All in the Big Day's Work

      The garden was sumptuous this time of year. The grass was lush and green underneath the neat rows of white chairs. The trees that spotted the circumference of the field were massive and provided solid shade with their vibrant leaves. Besides the trees, a small stream winded around the left side of the field, while some rosebushes flanked the right side. Ahead and to the right was a large bed of red and purple flowers. Facing the chairs was a charming little gazebo, only big enough to hold a few people.

           This was the beautiful and serene setting where Gwen was supposed to have her beautiful and serene wedding, but she wasn’t sure that was possible now.

           She had gotten an early start to the day—the salon had called to say they had a cancellation, so she could come in earlier. She had returned home from having her hair and makeup done and found three masked men snooping around her apartment. Really? On my wedding day? To be fair, they didn’t know it was the morning of her nuptials. They were simply there to steal the flash drive.  After hurting them all badly enough that they gave up and then graciously letting them run away, her hair was still in place and makeup had not even smudged. She would have to remember to give the salon a good review.

           As the last of the men jumped into the black SUV and it screeched away, Gwen took a picture of the license plate. She knew it would probably be a dead end, but she had to do her due diligence. She sent the photo to her boss with a quick message, then gathered her things and drove to the botanical garden.

           With the delay of the uninvited guests and then traffic on her way to the garden, Gwen walked into the bridal dressing room thirty minutes later than planned. Her mom, best friend Lily, and her sisters Caitlyn and Marilyn were already there.

           “Oh, thank God, Gwendolyn! I was starting to get worried!” Her mother exclaimed.

           “Sorry, Mom, the salon took longer than I thought, and then I hit traffic.” It was technically true.

           “This is why you’re supposed to get ready with your ‘maids,” Lily chided. Before Gwen could respond, she held up her hands in surrender. “I know, you wanted some alone time. I get it.”

           “What matters is that you’re here now.” Caitlyn said, taking the larger garment bag from Gwen. She and Marilyn took the ivory lace wedding gown out of its garment bag and began steaming out the wrinkles in the skirt.

           “Oh, be careful of the beading on the bodice!” Gwen said as she changed from her button-up shirt and sweatpants into her slip.  

           “Don’t worry,” Caitlyn assured her. “The wrinkles are all in the skirt anyway.”

           They worked on the dress for the next twenty minutes until Gwen decided that it was time to get dressed. It was disappointing that there were still some stubborn wrinkles in it, but it was only twenty minutes until the ceremony was supposed to start, and she needed to get all twenty-two buttons fastened and get out there. She was supposed to be hiding behind some bushes before the guests arrived so that nobody could see her until her grand entrance.

           As her mother fastened the last button, Gwen studied herself in the mirror, absent-mindedly running her fingers over the beaded embellishment just under the bodice. Her bridesmaids and mother were gushing about how beautiful she looked, and frankly, she had to agree. She smiled brightly at them in the mirror.

           “Well, shall we?” She asked.  

           “Go ahead, Gwendolyn, we’re right behind you,” her mom insisted. Gwen flung her chapel-length train over her arm and grabbed her bouquet, then glanced around the room to make sure they weren’t leaving anything.

           “You guys have everything?” She asked.

           “Yeah, what’s this extra one?” Gwen’s sister Marilyn asked, holding a less-splendid version of the bridal bouquet.

           “That’s the tossing one. Actually, can someone bring that to the reception area after the ceremony? When we come back after photos, I guess.”

           “Sure, I can do that,” Marilyn responded.

           With that, the five ladies crossed the lobby and entered the garden through the glass doors. They trotted down the cobblestone path passing a sculpture garden and a fountain until they veered left to wait at their starting line at the back of field. Gwen smiled wanly at any guests that she met eyes with as she looked around to make sure that all the vendors were in place as well as scanning the perimeter for any threats.

Even with the chaos of the morning and the late start, everything was seemingly falling into place. The garden was indeed beautiful, and the rain that had been forecasted for the day was nowhere in sight. In what felt like an instant, the wedding coordinator, Joyce, was giving the cue to the musicians. As the bridesmaids each made their way down the aisle, Gwen finally had a clear view of her groom, Christopher, waiting for her in front of the gazebo. As the flower girl and ring bearer finished hobbling down the aisle, the music changed. Gwen slipped her arm through her father’s, and they stepped out onto the grass.

It was a lovely ceremony--from the music, to the outfits, to the pastor’s message, to the heartfelt vows that Gwen and Christopher had written for each other—it was truly meaningful. Gwen couldn’t have been happier.

The recession began, and the newlyweds danced down the aisle to a triumphant tune. He playfully led her into an impromptu whirl, which she gladly followed. As she turned, she caught sight of someone she didn’t recognize. Was it a guest from Christopher’s side? Or another enemy here for the flash drive?

Christopher continued down the path to meet up with the photographer. Gwen wanted to keep an eye on the suspicious person she had just seen but figured that if he was after the flash drive, he would have to come to her at some point. She tried to dismiss him from her mind and focus on enjoying the day as she nestled up with her new husband on a secluded bench and debuted the soft smiles she had been practicing while the photographer snapped a million pictures.

About twenty minutes later, Gwen and her bridesmaids were back in the dressing room so she could change into her reception dress. Marilyn unbuttoned her dress and then she and Caitlyn helped her step out of it. Gwen slipped into her reception dress as the three bridesmaids wrestled the other one into the garment bag and zipped it neatly.

           “Hey, would you want to just put that in my car now?” Gwen asked Lily. “Just to make it easier when you’re leaving.” She shrugged.

           Lily chuckled. “Gwen, you can trust me. I’m not going to forget the dress! But sure, if it makes you feel better, I’ll put it out there now.”

           Oh, Lily, you have no idea how much I’m trusting you, Gwen thought to herself.

           “Thank you! I appreciate it.”

           Lily headed off to put the gown into Gwen’s car, which Lily would drive back to Gwen's apartment for her since she would, of course, be driving away with her groom. Gwen finished getting ready for the reception. She picked up her bouquet, again holding it close to her body.

           “Oh, are you bringing that one to the reception?” Caitlyn asked.

           “Yeah, shouldn’t I? I thought I should have it for our entrance so it’s in the pictures?”

           “Hmmm. I don’t know what the custom is. You do whatever you want, though!”

           Gwen laughed. “Right? So many customs to figure out for just one day.” She kept clutching the bouquet close to her body. “I’ll take it with me. I should enjoy it as much as possible! It cost a pretty penny.”

           Gwen left the dressing room and crossed the lobby, where Christopher was already waiting for her. They exited the lobby through the glass doors and walked the same cobblestone path as earlier, but this time they passed the garden where the ceremony had taken place and continued toward another area behind it. They reached the large courtyard with two rows of trees overarching it, leaving beautiful lacy patterns of sunlight on the stone tiles. Low shrubs with colorful plants surrounded the courtyard as well. Within the ring of shrubs were long tables arranged in a giant horseshoe shape, leaving space for the dance floor in the middle of them.

           They took their place just off to the side of the entrance, and the emcee announced them. “Ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to present to you, for the first time ever, Mr. and Mrs. Calvin!”

           Their loved ones cheered raucously as they appeared and then strutted into the garden to the tune of some triumphant music from the band. They went immediately into their first dance, and Gwen reluctantly handed her bouquet to her sister Marilyn.

           They began their dance, and she tried to focus on enjoying being in her new husband’s arms as she also looked over his shoulder at all the guests. She spotted the suspicious man quickly, to her relief. If he was after the flash drive, he hadn’t found it yet. Maybe he was just a guest after all. She considered asking her husband but immediately dismissed the idea. Christopher was not nearly subtle enough.

           The dance ended, and Gwen enjoyed the father-daughter dance with her dad before Christopher had his mother-son dance. Gwen was a little more relaxed at this point but still made sure to get her bouquet back from Marilyn immediately.

           As the reception continued, Gwen left the bouquet with her mom, since she knew she wouldn’t be dancing.

“Can’t you just leave it on your table?” She asked, surprised, and seemingly not wanting the little duty of babysitting a bouquet.

           “Just watch it for me, please?” Gwen responded.

            She sighed, “Sure.”

           Gwen was able to enjoy herself, knowing that it was unlikely that anyone would try to steal the flash drive in front of all these people. And like she thought, nobody suspicious approached her or her loved ones this whole afternoon.

           Gwen and Christopher performed their cake-cutting without any issues, followed by some very well-written toasts from the best man and maid of honor. Gwen especially enjoyed reminiscing about her friendship with Lily. They had met three years ago at a charity gala. She had been there on a mission, but Lily didn’t know that. Since then, they had bonded over a shared love of traveling, the outdoors, and extreme sports.

           After a few more songs, the emcee called all the single ladies to the dance floor for the bouquet toss. Gwen tossed the lightweight little bunch of roses and carnations like a pro. The usual power struggle ensued until Christopher’s sister raised the bouquet in victory.

           The emcee called for the last dance of the night, and just like that, it was time to leave. The emcee instructed the guests to line up at the back exit of the garden, where they would send the newlyweds off with sparklers. Lily approached Gwen briefly on her way out, “We put your stuff in the car. Here’s the key.”

“Thanks so much, Lily!”

Christopher would drive, but he was busy talking to his uncle several yards away, so Gwen held on to the key.

“Of course!” Lily responded. “Anything else you need us to take care of? The bouquet? I can dry the flowers for you, if you want.”

“Oh, thanks, but I think I should walk out with it so it’s in the pictures.”

“You sure?” She pressed.

Gwen paused, and the two ladies locked eyes for a long moment.

“Why are you so worried about my bouquet, Lily?” She asked in a teasing tone, yet she was serious.

Lily chuckled then paused.

           “I guess you figured out why, Gwen.” She pulled out a small gun and pointed it at Gwen, hiding it beside her beaded clutch.

“Give me the flash drive. You can keep the bouquet. This doesn’t have to be hard, Gwen.”

Gwen paused for a long moment. Finally, she sighed and retrieved a silver flash drive from the center of the lush bouquet. She placed it in Lily’s palm.

“Here. Just don’t kill anyone and ruin my wedding.”

“Of course! You newlyweds need to have your send-off.” Lily's eyes glinted as she backed away and put the flash drive and gun in her clutch. “I better get out there before all the sparklers are gone!”

Christopher was saying goodbye to his uncle, who was heading off to join the other guests as well.

“Shall we?” He reached for Gwen’s hand, oblivious.

“Actually, let me go back to the building and use the restroom real quick.” She handed the car keys to him.

“Oh, I’ll go inside with you,”

“Actually, can you tell the musicians that Lily has their final payment? Just tell them the maid of honor has it, and they should get it from her. I totally forgot to let them know.”

Christopher gave in. “Sure.”

“Thank you! I’ll be right back!”

Gwen walked quickly to the building, then broke into a sprint as she rushed to her car in the parking lot. She was shocked that Lily had ended up being an enemy agent. Lily had seemed completely genuine. She must have sent those guys to her apartment this morning at the time when Gwen was supposed to be at the salon. She hadn’t told anyone that the salon had been able to get her in earlier. Gwen shook her head. This would take some time to process, but right now she needed to retrieve the real flash drive before Lily realized that the one she had was a fake. She had prepared the decoy just in case right after arriving to the garden. Pretending to admire the bouquet, she had wedged the decoy flash drive in the center of the stems while smelling it. It turned out to be a lifesaver.

Gwen was relieved to see that her SUV was still there. Hopefully her little delay tactic was working and she would have enough time to get the real flash drive. Gwen opened the door with her fingerprints and sprawled across the driver’s seat to reach the gown hanging in the back seat. She threw it on the passenger seat, glancing over her shoulder. She was still alone. She unzipped the garment bag just enough to reach inside the dress and tear the flash drive out from behind the beaded embellishment below the bodice where she had hastily sewn it the night before. She shoved it inside her bouquet where the decoy had been, then zipped the garment bag up again and hung it in the backseat. She locked the car and raced back to the building, then back to the garden’s rear exit where Christopher was waiting.

“Well, you didn’t have to run.” He chided, noticing her heavy breathing.

“I just don’t want to keep everyone waiting. Ready?”

She laced her arm through his, and they marched out the rear exit, to cheers and applause, under the beautiful sparklers right at sunset just as they had planned it. Lily was there, looking confused as she talked to the trumpeter. Gwen ignored them. The musicians would get their payment from her dad as originally planned and then the whole thing would be cleared up. The newlyweds kissed once more at the end of the line before hopping in the car and waving goodbye to all their loved ones.

           “Let’s get out of here!” Gwen said.

Christopher laughed. “Whatever you say, Mrs. Calvin.”

Gwen smiled at him.

When he was distracted with driving, she surreptitiously moved the flash drive to a secret pocket in her purse. Apparently, she’d be taking it to the Caribbean with her on their honeymoon. She had a feeling they would have some visitors there too.