Daughters Of The Bride(34)

Like now. Maggie looked amazing in a fitted sleeveless white shift dress with a pale pink lace overlay. Age appropriate, beautiful and sophisticated. Rachel had on black pants she used for work and a gauzy green shirt she’d owned, oh, six years.

Maggie straightened. “Enough?” she asked, waving the mascara.

Rachel studied her. “One more coat.”

“I knew you were going to say that.”

“Then you didn’t have to ask, did you?”

Maggie smiled, then returned to the task.

Rachel had already done her mother’s makeup. Now she would do her hair. Sienna and Courtney had gotten themselves ready earlier and were double-checking the party prep.

“We’re going to need a schedule for the wedding,” she said absently, thinking that one bride and two attendants was nothing. She’d done hair and makeup for much bigger wedding parties, sometimes starting at six in the morning for a midday wedding. “After we figure out how you want us made up and styled.”

Her mother smiled. “That will be fun. Maybe all three of you could have Princess Leia hair?”

“Sienna will need extensions. Or hair pieces, if you mean the little ear buns.”

“You’re not going to shriek that I’m crazy and you’re not wearing Princess Leia hair?”

“I know better than to argue with a bride.”

“That’s right. I’m going to be the bride and everyone has to do what I say. Enough?” She blinked dramatically.

Rachel looked at her. “You’re perfect. Now have a seat and I’ll do your hair.”

They were in the bride’s room on the ground floor of the Los Lobos Hotel. The space had once been a regular guest room, but years ago had been converted for the wedding business. Floor-to-ceiling mirrors covered an entire wall. Opposite was a ten-foot counter with plenty of electrical plugs and mirrors with good lighting. The closet had an extra high rail to keep long wedding gowns off the floor.

In the bathroom, the tub had been pulled out to make room for open shelves and a double sink along with a cabinet stocked with everything from bandages to hair spray to needles and thread. Spot-cleaning kits sat next to airplane-size bottles of vodka and bourbon. Joyce had thought of everything.

If you booked a wedding—or engagement party—at the hotel, access to the bride’s room came with it. The space was great for pre-wedding prep and post-wedding clothing changes. She’d heard rumors that more than one bride and groom had chosen not to wait to consummate their marriage and that the bride’s room had seen more than its share of action.

Rachel blew out her mother’s layered hair. She worked quickly and easily, familiar with what had to be done. An unfortunate state of affairs, because it gave her time to think. Mostly about Greg.

She hadn’t seen him since he’d attacked her on the baseball field. Well, not attacked, exactly. But he’d said some things and she still didn’t know what to think. She knew that Maggie had invited him to her engagement party, which meant she was going to have to figure out what she was going to say soon enough. Or maybe not. Maybe he would just ignore her.

She drew in a breath. No, that wouldn’t happen. Greg would be friendly. He always was. Even when they’d been getting a divorce, he hadn’t been a jerk.

She smoothed her mother’s bangs in place, then used a curling iron to fluff a few pieces. Then she got out her jumbo can of hair spray. When she finished, she put her hands on her mother’s shoulders.

“You’re so beautiful. Neil’s a lucky guy.”

Their eyes met in the mirror. Rachel could see the similarities. Hazel eyes. The same shaped mouth and chin. She would look more and more like her mother as she aged. Not a bad thing to have happen, she decided.

Their hair color was different. Rachel didn’t bother coloring hers, so it was a dark blond. Maggie used an all-over color to hide the gray, along with highlights. Sienna had chosen to go platinum, while Courtney was more like Rachel. No color for her honey-blond hair.

Variations on a theme, Rachel thought. Maggie with the green-hazel eyes, Rachel’s just plain hazel, while Sienna and Courtney had blue eyes. All blondes, all tall. They were the classic California family. Practically a cliché.

“Thank you,” her mother said. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

“That I did such a good job with your hair?”

Maggie laughed. “That, of course.” She sniffed. “The engagement. He really is wonderful to me. I never thought I’d fall in love again.” She reached up and touched her daughter’s hand. “I wish you would...”

Rachel stepped back. “Thanks, Mom. I’m fine.”