As we sat down for dinner that night, we breathed a collective sigh of relief. Everyone had made it to New York safe and sound, all the wedding details had been taken care of and Louis and I would have a beautiful wedding to share with my family tomorrow. I felt awful knowing Louis’ family wouldn’t be with us, but tried to focus on the fact that Louis and Charlie were going to set up a webcam in the town hall so they could at least see the ceremony in real time. This was as close to perfect as we would be able to get for the time being.
I woke up the next morning with a nervous stomach. Usually when this happened, I would just roll over, snuggle into Louis and I would instantly feel better. Unfortunately for me, my brother had kidnapped him last night. Zoe had insisted the bride and groom spend the night before the wedding apart and not see each other until the ceremony. I knew this was merely a superstition, but I felt inclined to trust a woman who had such a happy marriage. Sometimes the little things made all the difference. I also liked the heightened sense of anticipation we would experience from spending the night apart.
My mother took one look at me and made me a cup of tea and a piece of toast to help calm my stomach. While I’m sure this helped, I think she was able to achieve better results by holding me in her arms and reminding me what an amazing man I was marrying. She stroked my hair and told me about the jitters she felt the day she married my father. I closed my eyes and laughed as I thought about my eight-year-old self scarfing down nothing but brownies at their reception. I had only an inkling of my good fortune that day, when my father officially became my father, but became truly grateful in all the days following.
Maya arrived promptly at nine-thirty and whisked us off to the salon. She had bagels and pastries delivered so no one would have hunger pains during the long and arduous beautifying regimen. The woman was a genius; a fact which she reminded me of often. Her gift of sustenance was exactly what everyone needed to rally together through the last few tasks before the impending wedding.
After our hair and nails had been done to perfection, we returned to my parents’ house to dress and have our makeup artfully applied by a true master. Kate was kind enough to keep me company while Maya did Zoe’s and my mother’s makeup. My childhood bedroom had been set up as a waiting room for the remaining beautifying processes. All the work took place in my mother’s bedroom, since it was the largest. Maya insisted on space to allow her “creative genius” to be at its best.
Kate walked over, plopped herself down next to me on the bed and tapped me on the nose.
“How are you feeling, Syd?”
I smiled nervously. “Fabulous!”
She put her hand on mine and sighed. “You don’t have to pretend for me. I’d be surprised if you
weren’t
nervous. This is a big day, sweetie.”
I took a shaky breath. “I know. And I
am
nervous. But I’m also extraordinarily happy.” I closed my eyes. “I just need to focus on that instead.”
She smiled at me. “Your hair looks amazing, Syd. Your dress is absolutely gorgeous. You’ll look perfect.”
I got up and walked towards the mirror. I had decided to wear my hair down this time, since I would wear my hair up for the next wedding. Big poofy white dresses with veils are definitely complimented by fancy updos. While my pale gray dress looked lovely with my hair in loose waves down my back.
Maya came up behind me and put her hands on my shoulders. “It’s your turn, Syd. Are you ready?”
I took a deep breath and turned towards her. “Let’s do this!”
She laughed. “You’re going to be a beautiful bride.”
Maya was true to her word. She used a light foundation with a hint of shimmer, faint rose colored blush, sparkly silver eye shadow, charcoal eyeliner, volumizing mascara and luscious red lipstick. The end result was breathtaking.
I gasped when I saw my reflection in the mirror. “Maya, I…” I couldn’t find the words to express how I felt at that moment. I hugged her gently and whispered, “Thank you.”
“Well, I did promise Louis a smokin’ bride.” She winked suggestively at me.
I burst into a fit of giggles. Maya often had just the right expression in her arsenal. “You’re too much. And I love you for it.”
My mother came bustling in with my garment bag and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw me. She beamed at me while tears glistened in her eyes.
“You look
gorgeous
, Sydney.”
I felt myself starting to well up. “Thanks, Mom.”
Maya cleared her throat. “May I please have everyone’s attention?”
The four of us quickly focused on her and she grinned.
“The ceremony is in less than an hour. All we need to do is get Sydney dressed and accessorized. The main thing we need to do now is make sure she DOES NOT CRY. Her makeup has been applied to perfection and it must stay that way at least until she walks down the aisle. Are we all clear?”
Everyone nodded. She stared at me pointedly. “Sydney?”
I nodded more vigorously. She held up her right index finger and pointed at me. “Absolutely NO crying.”
My mom laughed and took out my wedding dress. As I slipped it on over my numerous lacy undergarments (This was my first wedding night, after all.), I was happy to see it looked even more beautiful on me today than it had when I tried it on at the store. I’m sure most of that was due to hair and makeup, but I could have sworn it was also a sort of glow. Yes, I said it. I thought I had a bridal glow. Deal with it.
After twirling with gusto, I surveyed the room for opinions. My mom, sister, sister-in-law and Maya - every single one of them – were all crying. It was unbelievably sweet, but it made it that much harder for me not to cry. I was under strict orders from Maya though and I had no intention of defying her.
My mother wiped the tears from her eyes (while smearing her makeup) and walked over to me with a small jewelry pouch in her hands. She took out her diamond solitaire necklace and matching earrings. These pieces were only worn on
very
special occasions. I had looked forward to wearing them on my wedding day for a long time. Crap! It was becoming progressively more difficult not to cry.
After my mom put her necklace on me and I managed to put on the earrings with shaking hands, she considered my appearance.
“Something is missing, Syd.” She frowned. “Your dress is your something new. The diamonds are your something old. The garter Maya gave you is your something blue, but what about your something borrowed?”
My eyes must have bugged out of my head. How did I miss this? Was this bad luck? Everything had happened so quickly and I was juggling so many things that I completely forgot! I could feel the sweat forming on the back of my neck and started to wrack my brain for something borrowed. Technically my mother’s diamonds were old AND borrowed. But...could you do that? Was it OK to double dip on your “somethings” on your wedding day? I shook my head and decided it wouldn’t be a good idea. I had to think of something else.
In a panic, I scanned the room for possibilities. I could borrow my mother’s scarf! No, it would look ridiculous with my dress. Maybe I could stuff it in my bra? There’s no rule which says anyone has to SEE it; simply having it on me is enough, right? No, the dress is tight enough as it is; I wouldn’t be able to breathe. Or I could borrow Maya’s shoes! She and I wore the same size! Who cares if she’s wearing black boots? My dress is quite long, so people won’t be able to see much of my feet...
Kate started to laugh. “Stop panicking, Syd. I have it covered.” She shook her head at my mother and walked towards me. She handed me the white gold and diamond bracelet I had borrowed from her the night I had proposed to Louis. It was perfect.
I couldn’t find my voice. I gazed up at Kate and smiled. She put her arms around me and hugged me tenderly. “You make an absolutely beautiful bride.”
I felt the tears coming and willed myself not to cry. It was close, but I was able to keep the tears inside. I could feel them building to a dangerous level and was looking forward to releasing a few (tastefully, of course) during the ceremony.
Kate fastened the bracelet on my wrist just as my father came into the room. For a moment he was uncharacteristically speechless.
Moment over. “Look at my little Duck! You’re magnificent!”
I cleared my throat. A serious lump had started to form there. “Thanks, Dad.” I put my arms around him and whispered, “I’m so glad you’re here.”
He pulled out of the hug and gently took my face in his hands. “Never has a father been so lucky, Duck. You three were a gift.”
Maya sighed. The level of emotion in the room was becoming far too high for her comfort level, not to mention that it was in danger of damaging all her hard work as the wedding’s makeup artist. “OK! Time to load up the cars, everyone!”
My mother helped me into my coat and handed me my bouquet. We had selected red roses with a generous dose of baby’s breath. My mother had found, in a matter of one day, gorgeous gray and crimson ribbons which she had fashioned around the stems. I smiled and wondered if there were anything my mom couldn’t create beauty with. I took one last look in the mirror before we left. It was true that I looked pretty, but did I look like a bride? I shook my head in my usual clearing attempt. Did it really matter?
Ten minutes later, we were walking up the steps of the town hall. We gave our coats to my father and went to check out the main gallery, where the ceremony would be held. Kate and I walked in and my jaw dropped. I didn’t expect the Ritz Carlton, but this? Clearly, the decor hadn’t been updated since the seventies. The carpet was a sickly gold (replete with stains), the walls were covered in dark wood paneling and hung on top of the scary paneling were numerous wood carvings of pilgrims.
Gross! I don’t want to get married in this room! Maybe this was a sign? I couldn’t possibly be meant to marry the love of my life here, could I? OK, Sydney, just breathe. Remember the mantra. I closed my eyes and tried to slow my heartrate. The outrageous error in judgment made in selecting the design concept for this room wasn’t important. What
was
important was that Louis and I were getting married today. I slowly opened my eyes and then quickly snapped them back shut. My little speech didn’t do a damn thing. I was still getting married in the Brady Bunch’s long lost basement.
Kate grabbed my hand. “Sydney, come with me.” She quickly pulled me out of the offensive room and steered me towards the women’s restroom. She was surprisingly speedy for a pregnant woman.
Once inside the restroom, she planted me in front of the mirror. “Look at her, Syd.”
I was confused. “Look at who? We’re the only people in here.”
She rolled her eyes. “Look at YOURSELF in the mirror.”
I followed her command. “OK, what am I supposed to see?”
She came up behind me and put her arms around my waist. “You look breathtakingly beautiful.”
I suddenly had a goofy smile on my face along with the usual blushing.
She turned me to face her and held my hands. “No one in that room is going to be focusing on anything other than you. You are the single best distraction from that
appalling
room.”
I giggled. “It
is
truly appalling.” I leaned my forehead carefully against hers. “Thanks, Kate.”
She grinned. “Relax and focus on Louis. Are you ready?”
I nodded and took her hand. “Ready.”
As Kate and I came out of the bathroom, we saw two of my father’s friends standing outside the entrance to the main gallery. Mike and Bob were speaking in low voices, but due to our supersonic hearing, both of us caught the content of their discussion. They believed since my father told them I wasn’t pregnant, Louis must be marrying me for a green card. I didn’t know them very well, but if they were invited to the ceremony, they qualified as his close friends.
The “general public” was only invited to the reception. (I made a mental note to have a serious discussion with my father about the quality of his close friends.) Though I knew their words weren’t true, hearing them spoken right before the ceremony had caused a great deal of damage to my fragile mind. I suddenly felt ill at the thought of the widespread speculation which would take place as a result of our expeditious marriage.
I turned to Kate. “None of them think this is real. They all think I’m marrying him to get him a green card. Like in that movie!” I was on the edge of hysteria.
Kate held my face in her hands. “Syd, who gives a crap what they think?
You
know why you’re marrying Louis. All the people who matter know it too.” She lowered her voice. “Don’t let their small-minded opinions ruin your day. We’re all
thrilled
for you! We’re
overjoyed
that Louis is going to be a part of our family. You’ve made a wonderful choice...and I think you know that.”
I focused on Kate’s eyes and felt my sanity gradually return. I started to laugh. I have no doubt that Kate was wondering if I had finally gone crazy. (Seriously, it was only a matter of time.)
She eyed me carefully. “Syd, are you alright?”
I closed my eyes and sighed. “How many times are you going to have to save my ass?” It was becoming ridiculously embarrassing.
She breathed a sigh of relief. “As many times as it takes. It’s my job and I take it very seriously.”