Chapter Nineteen
Bella
I’m awake early as I’d been ordered, Luckily because I forgot to set my phone alarm. I slide out from Jacket’s arm around me and slip downstairs to where my mother is already in the kitchen along with Aunt Dottie.
I'm dying to tell someone, it’s like a secret set to explode. I'm so happy. But I won’t tell my mom of course and Scherri is supposed to be allowed to sleep until the last moment. “You need your beauty sleep,” Mom told her last night.
Dottie is patiently slicing the stalk tops from big red strawberries and I’m set to whipping the cream.
“Why is he here, really?”
My mother starts in right away. She can’t be happy when I am, it seems.
“Why wouldn’t he be here?” Dottie asks her outright.
I'm grateful she steps in because otherwise I’d get into it with my mom. Today of all days.
She drops it with Dottie there and instead asks; “And why do you only show up for weddings and funerals?”
“I saw that movie,” Dottie says and rambles on about the plot until my mom steps out to the pantry with a sigh of frustration.
Dottie looks up at me with a grin and I start to wonder whether her senility can be switched on when it suits her.
“It feels good doesn’t it?” she whispers in a conspiratorial tone, her eyes sparkling with pleasure.
I guess she’s filled with memories
“Is it that obvious?” I laugh.
“Oh yes, you’re positively glowing,” she says. “Ooh, and so’s he.”
I follow her gaze to the door and there’s Jacket standing with his arms crossed over his wide chest, leaning against the frame.
“Morning. I thought I lost you.”
“Oh I don't think that would ever happen,” Dottie murmurs.
Then she turns away to the sink, letting us have our moment.
“Morning,” I say.
And all I can do is smile and smile at him. He looks so damn hot standing there casually like he’s enjoying the picture I make in the kitchen. Hot enough to melt me to a pool of molten liquid. He looks at my hands and grins wide. Then I realize it’s the cream. Reminding him of the night we met, re-met, hooked up.
“Good morning,” he says to my mom, returning with some jars of artichoke hearts.
She looks at him with something I have to call disdain and mutters a grudging response.
“Mom,” I say, going over to hand Jacket the coffee I poured him.
I’m not allowing her to be so rude to my – friend.
“What?” She turns on me.
“Has Jacket done something to upset you?”
“What’s he doing here really? Did he come just to ruin your sister’s wedding?”
“Oh do stop this nonsense, Lynsdey. Can we have one happy day in our short lives?” Dottie snaps.
“What does that mean?” Mom rounds on her aunt.
“I need to get over to the inn and make sure the groom is scrubbed up,” Jacket says.
He ought to be in bomb disposal he’s so good at diffusing explosive situations. His hand comes into the small of my back, supporting me, but letting me know to let it go.
“I guess I’ll never get my ride now,” Dottie moans, joking.
“You can come along right now if you like,” Jacket tells her.
“Really?” she squeals, thrilled.
“Sure but I have a little task for you in return,” he teases.
“Even better,” she teases right back.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” my mother slams into their play. “You cant take my aunt on that huge bike of yours. You’ll kill her
“Excuse me, Missy,” Dottie snaps. “I’m perfectly able to decide what I can or can’t ride. If he does kill me, I can think of no other way I’d rather go. I do what I love without fear!”
She gives me a look that I think has deeper intention than a ride on the bike.
My mother makes another aggressive noise. There’s nothing she hates more than being ganged up on. I expect there’ll be a price to pay later for this.
“You need to go wake the bride and get her ready,” mom orders me in that voice that makes me feel like I’m five years old.
I wish she wouldn't do that. Jacket gives me a wink as I leave and that makes me feel better.
“Have fun you two,” I tell them, so Dottie knows she has my approval.
Not that she needs it. I trail my fingers over Jacket’s hand as I go and he grabs them for a brief squeeze. Then I keep walking feeling my mother’s eyes boring into my back.
I stand on the stairs lingeringly, watching as Jacket and Dottie leave the house. How tenderly he takes care of her, opening doors and showing her how to climb over the wide saddle. Only once they’ve driven off do I head up to Scherri’s room.
“I’m so nervous,” she says as soon as I walk in her bedroom.
She’s already at the mirror, fiddling with her hair.
“Don’t be,” I say setting down the coffee I brought us. “I mean, I guess it’s inevitable but you don’t need to be. I’ve never seen a man so much in love as Sticky.”
She smiles a little. I go behind her to start wrapping her long hair into the style she wants. Loose rolls coming back from her face and tied with a white bow that falls down her back. Then pinned with pearls and flower blossoms in the fold.
“What are you doing?” she asks
“Fixing your hair.”
“No I mean with Jacket. You two aren't really engaged.”
I don't say anything. I don’t want to lie to my sister, not anymore than I already have. But my god after last night, I have a real sense that maybe the role could become the reality. That might seem nutty and that’s because I always get my hopes up after the first time I sleep with a man. Letting him inside my body feels like it should be special and mean something.
I still have a tough time being like the girls I know in LA that treat sex like sport. Like their bodies are there to be used, and not only by themselves. I'm a little like Jacket, in that way that I don’t really have close friends. There are girls I go out with as a group, if they ask me but I doubt I’d call them with a secret. They’re too flippant, too shallow.
I wish I had a friend like Dottie – an adventurous type of person. Free thinking and not looking for what she can get, other than living a vivid life. Like Jacket does.
“He’s not for you,” Scherri says, her eyes fixed on me in the mirror. “He’s not for anyone really.”
“You don't know him,” I say.
She opens her mouth as though to contradict me, then closes it again.
Eventually all she says is; “no.”
“I’m sorry I didn't tell you I met him.”
“We haven't been in touch much while I've been traveling with Stick.”
“You were busy getting to know each other again and then with the wedding plans
“Are you sure you know what you’re doing? I don't want to see you get hurt any more.”
“You have to go for it, like Dottie says. Look how all those others don’t mean a thing to me now I have him,” I tell her, getting caught up. “He’s so amazing Scherri,” Okay I can’t hold back any longer, It’s bursting out of me and I have to tell someone. “He’s an amazing lover. I feel like a completely different person.”
She picks up her coffee and sips at it over and over, I can’t see her expression as it’s half buried in the mug.
Maybe she’s annoyed. Damn, I’m so thoughtless.
“Hey, I’m sorry, yakking on about my love life, when today is all about yours.”
“It’s okay,” she whispers, her voice cracking with obvious emotion.
I bend down to give her a hug and she clasps me to her tighter than she ever has. When I pull back there are tears in her pretty eyes.
“Sweetie, it’s going to be great. The best day of your life so far with nothing but better days to come.”
She brushes back her hair and nods.
“Right, lets get this shindig started.”
While she’s in her bubble bath, I quickly shower and dress myself in a short white dress with sleeves that splay out wide at the wrist like something you see in pictures from the disco era.
When she’s dressed she looks stunning. Her hair hanging down her back. A lace dress, but more like crocheted patterns than typical lace. She looks like a real flower child and absolutely shimmering with excitement.
I take her hand and we walk together, down the stairs to where Daddy is waiting.