“It’s decided!” Cherry comes out. “Van agreed to barricade the The Bowery’s roof top Saturday night for free. We have a place to celebrate!” Everyone stood and cheered, much to my dismay. I was worried that Harper would feel badly about it but she looked happy from where I stood. I was grateful to Cherry for being so thoughtful.

Harper

I could not believe how amazing these three girls were being to me. It was a lovely testament to how much they loved Callum.

“Okay, you,” Cherry said pointing to Marty. “Call Van and ask him to shut off the rooftop for this coming Saturday. Tell him it’s for Callum and Harper.”

“On it,” Marty said cheerfully, skipping to Charlie’s wall phone.

Spritely Kelly jumped up and down giddily. “Oh, please, Cherry. Give me a task!”

“Alright, call Benny at the theater and ask him if they still have those pretty string lights from the boat scene in Roman Holiday last year. You know, the one with large bulbs?”

“Yup, I remember. Got it.”

“Okay, let’s see,” Cherry said, pinching her bottom lip between her fingers. She snapped. “The dress! Do you have a dress?”

“No, but I don’t need one,” I said, feeling slightly embarrassed and very guilty.

All three girls turned to me, mouths agape.

“No!” Cherry said, turning to Kelly. “You’re about Harper’s size. Still have that white silk slip dress from The Great Gatsby?”

“I do!” She gasped. “Oh, that would be so perfect! What size shoe do you wear?”

“Uh, a seven.”

“Oh, phooey!” She said. “Oh well. We’ll work something out. I’ll search Costumes. They won’t even know.” She winked at me.

I couldn’t believe my ears. These women were throwing my fake wedding together in practically no time at all. If I wasn’t so amazed, I’d be ashamed.

“You really don’t have to do all this,” I protested.

Cherry furrowed her eyebrows. “Oh, hush, Harper!” She admonished before slapping me on the rear, making me yelp. “Okay! No veils. Let’s see. Oh! Do you guys remember that feather butterfly fascinator I wore for The Ivories’ photo shoot three years ago?”

“Oh that’s perfect!” Marty exclaimed, hanging up the phone. “The Bowery is all ours for the night, by the way.”

“So are the lights,” Kelly said dramatically, moving to lean against the counter, tossing her cell aside and theatrically placing her arms on either side of her in a very melodramatic pose.

“Are you an actress?” I asked Kelly.

“Of course, honey. It’s the only thing that can explain my odd behavior.”

I laughed into the back of my hand. She was so right and very cute.

“Alright,” Cherry said, her eyes bright, rubbing her hands together conspiratorially. “Cross’s girlfriend, Linda, works at that bakery on Ninth. She’ll whip something up for us. She’s fantastic by the way,” Cherry said, turning to me. “Is there any flavor you’d prefer?”

“I don’t care but I know that Callum’s favorite is lemon.”

All the girls smiled slowly at me. I’d surprised myself with that one, blushing a crimson red.

“Okay, we’ll have to scrounge up a suit for Callum but that shouldn’t be too difficult. Can we think of anything else?” Cherry asked us.

“Flowers?” I said without thinking. I slapped my hand over my mouth, making the girls burst out laughing.

“Tie-Dye Tom has that one,” Marty said absently.

“Seriously?” I asked.

“Yeah, he works in the flower market mornings. That’s his day job. He’s really talented, too. I told him so once and he told me he’d kill me if I ever said anything like that out loud again. Oops.” Kelly giggled and we all followed suit.

“Alright, good work girls. We’ve got a dress, cake, reception venue, pretty lights,” Cherry said, winking at Kelly, “flowers. Marty, who’s that photographer ex of yours again?”

“Oh, Eric?”

“Think you could...?”

“Oh, he’s so there. We’re still friends.” I could also tell she wished it was still more.

“The Bowery will provide the tunes,” she jested, elbowing me softly. “Do you have a song, Harper?”

I was caught off guard to realize that we did. “Please Don’t Go by Barcelona.”

“Oh yeah,” all three girls sighed before bursting into laughter again.

“I’ll tell Van,” Marty said. “Gah! I almost forgot! Van said, as a wedding gift, he’d provide, and I quote, ‘a few morsels and some bubbly’.”

“I almost forgot!” Kelly chimed in suddenly. “We’ll get Tom to play his acoustic for the processional.”

I almost cried at everyone’s generosity. I wanted to bolt from the room and tell Callum we couldn’t take advantage of them like that but knew it was what we had to do in order to live and for John never to be able to find me. I didn’t have a choice and my heartfelt oddly light and heavy all at the same time. What a riddle.

“What time is the ceremony?” Cherry asked

“Three p.m. We’re the only marriage he has that day,” I said.

“We’ll get the judge to meet us at The Bowery then.”

“I doubt he’ll do that,” I said. “Why? Do you know someone who knows someone?”

They all laughed.

“No,” Cherry said, “but never underestimate the power of a red head.” She winked devilishly and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“I’d love to see you pull it off,” I teased.

“What’s his name?” She asked.

“Judge Ryder.”

“Just let me handle it,” she said and somehow I believed she’d do it.

“We’re done,” Cherry said, slapping her hands together in a swiping motion. “See? Harmless.”

“You just planned my wedding in less than an hour,” I stated, flabbergasted. “And it didn’t cost a dime!”

“I know!” Marty said, hugging herself. “It pays to know creatives, Harper. We may not be able to do your taxes but we can throw one heck of a wedding.”

I smiled, knowing this was probably going to be one of the best days of my sad, lonely life.

Thursday rolled around and Cherry told me she got the judge to meet us at The Bowery and that Robert, yeah, Robert, and his wife Karol would be attending. I should have known that she’d be able to pull it off.

Friday came a little too quickly for my taste. Callum and I stayed our nights at The Hope House, working mornings and lunches earning roughly three hundred a day. Since Monday we’d saved fifteen hundred and that made us both feel a little bit more secure.

Friday night, Cherry insisted we have a girl’s sleepover at her house and watch wedding themed films. Callum would stay at Charlie’s. The whole thing was shockingly too much like a real wedding to me and I often found myself tamping down guilty feelings.

Not surprisingly, Sam wouldn’t be able to attend the slumber party or the wedding as she was ‘visiting family’ in Idaho over the weekend and couldn’t possibly reschedule. That was like music to my ears. I didn’t really want someone who believed we were making a mistake there. Even if we were, it was our mistake to make. Period.

Cherry made popcorn and she, Kelly, Marty and I dressed in pajamas and watched The Princess Bride, The Wedding Singer, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, (Cherry suggested Father Of The Bride but I turned that down for obvious reasons) and at my insistence Corpse Bride. They all scoffed at the last choice but none could disagree Callum was marrying the perfect bride, which made me squirm a little in my seat. We gave each other manicures and pedicures, talking and giggling all night. The other girls painted their nails wild colors to match their equally wild outfits but I wanted a natural look and only painted a pale, pale pink to mine.

The late morning sun woke me after a good six hours of sleep, from what I could tell which surprised me as I thought I wouldn’t be able to sleep at all. It seemed I was the last to wake up. I could hear their soft giggling from Cherry’s closet/dining area.

“She’s perfect for him,” Marty whispered.

“I know. It seems impulsive but I know my Callum. He’s made a most perfect choice,” Cherry chimed in.

“I love her already,” Kelly said. “I’m so happy Callum found her. He was so lonely for so long.” Cherry and Marty mumbled in agreement. “It seemed no matter what we did to make him feel a part of our little family he never really committed to us the way we wanted. Harper has changed his confidence. I thought Callum was amazing before but now there’s not a thing in this world I can imagine that could possibly stop that boy from being extraordinary now that he’s with her.”

They were quiet for a moment and I figured that was as good a time as any to let them know I was awake so I made an exaggerated noise before standing and stretching.

“She’s up!” Cherry said and all three girls sprinted toward me like it was an annual shoe sale at Loehmann’s. She turned me toward her bathroom and shoved me gently. “Get in the shower. We only have four hours to get ready.” I obeyed. Cherry meant business.

The shower was lovely but not super warm. I noticed the other girls had already showered and done their hair. Each was perfectly styled and fit them beautifully. I stepped out, wrapping a towel around myself. I leaned over the sink to brush my teeth, water dripping down my legs and back and I realized I’d have to kiss Callum today. I started to panic and dropped my brush in the sink. I picked it back up and brought it back to my mouth with shaking hands. I brushed longer than my shower had taken. Silly girl. Before I could even finish, though, Cherry came bursting through the door, taking me by surprise. I squealed like a little girl.

“How long are you going to brush your teeth, girl? They’re clean alright! It’s not like it’s the first time you’ve ever kissed! Jeez!”

“You were listening?” And it is the first time I’ll be kissing him! Suddenly I was more nervous about the kiss then I was about the actual getting hitched. Figure that out.

“Of course! Didn’t I mention we have precious little time? Come on!” She dragged me to her little vanity area in her dining room and sat me in the velvet cushioned stool.

I looked at myself in the mirror and started to freak out a little. My hair was still wet, not a stitch of makeup, and I was completely naked underneath my towel. I was about as little prepared to get married as humanly possible. I began to wring my hands.

“No worries,” Marty said, squeezing my shoulder. “Now! Blow dryer! Stat!”

Cherry, Marty and Kelly went into a mission like mode, buzzing around me like someone had just kicked their hive. Marty didn’t say a word while drying my hair and it seemed like it took forever but when I glanced at the clock only fifteen minutes had passed. It was going to be a long day.