Page 113 of Her Dark Lies
I let them play with my hair, my makeup, until Harper steps back and nods.
“Perfect. You look lovely. Now. What about the dress?”
“I think I should just wear the one I brought for the rehearsal,” I say, but I’m met with a chorus of “Nooooooos.”
I look to Harper. She pulls out both dresses, has me hold the pink dress and Katie the wedding gown. “The pink is pretty, but it’s very slinky, more of a cocktail dress for sure. If it were me, I’d wear the wedding dress. It is gorgeous. And much more bridal. I think Jack would be happy to have you in a wedding gown after all this, don’t you? I know it’s not yours, but it is very appropriate for a wedding.”
“All right. I still feel weird wearing a stranger’s dress. But if you think Jack would prefer it, I’ll do it.”
The pink dress is replaced in the wardrobe, and they get me into the mermaid dress. I really am indebted to Fatima for loaning it to me. Happily, the heady smell of camphor has lessened. She tucked sachets of lavender and rosemary into the bodice and now it smells like the gardens outside before the rain.
“And now for the piece de resistance,” Harper says, and places the diaphanous veil on my headpiece, securing it. She lifts the edges and smooths them down the back of the dress. The veil is cathedral length and made of a soft silk tulle that draws around my body like a cloud. At least this part of my costume wasn’t ruined. I loved it the moment I saw it, the blusher edged in thinnest satin that goes to my waist, the train that trails nine feet behind me. This is the only time in my life I’m going to wear something so outrageously romantic, and I’m planning to enjoy it to the hilt.
I feel a bit lightheaded. “Oof. I need to sit down for a second.”
Harper pushes aside the train and I sit down carefully. The girls step away into the bedroom. They know me. They know I’m just feeling a bit overwhelmed. I stare at myself in the mirror for a few minutes. This is it. There’s no turning back. I’m marrying into a gang of thieves, in a stranger’s dress, and I’m okay with that.
“Everything all right, Claire?” Harper calls. “They’re waiting.”
“Yeah. Give me a second, okay? I went from zero to sixty with a glass of Scotch and I haven’t had anything but tea since brunch.”
Harper comes to the door with a roll of butterscotch lifesavers. “Here. Have two, your blood sugar is probably low.”
I take the candy and suck on it, savoring the creamy sweetness.
“Yum. Butterscotch is my favorite.”
“I know.” Harper twists her hands in front of her. “Listen, I need to tell you something. I sort of blew it earlier. That Ami Eister asshole got to me, too, gave me all this terrible BS information about the family and tried to get me to give it to the press. It almost worked, too.”
“I heard. Pretty awful.”
“Yeah. But Ana was really nice about it and once I’d explained everything, she forgave me. And she offered me a position. Henna’s position. I told her yes, but I wanted to ask you if you’re okay with it. If you’re not, I will go right now and tell her I can’t take the job. I want you to be happy Claire. And if me being a part of this world with you makes you unhappy—”
I smother my little sister in a hug, knocking her back a few feet.
“Whoa.” But she’s grinning.
“If it makes you happy, Harper, you should do it. Ana is a great lady, and you’ll learn a lot. It would be wonderful to have you as a part of the family again.”
And I’ll have an ally if I ever need one, but I don’t say that aloud.
“Well, I’m glad you approve, because I think it would be pretty awesome.”
“My God, what are you two doing? Are you ready yet?” Katie is in the doorway now, too, crowding me in a sea of foamy organza. “I have your flowers. Fatima just dropped them off.” She hands me the graceful bouquet—blush roses, ivory ranunculus, white hydrangeas nestle together with baby’s breath and dusty miller the same color as the girls’ dresses—so simple, yet beautiful, it takes my breath away. Henna knew me so well.
I swallow back the tears.Oh, Henna.Thank you, I think, hoping her spirit is somewhere near.
I smile at my sister. “Yes. Let’s go get married.”
“Hold on, just one second. Come here.” Harper poses me by Venus and takes a few shots. “Just so we have a record... We’ll do more, later. When the light’s better.”
Speaking of light, there seems to be a break in the rain, not actual sunshine, but a lightening of the sky, because the hallway outside my door doesn’t seem nearly as dark.
The moment her camera comes out, Harper, in her element, takes charge, is now talking me through what’s about to happen. “Everyone is waiting at the bottom off the stairs. Ana thought it would be great to go down to the church in one big party—it’s a more typical Italian procession. So, this is your big entrance, Claire, coming down the stairs. They’re all waiting, and I’ll take shots of your descent. When the vows are done, we’ll move ontoTheHebridesfor the reception. We’ll do photos there, too. They’ve already set up the boat for the party. And there’s a fun surprise, you’re going to love it!”
“I might be a little over surprises,” I say with a smile.
“No, trust me. It’s cool.”
