Cht 5
Liz was perplexed. She was busy, could not beg off as easily as her soon-to-be husband, but when she finally got away for a dress fitting, it was only to find that the "dress" was merely a shell for measurement purposes only. It was a form, if anything, so that she was unable to see the actual dress until the day of the wedding. And she did not know when that was either, but she knew it was imminent from the constant barrage of phone calls that Ray kept dipping out to take. Finally, five years into knowing him personally, Liz noticed that he kept a phone on him at all times. Not having Dembe around daily, in addition to having a "square" job, had made that a necessity. He still grumbled about it, and kept it stashed somewhere so she could not see all the messages or the call log from the many errands he was running trying to get the wedding ceremony and reception off the ground.
She did know that she had finally gotten her wish for Cooper to preside over the service, because he had tasked her with writing her own vows, and she at least knew the dress color for the girls, but only because Aram mentioned they were getting purple wrist corsages in lieu of bouquets. It would look great with the lilac gowns, he had told her before he realized his mistake. Really the entire task force knew more about her wedding than her. But she didn't mind, even though she kept catching Ressler smirking in her direction and shaking his head. In fact, there was an air of excitement through the post office—nothing like her last "almost" wedding that was tense and vainly hopeful. This was thrilling and oddly settling at the same time, as if she could finally exhale a breath she had been holding. Finally.
Samar said she would be jealous if she and Aram weren't already planning to elope to the Adirondacks for a weekend. She got to the pick the cabin, only if it came equipped with a heart shaped hot tub. She had shaken her head and quipped that it must be in the water, all the "lovey" nonsense, but she looked happier than Liz had ever seen her. The tall woman had a glow…and it made Liz wonder.
Another trill of excitement ran down her spin and she wiggled a bit on the platform where she was standing, earning a tsk from the dressing room attendant trying to pin the dress form.
On Friday afternoon, Liz got called away to an address downtown, only to arrive at a spa. She spent a couple of hours getting a facial, mani and pedi, and left shaking her head at her conniving and oh so sweet fiancé. The next morning, bright and early, she rolled over to find Raymond missing already. When she came downstairs she found Kate sitting at the table with a fresh cup of coffee and a pot of freshly pressed brew that made her blood sing.
"Well dearie," Kate smiled thinly, "today's the day. Are you ready?"
Liz's stomach did a flip and she broke into a cat with the canary grin. "I am so ready!" she laughed. "Where are we going?"
"Downtown," the older lady replied noncommittally, unable to hide the chuckle as she took a sip from her cup.
Scarcely an hour later, Liz was showered and tucked into the back of a limo next to a now silent Kaplan. Kate refused to tell her anything, and Liz could tell the woman was taking perverse pleasure in keeping this secret. They pulled up at last to their destination, and Liz let out an impressed gasp. The Smithsonian Castle, of course, she thought. The imposing gothic architecture and sweeping gardens were gorgeous! This time of year everything was in full bloom, and she could see a couple of florist vans that told her plenty of blooms would carry indoors as well. She looked up, up, up to the high-peaked spires and hummed her approval of Ray's choice. The man had taste—elegant, refined and such expensive taste.
Looking back down to the steps leading into the building, Liz saw Dembe coming down to meet them, decked out in a sleek tailored light gray tuxedo with a deep plum colored vest and silk tie.
"Elizabeth," he said, hugging her and pecking a kiss to each cheek. He offered the same to Kate before proffering an arm to Elizabeth to take. He led the ladies into the main part of the building and escorted them to an upstairs room with a bay window, complete with a window seat looking out over the gardens. Below, Liz could see arches of tulle and swags of lavender and purple flowers going up. She sighed at the spectacle of it and resolved herself to just go with the flow today. Dembe stepped out smiling, closing the doors behind him before heading off to keep his old friend from seeing the bride before the ceremony. Somewhere downstairs, he knew his oldest friend was pacing, chewing the inside of his cheek and alternately puffing away at a cigar.
Sure enough, he opened the door to find Red standing before the outer French doors, tutting at the florist attendants who were straightening a bower. He was on the verge of walking out there and badgering them into nudging it back in line when Dembe cleared his throat. Reddington jolted a bit and turned, catching the younger man smirking at his obvious agitation.
Back upstairs, Liz opened another door to find her little girls with Mrs Hunnicutt. Agnes was down for a nap, thank heavens, the older lady whispered sotto voce, and little Lucia was tiring herself out on the floor with a jungle gym, batting at the swinging figures hanging over her. Lucia would need lunch just before the ceremony, but should sleep peacefully throughout until at least the reception. Agnes would be in full form for both.
"And take a looksee here!" the nanny urged, beckoning Liz over to a wardrobe on the opposite side of the room. Kate and Liz both awwwed their approval at the tiny dresses showcased in plastic garment bags, two little lavender high-waist gowns with sweeping gathered tulle. Lucia's had a single small flower at the shoulder, while Agnes's had purple flowers across the sash. On a nearby vanity, single bearded irises on wrist bands sat waiting for the little girls to wear for the ceremony. Liz teared up seeing all the little details he had seen to for their daughters. If it was possible, she loved him more.
Kate frowned knowingly as Liz dabbed at her eyes, "come on, Elizabeth," she said, taking Liz's hand and squeezing comfortingly, "let's get you ready."
"And don't worry, lovey," Mrs Hunnicutt said, crossing her arms over her ample bosom, "I'll have both the littleuns ready on time as well." The old lady nodded, setting her grayed curls bobbing on top of her head.
Liz crossed back into her room and on a hunch, opened the massive wardrobe near an old brick fireplace. Sure enough, her gown was there. And it was breathtaking. Liz let her breath out in a whoosh and with tingling fingers, pulled it out and hung it on the top of the door so she could see it fully. She scarcely knew what to say and cast a helpless glance at Mr Kaplan who was swiping suspiciously at her eyes. Liz fanned a hand in front of her face as her own eyes filled at the beauty of heavy cream satin and delicate lace. It was a floor-length A-line gown, off the shoulder design with scalloped edging and swingy pagoda sleeves. Drop dead gorgeous, she sighed inwardly. Before she could be tempted to try it on, a make-up and hair stylist knocked and entered, breaking into her thoughts and ushering her to a dainty vanity overlooking the rear gardens.
"She needs movement in her hair so it's not just hanging limp," Kate urged as the girl began to set up quickly. "And some good neutral glowing peach tones. It will go well with all the purple he has going up down there, so you'll coordinate with all the background for the photos." She said this last to Liz, who merely nodded in acquiescence. Kate was always so well appointed that Liz trusted her judgment and tried to ignore feeling like a frump amongst all the finery. She listened as Kate and the stylist, Patti, worked out a plan to do for her and sat idly as they chatted away.
By the time Liz was declared a work of art by both women, Agnes was awake and toddled in on chubby legs looking for her mama. She had to touch the ends of her mother's hair where they alternately flipped out and under, and then she demanded blush on her cheeks too. Patti complied with a big fluffy brush and dabbed a light smattering of shimmery blush onto the apples of Aggie's cheeks and just a dap on her nose.
"How beautiful!" Liz declared as Patti dabbed a trace of delicate pink gloss on the little girl's lips.
Shortly thereafter Mrs Hunnicutt bustled in with a fussy Lucia and Liz unbuttoned her shirt to nurse before finally getting dressed. She was already burping the baby when a soft knock sounded at the door and Samar popped in to check on Liz and bring a small square blue box and a bottle of champagne. The women found glasses in a nearby cupboard and Patti declined before giving Liz a quick hug and stepping out.
"I've got orange juice downstairs in the kitchens that I brought, and I'll head down and dodge the caterers in a minute so we can mix up some mimosas! First though…we need a toast," she grinned at Liz as she popped the cork. Kate lined four glasses up for each of them. Samart poured and allowed Liz the first glass, which she promptly sipped from to calm her jittery nerves. She couldn't help but giggle.
"Alright!" Samar said, "Well. Here's to…balance. Because if there is anything in the world that you two are best at, it's balancing each other out."
Liz teared up, suddenly thankful that all the make-up Patti used was waterproof and set with a spray. She took a breath as Kate made her toast too.
"To playing cops and robbers still, only this time likely in your underwear," she said drily.
Samar snorted out a laugh that turned into a cackle as Mrs Hunnicutt tutted primly.
"And here's to you and the mister," she added roundly, "may you both be happy all your days."
"Hear hear!" the other two nodded and they all clinked glasses. "Cheers!"
"Now," Samar clipped, "get in that dress! And I'll go get the OJ!" She downed her drink and was at the door in two strides, stopping just as she got to it and turning back. "I want to see you all dolled up when I get back, but you're going to need that box first and I want to see you open it. So dress! Then box!" and with that, she launched out the door and downstairs to get back as quickly as possible.