Carol Clark - Hitched

Victoria made a sweeping motion with her left arm. “We’re still going to live separately. You know, we’ll visit each other on weekends and holidays.”

Regan blinked with surprise.

“Keeps the relationship fresh,” Kit volunteered. “You won’t have the chance to get on each other’s nerves.”

Victoria waved her coffee cup and leaned forward. “That’s how we feel. We’ll see how this arrangement works and then take it from there. I’ve lived alone for this long, I don’t even know how good I’d be at a relationship twenty-four-seven.” She rolled her eyes self deprecatingly. “I enjoy my job and I love New York.” She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I don’t want to leave just yet.”

“I love New York, too,” Regan said “My fiancé lives in Tribeca. That’s where we’ll live for now.”

“Tribeca is wonderful!” Victoria sighed. “They have such great restaurants and art galleries. It’s so hip down there!”

Regan smiled. “Jack has a loft apartment that he was lucky enough to get before the prices went too crazy. We both love it.” Regan paused. “Do you work in the city?”

“In Midtown at the Queen’s Court Hotel.”

“One of the best hotels in Manhattan,” Regan commented.

“It is. I check people in on the overnight shift. That’s why I was sleeping. I’ve been doing it for a year now but my body still hasn’t gotten used to the schedule. I don’t mind though. I’m not a nine-to-five person. I love having my days free and I get a few hours sleep here and there.” She paused. “Are you sure I can’t get you two anything to drink?”

“No thanks,” Kit said. “We’ve been drinking Charisse’s lavender tea all day.”

Victoria smiled. “Charisse is such a darling!”

“Charisse is the one who assured me that our gowns would be ready,” Regan said. “ Victoria, we’re trying to figure out if whoever stole the gowns might have had a grudge against Alfred and Charisse or one of the April Brides. Can you think of anyone who knew you were buying your gown from Alfred and Charisse and wanted to screw up your wedding by stealing your dress?”

“No. Not at all,” Victoria answered quickly, then smiled. “I did tease my fiancé that he must have broken a lot of hearts along the way.”

“What’s your fiancé’s name?” Kit asked.

Victoria leaned her head to one side. “ Frederick.”

“ Frederick what?” Kit asked innocently.

“Dortmunder. Frederick is so proud of his heritage. He talks about it all the time. His family goes wayyyy back.”

Most families go way back somewhere, Regan thought. “What does he do in Pennsylvania?”

“He’s a painter. Incredibly talented. At Frederick ’s house in the country he has a little studio where he spends most of his time. He can’t paint in this apartment because there’s no light. That’s why we spend most of our time together out there. He says that I’m his muse-that he gets inspired when I watch him paint. So I sit there for hours just watching him create these beautiful images.”

I’d go nuts, Regan thought, but smiled and said, “Sounds great. Now, Victoria, no matter what you say, if we don’t find the dresses very soon, Alfred and Charisse will make you a new one in time for your wedding. I’m just glad that you’re not upset. Because let me tell you something-two of the other brides today did not take this as calmly as you have.”

“Of course I’m upset. But I’ve learned that it’s best to concentrate on the things in life that really matter.” She pointed to her books and tapes. “For the last year I’ve been studying visualization, learning to listen to the quiet music inside of me. I came to this city from Iowa to try my hand at the whole show-biz thing. I sang and danced in all the plays back home. But in New York the competition is fierce. After several years, it dawned on me that I didn’t believe in myself enough! I was introduced to visualization and it changed my life! I wrote my affirmations over and over of what I wanted and at this point in time I wanted to focus on finding love. And I found it! That’s what really matters. I’m having fun! The stolen dress doesn’t matter in the long run.”

“You’re absolutely right,” Regan said with a nod. “This robbery has gotten a lot of attention from the press. A couple of reporters want to do stories on the five April Brides, as Alfred has dubbed us. One of the other brides is happy to be interviewed. Another, for her own reasons, says absolutely not. Do you have any interest in talking to the press about your reaction to this? They’d love you. You have such a great attitude, and if you want to be in show business, it could give you some good exposure.”

“No, Regan,” Victoria said without hesitation. “ Frederick would disapprove. He believes in the quiet life. He wouldn’t want me to get involved in a media circus. I just know he’d find it undignified. He’s rather proper.”

“So you’re not going to pursue show biz anymore?” Regan asked.

“We’ll see,” Victoria said airily. “But right now I just want to enjoy being in love!” she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air.

“I understand,” Regan said as she stood.

“Of course you do! You’re in love, too!” Victoria stood. She was a little taller than Regan. “It was so lovely meeting you both,” she said as she walked them to the door, once again humming a little tune. “Good luck with your wedding, Regan.”

“You, too. You’ll be hearing from Alfred about your dress.”

“I’m sure it will all work out.” Victoria turned to Kit and looked at her with intensity. Her brown eyes were popping. “Remember, you’ve got to belieeevvve. Draw a treasure map of where you want to go in life and hang it on your wall. Write out your affirmations. To create the life of your dreams, you have to make it happen!”

“I’ll check out that dating service when I get home,” Kit muttered.

“You do that!”

When Kit and Regan were back out on the street, they both looked at each other. “I liked her,” Kit said. “She’s a little strange but she has charm.”

Regan shrugged as they walked toward the corner.

“What?” Kit asked.

“She’s very likable but she doesn’t at all seem like someone who’s getting married in three weeks. She didn’t seem to care about the dress. And there was nothing in that apartment to indicate that she’d sent out invitations or that presents were coming in or anything like that. There are no magazines or books about wedding planning-just visualization and inner peace. If you pay that much money for one of Alfred’s dresses, you must be having some sort of special ceremony.”

“Maybe it’s all out at Frederick ’s studio,” Kit quipped. “Next to his paintbrushes.”

“Could be,” Regan said, then frowned. “If he’s such an incredibly talented artist, then how come the only thing she has on her wall are a couple of framed prints? Wouldn’t she have at least one of his paintings on display?”

“You’d think.”

“I’ve got to tell you something, Kit. They don’t sound like the greatest pair. She doesn’t want to leave the city. He doesn’t want to leave the country. She’s gregarious and likes to have fun. He’s worried about getting his name in the paper. Let me tell you, if he wants to sell his paintings, it would help if people knew about them. It could help her, too. But she obviously doesn’t want to upset him.”

“ Frederick must be some hunk.”

“I don’t know what he is.”

Kit shrugged. “Have you ever heard that opposites attract?”

“Sure I have. But something doesn’t seem right.” Regan hailed a cab. They got in, and she gave the address of the last April Bride. “We’re going across Central Park to Fifth Avenue,” she told the driver. “ Fifth Avenue and Seventy-fifth Street.”