One-Off (21 page)

“Me, too,” Savannah said. “Do you know how expensive it gets to be a bridesmaid at seven weddings in one year?”

“Sounds like someone needs to learn to say no,” Dallas told her.

“Right, like you’d let me get away with that. Friends don’t like when you don’t want to be part of their wedding. Sisters would kill me.” We laughed, but I knew she was right about how Dallas wouldn’t have forgiven her. At least here, Dallas was paying for her dress and her hotel room.

A knock at the door heralded Gary and his minion. I looked behind him, expecting the other minion. After he’d given air kisses to everyone in the room and made sure Dallas knew how beautiful he thought she looked, he turned back to me. “A little flu bug going around. My other assistant won’t be joining us. Not to worry, we’ve got it handled. Mia will head over to the reception to make sure the venue is set up correctly.”

“You remember that our florist needs help, right?”

“Mia will take some staff with her to help unload.”

I had to hope he knew what he was doing. This was exactly the kind of story that seemed to repeat itself on those blogs I’d read. They all seemed to describe some sort of disaster that they had to work through, but it was the reason I had packed a duffle full of contingencies.

My phone buzzed as I was letting Mia out. I glanced at the text and reported, “Jackie’s outside with the other hairdressers.” Wordlessly, I communicated with Gary. I knew without a second assistant, he’d need someone to help coordinate all the moving parts. Looked like I’d be that person. “I’ll go bring them up.”

On the front steps, I met Jackie with two hairdressers we used for the other shows. After a quick hello I got them pointed in the right direction upstairs and turned back to find Betsy, Dallas’s makeup artist from the show, struggling with her rolling makeup case.

Hustling down the steps, I reached out to help her with the case. “I’m so glad you’re here a little early. As we thought, the sisters and mom want their makeup done.”

“It’s always the way. No problem.” She took the extra work in stride. It was one of the reasons I’d hired her back when I was the associate producer.

When we got up to the dressing room, everyone had changed into robes. Jackie was unpacking her supplies and sitting Dallas in the captain’s chair. The other two hairdressers were getting ready to work on the sisters. Betsy set up her makeup bag and turned to the mother and grandmother to look over their makeup. She changed Dallas’s mom’s lip color to something that would work better with her black dress and went to work on getting a base layer done for the sisters.

My phone buzzed again. I nodded at Dallas and went back downstairs to fetch Isaac and the videographer. They were almost at the door when I stepped outside. I got them moving toward Gary inside and spotted the other two cars we’d hired for the evening pulling up to the curb. Colin, his dad and stepmom, and the friend he’d talked into being his other groomsman stepped out of the first car. Ainsley and her family got out of the second. My stomach tightened when I caught sight of her other cousin. He had hair down to his shoulders, and it needed a good brushing. Ainsley’s was wrapped in a full head scarf, but I wasn’t worried about her. I’d already planned to have Jackie check Colin’s hair like she did before every show, but now she’d have to make extra time for the cousin.

“You look great.” Colin reached down to sling an arm around me. “How’s my bride?”

“Trying not to act nervous. They’re limited to one glass of champagne before the ceremony.” Savannah hadn’t been happy when I made that declaration after she pulled out the champagne bottles she’d brought with her. “Same goes for you guys. Or one beer, whatever you brought. No one is going to be tipsy at this thing. Do you hear me?”

Colin lifted both hands and stepped back. Ainsley bit back on her smile. Her mum applauded me while her dad and Colin’s dad started laughing. “She was like this as our EP,” Colin let his family know. “Meet our cousin Logan and you know my buddy Ross.”

I shook their hands. “One beer. I’m serious. You can drink all you want after the ceremony, but only one before.” They turned their wide eyes and incredulous smiles to Colin for confirmation. “Look at me. As bad as you think I am, imagine his bride finding out you’re smashed when you’re up there.”

They lost their smiles and nodded. Ainsley was visibly biting her lip to keep from laughing with her parents.

“If I don’t get the chance to say it a hundred times tonight, thank you, Skye. You and Ainsley, thank you both.” His other arm coaxed Ainsley into his embrace, squishing us to each side of him. “I know this hasn’t been easy on you, but Dallas and I really appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome, Colin. I’d do just about anything for Dallas.”

“I’ve seen that.” He leaned down and kissed my cheek.

“You’re on the first floor. Fourth door on the left. Jackie will be down to polish you up as soon as she’s done with Dallas.” I lowered my voice. “She’ll be dealing with Cousin Logan, too.”

He smiled wide and patted my shoulder. “Aunt Elspeth warned him.”

“I’ll see you inside. Gary is down a person so we’re a bit on our own until just before the ceremony. He’ll come get you when you need to get out there.”

“Do you need help?” Ainsley stepped after me as I moved back toward the street to meet the quartet’s van as it pulled up.

“Just stay with Colin and keep him calm. Dallas has her sisters and mom doing that for me while I shuttle people in to Gary. These will be the last of them.”

“See you inside later.” She gave me an encouraging smile then turned to follow her family inside.

“Wait,” I said and reached into my bag. I handed over some travel tissue packs and three rolls of breath mints. “For after they have their beer and whatever else it looks like Logan and Ross smuggled in.”

“I’m afraid they’re meatball subs.”

“Jeez, don’t let them eat that without throwing towels around their necks.”

“I was thinking the same thing. Cheers.” She winked and started up the path with her grandmother.

I turned to direct the quartet to the side door and instruct their driver where to park. The parking lot was still fairly empty, most notably the hired shuttles to get guests to the reception weren’t here yet. I didn’t want to have to run back down here to check once I was in my dress. I’d just have to leave that to Gary.

Back upstairs, Dallas, her sisters, and mom were in tears. Her grandmother looked over at me and shook her head with an exasperated sigh. “They started talking about the last time they all got together and now they’re crying about nothing. You’re ruining your makeup, girls,” she scolded them.

“Skye!” Dallas crooned when she saw me. “We were talking about Denver’s wedding.”

“Wonderful, but listen to your grandmother. Cry after the ceremony and let Betsy get your makeup done.”

That made them snivel laugh. Tissues started blotting and finally they seemed composed enough to finish getting ready. I checked the time. Guests would start arriving in twenty minutes.

“Everything okay down there?” Dallas asked as Jackie showed her two versions of hairstyles.

“He’s here.” My news brought relief to Denver’s face, but Savannah showed a mix of happy and disappointed. She liked bedlam and might have hoped that her perfect sister’s gorgeous fiancé made her sweat a little on her wedding day. Dallas just smiled. She had no doubt he would be here. If anyone might bolt, it would be Dallas.

“Does he look good?”

“Except for the huge zit on the end of his nose, but I’m sure Betsy can do something about that, right?” I joked and got the desired response. We were back to the squeals. No more maudlin today; I didn’t have enough tissue for it. “I have pretzels to snack on if you’re hungry. They’re bland and won’t cause any issues with digestion.”

“Seriously, what else do you have in that bag?”

“A chef if it’ll get you to eat something before the ceremony.”

“We had brunch. I’m good.”

“You’re too tall for me to do anything if you start to faint up there.”

“Isn’t she the best?” she bragged to everyone in the room but took a few pretzels from the bag I shoved in her face.

“Is he here yet?” her mom asked me.

For a second I thought she hadn’t heard what I’d said about Colin, but then I realized she meant Dallas’s father. “I’ll call him.” I stepped out into the hallway to place the call. Even after a dozen years of divorce, they still couldn’t stand to be in the same room together. He picked up on the first ring and told me they were two blocks away. I let him know where to meet us.

Gary came racing up the stairs. “Skye, tell me you’ve got a hairdresser who’s free?”

“I’m sending her down. The cousin, right?”

“If we were in a Regency romance, he’d fit right in, but dear lord, he needs more than just a comb.”

“She’ll be done in five minutes.”

“Mia said everything is getting set up over at the reception, but I do want to warn you that the flu hit the catering staff. They’re down a few people. We’ll be spending time helping them once we get there. Can I ask for your help directing the photographer and making sure the band has what they need?”

“Sure,” I said because what else could I say? I’d been hoping to relax once I got to the reception and be more guest than MOH, but I guess it wouldn’t be my worst nightmare without another wrinkle.

“If you ever decide TV news isn’t for you, give me a call. You’ll have a job with me anytime.”

I laughed. Even with my newfound angst about my job, I couldn’t imagine repeating this process over and over for people I didn’t know.

“He’s two blocks away,” I reported to Dallas’s mom when I went back inside. “We’re about fifteen minutes out for guests to start arriving. How’s the hair?”

Jackie gave me a ten minute warning on Dallas’s hair, but I was more concerned about the other two hairdressers. They were still working on the sisters. I tapped one of them on the shoulder and tipped my head toward the door. Savannah immediately protested. “The cousin needs major help, Savannah.”

“Thank God.” Dallas sighed. “I was worried that Ainsley wouldn’t want to get her hair done.”

My jaw set. She didn’t like Ainsley’s hair? Her glorious, voluminous, one of a kind hair? Was she blind? “I was talking about the other cousin.”

“Oh, yeah. Long, straggly, looks like he bathes it in gel?”

“It’s not that bad, but he does need a little help. Plus Jackie’s got to put in some time with Colin, so decide which way you want your hair and let her get it done.”

“Which genius went to South America and made you boss?” she joked.

“Hair up or down, Dallas?” I reiterated.

The vote was split around the room but Dallas decided on up. It took five minutes for Jackie to finish with her and get packing downstairs. She’d have to return for touchups once we got Dallas into her gown.

The sisters began to pull their dresses from the garment bags but stalled when they glanced at me and shot a look at Dallas. We rolled our eyes at each other as I stepped out into the corridor. Straight women and their stupid stereotypes.

Betsy came outside with me. “I know you don’t normally wear a lot of makeup and you’ve done a good job here, but I can really make your eyes pop if you’ll let me.” I was shaking my head when she said, “Dallas will love it.”

She was right. Dallas would appreciate someone making an effort for her, and I didn’t want to look the odd woman out up there. Betsy sat me in a chair and went to town on my eyes. When she rubbed something on my cheeks, I batted her hands away.

“You said my eyes.”

“Just adding a little bit of color to your lips, then you’re done.”

I figured I could always wipe it off if it looked too much. “When you’re done, you might want to check in downstairs. There’s a best woman rather than a best man.”

“Nice,” she said with a tinge of disbelief.

“Can’t guarantee she’ll need anything, but stick your head in and ask. Then you can come back up and finish Dallas’s face after we’ve shoved her into the gown.”

“Have fun with that.” She stepped back and gave my face one last inspection. “Looks great. Did I tell you how much I like the red hair? You should have tried that color years ago.”

I laughed not correcting her assumption that I’d colored my hair red for this special occasion. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.” I turned back to knock on the door to see if they were ready for the lesbian to reenter the room with half naked straight women.

“Damn, you’re looking hot, woman. Did Betsy get to you?” Dallas asked, happiness permeating her being now.

“She said you’d like it.”

“Makes your eyes look so blue you can barely see the green and brown. With the red hair, you’re killing it today. You won’t be single after tonight.”

My head shook on its own. “Not my goal. Let’s get you married then fed.”

“I have to fit into this dress first. Mom, will you take the cover off, please? You want to change first, Skye?”

I nodded and ducked into the bathroom, taking my dress and heels with me. It made straight chicks nervous when lesbians disrobed in front of them, too. Not that I was that kind of person anyway. At the gym, I changed in the private shower cubicles.

A shriek sounded from the outer room. I’d barely had time to slip the dress over my head before I was back outside to find out what happened. Dallas’s mom was still shrieking and pointing to the tear in her nylons. Savannah was frantically spraying hairspray above and below the tear to prevent it from running but it was too big a hole.

“Go without, Mom,” Dallas told her.

“Or,” I said and rummaged through my bag. “Tip number twenty-nine. Someone always snags their stockings.” I pulled out a pair of sheer black and handed them to Dallas’s mom.

“You’re a lifesaver.” She snatched the package out of my hand and went into the bathroom to replace them.

“I’m getting a bag like that,” Denver said. “I thought I was prepared as a mom, but I didn’t think of half that stuff.”

“Here, let me get that,” Dallas said indicating my zipper. I’d left it undone when I heard the shrieking. “These dresses are awesome. You all look so beautiful.”