“Ohmygod. Tell me
exactly
what happened.” He stood silent for a minute.
“No.”
Maggie put her hand on his shoulder
and searched his face. Horrible thoughts came to her. She heard a woman’s
voice, but couldn’t hear what she was saying. She hoped it wasn’t his mom with
bad news.
“I guess that’s good at least... Of
course... I’ll get the first flight back in the morning.”
“What happened?” Maggie asked when
he hung up. She was still holding his shoulder with one hand, the other over
her heart.
“That was Lani. She was calling
from the museum. A rep from the security company called her when they couldn’t
reach me at home. Some maniac threw a construction block through the front
glass and broke in.”
“Oh no. Did he take anything?”
“No, I almost wish he had. We might
have a chance to recover it. He vandalized the Hidelbaum’s in the foyer.” He
searched the cold, black sky. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
“Where was security? Why didn’t
they stop him?”
“They did stop him, but one was
watching the monitors; the other was making the rounds at the back of the
building. They said it took them less than a minute to get to the front, but
you can do a lot of damage in seconds.”
“Oh, this is awful.” Maggie thought
of the huge, serene, pastel-colored paintings and felt sick to her stomach.
“All three of them?” Brian nodded. “Are they ruined?”
He told her everything the curator
had said. The guards had managed to catch the guy, who raved like a madman and
brandished his knife. No one had been hurt, but he’d had time to slash the
three paintings in the entryway. Brian started to walk back.
“I’ve got to get to the hotel and
make some calls. They’ve secured everything for now, but I’ve got a million
things to do. I need to call Hidelbaum’s agent first. He’s always so reluctant
to display his works, and now this.”
“I can call the airline and find
you a flight back while you make your work calls.”
Back at Kevin and Annie’s, they
explained to everyone what had happened. Brian addressed the room, “It was
lovely to meet all of you, but I’m going to have to fly back to San Diego first
thing tomorrow.” Maggie was touched by the fact that he took time to say
goodbye to everyone individually, even though she knew his mind must be racing.
He said goodbye to her mother last
and hugged her.
“I’m so sorry you have to leave,”
Mom said. “Maybe we’ll see you again at Christmas?”
Maggie glared at her mother as she
moved in for her own hug, and said, “Can’t really think about that right now,
Mom. We’ve gotta go. Thanks for the lovely dinner.” She waved goodbye to the
crowd, “I’ll see you all tomorrow.” Then they went back out into the night.
Maggie thought about how she’d have
to go to the wedding alone now and an image flashed through her mind as they
walked to their rental car. She felt guilty for thinking of something so
trivial and self-absorbed while Brian was completely stressed and hundreds of thousands
of dollars worth of art hung shredded back in San Diego. But she couldn’t shake
the picture of her and all the other single women, her mother included, being
rounded up at the wedding reception, like beagles for the hunt. They were all
dressed in long-sleeved white gowns with big brown and black patches; little
tri-colored hounds on the scent, barking and baying as they waited for the
glowing bride to cast her bouquet, and perhaps a bit of good luck, in their
oh-so-anxious direction.
“And now, by the power vested in me
by the Internet,” Russell drew a soft chuckle from the guests, “I pronounce
you: husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Maggie watched Kevin, who looked so
handsome and so... grown up in his tux that when she’d first seen him tears had
filled her eyes, take Annie, runway-model-meets-Grace-Kelly beautiful in her
blush gown and upswept hairdo, in his arms and kiss her.
Everyone applauded. Russell clapped
loudest of all. Maggie caught his eye and winked. She was proud of him,
standing there looking tall and handsome in his dark suit. His little Internet
power joke was the only one he’d snuck in; he’d been very solemn, more serious
than she’d ever seen him. He’d coaxed more tears from her when he spoke so eloquently
about loving someone and wanting to share the rest of your life with them,
every last bit of it, from the greatest joys to the deepest sorrows to the
smallest tasks of getting through everyday life. The tears began as little
salty hints of regret over her own botched vows, but she squeezed them back.
She focused on the happy couple, determined to only let through tears of joy.
While they posed for the
photographer, Maggie thought to herself that they made a rather attractive
wedding party: Annie in her sleeveless pale pink gown and bouquet of
cream-colored roses; Kevin and Annie’s brother, Jeremy, so dapper in their
tuxedos; and Maggie in her shimmering empire gown with its deep garnet color.
The photographer played up the brother-as-bridesman and sister-as-best-woman
angle, and snapped shots of Maggie and Kevin smoking cigars and Jeremy fussing
with Annie’s veil. He also posed the happy couple behind their Smurf-topped
cake. (Annie confessed to her new sisters-in-law that she’d been irritated when
the box first arrived in the mail; but since it was the only thing Kevin had
asked for in all the wedding planning she couldn’t say no. She’d decided to run
with it and surprised him by having the cake frosted in white and Smurf-blue
fondant.)
They were in a small inn outside Boston.
Except for the immediate family and Russell, all staying at a hotel near
Kevin’s, the wedding guests filled the rooms of the inn: Annie’s family from California,
Mom’s sister and her family, Annie’s and Kevin’s friends. The reception was in
the dining room, which had large windows that overlooked the snow-covered
grounds. Bouquets of pink Gerbera daisies and cream-colored roses brightened
the tables.
As Maggie walked in to the dining
room, she ran into her Mom’s sister.
“It’s so good to see you,” Aunt
Deirdre said as she squeezed Maggie. She was enveloped in Aunt D’s blue
polyester suit and Jean Nate scent. It had been almost five years since she’d
seen her aunt, who placed her white-gloved hand on Maggie’s arm and whispered,
“How are you doing? I mean, really? With Dave gone and all.”
“I’m fine; great actually.” She
grabbed a champagne glass off the tray of a passing waiter.
“You look a little tired.” Her aunt
patted her arm and nodded.
Maggie gulped the champagne. Of
course she was tired; she’d been up until one the previous night playing poker
with Russell, Jeremy and her brother at his mild excuse for a bachelor party.
They’d cleaned him out; Russell was right—Kevin had no poker face. They’d
stayed up way too late laughing as Kevin’s chips dwindled. They’d hoped, for
his sake, it was true that lack of luck at cards meant he’d be lucky in love.
“I mean, you look good, dear. A
little thin and tired, but good. Your Mom says—”
“I don’t mean to interrupt, but I
promised Kevin I’d check that everything was OK with the dinner service,”
Maggie lied. “I’ll talk to you later, OK?” She downed the champagne and headed
toward the kitchen as a follow-through on her lie.
At the far end of the room she
turned and saw Deirdre grab Shannon and whisper to her.
No
doubt asking how I’m
really
doing. Oh well, Shay’ll
set her straight
.
When Maggie turned back, there was
Mom, eyes still damp. “Wasn’t that a lovely ceremony?” Mom asked.
“Yes, it was. I’m glad everything
went so well.” Maggie reached into her evening bag and pulled out a tissue for
her mother.
“My baby’s all grown up and
married,” she said as she dabbed the corners of her eyes. She sniffled, then
brightened. “Do you think they’ll have kids?”
“Ma, they just got married like ten
minutes ago. Let’s give them some time, OK?”
“They’d have such gorgeous babies.”
Her mother was practically salivating at the thought of getting her hands on
those lovely grandbabies she was imagining. “Has he said anything to you?”
Maggie wondered if this was how junkies looked at their dealers.
“No, he hasn’t. And, yes, they’re
the most beautiful people I know and their offspring would no doubt be the
same. But, let’s just enjoy today.” She took another swig from her glass.
“I am. I am enjoying today.” She
smiled at Maggie. “You look so pretty, honey. A little thin and tired, but so
pretty.” She played with a spiral of Maggie’s hair.
“Thanks,” Maggie said. She excused
herself to go mingle as her mother no doubt said a silent prayer for a brand
new little O’Connell come next fall.
When it was time to sit down to
dinner, the seating was a free-for-all. In keeping with the carefree vibe of
the wedding, no one had assigned seats except the happy couple. Still, Maggie
figured she’d be at the head table with Kevin, Annie, Jeremy and his wife, and
Russell. The tables were set for eight and sure enough, there was Russell,
waving her over. At the final two seats sat Deirdre’s oldest daughter, Debbie,
and her husband.
Aunt Deirdre and her husband Dan
had thought it would be cute to name all their children with D names: Debbie,
Doug, Davey, Drew and Delfina. The O’Connell children, who had never been
overly close to their McMaster cousins, thought this was anything but cute.
Years ago they’d come up with their own secret names for the clan: Dippy, Dud,
Dopey, Droopy and, well, Delfina they just called Delfina since they thought
going through life with that name was punishment enough.
Kevin hadn’t wanted to invite them,
but Mom was very close to Deirdre, and that was the one time she’d put her foot
down with Kevin about the wedding.
As Maggie approached the table, she
could tell by the look on Kevin’s face that he was now regretting not having
assigned people to their seats. She widened her eyes at him in a silent signal
that she hoped communicated:
At least you’re not stuck
sitting next to Dippy like me
.
Dippy stood as Maggie reached the
table and said, “It’s so great to see you.” This smaller version of Aunt
Deirdre pulled Maggie into a firm hug. No polyester suit, but the same curves
padded her short frame, and a similar hairdo encircled her head like beige
cotton candy.
Now Maggie felt guilty. This would
probably be fine.
They sat down as the waiters served
their salads and more champagne.
“How is every little thing? I mean,
I heard about Dave,” she leaned in as if indicating that she knew, but would
not mind a personal recitation, of every sordid detail.
As she’d done with Aunt D, Maggie
tried again to say how great she was. But Dippy continued, undeterred, talking
about how horrible the whole thing was. Maggie tried steering the conversation
to other topics. Dippy moved on to telling stories of friends who’d also
married “cheating, lying dogs.” Maggie tried telling Dippy point blank that it
probably wasn’t right to talk about adultery and divorce at a wedding. Dippy
nodded in the direction of her husband and whispered, “If he ever cheats, I’ll
cut him, if you know what I mean.” She raised her eyebrows and made a little
scissoring motion with her fingers. Maggie tried to turn and talk to Russell.
But there was no stopping Dippy, who went on all through the meal. The only
saving grace was her soft voice, which Maggie prayed couldn’t be heard by the
other side of the table.
“And look at you. It doesn’t make
sense that he’d leave you. I mean, you’re pretty
and
skinny. Too skinny if you ask me. Are you eating?” She lowered her tone even
more, “Are you depressed? Is that it? I notice you’re hardly eating your
salmon.”
“I’m not depressed. I’m fine.
Really.” Maggie took another drink of champagne and sought a way out of this
conversation. Russell was asking Kevin and Annie about their upcoming honeymoon
trip. Debbie’s husband was telling Jeremy and his wife all about the corrugated
box business.
Why the hell
isn’t Brian here to save me from this? Just my luck. What good is having a
handsome boyfriend if he’s not here to keep these crazy women out of my hair?
She finished her drink and excused herself, saying she needed to freshen up
before the toast.
Maggie checked her makeup in the
dismally lit bathroom mirror.
They’re right. I do look
tired
. She patted powder under her eyes. Shannon stuck her head in the
door and said, “I’ve been looking for you. They’re ready for the toast.” Maggie
took a deep breath and followed Shannon out.
Maggie grabbed her refilled glass
from her place setting and went to the front of the room. She clutched the
microphone in one hand and her champagne flute in the other.
She wished the couple all the best.
She told a story about Kevin, in his youth, declaring all girls “totally gross”
and how their dad had told him he should keep that quiet since they were
out-numbered in the house. At the mention of Dad, she made blurry eye contact
with Mom and Shay who were both crying. She tried to keep her voice steady as a
tear sky-dived off the apple of her cheek and she looked at Kevin. “I’m glad
you reversed your position on girls, because I can’t imagine a more beautiful
woman, inside and out, for you to share your life with.” She held up her glass
and everyone shouted, “Here, here,” and drank to the couple.
Later, Maggie was sitting with Beth
and James watching the couples dancing as the DJ played
Someone
to Watch Over Me
: Kevin snuck kisses from Annie; Shannon and Michael
shared a laugh; Dippy steered her husband like a remote-controlled car; and
Humphrey guided Gram across the floor with stately grace. Maggie had just
finished her champagne and started to look around for a waiter, when Russell
walked up.