Here Comes the Bride, page 13
It was time to mingle. She said hello to Leslie and her husband, Russ. He always looked like he had been dragged along behind Leslie like a banged-up wagon on wheels. His expression suggested he’d rather be anywhere than standing behind her unscuffed stilettos and tight French twist.
Leslie had been one of Cate’s closest friends in college. She was a good, reliable friend, the type of person who would treat you to happy hour when you’d had a rough day at work. Once she’d been browsing Bath and Body Works and had noticed Cate’s favorite lotion on clearance. There were only five bottles left, and she bought them all for her. She cut out articles of interest for her friends and would be the first to stick up for you if you’d embarrassed yourself.
However, she was also the type of person who demanded a ton of attention. Her house was plastered in stunning photos of herself, and in more than half of them at least two other people in the picture had their eyes closed. She’d made all her bridesmaids wear hideous pantsuits on her wedding day while she looked stunning and came down the aisle on a horse, and she worried about things like which table linens to use for her hors d’oeuvres table on Super Bowl Sunday. Who even used tablecloths for the Super Bowl?
“So have you decided what you’ll give as favors?” Leslie asked.
“No. Not yet.” Favors? The wedding seemed so far away, and picking out favors was a minute issue in light of dealing with your mother boycotting the wedding, losing your ring, and having your fiancé’s ex crash your engagement party.
“Are you having linen or polyester napkins?”
Only Leslie would think of these things, and really Cate could care less what kind of napkins they had. She had a feeling if she said this, Leslie would think something was wrong with her. In her sheltered world, napkins were as important as breathing.
“I’m not sure yet,” she said, acting as though she were mulling over the idea.
“Oh!” Her pashmina shifted on her shoulders when she reached for Cate’s hand. “Let me see your ring!”
Cate proferred her hand, but instead of taking her hand as everyone else had, Leslie asked if Cate would take the ring off. She shrugged. “Sure.” No sooner had she handed Leslie the ring than someone came up behind her.
“Cate, how are you?” It was Sarah. Her husband, Miles, was with her. She hugged them both.
“How are the plans going?” Miles asked.
“Good. A little stressful, but good.”
“Just enjoy it,” Sarah said. “I wish I had taken more in throughout the whole wedding process, really enjoyed being a bride. As opposed to racing around worrying about all the details. Where is your ring?” she asked.
“Oh, Leslie has it. Hold on. Let me grab it.”
When Cate turned around, Leslie was gone. She knew Leslie would never leave with her ring, but in light of everything that had happened, she felt slightly insecure that her ring was floating around the party. She found Leslie beneath a patio light. She’d removed her engagement ring as well and was now examining both of them beneath the glow. Her expression was pinched as she turned the rings, watching the prisms that Cate’s ring sent off the walls. Cate watched as Leslie scrunched up her eyes then searched through her handbag for something. She pulled a magnifying glass from her large purse. She hunched over the lens while she looked at both rings in the palm of her hand.
“Leslie, what are you doing?” Cate asked.
She sighed as she handed Cate her ring. “It’s really true. The round stones are just so much brighter. Mine just doesn’t have as many cuts in it. It’s just not as sparkly.”
“Leslie, your ring is gorgeous.” Cate glanced at her princess cut stone.
She shrugged. “Yeah, it is. But it’s not as bright.”
Poor Leslie, not because anything was wrong with her ring, but because she was constantly bound by the shackles of comparing herself to everyone else. She lived in a world where nothing would ever be good enough.
By the time Cate had taken her ring back, the party was in full effect. She knew the Blakelys had a ton of friends, but she’d never known they’d had so many. The backyard was packed full of people, and she moved from group to group with Ethan. They soaked in showers of congratulations, repeatedly telling the story of how he’d proposed, then how they’d lost the ring.
Ethan was pouring them each another glass of wine when Rita came over. She threw her arm over Cate’s shoulders. “Ethan, you have such a beautiful fiancée.”
“I know.” He handed Cate her wine.
“There is a surprise for you two tonight.”
He lifted his eyebrows. “Really?”
“Yes, it was Chuck’s idea. Something he said you guys love!”
“Great, I can’t wait.” She was already surprised. She had no idea that Chuck knew what they liked. He really could be thoughtful sometimes.
“What do you think it is?” she asked after Rita left.
“No idea. Maybe a bottle of champagne or something?”
He was interrupted by a couple of his friends and turned to chat with them.
“Caaaate!” she heard a screech from behind and instantly recognized her cousin Val. “I’m soooo excited for you.” Val threw her arms around Cate’s neck and lifted her feet from the ground. Her hard little body felt light in Cate’s arms.
“I just saw your mom,” Val said as Cate set her down. “And she told me about that wicked witch of a cousin Ethan has.”
“Shhhh.” Cate glanced over her shoulder. “She might hear you.”
“Oh who cares? I hate her already. She is no friend of mine, and I can tell you right now that if she does one thing to ruin your day, and I mean one, you just let me know and I’ll deal with her. You deserve the best wedding ever!”
Despite Val’s tiny size and the fact that Denise could probably cover Val’s body with one thigh, Cate believed her. She could ruin Denise. “Thanks Val, but I think we should probably just try to ignore her.”
They were talking about wedding plans when she heard the light sound of bells. They came closer, and it wasn’t until a hush had fallen over the crowd that she noticed the belly dancer—one she recognized from the concert Chuck had taken them to. Veiled, the woman balanced a giant sword on top her head. She moved through the party, softly shaking her hips, and leading an entourage of the same cast of characters from the concert.
“What’s this?” Val asked.
“A . . . uh, surprise.” In a million years, she would’ve never guessed that Unite was the surprise, and all she could think about was her mother. She was probably clutching rosary beads while Ezekiel figured out whose feet he was going to latch on to.
It was the whole crew from Balboa Park, minus the electrical instruments. It was all acoustic and bongos. All the guests at the party cleared a space for them to perform. Ezekiel held a Bible over his head, and she wondered why he had chosen such a prop. She could see Sarah and Leslie exchange glances and was certain neither one of them had belly dancers or a band inspired by an acid trip at their engagement parties. She watched as Rita clapped her hands and moved her hips to the beat of the music, and Cate wondered if she was drunk, or if her mother was watching her.
Ezekiel was like a dog—and not because he was crawling around on the ground. In her experience, she’d found that dogs always chose to shower the people who liked them the least with attention. Those who were either afraid or allergic were usually the ones who got the most slobber on their faces.
Ezekiel had passed his Bible off to one of the belly dancers and hounded Connie the whole time, pirouetting and singing in front of her as if she were the only person in the room. The look on her mother’s face was confusion and a little humor. At least she was trying to be a good sport. Cate became really worried when he took her mother’s hand and led her to the middle of the circle. Couldn’t he grab Tatiana? Someone who would appreciate the attention? Her mother looked like she might bolt at any moment when Ezekiel knelt in front of her. Cate wanted to jump in the circle and sacrifice herself. Something like this could send Connie over the edge.
Things took a turn for the worse when he lifted Connie over his shoulders. It occurred to her that the only reason he’d picked Connie from the crowd was because she was the only person from the party who didn’t have a cocktail in her hand. Otherwise, alcohol would’ve spilled all over his head while he held her on his shoulders as if they were at a Van Halen concert.
Perched on his shoulders, Connie clung to him for dear life. Cate watched as her glasses bobbed on her nose while Ezekiel danced around. She shouted something, but the words were inaudible, and Cate thought it best that no one could hear her.
After the song was over he set her down, grabbed her mother by the waist and formed a conga line. Startled, Connie moved forward and led the group. Jill and Beth latched on, and Rita and Charles joined. The line came full circle, and Connie looked over her shoulder when she trotted past Cate. “This is a Satanic cult,” she yelled.
Ethan hopped in behind her mother. “It’s not so bad, is it?”
“How do you know these people?”
Cate tried to wipe the smile from her face. It was sort of funny watching her mother being hounded by the antithesis of her entire existence. However, she didn’t have to wipe the smile off her face. It left on its own when Janet hopped in line and wrapped her fingers around Ethan’s waist. It’s not a big deal, she told herself. It’s a conga line. Maybe she should just hop in too.
She couldn’t chase after it though. She had to wait for it to come full circle. From where she stood, she could see Janet tickling him. He laughed hard.
She whispered something in his ear, and she thought she saw Ethan mouth the words, Thank you. It wasn’t just Denise. It was both of them. They both wanted her out of the picture. When the song ended, Janet hugged Ethan.
Ezekiel, clueless, turned to them. “Congratulations, you two! I hope you enjoy your party!”
Puzzled, Ethan looked as if he were about to correct him, but Janet threw her arms around Ezekiel. “Thanks! That was so much fun!”
She was just going to let him believe that she was actually Ethan’s fiancée? The girl was sick. The next thing Cate knew she’d probably be stealing her clothes and cutting her hair to look like Cate’s.
She was psycho, and Cate felt like marching over there and introducing herself as Ethan’s fiancée to Ezekiel, but she was interrupted by her drunk sister. “Did you see Mom?” Emily slurred. “That was too much. I wish I’d had a video camera for that!”
Emily and Bradley had gotten a sitter for Cassidy, and since it was rare that Emily ever went out for a drink, she was completely buzzed off the two glasses of wine she’d consumed.
Ethan made his way toward them. “This has been really fun,” he said. “When I first saw the band, I thought, ‘Oh shit, what has Chuck done now?’ But I think they actually added quite a bit of spice to the party.”
“Ethan,” she whispered. “I think Janet is after a little more than a job interview and some friends.”
“What do you mean?”
“If you can’t tell . . . she’s all over you.” Her whisper sounded harsh.
He shook his head. He was completely oblivious. “No she’s not. She’s been hooking up with Ryan. Ever since she started working for him.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive.”
Cate looked at her standing over by the cheese buffet with Ryan. She laughed loudly at something he said then French-kissed him. As soon as she was finished she looked at Ethan. “She’s trying to make you jealous,” Cate said. “I just know it. Ethan, she didn’t even correct Ezekiel when he congratulated you two.”
“She’s drunk.”
“Hey you guys,” Denise said, cocking her head to a side. “Listen, I just want you to know that I hope it’s okay that Janet came. I was showing her a condo this afternoon, and I felt so bad for her. She seemed soooo low and it’s been hard for her to get back in the loop again after the move and everything and I just thought it was the right thing to do.”
Her apology brought some comfort, and Cate wondered if she was overreacting. Maybe Denise’s intentions weren’t entirely evil, and maybe Ethan was right about Ryan and Janet. “So it’s okay? I knew if anybody would understand you it would be you guys.”
Ethan shrugged. “Yeah, it’s fine.”
“No worries. It was nice of you,” Cate said.
Ethan excused himself to use the restroom.
She looked at Denise beneath the porch light. Her forehead looked damp and clammy, and there was a gray cast to her complexion. “I hope you’re not mad,” Denise said. “I didn’t want to make you feel awkward or anything.” Maybe she was truly an idiot and had no idea that inviting his ex to the party was obnoxious. At any rate, Cate didn’t want her to know that it had bothered her. She’d probably run to Rita and Charles and tell them how insecure and catty Cate was. Then Denise would be the sweet, thoughtful person who had helped poor Janet, and Cate would be the selfish and uncompassionate wench.
“No, it’s fine, Denise. Janet seems like a really nice person. I like her.”
“Oh good. I knew you wouldn’t mind, and I knew Rita wouldn’t mind. She loves Janet. Always has. She was like family all those years they were together. It’s hard to believe she’s . . . well . . . never mind.”
One last stab.
Cate wanted to get away from her as soon as possible and was glad when her family interrupted to say their good-byes. She offered to walk them to the car just so she could get rid of Denise.
Emily was quiet, and her gait a little staggered. Cate felt sorry for her. Hungover with a toddler running around all day sounded like torture.
“Are Ethan’s parents in a cult?” Emily asked as soon as they reached the driveway.
“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s just some band Chuck likes.”
Emily looked at Chuck and Tatiana making out near a trash can in the driveway. “Figures.”
Their footsteps were loud in the quiet neighborhood.
“That was some strange music,” Bradley added. Anything that wasn’t played on the local top-forty station was strange to Bradley. He was a complete dork, and she’d often wondered if he’d ever done anything exciting in his entire life.
“I thought the music had a nice ring to it,” her father said. He squeezed Cate’s shoulder, and she was so glad that he was there. “It reminds me a little of some music your mother and I heard when we went to Greece before you were born.” Her mother was awfully quiet, which was interesting. She figured if anyone would have something to say about the evening, it would’ve been Connie.
“Do Ethan’s parents know you’re getting married in the Catholic church?” Emily asked.
“Yes.”
“And they’re okay with it?”
“Yes.” Cate pulled her sweater around her shoulders.
“Ethan’s family seems like the type of people who would want you to sign a prenup.”
“Emily!” She nearly tripped over the curb.
“I don’t think they’d do that to Cate,” Connie said. “And you shouldn’t drink, Emily.”
“This is how people get contracts put out on their heads,” Bradley said, eager to add his opinion.
“What?” Cate asked, wondering what the hell he was talking about and how far they were parked so she could figure out how much more of this conversation she was going to have to take.
“When people sign prenups, most of the time, it says that the cheating party gets nothing,” Bradley said. “So when someone goes out and cheats, and then they decide they want a divorce, they realize they’ll get nothing if it comes out during divorce court that they cheated. It’s just like an episode of American Justice,” Bradley explained. “ ‘Cheating spouse kills wife so she won’t discover lover.’ And it all comes down to money.”
“Okay, enough.” She couldn’t believe they were having this conversation. Ethan would never want a prenup, let alone hire a hit man to kill her because she was cheating. “Ethan is not going to hire a hit man to kill me, all right?” But don’t be surprised if you disappear, she wanted to add. What the hell was the matter with him?
As she said good-bye to them she realized that she wasn’t the only one who was gaining some unique family members. Ethan was getting Bradley.
• 18 •
A Taste Of Dirt
By coincidence escrow closed on the same day as their cake-tasting appointment. Let Them Have Cake was in between Escondido and Pacific Beach, and there wouldn’t be enough time to schlepp all their belongings to Escondido, unload them, and return to the bakery in time for their appointment. The plan was to leave Grease with Ethan’s parents for the day, pack up all their belongings, and park close to the bakery so they could keep an eye on all their stuff while they tasted cake.
All of the Good Time Catering vans were full of equipment, so they borrowed Ethan’s father’s dilapidated Toyota truck from 1980 that he’d been saving for over two decades just so he could pick up firewood. It had been shaded beneath a fig tree in front of the Blakelys’ house for over a decade now. Tiny and low to the ground, it probably hadn’t seen a hose in the twenty-some years that Charles Blakely had owned it. Ethan’s king-sized mattress stuck over the edges like a gigantic waffle.
“Are you sure that it’s not going to fly off on the freeway?” Cate asked as they finished wrapping bungee cords across its corners.
“Nah, it’ll be fine,” Ethan said.
Just climbing into the truck made her feel as if she needed to wash her hair. She was wearing denim shorts, and the fabric seats felt scratchy and damp across the back of her thighs when she sat down.
“You don’t think we should put some plastic over the mattress?” she asked as she looked at the sky. It was one of the rare July days when thunder erupted, and everyone thought they needed to pull out sweaters and make soup. Rarely did San Diego see rain in the summer, and even when they did, it was warm.
Ethan revved the gas, and the truck died. “Nah,” he said. “It’s not going to rain. It’s just humid.”
