Page 3 of A Winter's Wedding

The stylist stepped away and America was helpless to set her eyes on anything else in the salon. She was a vision in white as bright as winter snow. Until that moment, the gravity of the situation had failed to fully hit. Sure, she had managed everyone’s expectations well —even her own— but she was about to marry her best friend. The man that had so wonderfully helped her out of her own way and showed her a different kind of life. Leo had swept her away with his charm and gentle heart. Like the comfort of a cinnamon roll on a cold morning, he was everything she wanted in a partner and couldn’t imagine a future without.

America Thorpeflashed in Broadway-style bulbs in her mind, though having a new last name would take some getting used to, she thought it had a nice ring to it. Leo Greene, on the other hand, sounded like the name of a lead guitarist of a wicked garage band. She held in a smirk as her mind settled back on taking Leo’s name soon.

Pressing the tulle down in hopes the layers would settle a little more before next Saturday, there was no doubt that she would make a grand entrance walking down the aisle in front of the whole town looking the way she looked or smiling the way she was smiling. The blond man of her dreams would marry her, no matter how poofy her skirt was.

The stylist returned with an armful of white lace. “I brought a veil for you try on and?—”

“Oh, I have one!” America exclaimed. “It’s back in the fitting room.” Taking one very wrong step off the pedestal, America stumbled over the front of her skirt and face-planted into the hard floor. She was pretty sure she wasn’t dead as she lay staring at the glossy wood planks, though she wished she could rewind the last fifteen seconds of her life and have a redo.

“Goodness,” the stylist said and came to America’s aid. The whole tumble lasted mere seconds, but the embarrassment and concern was palpable in the eyes of the other brides there.

“Oh my gosh. I’m so mortified,” America said, knowing the best way to defuse a moment was to name it for what it was. She straightened the dress and fluffed the skirt, but as she did, tiny crystals and seed beads spilled onto the ground like sugary sprinkles. What had been a straightforward embarrassment, was now a humiliation. Fear gripped America’s gut at the fact that she might have just ruined her one and only wedding gown. “I am so sorry.”

“It’s not the end of the world,” the woman said. “We can fix this, no problem. You’d be surprised how many beads need touching up after the final fitting. Happens all the time.”

“Are you certain it’s no trouble? I feel terrible,” America said.

“I’m just glad you’re alright. You stay here, I’ll get the veil.”

America returned to her position at the mirror while the stylist retrieved the lace and netting veil that had been a gift from her mother, Vivian. America squatted down low enough for the stylist to affix the comb into the hair at the crown of her head. When she stood tall, the veil topped off the white look and was the icing on the cake. She couldn’t wait to see Leo’s face at the wedding. She was a traditionalist and didn’t want a first-look moment as was the trend amongst other brides. Rather, she wished to knock his socks off and witness his squirming and holding back tears along with all the other guests attending the ceremony.

“It’s picture-perfect,” America said.

“Congratulations,” one of the other brides said as she stepped down from her own pedestal and headed back to a fitting room.

“Now, America, how long will you be in town? A note on your file says the wedding is in somewhere called Christmas Cove. So, I’m guessing you’ll need a quick turnaround?” The stylist took America’s hand and helped her down from the platform.

“I fly out tomorrow afternoon. Is that enough time?”

“I’ll put a rush on the beading, and you’re lucky this dress fits you like a glove and that you don’t need additional alterations.” Once safely back inside the fitting room, the stylist helped America out of the dress and rehung it inside the silk garment bag. “I’ll take this to alterations right now and get you a firm time when you can come pick it up before you leave.”

America slipped on her favorite jeans and checked the time. “I appreciate it. And again, I’m so sorry,” America apologized as the woman set off and closed the door. After tugging on her white cable-knit sweater, she twisted her long hair into a fresh knot at the top of her head. Though it would have been nice for her mother to be at the fitting, she was glad no one she knew had been present there to witness her clumsiness. With her parents on a cruise for another couple of days, and the rest of her friends back home on the east coast, Las Vegas had seemed too big a place to go solo. But now, she could see there was a silver lining to having gone alone to her appointment.

America gathered her things and exited the fitting room. She had a little over an hour to get back to the hotel, change into her work clothing, and make it to the conference hall for her meeting. Out in the salon, she waited for word about the beading fix. One of the other brides was bouncing up and down, and nearly spilling out from the ill-fitting bodice between hugging her guests and crying. America couldn’t help but grin at the joyful bride.

“Ms. Greene, thank you for waiting. Alterations say the earliest they can have it done is noon. Will that work with your travel plans?”

America’s flight was scheduled for 4:17 the next afternoon. As the Las Vegas airport was small, she knew noon would allow her plenty of time to make her flight. “That will absolutely work. Thank you, again.” She shook the woman’s hand politely.

Chapter3

America hurried through the wide corridor and entered the expansive ballroom at the Paris Hotel. Her heels made nearly no sound on the richly colored crimson and Parisian-blue carpet while she made her way to the center of the football field-sized space.Christmas Cove could practically fit in here, she thought as she approached the waiting hotel manager.

“You must be Ms. Greene. I’m Margarete, the crazy woman putting on this event.” Margarete, who didn’t look much older than America, who was in her late twenties, extended a hand in greeting.

Looking at the statuesque manager in her barbie-pink pencil skirt and light pink tight-fitting sweater, America wished she had chosen a flashier outfit for the occasion. Her black pixie trousers and crisp white button down didn’t exactly scream wedding or Valentine’s Day. At least she had thrown her sparkly silver stilettos onto her feet instead of the black ballet flats that she had originally plucked from her suitcase.

“I love your shoes,” Margarete said unprompted and unknowingly affirmed America’s last-minute decision.

“I love your whole…” America pointed with open palms up and down in front of Margarete. “You look amazing, and so festive.”

“There aren’t many occasions to wear all pink, but the season of love is in the air. And this ballroom will look nothing like this tomorrow morning after our visual teams have their way with the space; pinks and reds splashed everywhere.”

“I can’t wait to see it all decked out. The ambiance will add an additional layer to my article for sure,” America said and looked all around the space. Oversized white wall paneling was adorned with ornately carved mouldings that shined like mercury, while gold painted trim cased each section along the exterior walls. Overhead, more panels, and crystal chandeliers added to the room’s grandeur. “If I didn’t know better, I’d believe I was in France and not Nevada.”

Margarete chuckled. “You won’t find anything like this in France. Take it from a woman who grew up outside the real Paris in Montrouge. Las Vegas does French better than the French do. But don’t tell anyone I said so,” she whispered the last part.

This was a woman after America’s own heart. Someone who wasn’t afraid to see the world through her own lens. It was only too bad that Margarete wasn’t planning to marry anyone at tomorrow’s ceremony. America was certain that the Parisian woman would be an interesting interview subject.

---