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He laughed. “I like it.”
“So you can slow us down a bit.”
“No. They can hold to the timeline. But I’m guessing you just stopped something I would have no control over.”
“Yeah. Why is Jeff only in his pants?”
“I’m not going to ask how you knew that. No nefarious reason. All the rest of his tux is here, and I’m looking at it. He’s just nervous, and I don’t want him sweating in it.”
“He’s an A-C. They don’t sweat.”
Reader chuckled. “He’s sweating. Just a little.” I could hear someone in the background say something, then roars of male laughter. “Jeff said I should tell you he’s not nervous at all.”
“Yeah, the laughter isn’t a giveaway. Anyway, I’d imagine Chuckie will tell you when it’s all clear. The only ones who know are my female Airborne members, Mom, Lucinda, and Jareen. Oh, and Doreen, but she won’t give anything away. She might try to kill her parents, though.”
“I’m sure Reynolds can handle it. Okay, you dressed?” The drill sergeant was back.
“Yes. And unlike Jeff, I’m not sweating. It’s well air-conditioned in here. Not in my shoes or veil yet, but I’m wearing everything else.”
“Your dad has the veil. He’s in here with us, of course, but it’s safe.”
“I wasn’t worried.”
“How’s your hair?”
“Holding without feeling like it’s plastered. Pierre is amazing.”
“Yeah, and well-co
“Not as much as you.”
“I suppose.” I heard more voices in the background. Reader sighed. “Jeff’s doing his jealousy thing where he’s wondering why you seem so much happier talking to me than to him.”
“We’ll get off. Tell him it’s because I don’t sleep with you.”
“I don’t know if that’ll help or not.”
“You get to find out. Enjoy.”
We left the dressing room and got a lot of excited comments from the other women in the larger women’s changing room. We waited for what seemed like forever but Claudia insisted was only thirty minutes, and then Doreen came in. “All clear. The situation was unpleasant but handled.”
I pulled her into the private room. “What’s the plan?”
She shrugged. “Their children will identify them.”
“When?”
“Later. Like, after you’re on your honeymoon later.”
“Works for me.”
Went back out and waited some more. My dad came in and sent any females not in the wedding party out, which included my grandmothers. I started to feel a couple of butterflies in my stomach. Dad said Reader wanted me in the shoes and veil now, so he went into the private room to help me.
“Is Jeff dressed yet, Dad?”
“He was starting when I left.” Dad was humming softly. The Wedding March, I realized, as I listened closely.
“You happy I’m getting married?”
“What? Oh, yes. You have a wonderful world ahead of you, kitten.”
I waited. Nothing. “Um, Dad? Isn’t this the time for the father-daughter talk?”
“Huh? Oh, the veil.” Dad pulled the veil out. Undid the tissue paper, spent a little time draping it just right. My hair stayed in place. I had to find out what brand of hairspray Pierre used; it was the best.
“I kind of meant the father-daughter talk where you give me those bits of fatherly wisdom that will make my marriage work.” Mom’s had been pretty darned brief, but I’d been expecting more from my father.
“Oh.” He looked a little blank, as though he’d never considered the idea. “Never go to bed angry with each other.”
“Yes? That’s sort of a bumper sticker by now, Dad. I meant something I couldn’t learn from a quick browse through Cosmo or Maxim.”
“Oh. Well. Huh.” Dad was clearly out on the high diving board over an empty pool.
“You know, things you did and do to make sure you and Mom have such a great marriage.”
“Oh! I gave that advice to Jeff already. Applies to him more than to you.”
“Share with me anyway.”
Dad shrugged. “I told him that he just needed to remember three things. First, he doesn’t run your life, and after today, he won’t run his life, either. Second, in any argument, there is your wife’s side and then there is enemy camp; never choose enemy camp in an attempt to be reasonable, because it never works. And third, to remember that a happy wife is a happy life.”
“Can’t argue with the genius.” I waited. Nothing. “So, any little genius stuff for me? Just asking because Mom was about as hot with the help as you are.”
Dad laughed. “Kitten, you’re a big girl. You’ve chosen a wonderful man.” He cocked his head at me. “I can suggest one thing.” I nodded. About time. “You had several wonderful men to choose from, and you picked Jeff. When you fight, as I know you do and will, don’t bring up your options, either out loud, in your mind, or in your emotions. Marriage is a lifelong commitment, through good and bad. If you don’t believe you can make that commitment with Jeff, now is the time to run. On the other hand, if you do believe you can, then whatever compatibility you have with the others doesn’t matter, now or in the future.”
I hugged him. “Thanks, Dad.”
He patted my back. “Happy to help, if that was a help.”
“It was.” I was about to say more when there was a knock at the door and Jareen poked her head in. “It’s time.”
CHAPTER 71
DUE TO THE SHEER SIZE OF OUR WEDDING, we couldn’t actually get married in the wedding chapel. We’d been able to use the dressing rooms and such, but we had to move to the convention area for everything else. So we’d get married in the Islander Ballroom, shout hurray, and walk through the door to the South Pacific Ballroom, where the tables and dance floor were already set up.
The men left first and led the rest of the guests to the ultimate location. Then Chuckie, not Reader, came to escort the women, a contingent of A-Cs following him to perform cleanup.
On the plus side, there were no paparazzi. I thought about it. “Who’s doing our wedding pictures and video?”
“Exactly who you think.”
“You and James did another exclusive?”
“Yes. Reader felt we needed the A-C manpower used elsewhere, and I had to agree. The World Weekly News folks do a great job keeping the rest of the vultures away.”
This seemed true enough. “Are we doing all the standard kinds of photos?”
“Doubt it. Reader insinuated we didn’t have the time, and after our little fun with the Diplomatic Corps, I’m sure he’s right. Trust me, Oliver will get all the shots you’ll want and more, I’m sure. He’s got a full video team on hand. And we have our own teams working with and watching each of them.”
“Great.” I didn’t think it was great, and my voice clearly showed so.
Chuckie sighed. “Reader insisted. I do know when not to pull rank, you know.”
“Where is James?”
“He’s in the wedding party, remember? I’m not, so I have this portion of Wedding Control to manage.”
“You don’t mind?”
He squeezed my hand. “Not at all. I even have an official title. Bridal Majordomo.”
I laughed. “Right.”
“He is right,” Claudia said. “It’s a huge position in the wedding, always assigned to someone close to the bride.”
Lorraine coughed. “We told you about this. A lot.”
I vaguely remembered someone mentioning this and thinking then it had been a joke. Ah, well, what a shocker, I was wrong. “Well, then they picked right.”
Chuckie squeezed my hand again. “Glad you think so. Martini even agreed.”
“Wow.”
“The Majordomo ca