Keeping Secrets in Seattle (9 page)

Chapter Eleven

November 1, 2004

I hate going to school. I hate the way I have to look over my shoulder all the time, watching out for that bastard Cameron. I don’t know how the hell Gabe can stand that piece of garbage. He tortures me…every…single…day. Someday I’ll get revenge. Someday I’ll make him pay, I swear it…

My phone buzzed as I climbed the steps to my apartment, and I fumbled through my purse to grab it in the dimly lit hallway. It had to be Landon, calling to say good night. This is what having an adoring boyfriend was about. The late night calls, the cute little text messages, the impromptu tickets to Victoria, B.C. he’d presented me with…

Aw, hell
. It was Gabe calling. It was a whole lot easier not to obsess over him if he didn’t call me late at night. We still hadn’t finished our conversation, and over a week had passed with us sidestepping the topic altogether.

Squeezing my eyes shut and mouthing a curse word—or two—I pressed talk. “Hello?”

Gabe’s deep voice rang through the phone. “Hey. How’s it going?”

I will not get into a long, drawn-out, borderline inappropriate conversation
, I told myself. “Not bad,” I squeaked. “How ’bout yourself?”

“I’m good. Drowning in wedding hell around here.”

I rolled my eyes at the mention of The Wedding of the Year. “My mom told me it’s turning into quite the lavish affair.”

He made a sound that was a cross between a scoff and a snort. “Yeah. Seems to be. And it’s breaking the bank.”

I climbed the steps to my apartment. “Wait…isn’t the bride’s family supposed to pay?”

“Alicia wants us to be self-sufficient.” Gabe’s voice had a bitter edge. “We’re trying to cover most of it ourselves.”

About a dozen red flags went up in my mind. “Dude. My mom said the wedding is at the Royal Regency Hotel. How can you afford that?”

“We’re getting by,” he said defensively. “You only get married once, so we might as well do it up right.”

“Unless you’re my mother.”

“Ha, ha, ha. Seriously, though, stop worrying. I’ve got it under control.”

“Fine. So…whatcha calling me at ten-thirty at night for? Is this the only time of day Alicia gives you phone privileges?”

“Okay, ease off. I have a favor to ask, a wedding request, and I think I may have heard a rumor about you.”

“Oh, yeah, what rumor?”

“I’m sure I heard your mother say that you were looking into a couple of positions in Portland.”

I fished my keys out of my purse. “Um…well, yeah. I actually sent my r
é
sum
é
to a salon where my friend works.” I failed to add that the idea of seeing him and his waifish wife around the city was the number one reason why I was considering it.

“Why would you do that?”

I gulped as I turned the key in the lock. “Just a change of scenery, I guess.”

“I’m fairly certain that my ears doth deceive me,” Gabe said. “There’s no way you would leave the Emerald City. You wouldn’t really leave…would you?”

I grinned, letting myself into the darkened apartment. “Remember my friend, Chloe? She opened her own salon and she’s looking for a lead stylist.”

“Is she the one with the dreads?”

“That’s her.”

“That’s really cool, Vi.” Gabe’s voice had dropped an octave, and he sounded sad. “You’re perfect for the job. So…if she offers you the job, are you gonna go for it? What does What’s-His-Name think about this? Should I plan on wrapping your knickknacks in bubble wrap soon?”

I shut myself in my bedroom and started to undress. “His name is Landon, and I haven’t decided yet. No need for bubble wrap just yet.” Pulling a T-shirt over my head, I looked down, realized that it was Gabe’s, and grimaced.

“Well,” he went on, “you can’t leave me. How can you make logistical decisions like this without my input?”

I climbed into bed with the phone pressed to my ear. My insides were whirling like a helicopter. Gabe cared about where I lived? “Whoa, sorry. Didn’t realize you still wanted input in my logistical decisions now that you’re a claimed man.”

“First off: Just because I am no longer a wild mustang doesn’t mean I will be walking around in shackles,” Gabe announced proudly.

I pulled my quilt up over my body and grinned. “Whatever, my friend. I hate to burst your bubble, but you are now an obedient quarter horse.”

“A quarter horse? Not cool.” He sighed. “Have you discussed moving with your new boy toy?”

I sucked in a sharp breath. “His name is Landon, and no. Not really.”

Gabe paused. “Trouble in paradise, Vi?”

“No. There is no trouble in paradise,” I said, biting my lip. “In fact, we’re going on a trip together. He surprised me with tickets to Victoria, B.C. tonight.”

“Wow. A trip? Already? Sounds like it’s getting serious.”

“Yeah, it’s serious. I mean, getting serious.”

“I don’t mean to pry.” Gabe paused. “Isn’t it moving a bit too fast?”

I scowled at the phone. “This from the guy who got engaged on some sort of hormone-induced whim? Are you kidding me?”

“It wasn’t a hormone-induced whim. But this trip sounds like one.”

“What does it matter to you if I go to Victoria with my boyfriend?”

Gabe’s voice softened. “I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“Just…let me worry about my own love life.” I rubbed my eyes and turned off my lamp. “What’s the favor you wanted to ask?”

“Can you come give me a haircut Saturday afternoon? Alicia said my hair is getting too shaggy. I keep telling her it makes me look rugged. Like the Marlboro man.”

I snorted. “You do not look like the Marlboro man. Yes. I will cut your hair on Saturday.” Gabe had been mooching free haircuts from me from the moment I started cosmetology school. Not that I minded. And we could have our conversation about Cameron.

“Thanks.”

I pretended that my heart didn’t tumble when he said that. “So what was that wedding request, anyway?”

“Alicia needs you to come to a dress shop for a fitting with her bridesmaids. She wants you to try on the dress she picked out. I told her that you really dig animal prints and plaids, but no go. I imagine she’ll be putting you in something very proper. Sorry about that.”

“Nice try.” I snickered. “I’ve already seen a picture of the dress. No plaid in sight.”

Trying on dresses in front of the girls I’d met at brunch sounded like about as much fun as getting a root canal without pain meds. I suddenly had the urge to step outside my apartment and walk in front of a bus, just so that I had a relevant excuse not to go. Which reminded me, the dress was going to be a gigantic expense I’d forgotten to plan for. I groaned loudly.

“I don’t want to,” I whined.

“Come on. For me?”

“Okay, fine. But you owe me.” I dragged a hand down my face. “Brunch with those girls was…well, let’s just say I was like a lamb led to slaughter.”

“Alicia means well. She really does,” Gabe said. “Just go to the dress shop on Coupler Boulevard, Saturday morning at ten. Give Alicia a chance. She will grow on you.”

I made a gagging sound. “She’ll ‘grow on me’? Now you’re comparing your fiancée to a fungus? Nice. No comment.”

Gabe laughed again. “Okay. I’ll tell her you’re coming. And Vi?”

“Hmm?”

“I really don’t want you to move. I would miss you so much.”

This was the point at which I wanted to climb underneath the blankets on my bed and scream. “I would miss you, too, Gabe.”

“’Night.” His velvety voice made my middle tighten.

“Good night.”

After
closing my phone, I set it on the side table and squealed into my pillow. There was nothing better than talking with Gabe right before bed. My day was complete. Just as my eyes started to droop, I heard my phone buzzing again. Another message.

“Gabe, you dork.” I giggled and opened the phone.

It was an e-mail from Landon.

“Whoops,” I said. “Forgot all about you.”

Hey, beautiful…thanks for the wonderful night. Can’t wait to go to Victoria with you. But I need to see you much sooner than that. How’s Saturday looking for you? Love you…

--Landon

Landon was the one I was supposed to be thinking about while I fell asleep. He wanted to spend Saturday with me, but Gabe needed a haircut. And I wanted to try to get the rest of my secret out. Quite the conundrum. I needed to be a good, loyal girlfriend and spend the day with Landon…but I missed hanging out with my best friend.

I shook my head and pulled my quilt up over my face. I would figure it out in the morning.

…

There was something about being around Alicia’s bridesmaids that made me feel like I was back in junior high school. All that was missing was the acne and training bras.

I spent the night before the dress fitting choosing my outfit carefully. I settled on a black-and-white plaid button-down shirt that would be easier to slip in and out of in the fitting room, and a full red skirt that matched the oversized tomato-red birdcage bow I pinned on top of my platinum waves. To top off my look, I put on a wide patent-leather belt and black kitten heels. Compared to my usual clothes, I looked demure.

The boutique Alicia picked was among the most posh in the wealthy area of Bellevue. It was known for carrying wedding gowns by some of the most sought-after dress designers and carried couture gowns worth tens of thousands of dollars. As I scurried from the bus stop to the boutique door, late again, I checked my bank account balance on my BlackBerry. I needed to have enough to, at the very least, put money down on whatever dress I would be purchasing. After that, it would be up to me to ask Lizzie for some extra hours in the salon and hock most of my belongings, in order to pay it off. Oh, well…I didn’t need to pay the electric bill before May, right?

Nodding to the salesgirls standing at the register, I walked past the showroom to an immaculately decorated room lined with mirrors where Alicia and her bridesmaids sat on a silk couch. Each of the girls had a glass of champagne and a sourpuss expression.

“Hello, Violet.” Alicia stood and kissed the air on either side of my cheeks. “I was afraid you weren’t going to make it.”

“Sorry,” I said, peeling off my coat. “The buses are running a bit late today.” I approached the silk couch and noticed that Alicia and four of her bridesmaids were
all
dressed completely in taupe. Did they call each other to coordinate? I smoothed down my red skirt. So much for blending in.

Kate leaned forward to look at me and took a long pull of her champagne. “There’s a red net on your head.”

This one was observant. “Yes.”

She scowled. “No, I mean, you’re wearing a hat with a net on your head?”

I nodded proudly. “It’s vintage. I bought it at a flea market downtown.”

“How very…
Seattle
of you.” Kate’s surgically reduced nose wrinkled. “You’re so funky.”

I planted my butt down next to Shawn, whose braids were woven into a bun on the back of her head. “Thanks…I think.”

As soon as we were seated, Alicia and a gray-haired woman stood before us, causing the girls to fall into a hushed silence. I watched as Alicia raised her glass to the rep and announced, “Girls, this is Juanita. She is the best of the best. A seamstress extraordinaire.” The bridesmaids clapped excitedly, and Alicia’s eyes danced. “It usually takes brides months before they are able to get in with Juanita, but she was willing to squeeze us in. I am beyond thrilled. She is an absolute genius.”

Again, they applauded, and I clambered to join in, offering a few half-hearted claps after the others had already stopped. I leaned over to Shawn and whispered, “Did Juanita design Alicia’s wedding dress?”

She shook her head the tiniest bit, so as not to be spotted being inattentive. “No.” Her voice was so quiet I had to lean closer to hear. “Alicia’s dress is being made in France. But Juanita apparently fit her for it and will be doing the final touches once it arrives.”

“Ahhh.” I straightened back up.

“Juanita is going to see which of the dresses looks best on each of you. Then she will take your measurements and work her magic.” Alicia announced this as if Juanita had cured cancer.

“And,Violet.” She pointed a tiny finger at me. “We’ve got the perfect black dress for you to wear. The one in the picture I showed you?”

I smiled tensely. “Thanks.”

As if they were summoned by ESP, a line of four clerks bustled into the room, holding up every possible version of a deep-red bridesmaid dress one could imagine. There were scoop necks, backless, sleeved, sleeveless, sequined, plain, floor-length, tea-length, full skirts, fitted skirts, and more. They quickly guided the bridesmaids off into dressing rooms, so I settled back on the couch and poured myself a glass of champagne. I watched as Alicia stood primping in front of one of the mirrors.

“So when do we get to see your gown? I’ve heard so much about it,” I said.

“Not for a while yet. It’s still overseas. And it is a sight, let me tell you.” She whirled around to face me, her bony body moving with the grace of a swan. Grace I’d not been blessed with. “I’ve had a team of eight women working on it since four days after Christmas. It’s a mixture of three couture dresses that were melded into one extraordinary gown. It is absolutely breathtaking.”

Alicia sounded like a game show host, revealing what was behind door number one.

“Three different dresses?” I raised my eyebrows. “Wow, I can’t wait to see it. What style is it?”

Her eyes lit up. This was obviously her favorite topic to discuss. “Well, it could be considered a mermaid dress, except that the bustles are raised slightly. And then they pull back to reveal the most exquisite antique lace underneath.” She used her tiny hands to imitate the fluffiness of the fabric. “And the top is fitted, sort of like a corset, but with a very low dipped ‘
v
’ on the chest and tiny cap sleeves of the same antique lace as the bottom. Then they’ve sewn in the most incredible fabric roses amongst all the ruffles of satin. It’s amazing. I’m almost certain I’ll get my picture in
Puget Sound Bride
with this gown.”