Passionate Pleasures (28 page)

“What’s borrowed and blue?” Mavis wanted to know.

Kathryn shrugged. “I didn’t get any further than something old, something new,” she admitted.

“I figured as much.” Mavis opened the small bag she had been carrying. She pulled out a pair of beautiful gold-and-pearl clip earrings. “Wear these,” she said. “They were Mom’s. She’d be so happy to see this day. She always thought of you as her other daughter, Kathy. And tuck this in your pocket.”

Kathryn took the earrings, and put the box on her dressing table. She was just slightly teary. “I wish your mom were here today,” she said. “Thank you.” Then she looked at Mavis’s outstretched hand. In it rested a small irregular-shaped piece of pale blue bottle glass. “Oh God,” she said softly. “I can’t believe you still have it!”

“First present you ever gave me,” Mavis said softly. “How old were we that summer? Four? Five? Of course I kept it. It was from my best friend, and I want it back after the wedding, Kathy.”

Now Kathryn did cry.

“Good thing I haven’t done your makeup yet,” Miss Julie said. Now wasn’t this just the sweetest story to tell her customers next week? “Mavis, go get a cold washcloth for me. Can’t make up puffy eyes.”

“Happy tears don’t make you puffy,” Kathryn said between sobs.

“Whoever told you that, honey, wasn’t your friend,” Miss Julie said tartly. Then the cosmetologist finished twisting Kathryn’s beautiful red-gold hair into a French twist and pinned it firmly. “Mavis, where’s that comb the florist made up for her hair?”

“Flowers in my hair?” Kathryn sounded dubious.

“You’re much too old for a veil, and hats are too old for you,” Miss Julie said.

“Here it is.” Mavis held out a small tortoiseshell comb decorated with a spray of fragrant cream-colored freesia. “It’s not fussy. See?”

Kathryn nodded as Miss Julie fixed the comb at the top of the French twist. Then Miss Julie put on Kathryn’s makeup. Knowing the lady well, and her dislike of too much, Miss Julie applied a light foundation to even out the bride’s porcelain skin, a touch of blush on her cheek-bones, a delicate stroke of dark green eye shadow on her eyelids, and a bit of mascara to her lashes. Last, she brushed on some coral pink lipstick. “Blot,” Miss Julie said, offering Kathryn a Kleenex. “There! You’re finished, honey, and I’m going to be on my way. Good luck to you!” And she quickly packed up the tools of her trade, and was gone down the stairs. They heard the front door slam behind her.

“She canceled her entire schedule of appointments this afternoon so she could come and do this. She’ll be in the church too. I think most of the town will be there for it, so don’t panic, Kathy,” Mavis said.

“Oh God, I should have had a big wedding and invited everyone,” Kathryn said.

“No,” Mavis replied. “You should have just what you wanted. A small wedding. You and Tim can hold a big party sometime in the next year, and invite everyone. But today is just for you, the family, and a few of us who are your especial friends. Incidentally, it was very sweet of Tim to ask Jeremy to stand up for him when his friend, Ray Pietro d’Angelo, couldn’t make it. How come?”

“One of his daughters got engaged, and Rose had scheduled the party for today. She’s been working on it for the last four months. We were kind of last minute. They’ll probably be able to come when we give our big party for everyone who isn’t coming today,” Kathryn said.

“Who did you replace them with at the table?” Mavis wanted to know.

“Actually I invited the Devlins, Mulcahys, Seligmanns. Ashley’s my cousin, and Tim seems to have hit it off with Mick Devlin,” Kathryn said. “And I asked Mr. and Mrs. Bills. She’s taken care of me since I moved into the cottage. I couldn’t leave her out.”

“That was nice,” Mavis agreed.

The clock in the hallway struck two o’clock.

“I guess I’d better get dressed,” Kathryn said. “You know my brother. He said two twenty, and he’ll be here exactly on time.”

“I’ll get your suit,” Mavis said, going to the closet and taking out the garment bag.

She lay it on the bed, opened it, and lifted it out. “Unconventional, but beautiful,” she admitted. “The town will be agog.”

“Let them,” Kathryn said as she shed her fleece robe, and reached for the trousers. She was wearing a cream-colored lace garment that incorporated a low-cut strapless lace bra and panties with garters holding up her stockings. There were rosettes on the bra where her nipples fit, down the torso in a single line, and the garters.

“Holy cow!” Mavis exclaimed. “That is downright sexysexysexy!”

“Uh-huh,” Kathryn agreed, nodding. “Just ’cause I’m the town librarian doesn’t mean I have to wear a cotton bra and briefs all the time.” She reached for the soft winter white wool trousers and pulled them on, zipping up the fly. Then she drew on the plain tunic top, which buttoned up the back with little pearl buttons. The tunic had a round neckline, and her mother’s opera length pearls looked perfect when she fastened them about her neck. Mavis’s gold-and-pearl earrings were the perfect complement. “Well,” she said. “What do you think?” she asked her best friend as she slid into her shoes.

Mavis shook her head. “I didn’t think it would work, Kathy, but the pantsuit is just perfect as a wedding outfit. But you’re going to need something for outdoors. It’s chilly with the snow last night, and there’s a slight wind blowing in off the bay.”

“I’ve got that fur-lined oatmeal-colored cape Hallock gave me a few Christmases ago,” Kathryn said. “It should be perfect.”

Mavis opened the box containing the flowers, and drew out a small bouquet in a silver holder. She handed it to Kathryn. “Cream-colored freesia, some little cream-colored roses touched with just a hint of pale yellow along their edges, and a wisp of lacy fern for greenery. Nothing fussy, Kathy. I got the fussy one.”

Kathryn took the elegant bouquet. She held it to her nose, inhaling the fragrance of the freesia. “I love it,” she said. “Thanks, best friend.”

A knocking sounded at the front door downstairs.

“It’s your brother, and he’s right on time,” Mavis said, picking up her own bouquet of yellow roses, freesia, and greenery.

The two women hurried downstairs, where they found Hallock V. “An unusual but most attractive ensemble, Kathryn. Only you would choose pants in which to be married, and somehow carry it off.” His voice was amused more than censoring. “Get your coats on, ladies. We’ll just make the church in time.”

“Didn’t anyone ever tell you it’s good luck to be married as the minute hand is sweeping up, and not down, Hallock?” Mavis said as she put a dark wool cape on over her forest-green wrap dress.

“No, they did not,” he replied, helping his sister on with her fur-lined cape. “Didn’t I give this to you, Kathryn?” Hallock asked.

“Three years ago Christmas, Hallock, and it has been quite my favorite gift from you, even though I’m quite certain Debora picked it out. How is she today?”

“Actually quite well. She refused to miss your wedding, sister, and so we put her in a wheelchair for transport. Mr. Bills volunteered to transport her, our housekeeper, and the children in his van. Hallock the Sixth will push his mother’s chair while the twins monitor the little ones. They will, of course, return home with Elsa after the service.”

“Get me to the church on time,” Kathryn sang slightly off key. “I feel an attack of nerves coming on, big brother.”

They departed the cottage and Hallock drove while the two women sat in the backseat of his town car. When they reached the church Mavis quickly exited the car while Hallock V got out, hurrying around to escort his sister. To Kathryn’s initial horror the church was packed. It would appear the entire town had come to see Miss Kathy and her swain married. Someone took her cape. Her hand went to her hair to make certain it was neat. Her other hand grasped the bouquet.

She had decided that “Here Comes the Bride” was perhaps meant more for someone younger. She had chosen a lovely Baroque piece instead. The music began, and Mavis moved out ahead of the bride. Kathryn clutched her older brother’s arm. To her surprise he reached over and patted her hand with a reassuring smile. Then he walked her down the aisle past a sea of faces, all of which she recognized. Hallock handed her off to Tim, and the ceremony began.

My God! He looked so handsome in his gray pin-striped suit. There was a small rose like the one in her bouquet in his buttonhole. And when he smiled at her, the corners of his blue eyes crinkling, all the nerves that had been threatening to explode dissolved into a pile of mush. He loved her. She loved him. And this was the absolutely right thing they were doing.

The music stopped.

“Dearly beloved,” Father Porter began, “we are gathered here together in the sight of God, and in the face of this company to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony. . . .”

How many times had she heard these words spoken, but never in all the years since Jonathan Curtis had been killed expected to hear them spoken for her? She struggled to focus on the words, her heart hammering when Tim answered, “I will,” and Father Porter turned to ask her the same question.

“Kathryn, wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and health; and forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”

My God! What a serious commitment. Had she ever really listened to those words before? Understood them? Tim gently squeezed her hands, which were in his. “I will,” she answered, and everyone in the church heard her say it.

“Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?” Father Porter asked.

“I do!” Hallock St. John V said loudly, and there was a ripple of soft laughter.

They then pledged themselves to each other. The plain gold rings they had purchased just this week in Mr. Jacobs’s jewelry shop were blessed. Mr. Jacobs had even gotten the inscriptions engraved for them with the words TIMOTHY TO KATHRYN and KATHRYN TO TIMOTHY, with the date. There were a few more prayers.

Their hands were joined, and Father Porter declared, “Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder.” He began the end of the ceremony. “Forasmuch as Kathryn and Timothy have consented together in holy wedlock . . .” Then came the blessing, and Father Porter declared, “You may kiss your bride, Tim.”

And Timothy Blair did so most enthusiastically, as the music of the traditional wedding recessional swelled and filled the church. They broke off kissing to hurry back down the aisle to the back of the church, where they stood greeting all their well-wishers.

“It’s a damned good thing we set dinner for four o’clock,” Mavis murmured to her husband. “We’ll just make it.”

And they did. The sun was setting behind the hills edging the bay. The chill wind blowing over the snow was dying down as they entered the East Harbor Inn to be greeted by Felicity Clarence, who had managed to get to the church and back before the bridal party. She ushered them into the private dining room with its view of the bay. The bright evening star had already risen, and was hanging over the water. There would be a moon later too. Everyone sat down. Wine was poured, and the wedding dinner began.

The started with a pumpkin soup, hot, creamy, and rich. Then came the inn’s famous Waldorf salad: chopped apples and walnuts in a sweet dressing on a bed of lettuce. There were four bread baskets with warm, fresh-baked mini-muffins on the table.

Because she had invited the Seligmanns Kathryn had changed the main course from roast loin of pork to a prime rib of beef with small potatoes roasted around the meat, and steamed broccoli. The wine was drunk to toast the newlyweds, but as everyone was driving home, at least one person per car had been designated a driver.

Finally the wedding cake was rolled into the room. It had two tiers with yellow flowers that tumbled from the top layer down the sides of the cake and around it. The topper was not a traditional bride and groom. Instead it was a small castle, a sign planted outside of it that read, AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER. Kathryn saw it, and smiled. Nothing could have been a more perfect ending to a perfect day.

She looked to Felicity Clarence, who waited to carve and serve the cake. “Thank you!” she said, and Tim nodded in agreement.

The cake was consumed, but the top layer was carefully boxed. “Freeze it,” Felicity said. “And have a party on your first anniversary.”

No one wanted to be the first to leave. It had been such a wonderful day. And then suddenly Debora St. John said quite clearly, “
Oh merde!
My water has just broken!”

Dr. Sam was immediately at her side. “Pains?”

“Not yet,” Debora said, “but I think I’m close.”

“Hallock, get your car!” Dr. Sam said.

“I can’t drive,” Hallock said. “Debora said she would so I could have some wine at my sister’s wedding.”

“I’ll drive,” Tim spoke up.

“It’s your wedding night,” Hallock protested.

Tim gave him an amused look. “I’ll drive,” he said.

“You had wine,” Dr. Sam said sternly.

“Two sips to toast the family,” Tim said. “Look at my glass, Sam.”

“All right then,” Dr. Sam said. “I’ll call the hospital to tell them we’re coming in. They’ll alert Dr. Lindeman. How many weeks early are you, Debora?”

“Five, six,” she said, wincing.

“Pain?”

“Just the first one, although my back’s been killing me all day,” she answered.

“You’ve had five deliveries and you didn’t realize you’ve been in labor all day?” Dr. Sam said. “Or did you know?”

“I didn’t want to spoil Kathy’s day,” Debora admitted. “Ouch!”

“Let’s get going!” Dr. Sam said.

“I’m coming,” Kathryn said.

Tim had already gone for his car.

“I’m not a wine drinker,” Mrs. Bills said. “Just had a bit of cider and some water. Same for the mister. We’ll drive anyone who needs to go.”