You Say It First
Page 34

She met Violet in the parking lot, struggling with two large boxes and a huge suitcase on wheels.
“Did you bring every button you own?” Pallas asked with a laugh as she rushed to help her friend.
“You mock my buttons, but they will save the day. You’ll see.”
“I can’t wait for that to happen.”
Pallas slung her tote bag over her shoulder and helped Violet wrestle the smaller box toward Wynn’s shop. They were halfway across the parking lot when a familiar truck pulled up next to them. Pallas felt a little quiver in her stomach. She’d known Nick was going to be at the meeting, yet still felt a thrill at seeing him. A nice little bonus in her workday.
He rolled down his window. “Ladies, could you use a man?”
“Yes, but I suspect you’re not offering that,” Violet told him. “At least not to me.”
Pallas ignored her friend. “I want to tell you we’re self-actualized and totally capable, but some help would be nice.”
“Set down the box and step aside,” he told them.
They did as he requested. While Violet wheeled the suitcase into the shop, Nick carried in each of the boxes.
Wynn had a small office set up for video conferencing. There was a table and eight chairs, a dry-erase board and a large flat-screen television mounted on the wall.
Pallas helped Violet unpack the boxes. She’d brought in what looked like skirts, only they weren’t that structured and they had layers of colors.
“Overlays,” Violet told her. “I’m still playing with how everything should look. Nova and I have been emailing and I need her to pick a direction.”
She’d also made a half-dozen sample headpieces for the bridesmaids. Wynn carried in rolls of paper that she set on the table. Nick opened a box of papier-mâché flowers. Silver arrived right after him with a large cooler in each hand.
“I feel like a slacker,” Pallas admitted, taking her seat at the table. All she had was a tablet and a pad of paper.
“You’ll work plenty hard the day of the wedding,” Wynn pointed out. “While the rest of us are getting drunk.”
“I won’t get drunk until later.” Silver patted her arm.
“Alcohol suddenly seems to be a theme,” Pallas murmured. “Should I be worried?”
“Definitely,” Violet told her.
They all took their seats at the table. At two thirty, Wynn logged in to her conference program, then turned on the television. A couple of seconds later, Nova appeared on the screen.
“Hi, everyone,” the bride-to-be called, her dark eyes bright with excitement.
“Hey, Nova.”
“Joel and I are so thrilled about all of this. Thank you so much for your help.”
“We’re loving it,” Pallas told her. “This has been a really fun creative challenge.”
“I’m glad. So how do you want to do this?”
Everyone turned to Pallas, as if she was in charge. Which she kind of was.
“Let’s go around the table and talk about what we have planned. We’re at the point where we have to make decisions and get things ordered. After you’ve reviewed all the options, I’ll run through a tentative schedule for the day.” She tapped her pad. “I sent you the file this morning.”
Nova waved several sheets of paper. “I have it right here.” She giggled. “It’s really happening. I’m so excited.”
Pallas nodded at Wynn. “Why don’t you go first?”
Wynn got up and moved to the back of the conference room, where she unrolled the first four-foot by two-foot posters. It showed a landscape done in purple, teal and black, which should have been dark and creepy. Instead the plants and mountains and sky were surreal but with an elegant twist.
“Can you see it?” Wynn asked, shifting to center the poster in front of the camera.
“I can. I love it. That’s perfect.”
“Don’t say that yet,” Wynn told her. “I have three more options. Once you pick your favorite ones, I’ll have them blown up into giant size, and then put in the frames we bought. They’ll line the walls at the ceremony, then be moved outside for the reception.”
Pallas made notes as Wynn and Nova discussed each option. Nick weighed in and in a matter of minutes, a choice was made.
“I’m next,” Violet said. “Let’s start with the overskirt. I’ve been playing with different ideas. I think some kind of belt with a hook and loop closure would work best. That way the bridesmaids can take it off for the reception, if they want.”
She showed Nova the layered skirt in different weights of fabric and different color combinations.
“I also made this,” Violet said, pulling a hairpiece out of a box. The style was intricate and matched that of the female warriors in the game. Twisted braids created a series of ovals. She’d added silk flowers in the video game colors.
“I know it’s kind of over-the-top, but I couldn’t help myself. I also have these.” She held up the more traditional headpieces with ribbons and flowers.
“Oh, wow.” Nova pressed her hands together. “Can you put one on Pallas and another on Wynn? So I can see what they look like on a real person?”
Nick leaned close to Pallas. “She picked you first because you’re the prettiest,” he whispered. “I’d pick you first, too.”
Pallas smiled at him and hoped she didn’t blush. Violet got a brush out of her bag and walked around the table. After pulling Pallas’s hair back into a low ponytail, she slipped the wig on her head and adjusted it. Without a mirror, Pallas had no idea how she looked, which was disconcerting, especially with everyone studying her intently.
“I like it,” Nova said. “Now you, Wynn.”
The headpiece sat easily on the top of her head.
“It’s pretty,” Silver said, her voice doubtful.
“But not as special,” Nick added. “I like Pallas’s better. What do you think, Nova?”
“I agree. Let me talk to my bridesmaids and find out how they’re going to be wearing their hair. If they’re game for the wig, we’ll go that way.”
Pallas pulled off the wig and shook out her hair. Nick was up next. He set three papier-mâché flowers on the table.
“I’m going to make thirty or so of each, then group them around the venue.” He showed her the different colors, then explained how he would use black light paint, as well.
“I’m still working on the power orbs. I’m not sure how to make them glow.”
“I love the flowers,” Violet told him. “They’re amazing.”
“Thanks.” He held up a three foot by two foot pad of drawing paper and centered it in front of the camera. “Brace yourself. Here are my ideas for your wedding dress.”
“No!” Violet’s voice was a whimper. “It’s a designer gown. You can’t paint it.”
“Breathe,” Silver said with a laugh. “Just breathe.”
Violet covered her face with her hands. “I can’t look.”
Nick flipped to the first page on the pad. Everyone gasped, including Pallas. She stared at the sketch of the dress done in simple lines. What caught her attention were the bold strokes of purple, teal and black against the white lace and nude netting. Nick had followed the lines of the lace to create a swirling pattern similar to the backdrop on Wynn’s posters. There were three other options, variations on design and color.