Kelly took over where Marty left off, a bright gold curling iron in her hand. She began to fashion spiral curls that tapered to the middle of my back.
“I learned this from our hair girl at the theater. It took a lot of practice,” she said, laying a warm curl against my skin. “You’re hair looks like copper, Harper.”
“That’s what Callum always says.”
“Does he now?” She teased, wagging her brows up and down.
I blushed profusely. I knew there were going to be sex jokes this day but I didn’t think they were going to start that early. I figured they’d come right about the time the champagne started flowing.
“Stop, Kelly,” I laughed. “Don’t you dare!”
Cherry pulled a chair up to my side, grabbing my hands in hers, seriousness was written all over her face.
“Now, Harper. When a man and woman get married...” she started and I pulled my hands free, covering my face. All three of us started to bust up.
“Callum’s never done it with anyone before,” Marty said, matter-of-factly flipping through a magazine.
“Marty!” We all yelled.
“What? He hasn’t. It’s written all over him.” She looked at me pointedly. “He hasn’t, has he?”
I cleared my throat, turning another dangerous shade of red. I’m going to look like a lobster in the photos, I thought. “I’m not at liberty to say,” I said cryptically or maybe not so cryptically.
“I knew it!” Marty laughed throwing her head back. “What about you?” She asked.
Cherry could tell how uncomfortable I was becoming. “Marty,” she admonished. “We’re vexing Harper.”
“No, it’s okay. I’m not experienced either.” Once I said so, all of the girls’ faces turned expressionless. “What?” I asked, feeling shy all of a sudden. I sunk slightly into my shoulders.
“That’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Cherry said.
“I’m not,” I said and she winked.
When Kelly was done with my hair, I stood closely to the mirror. “I don’t think my hair has ever looked this beautiful,” I said honestly. “Thank you, Kelly.” I hugged her fiercely, a tear beginning to slip.
“Stop, you’re going to make me cry,” she said, already crying. “Turn around, I need to spray it.” I obeyed and she sprayed them in place but not too much because I told her my hair held curl well and I didn’t want to look like plastic.
Kelly also did my make-up, a trick of her trade she told me. She sat me in the stool, facing her and took out a large bag, splaying out its insides on the table. I gulped at the quantity she owned.
“Calm down, Harper. It’s not all going on you,” she teased. She picked a few colors out and got to work. “I think I’ll do gold for the eyes. What do you think girls?”
“Oh, definitely,” Marty agreed. “Just like her eyes. Make it smoky looking.” Kelly nodded her agreement.
“She doesn’t really need much for the cheeks,” Cherry said. “Her skin is perfect. Ugh. So jealous.” I smirked at her.
“Do a natural glossy lip,” Marty said, “or it’ll clash with the eyes.”
Once Kelly was done, all three girls stood, eyeing me carefully. “The fascinator,” she said. Cherry left and came back with the most beautiful netted head piece with feathered butterflies on the band. It made me gasp it was so beautiful. Cherry and Marty pinned it to my head, folding the slanted net over my face. I tried to turn and look but Cherry stopped me.
“Not yet,” she said. “Let’s complete the look first. Stand up for me, baby.” She whipped out a very light blue silky piece of underwear. It looked like a piece of scrap. She bent and held it open for me to slide my feet into. I laughed out loud.
“You’re going to put my underwear on me?” I asked.
“Yes, unless you want to do it but you’ll have to remove your towel and I can’t have you move yet or you’ll see yourself. Expose yourself or have me slip them on. Your choice.”
“Fine,” I sighed as she slipped them up my legs.
“Lotion,” Marty said, handing a big bottle to Cherry. They both lathered their hands and started applying it to my legs.
“I can’t believe I’m not embarrassed by this,” I said, laughing.
“Meh, we’re girls. Who cares,” Marty said, finishing up my right leg.
Kelly left to the closet and pulled out a garment bag hanging on the door.
“The dress,” she said dramatically, smiling from ear to ear.
“We’ll have to tape her first,” Marty said.
“Tape?” I screeched.
“Yes, you can’t wear a bra with this dress. It’s backless,” she said like I was goofy in the head. I’d tried the dress on once and it fit perfectly but didn’t even think about undergarments. I blushed slightly as I applied the nude colored tape to my breasts awkwardly under my towel.
Then they slipped the velvety soft silk garment over my extended arms and it cascaded over my figure and toppled to the floor. The only thing Kelly could find in my size in Costumes that wouldn’t clash with my dress were a pair of white Dupioni silk ballet slippers with a satin ribbon that laced up my calf. They were comfortable and elegant and so unbelievably beautiful.
When the look was complete, the girls stood back a bit and admired their handiwork. All three started tear up, smiling at one another. Cherry did a little jump.
“Turn around, Harper,” she said.
I turned slowly, a little afraid of what I’d see but was stunned to see that I actually looked beautiful. I couldn’t believe how well they had thrown me together like this. The dress was white silk, a nineteen-twenties inspired floor length slip dress with a slight train. The sleeves gathered at the shoulders and twisted like pieces of rope that criss-crossed in the back. It was form fitting and hugged my hips and chest perfectly. I lifted my dress slightly to expose the lace that ribboned up my calves.
“You’re stunning, Harper,” Cherry said, a hiccup in throat.
All the girls came to stand beside me and we admired my slippers, gown, head piece, hair and makeup.
“Let’s see,” Marty said. “We have something old in the gown, something new in the underwear.” We all laughed. “We have something borrowed in the shoes. What’s her something blue?” She asked.
“The underwear!” Cherry laughed making us all giggle yet again. “It’s working double-time. I thought of everything.”
We stood still for a few minutes before a knock at the door startled us.
“That better not be Callum,” Kelly teased.
Cherry skipped to the door, giddy no doubt at her workmanship. She peeked through the peephole. “It’s Tom!” She squealed and threw open the door.
Tom had anticipated we’d all be right there because no matter where you stood in the studio you could see the door so he had posed like 007. His right hand at the top of the door jamb, his left at his chin, a hilarious smolder on his face. As goofy as he was, he looked incredibly debonair in a black suit and thin tie.
Cherry whistled and Kelly, grabbed my hand like she had just really noticed him for the first time and needed assistance standing. Hmm.
“Tom!” I said. “You look like a million bucks, man!”
He winked but when he noticed me he stopped and clutched at his chest.
“Callum is one incredibly lucky man, Harper. You look like a cross between a Shakespearean fairy and a character from The Great Gatsby. You’re stunning,” he said, but I noticed he briefly drunk Kelly in. He quickly brought his right hand behind his back and stepped my direction. He stood a few feet in front of me, before presenting a bouquet of light pink ranunculus with a simple white Dupioni silk band around the stems. I gasped.
“Oh, Tom!” I said and hugged him fiercely. I caught a hitch in my throat. “I do not know how I could ever repay you for this! For any of this,” I said to everyone around me.
“Just be good to Callum,” Tom said. “That’s all we could ever want.”
I nodded, smiling.
Tom straightened. “I had several assignments. The flowers, the processional, and I am also here to escort you lovely ladies in my kickin’ Sixty-Five Imperial because that’s the kind of guy I am I guess. I bring hot ace women to weddings apparently.”
Callum must have thought about that. I really thought we were going to have to ride the subway to The Bowery. It was laughable now that I really thought about it.
I took Tom’s hand and we started walking toward the door but Cherry stopped us.
“Wait!” she said. “Perfume!” She ran to her vanity and picked up a bottle of perfume. “Stand back Tom, unless you want to smell like a fabulous woman all night.” He quickly hedged toward the door. Cherry spritzed my body twice then placed a dab on my wrists and behind my ears. “You’re good to go.”
“What is that?” I asked, breathing in its heavenly scent.
“It reminded me of you,” she said. “It’s got bluebells, persimmon, lily of the valley and eglantine. It’s very elegant. Do you like it?”
“I love it,” I said, almost drunk on its unbelievably yummy bouquet.
All five of us piled into Tom’s most awesome Imperial and rode in laughter and fun to The Bowery. We were half an hour early but I preferred it that way.
“I can’t believe you’re not wearing Tie-Dye, Tom,” I said.
“Oh, but I am,” he said, yanking down the collar of his dress shirt to reveal a yellow tie-dye t-shirt, making us all lose it in the laughter department.
It was going to be quite a happy day.
It was weird to walk into my place of work in a wedding dress but I just laughed at how I couldn't believe any of the stuff that had been happening to me lately had been happening. We walked up the steps to the rooftop. Cherry shielded my eyes as she wanted it all to be a surprise and led me to the ancient greenhouse. The glass was so old you couldn’t see out and I was told to stay put while they readied everything outside. There was a little broken corner of glass on the door and it allowed me to see who was coming. I didn’t expect anyone but was pleasantly surprised when I saw a few of our co-workers from The Bowery as well as the restaurant, including Martin and Rodrigo. I saw Van scrambling around a little bit and wondered what in the world he could be so flustered about. I saw our entire group of friends pass by. I saw a few people I had no idea who they were but figured they knew Cherry or Charlie or any of the others. I saw a few of the bands who would open for The Ivories often. There were a lot of people. I just had no idea they would have showed so last minute. Finally, I saw Judge Ryder in his robe and a lovely older woman I could only assume was his wife, Karol.
My heart jumped in my throat a little when I could hear Tom playing a soft melody on his acoustic as people arrived.
“Oh no!” I said out loud to no one, bringing my hand to my face. “Who’s going to walk me down the aisle?”
“I am,” Charlie stage whispered through my peep hole before laughing, startling me. He opened the door and shut it behind him quickly. He shook his head as he took me in. “My God, Harper. You are a vision.”