“Thanks! I love your outfit too.”
Claire smiled. “I wanted something more sedate to keep the focus on my personal vows.”
Their friends gathered around Claire, who exclaimed over each of them, admiring their dresses. They all had a version of a white dress, mostly sundresses and maxi dresses, except for Mad, tomboy all the way, who had a white pants suit.
“Go ahead and set your stuff by the back door,” Claire said. The rear exit of the lounge led directly to a private elevator.
Everyone dropped off their stuff. Ally removed the manila folder with copies of the vows she’d prepared with Missy’s help from her duffel bag and rejoined her friends now gathered near the large center table.
Hailey let out a low whistle. “Did you do all this yourself, Claire? I’m so impressed.”
Claire waved airily. “I told my assistant that my friend wanted to get married here in a private ceremony. All credit to Arianna. I’m going to miss her something fierce when she goes on maternity leave. Should we begin?”
The women chorused their agreement and took seats around the table.
“Ally, you sit at the head of the table since this was your idea,” Claire said. “You lead us.”
“Happy to.”
“I’ll get the champagne,” Claire said. “It’s chilling. And we’re due to have the food delivered in an hour. It’s from the most amazing restaurant. Jake and I had our first date there as real Jake and real Claire.” Everyone laughed. It was a crazy story when the two of them had first met, each in disguise as someone else. At least it all worked out. Jake and Claire were happily married.
“I’ll help,” Hailey said, hurrying to join Claire.
A few moments later, Claire popped her head up from behind the bar, two champagne bottles in hand. Probably the good stuff too. “I got tapas warming back here to hold us over until the food arrives.”
Ally couldn’t help her wide smile. “You really thought of everything. Thank you so much for making this such a special night.”
Claire walked gracefully in her heels to deposit the champagne bottles in the center of the table next to a flower arrangement of pale pink and white roses. Hailey followed, balancing a tray of champagne glasses.
“I’m telling you, this magic is all Arianna,” Claire insisted. “She’s a wizard with the details. Anyone know someone who’d like to be my assistant, let me know. There’s a ton of organizational details to see to, but I promise I’m a good boss. And of course there’s perks, award shows on occasion, black-tie events.”
“I might be interested,” Ally blurted. It sounded kind of glam and she adored Claire. It might be just the thing for her next adventure. She’d been feeling restless in the classroom lately, even though she loved the kids.
“Awesome,” Claire said. “Let’s chat later.”
Ally nodded once, a calm settling over her, like her entire life was finally falling into place. She handed out the vows. “I thought we’d go around one by one, say our vow, and then everyone could congratulate that person, and then the next one goes. At the end, we’ll all toast together. Unless you wrote your own vow, then of course feel free to say that one.”
The women exchanged glances.
“Nobody wrote their own vow?” Ally asked.
“Yours looks wonderful,” Carrie said.
“Good with me,” someone else said. The women all murmured agreement.
Ally took her seat. “Okay, let’s take a moment of silence to center ourselves. Close your eyes, deep breath in and out.” Ally had barely finished with the exhale when Hailey startled her with a sharp, “Ladies!”
Hailey stood, beautiful as always in a white lace cutout dress with exposed holes on her sides, the dress ending just past her ass. “I have a confession.”
The room went utterly still.
Hailey smoothed her long strawberry blond hair. Her pale blue eyes held an abject expression of guilt. “I haven’t been walking my talk. I’ve worked so hard to plan happy endings for other people all while keeping myself closed off from the possibility of the same for myself.” She bit her lip, apparently waiting for them to condemn her. Not likely.
“We all know that,” Mad said bluntly. “Otherwise you’d be hooking up with Josh by now.” Only Mad would have the nerve to say what they were all thinking. Mad was Hailey’s closest friend despite the fact they were, on the surface anyway, so different. Hailey, a poised beauty queen, feminine to her core, and Mad, a tough blackbelt with gruff manners and a die-hard tomboy.
The women quietly agreed on the Josh assessment.
“Would you please just let me finish my confession?” Hailey asked Mad. “This has nothing to do with that scoundrel of a brother of yours.”
