Un-Veiled by Eileen Rendahl

Author:Eileen Rendahl
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Downtown Press A Division of Simon & Schuster
Published: 2007-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Tanya Mitchell and Scott Bernheim were married at 4:30 P.M. on Sunday, April 30, at the Church of the Light of the Open Door in Santa Bonita. The bride wore an ivory floor-length strapless gown with satin ribbon detailing and a cathedral-length veil. She carried a bouquet of apricot and white hydrangeas.

Today’s wedding was blessedly simple. Tanya Mitchell didn’t want to be a Vulcan princess, wasn’t a movie star, and wasn’t hiding a pregnancy. She did want a Courtney, but it wasn’t life or death. She was just a normal happy bride having normal happy bridal stress. Would the humidity make her hair frizz? Would the string quartet show up on time? Would Uncle Greg get drunk and sing “That’s Amore”?

It felt like an ocean of sanity to do her and her bridesmaids, one of whom was her older sister, Valerie.

I’d finished Valerie’s hair and makeup. Natalie had just finished their cousin Beth’s nails, so we were about to swap bridesmaids. Valerie told Natalie she’d be there in just a second and fished a little box out of her purse. “I have something for you to use as your something old, Tanya.”

“Oh, thanks, but I’ve got something. I found some earrings at the antiques mall,” Tanya said, not looking around since Cinnamon was still doing her hair.

“I think you’re going to want these instead,” Valerie said softly.

Cinnamon let go of Tanya’s head and let her turn and watch as Valerie extended the box out to her. She made no move to take it though. “What is it?” she asked, her hands bunched under the purple cape.

“Mom’s diamond earrings,” Valerie said. She shoved the box closer to Tanya.

Tanya still made no move to take the box, but she didn’t take her eyes off it, either. “They’re yours.”

“So they can be your something borrowed and your something old.” Her laugh sounded nervous. “Two birds with one stone.”

“Beth’s veil is my something borrowed.” Tanya’s lips pursed.

Valerie’s shoulders slumped and the box wavered a little. “Tanya, don’t do this. This is supposed to be a happy day.”

“It is a happy day. I just don’t want your Pity Earrings.” Tanya tore her gaze away from the jewelry box and back to the mirror. Cinnamon went back to curling ringlets.

“They’re not Pity Earrings. They’re Love Earrings. Take them,” Valerie urged, the box still extended.

“Whose love?” Tanya asked. “Hers?”

Valerie’s gaze dropped. “Mine. Take them because I love you.”

Tanya turned to look at Valerie and that’s when the water-works started.

“Nooooo!” Cinnamon, Natalie, and I all yelled at once, running at them with tissues. Natalie and Cinnamon got there first. Beth, who had settled in my chair for her French twist and makeup, looked back at me and rolled her eyes.

“I never wanted them,” Valerie said. “I didn’t, but I had to take them. She would have given them to Patti Jo instead. You know she would have.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” Tanya babbled back. “I knew it wasn’t. I just wanted them so much.”

Beth shook her head this time.

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