Not What It Seems (Escape to Alaska Trilogy) (22 page)

“At least her doctor allowed her to fly on the private jet. I doubt he would have permitted a trip on a commercial airline,” Jeannie interjected and then patted her new hairdo. “Kim, I love this. The tendrils framing my face are wonderful.”

“Thank you. I’m glad you like it.” Kim beamed with Jeannie’s praise.

“Well, you’re not going to outdo the bride.” Cassidy swung around on the chair to face her friend. Her short auburn hair had grown out and returned to the proper brunette color, and delicate local flowers were intertwined with her shoulder-length locks which hung in soft structured ringlets. “Look what Katie’s created. You were right, Mom. This is a masterpiece.”

“I’ll come up to your suite a half hour before the ceremony and help you place your veil.” Katie smiled while adding another layer of hairspray to her work.

“The veil is so small, I should be able…”

“Not another word.” Katie touched the bride’s arm. “All included in the price.”

“Thank you so much.” Cassidy hugged the patient stylist. “And I apologize for my jittery moving about.”

“If brides didn’t suffer the jitters, I’d be concerned.” Katie smiled.

“Everything’s gone off without a hitch so far.” Cassidy grimaced. “I’m concerned there’s a disaster just waiting around the corner.”

“Nonsense, darling.” Madeline Donahue stood and handed her credit card to Katie. “Put everyone’s charges on my card, please, dear.”

****

A half hour later, Cassidy and Jeannie sat atop the two white cotton duvets on the beds in their suite. Two king-sized pillows supported their backs in order to avoid mussing their hair.

“Remember how we’d spend hours chatting in our pajamas and eating popcorn before bed? Last night marked my last night as a single woman. Our last night of midnight chats.”

“We have shared some wonderful times together, haven’t we?”

Cassidy shook her head. “I don’t know how I would have survived that grueling schedule for six years if you hadn’t supported me, both at work and at home.”

“You paid me to cook and do your laundry, since you’d never have found the time.”

“True, but you contributed more than your fair share to the household. Cleaning, shopping for groceries, paying the bills…with my checking account.” Cassidy laughed. “Perhaps the arrangement was equitable after all.”

“You were the best roommate ever, but I adore my new one bedroom apartment. And I loved working with you at…” Jeannie paused when a loud knock on the door interrupted their reminiscences. “I’ll get it. If it’s Clayton I’ll send him packing.”

Jeannie opened the door tentatively and called, “It’s your father, Cassidy.”

Cassidy bounded off the bed and flew to the door calling, “Good morning, Dad.”

“Good morning, sweetheart.” Theodore Donahue took a tentative step inside the suite.

“How’s the father-of-the-bride holding up?” Cassidy walked into her father’s embrace, staring at his face. “Are you wearing makeup?”

“I’m doing well. But I feel plastered together like a crack in a wall in this stuff. At your mother’s insistence I should add.” Theodore blushed.

“Whatever possessed Mom to insist you wear makeup?” Cassidy stepped back and recalled her mother’s guilty expression while sitting in the hairdresser’s chair.

“A bit of a situation occurred last night.” Her father grimaced.

“What kind of a situation?” whispered Cassidy, not certain she’d like what he’d confess.

“I couldn’t sleep after your mother turned in, so I wandered down to the lounge. Mr. Edwards found himself in a similar state, and we crossed paths. We partook of a number of alcoholic beverages, in fact a few too many alcoholic beverages.”

“You got drunk together?” Cassidy gasped.

“That sums it up nicely. A few opinions were exchanged and a few objections duly noted.” Her father glanced away for a second, and then he met her eyes. “I’m not proud of my part in it, but there were fisticuffs, sweetheart.”

“Dad, what happened?” Cassidy’s legs started to buckle, and she staggered backward onto a chair.

“We argued whether our children were good enough for each other, both of us defending their own child, of course. In the light of day, the whole episode sounds ridiculous. Simple case of the alcohol doing the talking. Mitchell and I are thrilled you two are marrying.”

“What happened when your wives heard about it this morning?” Jeannie stood, arms crossed.

“We both sustained black eyes during our tussle. Both mothers shed a bucket of tears over the anticipated ruined photos. Eventually, your mother collected her wits about her, called down to the hotel concierge, and demanded a professional makeup artist be hired. Both Mitchell and I are wearing more makeup than circus clowns, and the makeup artist can afford a whole new wardrobe for what she charged our wives. But the photographer assures us the wedding pictures will require very little touching up.” Theodore smiled at his daughter.

“I bet I’m going to fall in love with the guy who invented airbrushing.” Cassidy chuckled.

“Mitchell and I exchanged stories about our work and families. And we discovered so many common interests and shared life experiences. I truly like the fellow.” Theodore leaned forward and whispered, “I’d never admit this to your mother. But until that Terry fellow broke up the fight, I was enjoying myself immensely. And I have a wonderful story to share with my grandkids.”

“My father the bar rowdy.” Cassidy laughed. “No day off work for Terry. He’s a real night owl, probably couldn’t sleep either. Fortunately, he stopped the fight before noses were broken or worse.”

“I considered myself fit and strong, until I tangled with that young man. Built like a brick wall and strong as an ox. Exceptionally good at his job.” Theodore grasped his daughter’s hands. “Sweetheart, I could have ruined your day.”

“Neither you nor anyone else could ever ruin this day.” Cassidy pecked his cheek. “I’m marrying the most wonderful man in the world.”

“Well, I just popped by to check on the bride. If you insist on marrying that handsome fellow, I’m still prepared to walk you down the aisle.” Mr. Donahue wiped away an imaginary tear.

“Should I change my mind?”

“Not on your life. I’ve waited too long for this day. I’ll toss you over my shoulder and carry you down that aisle if I have to.” Her father kissed her on the cheek and hugged her close.

“I believe you would.” Cassidy grinned and then walked her father to the elevator.

After a minute, the elevator pinged, the door slid open, and Randy Rock stepped out.

“Good morning, Mr. Donahue,” said Randy, smiling.

“Good morning, Randy.” Theodore stepped into the elevator and pushed the button for his floor. “See you later, sweetheart,” he called as the door closed.

“Hi, Cassidy.” Randy frowned and met her eyes. “Have you seen Clayton? He’s not in his room, and no one’s seen him all morning.”

Chapter 21

After Randy hurried away with a promise to locate Clayton, Cassidy endured the makeup artist’s fussing, under her mother’s direction, for almost an hour. And then, with Jeannie and her mother’s assistance, she slipped into her beautiful Carolina Herrera wedding gown: strapless with a sweetheart neckline, a hint of silver embroidery on the bodice, a silver sash to emphasize her tiny waist, and a flattering long slim skirt. Cassidy loved the dress, and it was perfect for an outdoor ceremony beside the ocean.

After Katie, the hair stylist, settled the small, white lace veil in place, she disappeared out the door. And then Madeline hurried downstairs to locate her seat, and Jeannie rushed away to join the other attendants. Cassidy waited, alone, for the telephone call to summon her downstairs.

The call never came.

When someone knocked at the door, she suspected her father had arrived to escort her outside to the waiting groom and the ceremony. But Jeannie stood at the door and shattered Cassidy’s world with four little words: “The groom is missing.”

Cassidy’s heart stopped for a second. Had she heard correctly? Clayton was missing? Not running late, not delayed by a business call. Missing. You couldn’t misplace a full grown man. How could the groom be missing?

Unless, he intentionally up and left.

“Clayton has changed his mind.” Cassidy pushed the veil back from her face. She slumped onto the bed and then the tears flowed like a torrential rainfall.

Jeannie yanked several tissues out of the box on the bedside table and stuffed them into Cassidy’s hand. And then she patted the bride’s back. “That’s absolutely ridiculous. There must be a logical explanation.”

“That stupid stunt Dad pulled last night has frightened Clayton off. He believes he’s marrying into a family of hooligans.” Cassidy dabbed at her eyes. She’d probably ruined the makeup artist’s hard work already.

“Your father isn’t a hooligan. And he never mentioned which of them threw the first punch.” Jeannie rationalized. “Mr. Donahue and Mr. Edwards demonstrated a serious lack of judgment. But causing Clayton to have second thoughts about marrying you? Never.”

Suddenly, Mr. Donahue appeared at the suite’s open door. “Has anyone found Clayton yet?”

“No. All of the groomsmen attempted to locate him all morning. Randy confided they’re seconds away from calling the police.” Jeannie shook her head. “Something is seriously wrong here.”

“I agree. That young man loves you so much, Cassidy, wild horses wouldn’t keep him away.” Mr. Donahue strode across the carpeted floor and grabbed the phone. “I’m calling 9-1-1. Clayton’s in trouble. Nothing else explains his absence.”

While her father spoke with the emergency operator, more tears coursed down Cassidy’s cheeks. “The love of my life is leaving me at the altar. I should have suspected my happiness wouldn’t last. Nothing ever works out the way I plan it. Not my partnership, not my…”

“Stop that!” shouted Jeannie. “There isn’t one reason why Clayton wouldn’t stand in front of that minister today. Something serious is preventing him from being here.”

Mr. Donahue hung up the phone and rushed to Cassidy’s side. “Sweetheart, this meltdown is a total waste of time. Clayton Edwards couldn’t love you more. He’d lay down his life for you. He’d trade every one of his gazillion dollars for you.”

“Thank you, Dad. I’m sorry.” Cassidy smiled weakly, blew her nose.

“The 9-1-1 operator recalled the name Edwards, something about a minor vehicle accident. The key word here, Cassidy, is minor. And it could be someone else. The woman’s going to investigate and report back to me.” Her father patted Cassidy’s hand and wrapped his arm around her bare, trembling shoulders.

Patricia and Sheila Graham charged into the room through the open door, the full skirts on their bridesmaid’s dresses tangling about their legs in their haste. “Where’s Cassidy?”

Jeannie pointed to the bride seated on the bed. “Clayton’s gone missing, and Mr. Donahue called the police.”

Patricia pointed in the direction they’d just come. “Clayton’s here. We just encountered him in the elevator.”

“What!” shouted Jeannie.

“Clayton’s here?” Cassidy leapt off the bed. “Is he all right?”

“He looked okay, a bit preoccupied, a little disheveled. Just charged out of the elevator at his floor and mumbled something about getting into his tux before it was too late.” Sheila shrugged her shoulders.

“Jeannie, help me fix my makeup.” Cassidy turned toward her father who was heading out the door. “Please go to Clayton’s room and check on him.”

“Exactly where I was going.” Theodore waved to his daughter.

Cassidy and Jeannie jumped, startled by the telephone’s sudden ringing.

“Wait, Dad, maybe it’s the 9-1-1 operator. What will I tell her?” asked Cassidy, shouting through the open door.

“Tell her the lost is found,” shouted Theodore, disappearing from sight on his way to the elevator.

“Hello.” Cassidy almost whispered, afraid of what she’d hear from the operator. But a familiar male voice responded instead.

“I hear I’ve been listed as AWOL.”

“Clayton, is that you?” Cassidy burst into tears.

“Whoa, sweetheart. Don’t cry. I’m fine.” Clayton cleared his throat. “I’m sorry if I worried you.”

“Worried me? You frightened me half to death! And then you ticked me off when I thought you’d left me standing at the altar. Or ocean. Or wherever I’m supposed to be standing right now.”

“I’m here now, sweetheart, and your father just arrived to help me get dressed.”

“Clayton, where in hell were you?” demanded Cassidy.

****

The wedding by the ocean progressed without a hitch, once the groom showed up.

The ceremony started an hour later than planned. But the Wedding Services Manager had taken the initiative and distributed chilled bottles of water to the parched guests sitting in their chairs and speculating on the reason for the delay.

Cassidy and her father stood, knees shaking a tad, waiting for the male attendants to step into place and the bride’s attendants to work their way down the flower-strewn runner toward the outdoor altar.

Suddenly, the Wedding Manager appeared at Cassidy’s side. “Congratulations on your nuptials and thank you for being so easy-going and such a pleasure to work with.”

“Thank you for seeing to every little detail for me. I appreciate all your hard work. But there won’t be any opportunity for further business. This marriage is forever.” Cassidy smiled, and the wedding planner hurried over to her reserved seat.

The intoxicating scent of hundreds of flowers—plumerias, orchids, roses, and pikake—hung in the air. Cassidy noticed a lei of orchids bedecked every guest’s neck.

“Ready, honey?” asked her father.

She nodded and they started down the outdoor equivalent of an aisle. As Cassidy walked with her father toward Clayton, standing under an enormous arch of plumerias and ferns, her eyes welled with tears. Perhaps Fate had arranged for one happy ending in her life after all.

During the ceremony a warm autumn breeze played with the minister’s prayer book, causing him to lose his place once. And halfway through the exchange of vows a small white dog dashed between the legs of the seated guests. A young local boy about ten-years-old grabbed his pet and whispered an apology. Fascinated by the goings-on, he stood with the toy poodle in his arms and observed the remainder of the proceedings.