They don't belong to me. I am just borrowing them for a while. A sequel to Christmas Eve Visitor and Starting Our Life Together. This story is fiction, any people, places or events that happen are not actually real or factual. Enjoy and please review.
Holy Matrimony, Batman!
By JayCee08
Chapter 35
A Day At The Spa
I woke up the next morning to someone knocking on the door. I got up. I was still dressed in the clothes I had on yesterday. I went to the door. "Who is it?" I asked.
"Room service." A voice on the other side of the door called out.
"I didn't order room service."
"This is Room 715?"
"Yes."
"Then this is the right room. I have a note." The waiter said.
I opened the door and he handed me a note. The word 'Babe' was written across the envelope in Ranger's handwriting. I quickly took the note and opened it.
Babe,
I hope you will enjoy your breakfast..There will be a limo downstairs at 9:00 a.m. to take you and the bridesmaids and anybody else you would like to go along, whether it is our moms, grandmas, sisters or sister-in-law, to the spa for some well deserved pampering. I hope it will help you relax. I know you are on pins and needles anticipating our wedding and whether I will get there in time. After the pampering and lunch, the limo will take you to the salon for hair and make-up appointments. The limo will then take you to the church. Remember Babe, no price. Have as much as you want done. Anything. Massage, waxing, mud wraps, manicure and/or pedicure whatever you want. I love you and can't wait for you to become my wife. Don't worry Babe, I'll be there.
Love always,
Carlos
Oh my God! It was his writing. He had to have done this while on his way here. Or did he do this all before he left Miami? If he has left. Should I try and call him? I started eating before it got cold while I contemplated if I should try and call him. He had ordered pancakes and eggs for me with bacon. There were cinnamon muffins, orange juice and coffee. I decided to try and call him. I picked up my phone and hit #1 on speed dial. The phone rang and he answered.
"Yo, Babe."
"Carlos." I cried out, my voice cracking.
"Did you get your breakfast?"
"Yes, I did. Thank you. How did you do that? I mean the note."
"Fed Ex. I sent it when I knew I wouldn't get back there. Surprisingly, Fed Ex was able to get through the storm."
"Maybe you should have shipped yourself here overnight. Where are you?"
"I think we are in North Carolina. It took us almost all night to get out of Florida. I couldn't believe the traffic. It's taken me less than 20 hours to get from Florida to New Jersey in the past. Today we only got as far as North Carolina. It is getting easier now that traffic is getting lighter. But we are having nothing but rain as the remainder of the hurricane heads up the coast. Once everyone had gotten out of Florida, they started heading in different directions."
"Carlos you are going be exhausted when you get here. Maybe you should pull over and get some sleep."
"It's O.K. Babe. I'm not doing all the driving."
"Carlos, Julie isn't old enough to drive."
"She isn't. I have two other people with me and they have been doing most of the driving. They switch driving when we stop to eat or use the bathroom."
"Oh. Well that's good. I was afraid that you would fall asleep while driving and end up in an accident."
"I've driven all the way to and from Miami before, Babe. Remember when I found you in my apartment when the Slayers were after you? I had just driven all the way from Miami to Trenton."
"Oh, yeah. I remember. Hurry home."
"I'll be there. I love you."
"Love you, too."
He hung up. I finished eating and jumped in the shower for a quick shower and got a change of clothes. I felt better after having talked to him. I forgot to mention that I saw him on the nightly news. Maybe I'll tell him if I talk to him again.
I went to my parents room across the hall. I needed to spend some time with Ricky before the limo came. I told my parents about the room service and the note and phone call. My dad gave me the 'I told you so' look. I called the girls and told them about the limo and the day at the spa. They were excited. I called Ranger's mom and told her about my surprise this morning. I asked if she wanted to join us at the spa. She politely declined. Val, Grandma and my mom declined as well. I called Celia and asked her, she accepted. I then called Shantel. After what happened last night, I was afraid that she wouldn't speak to me. She accepted the invite. I called Ranger's other three sisters and they too accepted. They said that Ranger never did anything like this before and they were going to take full advantage of his generosity.
I had brought Ricky's tux to my parents' room. They would be bringing him to the church. I went to take Ranger's tux to Tank's room. I told him about the note and room service. He gave me a hug and told me that Ranger would get there in time. I gave him my keys to my SUV. I'm sure he'll have someone drive it home for me. Lula and I left to meet the limo downstairs. I stopped at my room to get Julie's and my dresses and other things to take to the church later.
We were in the lobby when this huge white Hummer stretch limo pulled up out in front. We just stared at it. The driver came in. "Is there a Stephanie Plum here?" He asked.
I meekly raised my hand and said "Here."
"My name is Phil. I'm to take you and your party to the spa. Is this everyone?"
"Yes."
"Then let's go. Your carriage awaits." He went out and opened the back and side doors to the limo so we could all get in. We laid out dresses on one of the seats. There was still plenty of room for us.
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We pulled up to a newer building in the outskirts of New Brunswick. A sign outside announced the Peace and Serenity Day Spa. We entered and were greeted by three workers.
"Are you Stephanie?" The woman in the blue smock with the name tag and read Tiffany asked.
"Yes, I am. These are my bridesmaids and my soon to be sisters-in-law." I said pointed to the group.
"I'm Tiffany. This is Sara. And this is Hannah. We will be working with you today. We will let you look over our services. You can choose any package that we offer and add to it."
I looked over the packages. They had a bridal package that included hair and make-up, but I knew Ranger had pick out another salon for those things. I choose the custom package which consisted of a 60 minute massage therapy, manicure, pedicure and facial. I had already had a bikini wax and had my legs and underarms waxed, so I didn't need those. Mary Lou chose the same package, so we would be together. Lula chose the same package but added the bikini waxing. Connie chose the same package but added the lip and brow waxing.
Celia just chose the manicure, pedicure and facial. Shantel chose the manicure and facial. Alana chose the massage therapy and manicure and facial. Katarina and Josephina chose the massage therapy, manicure and pedicure.
Tiffany took us into the locker room where she handed out robes and slippers for us to wear. Then they divided us up. Those of us getting facials where taken into one room. Manicures and pedicures into another room. The massages were last. Lunch was included in the packages.
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Lunch consisted of chicken salad or tuna salad sandwiches on whole wheat, fruit cocktail, iced tea or water and mini tarts for dessert. After we ate those of us getting massages left to get them. The others said they were going to take a walk.
We all met up in the reception area of the spa. The massage was great it really helped to relieve some of the tension I had been feeling the last couple of days. I was hoping that the rest will go away once Ranger got here. Maybe tonight he will be willing to ease away the tension, although his technique would be different.
The limo pulled up and we all piled in. Only the bridesmaids and I were going to the salon for our hair and make-up. Everyone else would go back to the hotel to get ready.
The limo dropped us off at Michael Christensen Hair Studio. I took my veil off the seat. I would have them attach it to my head. Phil said he would be back by 4:00 p.m. It was 2:00 p.m. now.
Cheri was my stylist. She asked how I wanted my hair and I told her that I wanted it down but wanted the curls softer. She started with washing and conditioning my hair. Then she trimmed the ends a little. She rolled my hair up in some medium sized rollers. I went to sit under the hair dryer.
When my hair was dry they moved me to the make-up area. There they did my eyes in soft smoky eye shadows of gray with a hint of purple. It made my blue eyes stand out. She added some eye liner and waterproof mascara. It least I hope it was waterproof. I am sure there would be tears of some sort later. Whether they are going to be the happy kind, the sad kind or the angry kind, I didn't know. Time will tell. My cheeks were done in a rosy mauve blush. My lips where done in a similar color with a coat of gloss.
Then I moved back to the chair and the rollers were removed. Cheri styled my hair and used almost a whole can of hairspray to keep it in place. My hair fell in nice waves. She then attached my veil with bobby pins and the attached combs. Then I was done.
I turned to look at Connie, Lula and Mary Lou. They just stared at me.
"What? What's wrong. What's happened?" I said thinking that while I was in my own little world they had heard something about Ranger.
"Steph, you look fabulous." Mary Lou finally said.
"Batman is going to have a heart attack when he sees you." Lula said.
"Thanks Lula. Just what I want to hear." I said.
"I think she means that Ranger isn't going to know what hit him when he sees you." Connie explained.
I turned to look in the mirror. Wow. I did look good. Better than good. The limo pulled up outside and we got inside. We pulled up at St. John the Baptist Church. Father John met us at the door and led us to the room that we would use to get ready.
I was fully dressed when there was a knock on the door. Mary Lou went to answer it. She opened it a crack and when she saw who it was she opened the door fully. It was Maria. She stepped inside and looked at me and stopped.
"Oh my, Stephanie. You look . . . you look. I don't think there are any words that can describe how you look, my dear. Breathtaking is the only word I can think of."
She came up to me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. "Carlos is a lucky man." She said.
"Have you heard from him?" I asked hopefully.
"No. Sorry." She said. "I just wanted to tell you that the flowers are here. Do you know who gets what?"
"Yes I think so."
Maria, Celia and Alana helped passing out the flowers. Maria brought us our bouquets. I told her which corsages where for the mothers and grandmas. The rest were for the sisters and sister-in-law.
Celia came in with a box that had the boutonnieres. I point out the one that was for Ranger, the three that went to the Merry Men and the two for the fathers. The others were for Ernesto and the brothers-in-law. Ricky didn't get one. I was afraid he would eat it.
"I don't think Ernesto will be coming for the wedding. A) his nose is broke and he has two black eyes. B) he knows he is not wanted here." Celia said.
"It's not that he's not wanted. But he isn't very nice when he is around me." I said. "I don't want Carlos to kill him if Ernesto should say something like he did last night. It is a good thing that Carlos wasn't here. I don't want to spend my wedding night in jail waiting to get my husband bonded out. Then I am sure that we wouldn't be able to go on our honeymoon."
"Well, the family made it perfectly clear to him last night that he should stay away. We didn't want your beautiful wedding ruined because of him." Celia said.
She left to go and pin on the boutonnieres on the men. There was another knock on the door. Mary Lou went to answer it again. She opened it a crack and then opened it wider. Tank walked in.
"Oh God!" I said as a sob.
"It's O.K. Bombshell." He said noticing my panicked state.
"What is it then?" I asked. "Did you hear from him?"
"Sorry." He said and my face fell. "Hey, he'll be here. You have another hour to go yet."
"I would have thought that he would have called or something."
"I'm sure he is just as anxious as you. I need to borrow Lula for a bit. And damn Bombshell, you look wonderful. If Ranger doesn't get his ass here, I just might marry you myself." Tank said. Lula stood up, she hit him in the arm. He laughed and took her hand and they both left.
I started pacing. I couldn't sit. I was afraid I would wrinkle the dress. It was hard to pace with a train. Lula came back.
"The church is starting to fill up. There are some of the Merry Men in tuxes at the door checking invites. Batman was serious when he said he was going to have security." She said. Thank God we didn't have to worry about Jensen anymore.
There was another knock on the door. Connie was closest this time. She opened the door a crack and my mom came in with Ricky. "Mumum".
"He was asking for you." My mom said. Then she stopped and looked at me. "Oh Stephanie. You look absolutely radiant."
"Thank you, Mom." I said as I took Ricky from her. I went over to the other side of the room and talked to Ricky. I didn't see the look she gave the girls silently asking if I heard from Ranger. They all shook their heads.
"Angie and Mary Alice are doing a good job handing out the programs. Val is keeping an eye on them." My mom said. "And Carlos' nieces, Melissa and Rebecca are making sure everyone signs the guest book. And from what I could see, Cara and Roberto are handling the guests." She continued.
I continued to talk to Ricky. I pulled a book out of my tote bag and I read it to him.
Just then the door flew open.
TBC Chapter 26 - The Wedding