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Chapter Fifteen
Saylor
Casey turned me to the mirror. “You look stunning. Absolutely stunning.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to wear the veil?” Dani asked from over my left shoulder.
Fighting back tears, I pivoted to face my wonderful, supportive friends. I took each of their hands and pulled them close.
“I can’t do this,” I explained. “I can’t face that empty room and marry myself. Hunter and Matt aren’t here—”
“For all you know they might be drinking in the bar,” Casey said.
I shook my head. “I’ve been checking the airport app since six a.m. Flights have either been canceled or diverted because of the storm. Let’s skip the ceremony and go straight to Christmas lunch?”
Casey cupped my face in her hands. “No way, girl. You’ve come this far, and you’re doing this. It’s wedding jitters. You’ve probably got hundreds of followers checking your Instagram between unwrapping gifts, to see how your morning is progressing.”
“They won’t be. I’m closing the account. They’ll have forgotten me by Tuesday.”
“They are checking because you promised a little video for them, and they’ll already be tired of the relatives they’ve been forced to spend the day with. You are their distraction.” She waved her hand at Dani. “Bride needs a drink. Did that champagne arrive?”
As if on cue, there was a knock on the door.
“Here it is,” Dani said, opening the door.
Sally wheeled a small cart into the room, with champagne in a bucket and three flutes. She made quick work of opening the bottle and pouring drinks. “Management loved yesterday’s spa photos,” she said. “The function room is ready for you. Photographer and celebrant are here.”
“Saylor just needs to get rid of her nerves,” Casey explained. “We’ll be down in ten.”
“Good. You ladies look magnificent,” Sally said, then left the room in the same efficient manner in which she’d arrived.
Dani handed each of us a champagne flute. She raised hers in the air. “Here’s to our magnificence.”
We drank fast rounds of increasingly silly toasts, and I finished with: “May I live happily ever after.”
“With a never-ending supply of batteries for your sex toys,” Casey added.
I placed my empty glass back on the tray. “Let’s do this, team. If we don’t get down there they might think I’m a runaway bride, again.”
I hadn’t wanted a practice for the ceremony, seeing as it was only going to be Casey, Dani, and me, but the girls had worked out a format for a semi-grand entrance where they would flank me down the short aisle, and present me to the celebrant. Dani insisted we practice as we descended the wide staircase, our little procession catching the interest of the couples waiting in the foyer.
“They’re all looking at us,” I muttered.
“Own it, girlfriend. You look so amazing, they’re awestruck,” Casey said. “Lift your chin. Be a princess.”
I did, and was amazed how the shift in my posture filled me with confidence. Yes, I would own this moment, and honor myself. This was not only my closure from my disastrous relationship, but my new beginning.
Sally waited at the closed double doors to the reception room. Casey gave her a nod and she opened the doors and moved quickly out of the way. Soft music greeted us, and I closed my eyes and took a moment to compose myself. The scent of my favorite lilies met me and I drew a deep breath and nodded. I was ready.
I clasped my friends’ hands, stepped into the room, and stopped.
“This is the wrong room,” I said in a low whisper. There must have been another wedding taking place at the same time as my ceremony. It didn’t make sense. Sally had been so efficient until the moment she brought me to the wrong wedding venue. The gathering was small, but it was complete with what looked to be a groom and best man waiting with their backs to us at the end of the aisle.
I tried to duck out, but Casey and Dani held me in place.
“Move,” I hissed. “This is embarrassing. The real bride’s going to turn up and—”
“She’s here, already.” Dani was grinning.
