here?”

“
No,” Beth smiled. “We’ve
been waiting for you.”

Cynthia’s eyes scanned my dress and
its yards of white silk, and clouded with tears. “Oh, my,” she
whispered, pulling a tissue from her purse.

I was taken aback. Cynthia rarely
cried. In fact, she’d only found two occasions in my lifetime for
it, and both had more to do with my father.

“
It’s okay, Mother,” I
said, hesitating to find an appropriate place to comfort her. I
settled on her shoulder, patting awkwardly a few times.

She sniffed once, lifting her chin to
ward off the uninvited emotion. “It’s just that Silk Charmeuse
wrinkles so easily.”

I nodded. “I know.”

After one last dab at her eyes with
the tissue, she turned. “Beth best assist you, darling. Call for me
when you’re dressed.” She closed the door behind her, and I turned
to Beth.

“
I’m so sorry,” Beth
whispered. “I thought…I waited for her because I thought she’d like
to be involved. I should have known better. Now you both just feel
awkward.”

“
It was worth a try. One
never knows with Cynthia. She might have been insulted if I hadn’t
asked, so you did the right thing.”

“
Did I?”

I smiled. “You did. Now help me get
this thing on, and let’s not let it wrinkle. I don’t want to upset
my mother.”

Beth nodded, and carefully pulled the
dress from its hanger. “Neither do I.”

Chapter Two

Promises

“
She was right,” Beth
said, tears in her eyes. “It does wrinkle easy.”

I nodded, staring at my reflection in
the full-length mirror Beth had brought for the occasion. The woman
staring back at me was soft and mature, draped in the muted sheen
of silk and chiffon. Beth wasn’t human after all; only magic could
have transformed me into the elegant, graceful creature in the
mirror.

Soft, blonde curls caressed my
shoulders, and just a hint of blush and pink lip gloss reminded me
that I had makeup on at all. Beth had spent hours making sure that
I appeared timeless and natural.

Beth clapped her hands together and
held them tight to her chest, as impressed at her work as I. “Jared
is going to crap!”

I laughed. “I knew eventually Oklahoma
would break free from the professional East Coast stylist role
you’ve played today!”

Beth gathered the tools she used to
transform me, rolling wires and putting the various bags of makeup
into the different tubs the villagers had carried to the casita. I
stood in place, afraid to move. The realization hit that the church
was miles away, across a muddy jungle, and I was wearing
white.

I blanched. “Oh, God. Cynthia will
stroke out if this dress is soiled before the wedding.”

“
If she can get here
without a speck, I’m sure she can get you to the church
mud-free.”

“
You’re probably right,” I
nodded, trying to relax.

“
I wish Kim could be
here,” Beth said, shaking her head. “I called her, but she’s out of
town.”

“
I understand. This was
very sudden.” I hated lying to Beth, especially while she was being
the poster child for a best friend, but I already knew Kim wouldn’t
be at my wedding. She was two hospital rooms down from Ryan,
nursing wounds she’d sustained when Isaac had sent her flying
across the cathedral of St. Anne’s. It wasn’t right that she had
saved my life, and instead of being at her side, I was primping in
a tropical paradise.

“
She did say to tell you
to not worry about her. She said she’s fine and she wants you to
enjoy your day…why would you worry?” Beth said. Her question was a
second thought, as if it hadn’t crossed her mind until that
moment.

“
When do I not worry about
her?” I said, fidgeting with my dress.

Beth thought for a moment. “True,” she
agreed, carrying on with tidying up the room. “Okay, I’m going to
grab your mom, and then I’m going to get ready. If you need
anything, I’m just a casita away.”

“
Beth?” I
called.

“
Yes?” she said, spinning
around.

“
Thank you,” I smiled.
“For everything.”

Beth returned my smile. “Of
course.”

“
And Beth?”

“
Yes?” she said. She was
clearly impatient about getting to her casita.

“
Think I could sit for a
while?”

“
Oh!” Beth said, rushing
to fetch me a chair. “Here. This one has a back on it so you can
relax. Thirsty?”

“
Not at the moment. You
are the best maid of honor, ever.”

“
I know,” she beamed. She
backed out of my room, shutting the door on her wide and
excessively proud smile.

With Beth’s absence the room became
uncomfortably quiet, but I didn’t feel alone. I looked down to my
stomach. Bean was invisible, nestled under the fabric of the dress
I would wear to marry her father. I placed both of my hands above
my bump, and smiled. Would Bean know he or she was a guest at our
wedding? The thought of a tiny body inside of me with a fancy dress
or tux on made me giggle.

“
What’s funny?” Cynthia
said as she entered the room. “Certainly not the sight of you.
You’re a vision.” I smiled and stood so that she might get a better
look. “I’ve arranged for a car. Well, not so much a car as a
beat-up truck, but it will get us to the chapel.”

“
I wondered how I would
get there and keep my dress white.”

Cynthia frowned. “I didn’t say it
wouldn’t be difficult. I’ve considered wrapping you in plastic. It
will take all of us along with a concentrated effort, but it can be
done.”

“
Thank you,” I smiled.
“I’m so glad you’re here.”

Again, a deluge of emotion caught
Cynthia off-guard, and she furiously searched through her purse for
a tissue. Before the first tear could pour over her lashes, she
dabbed it away. “I’ve never,” she said, annoyed. “I hope this
doesn’t continue throughout the day.”

I rested in the chair and Cynthia sat
on the bed, seeming uncomfortable and out of place, yet she
remained cordial and poised. She brought up appropriate subjects
such as the weather, and stayed far away from anything that might
induce another onslaught of tears. We shared a few polite laughs,
and I silently prayed that Beth would return sooner rather than
later.

“
Ding dong!” Bex said,
opening the door. “The truck is less than a mile away. You
ready?”

“
Something like that,” I
sighed.

Beth popped in behind Bex. Her smile
lit up the room. She was stunning in her French blue cocktail
dress, and for the first time since I’d met her, she actually
looked like the former beauty queen that she was. Her lips were
stained a wine color, and her short auburn hair was wavy and soft
instead of sticking out in every direction. “Oh, good!” Beth
squealed as the engine grew louder upon the truck’s approach. “It’s
like a Bronco! It has a back seat!”

“
That’s nice,” I said,
minding my mother’s expression as I gathered my skirt.