Nothing Stays In Vegas (21 page)

"Okay." Nicole took the locker next to me. "It just seems weird. But I suppose last time we were here, you saw-"

"So," I interrupted her before she could finish her thought. I needed to block Leo from my thoughts, not discuss him with Nicole in every detail. Which is exactly what would happen if I didn't change the subject. I grabbed her hand and led her out to the waiting area. "Tell me about this theory of yours. I think I could use some Zen calmness today."

It worked, once I got her talking about anything that interested her, she was infamous for forgetting about everything else. Which fortunately, kept the conversation firmly on her and off the topic of my morning swim. True to her word, Nicole had booked us in for the works and she'd asked for us to have the 'girlfriend experience' which meant we got to do everything together. 

The topic of being Zen may induce calm in most people, but for Nicole it incited a wave of excitement. She chattered about the new meditation class Ryan had signed them up for a few weeks previously and how the breathing techniques helped calm her down and focus on her center. I couldn't help but wonder where those techniques were a few days ago when she'd freaked out. But I didn't think it was appropriate to ask.

Nicole is a hand talker which wasn't ideal for the manicurist who patiently waited with her nail file at the ready every time Nic needed to punctuate a point by waving her hand in the air. For two hours I listened to her as the conversation deviated from breathing exercises to her sex life with Ryan, to the paint colors she was considering for the condo they were redecorating. For awhile I was so thankful that we weren't talking about me that I didn't realize that what Nicole wasn't saying was more important than what she was saying. 

"Nic," I interrupted her before she could start in on the tile samples she was considering. "Have you talked to your mom today?"

Nicole looked down and lifted her freshly manicured hand for inspection. She didn't answer me. 

"Nicole," I tried again.

"No," she said dropping her hand and looking right at me. "She didn't call."

I thought she might cry or get emotional at the mention of her mom. She did neither. Maybe there was something to all this relaxation and Zen talk. "It was pretty early when we left," I said. "And your phone is in the locker. She probably tried calling a few times already."

"Ladies." Two tall, willowy blonds stood in the doorway of the treatment room. "If you're ready for your massages, we can take you now. Unfortunately, we will have to use separate rooms if that's okay?" one of the ladies asked. 

I nodded and looked back to Nicole. "It doesn't matter," she said, adjusting her robe as she stood. "I told you, I'm totally okay with this. And mom is too." 

"Okay, but-"

"No, buts. Go relax, Lexi. I'll see you after," she said and disappeared with one of the blonds. I followed the other down a hallway and into another tranquil room, this one with a massage table in the center. 

As I lay on the table, covered by the softest sheet that had ever touched my bare skin and waited for the masseuse to come back, I tried to concentrate on relaxation. A massage would be perfect. I needed to clear my head. All of Nicole's babbling had done a good job of distracting me from my thoughts but now I was ready to let my mind go blank. 

There was a soft knock on the door and the therapist slipped into the room. "I've been told to give you a full relaxation massage," she said in a soothing voice. "I just want you to close your eyes, let your body relax, and allow yourself to surrender to the experience."

"Okay," I said, my voice muffled by the table. 

"No more talking," she said and began to run her hands along my back, warming up my skin under the sheet. "Close your eyes." 

I did as I was told, even though I couldn't help but wonder how she knew they were open. She continued to speak to me in a low, melodic voice. It reminded me of how I used to talk to Ben when he was a baby and I was trying to get him to sleep. It was working though. She started to rub my shoulders and I could feel myself loosening up, slipping into sleep.

###

The massage didn't last nearly long enough and before I knew it the relaxation portion of the day was over and it was time to get the bride ready for the ceremony. Andrew had taken Ryan back to our room, so we had the suite to get beautiful.

As I worked the comb through Nicole's mass of curls I thought, not for the first time, that we should have hired a professional hairdresser to give her a proper up do. I was in no way trained to deal with thick, wavy hair. Or any hair at all really. The extent of my own hair dressing skills included a pony tail or maybe a braid; Nicole's red locks were way out of my comfort zone. 

"Nic, are you sure you want it up?" I twisted it into a loose bun and held it against the nape of her neck. 

"Of course, I have to have it up. If my hair's on my shoulders, it will take away from the embroidery of the dress."

I didn't think so at all but I dropped the hair I was holding and let it fall against her back. In fact, I thought there would be nothing more beautiful than her red hair contrasting against the milky white fabric and blue embroidery of her gown. I didn't bother telling her. I'd already mentioned it at least four times. 

I sighed, grabbed a handful of bobby pins and stuck them between my teeth before gathering the hair in one hand, twisting it up as neatly as possible and securing it with as many bobby pins as I could jam in. I finished the look off with half a bottle of hair spray, pulled out two tendrils to frame her face and stepped back to check out my handiwork. 

"Not bad," I said mostly to myself. 

"Not bad? I look frickin' gorgeous." Nicole leaned in towards the mirror to admire herself and then spun around into my arms. "Lexi, thank you."

"Nic, anything for you," I said and hugged her tight. "You know that." 

"No, Lex," her voice was muffled in my shoulder, "I really mean it. Thank you. For everything."

I laughed at her drama and it took a second to realize she wasn't laughing back. She was crying. And not just, pre-wedding tears of joy, but full fledged sobbing.

Oh no. 

I snuck a look at the clock on the night stand. 1:40. We had only just over an hour to get dressed, get beautiful and get downstairs. 

Shit.

"Nic, what's wrong?"

"Oh, Lex. Everything is wrong. Everything." Her body shook with sobs as she clung to me.

"Nicole, look at me," I demanded with as much kindness as I could. We were running out of time for sweet and gentle, I needed to fix this, fast. "Nicole," I commanded when she didn't look up. 

She pulled away. I don't know how she managed it but her eyes were red and swollen, and her tear stained face was already blotchy. All this in only thirty seconds of tears. Thank goodness I hadn't attempted the make-up yet. "What's going on? Talk to me." 

She snorted and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. "I can't get married," she wailed and threw herself onto the bed. 

Her sobs ratcheted up to full scale as I watched her let loose. After a moment, I took a deep breath. "Nic," I said and moved to the edge of the bed. "This isn't very Zen. Maybe you should try taking a deep breath or some relaxa-"

"Screw Zen!" She flipped around and sat up clutching a pillow to her chest. "My life is falling apart and you're talking about being fucking Zen?"

"I just thought, well, maybe..."

"Oh, Lexi," she wailed, her anger dissolving into tears again. "What was I thinking? I can't get married without my mom. The wedding's off." 

Of course. Her mom. I knew this was a bad idea. 

"Do you want to call her again?" I reached for my cell phone. Nicole's mom had phoned shortly after we got out of the spa, and she'd had a light, breezy, very un-Nicole like conversation with her. It was time for a real mother to daughter chat.

"She won't want to hear from me now," Nicole said. "Not like this. I'm a horrible daughter. What was I thinking running off to get married without her? I'm awful. I'm an awful daughter." She curled around the pillow and resumed crying. 

"Nic," I tried.

"Call it off." She pulled her head up long enough to yell at me. 

I thought about saying something, about telling her to quit being so dramatic, about telling her that Ryan loved her, and this was their special day. That it wasn't about her mom, but I closed my mouth. I remembered very well how I'd felt on my wedding day when I thought about how much it would have meant to have my mom there with me. And for me there hadn't been a choice. 

I watched her for a moment and then left her lying on the bed, went into the living room, and made a phone call.

###

"I know it's last minute," I said into the phone for at least the tenth time. "But it's an emergency. I have a bride in distress. Surely you can understand that?"

"Ma'am, there's nothing I can do, I'm sorry," said the lady on the other end. 

I sighed and looked up at the bedroom door where Nicole was undoubtedly still bawling. I took a deep breath and said the name I didn't want to say. 

"Leo Mendez. Do you know him?"

"Of course I know him, Ma'am. He's the manager of customer relations here at The Mirage."

"He's a friend of mine," I said. "I'm sure he'd consider a personal favor if you could help me out with this today." I held my breath but it didn't take her long.

"For a friend of Mr. Mendez, anything. I'll have it up to your room right away, Ma'am. Is there anything else?"

"No," I said releasing my breath. "That will be perfect."

I hung up the phone, made another quick call back to Canada and went into the bathroom. I'd give Nicole another minute, she needed to cry. Once she got some emotion out of her she'd be in a better state. Then I could talk to her. There was no point now. 

I looked at in the mirror and grabbed the make-up bag Nicole had supplied me with earlier. My experience with make-up was very basic; I never had the chance to dress up. On the few occasions that Andrew wanted me to come to a work function, I usually muddled my way through, and the result wasn't too bad. Maybe with a little luck, I could do that again today. 

I unzipped the bag; there was a photo of a model lying on top with a sticky note covered in directions. I smiled. I should have known better. Nicole wouldn't leave my make-up to chance. I picked through the bottles, powders and lotions and did my best to simulate the colors in the picture. When I was finished, I looked up and evaluated the results. 

"Not too bad," I said to my reflection. Nicole would be impressed. 

There was a knock on the door. Perfect timing. I sprinted to answer it. We didn't have much time.

"Come in." 

The bellhop rolled a cart into the center of the room. And pulled off a large white cloth revealing the lap top I'd requested, complete with video camera. 

"Everything is here, Ma'am," he said. "Would you like me to plug it in for you?"

"No, thanks. I got it." I handed him a ten dollar bill, hoped it was enough, and turned my attention to the cart. 

It didn't take me long to click open the right program and dial the number. The room filled with the sound of a phone ringing and then, "Hello? Is there anyone there?" Nicole's mom, Cathy said. All I could see was pink and what looked like a nose. 

"Mrs. Lennox," I said. "I'm here. It's Lexi. Hold on." I adjusted the camera on top of the laptop and my image showed in the bottom corner of the screen. "Is that better? Can you see me?"

"Oh, Lexi," she said. "There you are. This is just so crazy. When Sarah called and told me about this, I have to tell you, I was a little concerned. I mean, I didn't think I could actually see you so far away." 

I laughed. Nicole's mom had always been afraid of computers; she used to say it was a fad that would pass and refused to go near one. I got lucky when I called Sarah, Nicole's sister-in-law, and told her my plan. She agreed to pick Cathy up and take her back to her house a few blocks away where we could use the video conference software. 

"Mrs. Lennox, sit back a bit from the camera," I said.

"Oh." Her face came into clear view. "Is that better?" 

"Yes." I smiled. "Much. Hold on a moment, I'll get Nicole."

When I opened the bedroom door, the quietness took me off guard. Nicole was sitting up in bed, hugging the pillow to her chest and staring at the door. 

"You left," she said.

"Yes, I did." I sat next to her on the bed. "You needed to get it out. Feel better?"

She shrugged and sniffed. "No, I feel like shit."

"You're going to marry Ryan today."

"I know. But I wish my mom was here," she said and blew her nose. "I can't believe I thought it would be okay to do this without her."

I wrapped her in my arms and said, "I think I can help you with that. Come with me." I pulled her off the bed and gave her a gentle push out of the bedroom into the suite where she came face to face with her mother. Or at least her mother's face, larger than life on the over sized computer screen. 

"Mom?" Nicole rushed to the computer. I thought for a minute she was going to hug the monitor.

"Hi, Honey," Cathy's voice cracked. 

"What?" Nicole looked back to me, then back to her mom. "How?"

"It was Lexi's idea," Cathy said and Nicole faced me again.

I shrugged. "You have to have your mom on your wedding day, right?" 

Nicole flew into my arms. "You're the best friend ever."

"I know, I know. Now go talk to your mom for a minute and then she can help us get ready. We're running out of time."

###

While Nicole and her mom shared some private moments, I went and rounded up the hair dressing supplies and make-up and set up on a table in the living room. I gave them a few minutes of privacy, but that's all I could afford. We needed to move quickly.

After dragging her away from the screen, I situated Nicole so her mom could witness the proceedings. I brushed her hair out again and refastened it in the loose bun. As soon as the last bobby pin was secure a voice came from the computer screen.