Page 62 of The Roadie
It was the wedding of the decade, two years in the making. The marriage of the youngest Abelman daughter had been a hot topic of conversation among music industry professionals and the socialite circle. There had been speculation over the years and fictional pairings with both available rock stars and billionaires, but no one expected Kira Abelman to marry a working-class man. The media turned it into a reverse Cinderella story, and Brett had become an overnight celebrity.
Kira’s father had suggested they fly to Paris for the wedding in order to avoid media attention, but she couldn’t imagine her wedding taking place anywhere other than in Central Park. It embodied family and was the heart of their lives. She was getting married in Central Park, paparazzi be damned. Just like Audra and Jimmy had.
Trailers were set up as dressing rooms for the bride and groom in the park, although the girls got ready at Kira’s apartment and the boys at Audra’s, then took separate limos to their designated trailers to wait for the start of the ceremony. With her sister on one side of her and Alyssa on the other, Kira admired her reflection in the full-length mirror while Jessi fixed a loose thread on one of the sequin appliqués on the train to Kira’s gown.
Kira beamed at her reflection. “I love this gown, Jessi. It’s so beautiful. You should add a line of wedding gowns to your collection.”
Jessi shot to her feet, eyes wide with ideas. “It would be totally different than my usual aesthetic.” She looked up at the ceiling in thought. “I could make gorgeous traditional wedding gowns, like this one. And add a separate glam line that’s cohesive with my collections. It could cater to the more edgy rock star types.”
Alyssa perked up. “You could make a black wedding gown. I never understood why brides needed to wear white. I didn’t.”
Jessi laughed at her best friend. “Because they’re supposed to be virginal, and white signifies purity.”
Alyssa scoffed. “Who the hell is a virgin when they get married in this century?”
There was a quick knock on the trailer door at the same time a masculine voiced boomed from the other side. “Is it all right if the father of the bride enters?”
The sound of her father’s voice made Kira’s heart swell, and she swung around to face the front of the trailer. “Come in, Daddy.”
He was handsome in a black Valentino tuxedo, and the touch of grey at his temples added distinguished character to his face.
He sucked in a deep breath as his eyes took in her appearance. “You look absolutely stunning, sweetheart. A true beauty.” He turned to Audra, equally enamored. “You’re breathtaking, dear. You’re giving the bride a run for her money today.” He gave them each a kiss on the cheek, then addressed Alyssa with a look of surprise. “Mrs. Diamond, I’m very impressed that you’re wearing a color besides black for my daughter’s wedding. I must say, you look lovely. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in anything except head-to-toe leather.”
Alyssa cackled. “I tried, but Kira and Audra wouldn’t hear of it.” She pulled up her gown to expose a pair of black leather ankle boots. “Don’t get ahead of yourself about the absence of black leather, though,” she teased.
Kira’s father rolled his eyes, but he wore a small smile. “I should have known.” He then turned to Jessi. “Mrs. Blade, you’re as stylish as ever. I have to compliment you on the impeccable job you did on my daughter’s wedding gown. I admit, I questioned if you were making it out of hundred-dollar bills for the price it cost me, but now that I see the exquisite detail and beauty of it, it was well worth the money.”
Jessi displayed a broad smile. “I gave you the wholesale price. This gown would have cost three times that if I was selling it retail. And please call me Jessi. How many times have I told you that over the years? There’s no need for formality with family.”
“Very well, Jessi. Alyssa. Can I have a word alone with my daughters, please?”
Jessi and Alyssa disappeared into the back bedroom leaving Kira and Audra with their father.
He stared at Kira, eyes glazed with affection. “You’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen. With the exception of your sister and, of course. . .” He paused and became slightly melancholy. “Your mother.”
Kira had made a conscience effort to keep the heartache of her mother’s absence out of her mind today, and then spent an equal amount of time feeling guilty for doing so. A piece of her mother resided in her heart and traveled by her side at every moment. She knew that. She felt that. But today she felt more than her mother’s guiding spirit. She felt the loss and the pain of her maternal parent. In a voice barely more than a whisper, she confessed, “It’s been so many years, but I still miss her. Especially, today.”
Audra wrapped her arms around Kira and buried her face in her shoulder. “Me too, sis. Me too. But don’t be sad. It’s your wedding day. She wouldn’t want that.”
“I wasn’t sure if I should bring up your mother today,” her father continued. “As you said, it’s been so many years.” He glanced down at the floor in order to hide the sadness that covered his face. “I used to think about her every day, and now those moments of reflection are reserved for days like this. Days when I’m reminded of all she has missed.”
Tears immediately filled Kira’s eyes and her chest tightened like a vice was crushing it, but she fought the urge to cry. She knew better than to look at Audra, or they would both be sobbing in an instant.
“I always thought your mother and I would grow old together,” her father said. “That we would share milestones like this with the both of you. I never expected to raise two girls by myself. It was hard. Harder than anything I’ve ever done. I’ve built an empire. Dealt with the most uncompromising and arrogant business associates in the world. Went head to head with cut-throat competitors. But it was all a cakewalk compared to being a single father with two adolescent girls. I did my very best for you two. I promised your mother that I would, before she died. Over the years, I’ve questioned whether or not I made the right decisions when it came to you girls. I know I was hard on you sometimes. I’ve had to be a pillar of strength in order to withstand your pleading crocodile tears on several occasions. During those times, I always asked myself what your mother would do. How would your mother handle this situation? That’s what got me through every hard decision I had to make when it came to raising you girls. Life isn’t something taken for granted. Make each moment count in your lives. Don’t compromise on happiness. I can see that Brett makes you happy, Kira. That’s all I care about. But if, one day, he doesn’t, don’t settle for it. Demand his all. You deserve it. You too, Audra. Don’t ever accept less. I’m always here for the both of you. You two girls, and my grandson, mean everything to me. I love you both very, very much.”
He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a tiny two-inch square shiny picture frame, but he held it close to him so that only he could see the photo. “I don’t know if it’s something your generation still practices, but I’m an old-fashioned man, and I think this covers all the bases. Something old. Something new. Something borrowed—I want it back,” he quickly added, with a small smile. “And something blue.”
He presented the photo to Kira, and her face immediately crinkled with emotion. A long quivering breath passed through her lips that ended in a sob. Audra peeked over at the framed photo and gasped. It was an old photo of their mother’s smiling face, in a brand-new frame. Kira realized that the connotation of something blue meant the woe and sorrow in her heart, and the tears came in droves down her cheeks. Unable to form words, she blubbered an incoherent, “Thank you, Daddy.”
Both Kira and Audra were openly sobbing as they flew into their father’s arms. He held them tightly, much like he had done when they were children. Kira suddenly felt like a little girl again, wrapped in her father’s loving embrace after waiting at the curb for him to return home from work. Back then, the long black limo had looked like a chariot, and she had felt as if she were being greeted by a prince. Now, he was her king.
The trailer door flew open and the three of them turned toward it, startled by the sudden outburst.
“I hope everyone’s ready because we’re walking down the aisle in fif—what’s this? No, no, no, no! There’s no crying before the wedding! Makeup! Emergency in trailer one! We have runny mascara!”
“Who the hell is that?” Kira’s father asked.
“The wedding planner.” Kira let out a small chuckle and wiped her runny nose with the back of her hand. She looked up at her father and noticed that there was a soft mist coating his eyes with a glassy sheen. The last bit of strength she had disappeared, and her shoulders slumped, suddenly too heavy to hold up. It was the first time she had ever seen her father on the verge of tears, and it just about did her in. She fanned her face with her hands and let out a shuddering breath.
