“Viv, stop asking,” I said, laughing.
“Hey, were those Harry’s parents I saw downstairs?” Blanche asked as I helped her put her hair in an updo. “The gray-haired Englishman and the blonde woman with the hat that looks like a giant yellow bird hanging off her head?”
“Yes, that’s them,” Viv said. “They’re okay actually, not haughty like I expected, thank God. And I have his mother to thank for finding this dress in time.”
“Where did she find it?” I asked, admiring the sequin detailing as I adjusted the skirt.
“She borrowed it from Queen Elizabeth’s collection, of course,” Viv said, her expression serious.
Frankie’s mouth fell open, and the four of us were quiet for a few seconds as we looked at Viv in shock, but then she smiled.
“Girls, I’m kidding,” Viv said, laughing. “But you should have seen the looks on your faces.”
Blanche was laughing and began to say something, but then put her hand over her mouth and ran into the bathroom, the hairbrush I’d been using still in her hair. We could hear her throwing up behind the closed door. Viv, Dottie, Frankie, and I looked at each other.
“She’s been throwing up like that since we left Antibes,” Frankie said.
“How often? Has she seen a doctor?” I asked.
“Blanche, honey, are you up for this?” Viv asked when she came out, taking her hand. “You poor thing, if you’re sick . . .”
“No, just get me some Coke and crackers and I’ll be fine,” Blanche said, sitting on the edge of the bed. “At least I didn’t throw up on this new dress. I was waiting to tell you all this because I didn’t want to upstage your day, Viv, but Guy Sherry and I are getting married in London in a few weeks.”
“Well, congratulations!” Viv said, hugging her. “You’re not upstaging my day at all.”
“Also, the baby’s due around Christmas,” Blanche said as she reached for her Chesterfields and shrugged. “Whoops.”
We all stood there in stunned silence for the second time in five minutes.
“I had a feeling,” Frankie said, eyes wide as she kissed Blanche on the forehead and got her another Coke.
“Wow,” I said, sitting down on the bed next to her. “How are you doing?”
“Well, I was in shock for a few days. It’s not ideal, of course. I mean, we had talked about getting married but not this soon. Thank God we love each other. I’m crazy about him, as you all know.”
“What are your plans? Any chance you’ll be living in London too?” Viv asked.
“Well, if everything works out, I think he’s going to be stationed here, in Paris,” Blanche said. “If they’ll have me, I’ll work for the Red Cross here, at least until the baby’s born. I just talked to Liz about it.”
“Have you written to your parents to tell them?” Dottie asked, sitting on the other side of her.
“Not yet,” Blanche said. “My mama will figure it out and want to string me up, but she just cares about New Orleans society; none of those old biddies will know.” She sighed. “I think we’ll be okay. Will you help me finish my hair, Fi?”
“Yes,” I said, giving her a hug. “And you’re going to be better than okay.”
At 4:15 p.m., with our bouquets of white tulips in hand, we walked downstairs and waited on the landing of the staircase. Jimmy English, accompanied by our dear Mrs. Tibbetts, had arrived the night before from Leicester. Per Viv’s request, he was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, ready to escort Viv into the ceremony and give her away. Jimmy was dressed in a fine-looking navy-blue suit and seemed like a man reborn. Gone were the bloodshot eyes and beaten-down look from when we had first met him. Mrs. Tibbetts, dressed in a pretty light-blue floral dress, kissed him on the cheek and went to find a seat.
The three of us stood side by side, checking ourselves one last time in the enormous gilded mirror on the landing. It reminded me of our first day on the Queen Elizabeth, when they had found me crying in the bathroom. It felt like decades ago.
“You look stunning,” I said to Viv in a soft voice.
“You do, Viv,” Dottie said, eyes glistening.
“I didn’t know I could feel this happy,” Viv said, biting her lip and blinking back tears.
“Ah, the LIFE magazine cover girls.” We all looked up, surprised to see Miss Chambers walking down the stairs. She gave us a huge smile. “You all look beautiful. Congratulations, Viviana.”
“Thank you for coming, Miss Chambers,” Viv said.
“Thank you for inviting me,” Miss Chambers said. “I also want you to know that Colonel Brooks’s request has been approved. You will all be receiving Bronze Stars from the US Army. So more congratulations are in order, ladies.” She paused, looking at the three of us, a mixture of amusement and pride lighting her face. “As you know, I had my doubts about you three. But I couldn’t be prouder of how far you’ve come.”
We all thanked her, and she walked downstairs. The music started moments later—“Canon in D,” played by a small string quartet.
“It’s time, ladies,” Frankie called from the bottom of the stairs. Blanche was standing next to her, shoving another cracker in her mouth.
Frankie walked down the aisle first, followed by Blanche, Dottie, and finally me.
The room where the ceremony was taking place was decorated in tulle and tulips, and many of our Red Cross and military friends were in attendance. I tried not to look desperate as I scanned the sea of faces. When I spotted Peter sitting next to Joe in the back of the room, my stomach did a little flip and I felt my face grow warm. He gave me a smile and mouthed hello, and I winked at him.
My friends and I took our places at the front, next to the Royal Air Force chaplain, Reverend Payton. Harry and his groomsmen, all in dress uniform, were on the opposite side of him. Jimmy walked Viv down the aisle, and as soon as Harry caught a glimpse of her, he bit his lip and I thought I saw a tear in his eye. The look of love between Viv and Harry was undeniable, and my heart was full for my dear friend. I spotted Harry’s parents sitting in the front row, and there was no doubt they saw what everyone else had, that their son was happy and madly in love.
Jimmy kissed Viv on the cheek and sat down beside Mrs. Tibbetts, who was smiling and crying at the same time. When the ceremony was over, the whole audience cheered and threw confetti as we made our way across the lobby into the ballroom where the reception would take place.
“Are they ready?” I asked Dottie as we walked across the hall.
“Oh yeah,” Dottie said, giving me a conspiratorial look.
“And are you?” I said.
“More than ever. I’m just going to go powder my face.”
Dottie hurried off, and as I was walking toward the ballroom, I noticed Peter before he saw me. I ran up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder, laughing as he pulled me into a hallway off the main lobby and gave me a long, lingering kiss.
“Hello, sweetheart,” he said in my ear. “I’ve been thinking about doing that for three weeks.”
“You made it.”
“I wouldn’t miss it. And I got your letter about the transfer to Berlin going through right before I left,” he said, holding me close. “Best news I’ve ever had.”
“Yes, Liz said I had my pick, and I’m even getting a promotion out of the deal,” I said. “We’ll finally be in the same city for a while.”
“For more than a while,” he said, looking into my eyes.
I saw Dottie rush through the lobby behind him.
“Come on,” I said, grabbing his hand. “We have the best surprise.”
I felt thrilled and content as I held Peter’s hand, and we walked into the ballroom together. I introduced him to Liz, ChiChi, Doris, and other friends as we made our way to the table at the front of the room. Blanche and Frankie were standing with Viv and Harry, who really did look like royalty as people came up to congratulate them.
Guy came over with a Coke and crackers for Blanche and started rubbing her back. People were whispering, looking at the number of seats and instruments on the stage in front of us.
“What band were you able to get on such short notice?” Peter said, frowning at all of us. “It looks more like an orchestra.”
Joe Brandon took the stage then, holding a glass of champagne as he tapped the microphone.
“Viv and Harry,” Joe said. Viv looked slightly confused, wondering why Joe was the first to give a speech. “Two things: first, I would like to propose a toast. Wishing you a life of love, health, and happiness. To Viv and Harry!”
“To Viv and Harry!” The entire room toasted the happy couple.
“Now, your best friends concocted this crazy surprise for your wedding reception, and they actually pulled it off. For your entertainment tonight, I would like to introduce . . .” He paused, and now Viv and Harry looked nervous. “The late Major Glenn Miller’s American Band of the Allied Expeditionary Forces, conducted by Ray McKinley and accompanied by their new guest soloist, Dottie Sousa!”