A Groom wirh a View

world—beloved by her parents, but forever homeless, rootless—she was desperately longing to be a wife. To have a husband, a home, and have lots of plump, pretty babies who grew up in a neighborhood with lifelong friends and schoolmates, not a gigantic circle of slight acquaintances like she’d had.
    Livvy’s situation was quite different. She was a much older bride, for starters. She’d sensibly dedicated herself to preparing for a career and been a successful businesswoman for a number of years. She’d have her babies, too, with any luck, but because it was demanded of her. Jane wasn’t sure that would make for a better marriage.
    “You look very thoughtful,“ Shelley said, startling her.
    Jane had sat down on the bottom step of the staircase. Shelley joined her.
    “I was thinking about weddings,“ Jane said. “Livvy’s and my own.“
    “I don’t dare think about mine,“ Shelley said. “My mother organized it as if it were the second D Day invasion. Tried to make the bridesmaids all look like clones of me. Even expected my cousin Zoe to dye her hair.”
    “No!”
    Shelley shook her head and laughed. “No, I made it up to get you out of your funk. I think this is going to go well. Have you seen Dwayne?“
    “Not since breakfast.“
    “He’s already in his tux and I must admit he looks very spiffy and groomish.“
    “And the girls? Are they ready?“
    “Yes. Kitty spilled some soda on the sleeve of her jacket and went to pieces. I gave her some home truths about just who was the center of attention here and was meant to be noticed, and who wasn’t, and left Layla cleaning her up.“
    “Why’s she so het up?“
    “I think this is the only wedding she’s ever been in,“ Shelley said. “And I suspect she fears it will be the last. She’s really not very attractive and hasn’t the personality to overcome that drawback. You and I know a number of women who aren’t very good-looking, but knock the socks off every man they meet by sheer charm. Kitty isn’t one of them.”
    They’d been more or less hidden behind the flowers and the small lectern the minister would be standing at and now Jane heard someone saying her name. She sighed and stood up. “I’m right here, Mr. Thatcher.”
    He left the people he’d been talking to and approached her. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Is Livvy ready?“
    “She’ll be ready in time. I’m just getting the girls to help her dress.”
    Layla and Eden were in high spirits and even Kitty seemed to have pulled herself together. “People are arriving. I want you out of sight so you can make a grand entrance,“ Jane said. “Let’s go to Livvy’s room and all help her get her gown and veil on.”
    They hurried through the main room and upstairs. Jane took a seat by the door while the younger women fussed with Livvy’s petticoats, a fancy garter, and the dress. As Eden started working on the long row of tiny buttons up the back, there was a light tap on the door. Mr. Willis had brought up an iced silver bucket with a bottle of champagne and a tray of elegant glasses.
    “My gift to the bride and bridesmaids,“ he said.
    They all thanked him effusively. “No more than a sip or we’ll all be too drunk to get down the stairs without tripping,“ Eden said with a laugh. Then, realizing this might have been tactless considering how Mrs. Crossthwait had met her end, she started apologizing.
    Jane took charge and cut her off. “There’s no time for any of you to get tipsy,“ she said. “It’s only ten minutes until showtime. Livvy, you look spectacular. And the rest of you are beautiful.“ She opened the door and said, “Whispering only now.”
    There was a short stretch of wall between Livvy’s room and the head of the stairs where they could line up without being seen from the room below. “Layla first, then Eden, then Kitty, remember. Here comes your father, Livvy.”
    The husband and wife musicians were seated far enough back from the top of the stairs to be out of the way, but close enough for their music to drift down the stairway. Jane got the bridesmaids, Livvy, and her father lined up, took a deep breath, and nodded to the couple.
    They stood up and began to play the flute and violin quietly. As the volume of chat and shuffling about in the room below diminished, the music got louder. After a moment, Jane peeked around the corner. The guests were in place. Marguerite and Iva sat to one side of the front row of chairs, Iva