Always A Bride Read online

  ALWAYS A BRIDE

  By

  Darlene Henderson

  Always a Bride

  Copyright © Darlene Henderson 2012

  Original Cover art by Patrick Hansen

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or

  dead is strictly coincidental.

  Dedication

  To Jillian Chantal, thank you for encouraging me to write again, to listen to the voices in my head and let those characters out to tell their stories. Thank you.

  Chapter One

  “Alex, hurry up. Everyone is waiting on you,” Frank said as he positioned the train. In the mirror, Frank flicked his wrists and the train billowed out behind her, falling perfectly to the floor.

  Alex picked up her bouquet and checked her hair and make-up. She touched the antique pendant to make sure it hung in just the right place. She had to be certain nothing was out of order. She was the bride, after all. After a long look in the mirror, at the yards and yards of white taffeta and lace, she was satisfied everything was perfect. She lowered the veil and breathed deep.

  As Alex walked into the room, every head turned toward her, every eye followed as she carefully paced each step. The ''Ooos" and "Ahhhs" of the guests filled the air.

  After all, how many times does a girl get to walk down the aisle in a designer wedding gown?

  Alex fought off the fit of giggles that almost broke her composure.

  On a good week, only ten or twelve times.

  Alex loved her job. Being the bride at a bridal fair was one of her favorite assignments, but she also did other things. She modeled for magazines and newspaper ads. She appeared in commercials and even worked as an extra in several movies. But bridal expos were the best.

  She reached the end of the runway where she met the “groom.” Sam was her usual. They worked the circuit together and people liked the look of them as a pair.

  Alex was totally unprepared when she scanned the crowd and saw her high school sweetheart Harvey Mitchell standing among a throng of women.

  But if he's here that must mean he's…engaged.

  Her heart sank. Molly stood by his side, holding his arm. There was something so intimate about the way Molly touched him, Alex's stomach clenched. She was going to be sick.

  Molly had her eye on Harvey in high school. Of course she’d go after him once I left town.

  Sam tugged on Alex’s arm and she relented and followed him up the runway and back into the dressing room.

  “What's up, honey?” Sam asked as soon as they were out of sight of the crowd. “You looked like you saw a ghost.”

  “I did. The ghost of boyfriends past. Harvey was my high school sweetheart. I left to pursue modeling the summer after we graduated and he started college. We were both so busy. I always thought things would settle down and we'd be the perfect couple again, but it never happened. We did see each other whenever we could and those times were great. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough. We couldn’t maintain a close connection while we were both so focused on our careers. We clearly didn’t put enough effort into our relationship.”

  “Which one was he? Is he here with someone?” Sam put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “Keep talking. I want the whole scoop. We've got to get you in your next gown, though.” Sam moved his hand from her shoulder and tugged at the zipper of her dress.

  “Harvey is the tall, gorgeous guy. Perfect hair and the broadest shoulders in the room. The one who smiled at me,” Alex gushed.

  “They all smile at you, honey. Do you mean the one on the right side of the runway who pushed closer to the stage when you came out?”

  “Did he really?” Alex stepped out of her dress. Not knowing who would be there when she changed, she always wore granny panties and a sensible bra. It had taken a while for her to get used to changing backstage in a room full of people, especially Sam. He was gay, but she was a good southern girl and nice girls didn't undress in front of boys. “He must be engaged. I couldn't get him to come to any of the bridal fairs I worked during the early days.”

  “So who's he with? Someone you know? Do we hate her?”

  “Alex, hurry up. You're back on in two minutes.” Frank, the show coordinator and Sam's boyfriend, pointed at her.

  “Keep your pants on, honey. We're getting ready. Alex is in the middle of a crisis,” Sam hissed.

  Alex didn't miss a beat. She went on with her story as she stepped into the next dress. There was a long line of buttons up the back and Sam's fingers nimbly hooked each one into a loop of silken thread.

  “Yes, I know the woman Harvey's with. My rival in high school. I was the cheer captain and she was the alternate. I was the homecoming queen and she was the runner-up. I dated Harvey, captain of the football team, and she dated the benchwarmer. She always wanted whatever I had. I guess she won this time.”

  “Oh honey, I'm sure you can do so much better than that hick-town loser. He's probably gained twenty-five pounds and is starting to go bald.”

  “Not Harvey. He's gorgeous. A doctor. He finished his undergrad in less than two years and started med school before he was twenty. He's still amazing.”

  “So go get him, girl. What's stopping you?”

  “He's here with Molly. They must be engaged. There's no other logical reason for him to be here. Besides I saw the way she was touching him.” Alex ran her hands over the cool silk that hugged her body. “Hand me the shoes that go with this dress.” The hair stylist finished an updo better suited for the new gown. There was so much hustle and bustle around them, Alex could barely think. Backstage at a fashion show was always controlled chaos and, usually, she loved it.

  “So what if he's engaged. Look at you, honey. You have the perfect figure. A tiny waist and long, sexy legs. You could do nothing with your hair and still look good. You are drop-dead gorgeous. Heck, if I were straight, you'd have to beat me with a stick to keep my hands off you.”

  “But if Harvey's engaged. Molly must have something.” Alex frowned.

  “Alex, baby, you've got to turn that frown upside down because we're on. Now.”

  “The show must go on, I suppose.” Alex glossed her lips and prepared to face the crowd. She normally loved watching the crowd as she strolled down the runway. The eager faces of the young girls delighted her. The almost-guarded excitement of the older brides was a joy to behold. Then there were the mothers, who either looked as excited as their daughters or slightly nervous. Now all she could think about was Harvey. Her heart pounded and her palms began to sweat.

  How can I go out there knowing he's here?

  Alex breathed deep and headed down the runway. She forced a smile and tried to avoid looking in Harvey's direction, but there he was, smiling that same old smile she'd known and loved since she was a girl. The very sight of him sent her heart racing. She swayed ever so slightly and focused on making sure her knees didn't buckle. She squeezed Sam's arm and willed her feet to move, placing one deliberate step in front of the other. The rest of the crowd became a blur. She could only see Harvey. She had to get away. Frank wouldn't like it, but she sped up the pace.

  She finally made it off the runway and collapsed into a chair backstage. She had a break, but it wasn't very long. She had to m
ingle with the crowd.

  The theme of the event was “Something Borrowed, Something Blue” and she had talk to the prospective brides about gown rentals and other money-saving ideas. The blue part of the theme had begun to get a bit overwhelming. Everything was blue—blue tuxedos, blue decorations, blue flowers, and even blue foods.

  After several deep breaths, Alex pulled up the train of her dress, changed from the white satin pumps into her favorite pair of sandals and prepared to head out into the crowd. She said a little prayer she'd be able to avoid Harvey. But she moved into the room filled with people and all she could see was Harvey…right in the middle of her path. There he was, just feet away and looking right at her.

  “Alex.” Harvey waved as he called her name.

  His sexy, southern drawl sent shivers down her spine. It had been at more than a year since she'd last seen him and even longer since they had spent any time alone together. Alex was always amazed at how deeply Harvey affected her. She turned and talked to the young ladies gathered around her. Maybe if she didn't acknowledge Harvey he'd go away. She wasn't sure she could bear being near him, not with Molly anyway. She focused on the crowd. The girls touched her dress and examined the jeweled loop used to hold up her train. Alex answered their questions and thanked them for their compliments without thinking. She prayed her smile didn't look fake because it was forced. More than ever, she was assaulted by the mixture of all their perfumes. The sweet floral scents the younger girls wore, the musks favored by their mothers and, the worst, the old-lady perfumes that burned her nostrils. It was just too much. Alex broke out in a cold sweat. Her heart pounded and the room began spin.

  “Sam, I need a chair,” she called. She looked around frantically. Her vision narrowed and, just as her knees began to buckle, she was swept into the strong arms of a man.

  “Alex? Can you hear me? Do you know where you are?”

  Alex squeezed her eyes tight. I fainted. This must be a dream. This can't be real. That sounds like… “Harvey?”

  “Yes, Alex. It's me. I'm here. Take a deep breath.” He was on his knees in front of her, holding her hands. “Are you okay? What happened?”

  “I think it was the perfumes. I was talking to some girls and then there were all of these perfumes. Then someone…it was you wasn't it, Harvey? Thank you. How did you—”

  “I was coming over to say hello and saw you go pale and call for Sam. It was just lucky timing.” Harvey studied her face. He stood and took two steps back, but maintained eye contact with her.

  Alex hadn't seen or heard anyone but Harvey…until Molly pushed her way through the crowd. “Isn't he just the best? I'm so proud of my Harvey.” She hooked her arm through his and leaned her head on his shoulder.

  “Hi, Molly,” Alex said, bracing herself for what was coming.

  “Oh, Alex, you looked so beautiful on the runway. I guess if you haven’t been a bride yourself, it's probably fun to pretend to be one all the time.”

  “You look great yourself, Molly. You haven't changed a bit,” Alex said. You still get in a dig every chance you get.

  “Well a little something has changed. I'm engaged.” Molly held out her hand to display her ring. “That's why we're here. Not that I would dream of one of those rental dresses your little ‘Something Borrowed’ event is promoting. But we've gotten some good ideas, haven't we, honey?” Molly squeezed even closer to Harvey.

  Harvey's mouth drew into a tight line. The muscles in his jaw clenched. “Yep, some great ideas. Hey look, here's Sam with that ice water. Sip it, Al, don't gulp it down.” He handed her the glass, letting his fingers brush over hers.

  “Nobody has called me Al since…well…since you.” Alex sipped the water.

  “Sometimes it just suits you.” Harvey smiled at her again. He pulled up a chair next to hers and checked her pulse.

  Alex flushed and hoped Harvey wouldn’t notice her heart was skipping beats because of his touch.

  He looked her into her eyes. “Your color is coming back. Your eyes aren't dilated. I think you'll be okay.”

  Alex experienced more than a twinge of disappointment when she realized he was just being a doctor. But doctor or not, he slipped his hand into hers and held it. “Thanks, Harvey,” she said.

  “Can you take the rest of the afternoon off? Or at least spend some time sitting? Don't push yourself. It wouldn't hurt to have a little lab work done just to make sure this isn't anything serious. Drop by my office tomorrow and I'll have a lab slip waiting for you.”

  “Do you have a card so I can put the address in my GPS?”

  Harvey reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a card. “I'm writing my cell phone number on the back. Call me if anything else happens.”

  Alex accepted the card as Frank stormed in. “Where is my bride?” he yelled. “I heard something about her being swept off her feet. Who are you? What are you doing with my Alex? The dresses are for sale, not my bride.”

  “Frank, calm down. This is Harvey. He's a doctor and my old…he's my friend. I fainted and he's helping me. He swept me off my feet before I hit the ground.”

  “Ohhh… Thank you, Harvey, for saving our beautiful Alex. She is the perfect bride.”

  “She is beautiful.” Harvey smiled at her. “She always has been. I am the one who convinced her to try modeling. Remember that, Alex?”

  “I do. It was a casting call for a bridal fair, actually, and you encouraged me to go. You drove me there and after I got the job we…” Alex stopped short as she remembered how she and Harvey had celebrated that night.

  I don't think Molly would appreciate me sharing that particular memory.

  “Well, then the rest is history. I've been working as a bridal model ever since. I've always been the bride, but somehow, I'm still single.”

  “Don't worry,” Molly said, patting Alex’s shoulder. “You'll find someone. Eventually.”

  “Thanks, Molly.”

  “Harvey, we need to let Alex get back to work. Let's go.” Molly pulled on the sleeve of his sports coat. A desperate tug wrenched Alex’s heart as Harvey released her hand, moved away from her and toward Molly.

  “Call me tomorrow. I mean it.” Harvey looked from Alex to Molly and back. He stepped back toward Alex, but Molly clasped his hand in hers, tapped her foot and turned for the door.

  “Harvey,” she whined like a petulant child.

  “Go, Harvey,” Alex said. “I've got to change. I will call you tomorrow. I'm going to be staying with my mom for a bit and this will give us time to have that lab work done.”

  “Perfect.”

  “Bye, Alex.” Molly dragged Harvey out the door.

  Alex sighed and slumped in her seat. “See, Sam? I don't stand a chance.”

  “Are you crazy? Did you see the way he was looking at you? It was like those girls get when they go after the bouquet. He wanted you.”

  “But he's engaged.”

  “But she's a bi—”

  “Hush. I will call him, though. Let's go work this crowd so I can get to my mom's house and rest.”

  “Glad you're taking the break.”

  “Thanks, Sam. Mom needs some help and I haven't been home in way too long.”

  * * *

  That night, Alex unpacked her bag in the room she'd occupied as a teenager. Her mom hadn't changed a thing. The furniture, the bedspread, even the posters on the wall were the same. She sat on the bed and scanned the room. She ran her fingers over the comforter, smiled at the Justin Timberlake poster and was transported back to her teen years.

  She wandered around the room, looking at pictures. She stopped at her dresser, finding the pictures of her when she was the homecoming queen, at senior prom, and graduation. Harvey was in them all—at the beach, at Stone Mountain, with friends—happy, smiling, young, and in love. Alex picked up a picture and hugged it to her chest. She longed to be that girl again.

  When she ran across her wedding book, she laughed out loud.

  I forgot all about this.
<
br />   She touched the cover, reading “My Wedding.” She had started the book when she was twelve, planning the perfect wedding before she’d ever been kissed. The first two pages read “Something old, Something New.” She had clipped pictures from bridal magazines and anywhere else she could find them. Photos of new and vintage wedding dresses, rings, antique jewelry, and shoes that ran the gamut from a picture of the ones her mother had worn to what was, at that time, the latest, most fashionable pump. The old and new were well-covered.

  Alex smiled as she flipped to the “Something Borrowed, Something Blue” pages. That section had been a bit more difficult to complete. Trying to show “borrowed” was hard. She had taken snapshots of different things her friends might have loaned her for her wedding. A pretty hair comb that belonged to Molly, a necklace from her friend Allison, and the garter Harvey had worn around his arm at their junior prom. She and Molly had always been rivals. Being from the one of the wealthiest families in town, it seemed Molly had everything. But all the money in the world couldn't buy Molly what she wanted most—popularity. So Molly tried way too hard to make people like her which just made things worse. Alex tried to always include Molly, who often didn’t appreciate the effort, but Alex just kept trying.

  Blue wasn’t the easiest page either. Pictures of blue flowers, blue tuxedos, and blue bridesmaid dresses filled the page. The other pages included bridesmaid’s dresses of every style and color. Bouquets and floral arrangements were scattered throughout. There were pictures of Allison, Molly, and her other cheerleading friends she had planned for bridesmaids. There was Harvey, of course, because he was going to be the groom. Who else could he have been?

  Alex put the book aside and fought back her tears. She went downstairs to find her mother in the kitchen making tea.

  “I thought you might need this,” her mom said, handing Alex a cup of hot tea.

  She lifted the cup and was soothed by the warmth of the steam and the sweet aroma of honey and lemon her mother had added. She inhaled deeply. “How’d you know, Mom? Never mind. You always know just what I need.”