Shirley Hailstock - Someone Like You

“The bride needs you.” Renee, one of her consultants and Teddy’s right hand, spoke in her ear. She pressed the earpiece closer and lowered her head to hear over the noise made by the many tourists admiring the massive building. “Where is she?”

“Dressing room.”

Teddy was already moving, forgetting the man she was following. “Is she all right?” Many brides got cold feet even this close to saying “I do.” It didn’t matter if the bride had already been to the altar three times, she could still be plagued by reservations.

“She needs a little encouragement.”

That could mean anything from a full-blown refusal to leave the dressing room, to a broken nail. Teddy moved down the stairs to the dressing room, going as fast as she could. She knocked quietly and entered. Jessica stood in the middle of the room—alone. For a fourth wedding, she looked as fresh and bright as she had at her first. Teddy had been present for all three of them.

“You look great,” Teddy said. It was always good to let the bride know that her appearance was perfect. “When Donald sees you, he’ll be bowled over.” Teddy moved closer to her. “Would you like me to get the veil?”

“Is everything ready?” Jessica asked.

Teddy recognized the unspoken question. Most brides had the same fear. They were afraid of being left standing at the altar. Even making the trip down the aisle for the fourth time, the fear was still there. Teddy understood how to answer her, so Jessica could conceal her fear and save face.

“Everything is ready. The bridesmaids are all here, dressed and looking like a picture. The best man and groom are in the vestibule. He’s got cold hands by the way.”

Jessica laughed. “Cold hands, warm feet.”

Teddy felt her relax. Some of the tension left her body. Teddy lifted her veil and brought it to her. “The church is packed. Everyone is in place. All we need is you.” She gave Jessica a reassuring smile. “Ready?”

“Ready.”

* * *

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral did not stop the tourists from walking around while services were in progress. When the strangers realized there was a wedding, they lowered their voices but did not leave the building as good manners dictated. Teddy, sitting on the last pew next to Renee, had long since relegated them to an inconsequential nuisance.

She surveyed the party in the front of the church, smiling at the perfect photo they made. Teddy’s mind, however, was on the minister. Not a priest, but the result of calling in another favor. No matter how many times she heard the wedding vows, they still commanded her attention. From the corner of her eye, she saw several people moving along the outside aisle that led to the exit. A man stepped into the pew she and the three junior consultants sat on, but she wasn’t looking at him. Her attention was on the bride and groom, and she thought he was being courteous to other visitors coming in the building. But when he stopped directly next to her, she turned to glance at him.

“Adam?” she whispered. “What are you doing here?”

Stunned, Teddy was so focused on Adam’s unexpected appearance that she missed the last words of the ceremony and the kiss. The sudden sound of organ music snapped her out of her trance. She had to move. Adam didn’t have a chance to answer her question before she was needed to take care of more details. The three consultants were all on their feet and moving outside. The bride and groom were on their way up the long aisle preceded by a photographer and a videographer. Teddy lost sight of Adam as she followed them, all the while speaking into the headset she wore.

Bright sunlight blinded her. Using one hand to shade her eyes, Teddy directed the security staff she’d hired. They were already in place controlling the crowd of well-wishers and onlookers. Teddy and her assistants helped to place the wedding party for the photographs. Adam Sullivan came into view and the two shared a moment of staring at each other before she turned back to her charges.

It wasn’t like they found each other across a crowded room, she told herself. And what was he doing here, anyway? She’d seen the guest list. He wasn’t on it. She had a job to do and she didn’t need him here as a distraction. Jessica wanted everything to go smoothly and Teddy prided herself on giving the bride her due. One of the security guards tapped Adam on the shoulder and he moved to the back of the crowd.

For forty minutes the photographers took pictures. Teddy held flowers, smoothed hair away from a face, pushed a bridesmaid’s errant bra strap into place and even stood completely concealed behind a bridesmaid as she held the woman’s dress in place for a better fit. As she did this, Teddy searched the faces on the sidelines for Adam’s.

When they moved inside, Teddy stayed with the bridal party while the others headed for the reception at the Waldorf Astoria. The photographer had things under control and one of his assistants had put the items not needed on a pew. He was likely to be another forty-five minutes before finishing his capture of this moment in time. Teddy took the moment to look around for Adam.

He stood along the rear wall. She headed for him. “Your presence here can’t be a coincidence,” Teddy said when she was close enough to him that no one else would hear her.

“Apparently, I’m here for you.”

“Me?” She frowned, her hand going to her breasts. “Why? I’m in the middle of a wedding and I didn’t...I mean, we didn’t agree to meet again.”

“It’s out of our hands.”

“I don’t understand,” Teddy said.

“You have to pick up something this afternoon before you go back to New Jersey.”

“A painting,” she said. “My moth—” Teddy suddenly stopped. She fully understood. Her mother had called Adam and told him she was going to the gallery today to pick up a painting and bring it back to Princeton. When she went home in a few weeks, she’d take it with her.

“Another setup, I see,” Adam said.

“You don’t have to do this,” Teddy protested. “I’m sure you’re busy. It’s a small canvas and I can carry it on the train.”

“I’m here now. I don’t mind driving you since we will be heading in the same direction.”

“You drove?”

He nodded.

“Teddy?”

She looked back at the photographer and waved at him to indicate she’d be a moment.

“I have to go now. The reception is at the Waldorf. When I leave there I’m going—”

“I know,” he interrupted. “I have all the details.”

“Of course you do.” Teddy knew her mother was nothing if not thorough.

“I’ll see you at the reception.”

Teddy nodded and rushed to the front of the church. As she went to work on the necessary details that needed attention, she couldn’t help but look over her shoulder to see if Adam was still standing there.

He wasn’t.

* * *

Two hours later Adam caught up with Teddy just inside the main ballroom. “Would you like to dance?” he asked.

“I’m not a guest here,” she told him. “And neither are you.”

“Your duties are over. You were invited to the reception, so you’re free now.” He took her hand and pulled her close. “Would you like to dance?”

He didn’t give her time to answer. And he didn’t put her hand on his waist. Her hand rested below his belt on the strong haunches of his lower back. She didn’t move it—not away at least. He felt her hesitation and she pushed it down an inch. Heat rushed through his clothes, up his back and into his neck. Adam felt the scorching flame beneath her skin.

His eyes were staring at her. He had to move, snap out of the paralytic state he was in. Moving his feet, he circled her onto the floor and she fell in step with him. He knew she wouldn’t fight him. That would cause a scene, and at a wedding this important or even one that wasn’t, Teddy wouldn’t ruin the day for the newly married couple. He’d garnered that from talking to her during their blind date.