Callum & Harper (Sleepless 1)

We stood still for a few minutes before a knock at the door startled us.

“That better not be Callum,” Kelly teased.

Cherry skipped to the door, giddy no doubt at her workmanship. She peeked through the peephole. “It’s Tom!” She squealed and threw open the door.

Tom had anticipated we’d all be right there because no matter where you stood in the studio you could see the door so he had posed like 007. His right hand at the top of the door jamb, his left at his chin, a hilarious smolder on his face. As goofy as he was, he looked incredibly debonair in a black suit and thin tie.

Cherry whistled and Kelly, grabbed my hand like she had just really noticed him for the first time and needed assistance standing. Hmm.

“Tom!” I said. “You look like a million bucks, man!”

He winked but when he noticed me he stopped and clutched at his chest.

“Callum is one incredibly lucky man, Harper. You look like a cross between a Shakespearean fairy and a character from The Great Gatsby. You’re stunning,” he said, but I noticed he briefly drunk Kelly in. He quickly brought his right hand behind his back and stepped my direction. He stood a few feet in front of me, before presenting a bouquet of light pink ranunculus with a simple white Dupioni silk band around the stems. I gasped.

“Oh, Tom!” I said and hugged him fiercely. I caught a hitch in my throat. “I do not know how I could ever repay you for this! For any of this,” I said to everyone around me.

“Just be good to Callum,” Tom said. “That’s all we could ever want.”

I nodded, smiling.

Tom straightened. “I had several assignments. The flowers, the processional, and I am also here to escort you lovely ladies in my kickin’ Sixty-Five Imperial because that’s the kind of guy I am I guess. I bring hot ace women to weddings apparently.”

Callum must have thought about that. I really thought we were going to have to ride the subway to The Bowery. It was laughable now that I really thought about it.

I took Tom’s hand and we started walking toward the door but Cherry stopped us.

“Wait!” she said. “Perfume!” She ran to her vanity and picked up a bottle of perfume. “Stand back Tom, unless you want to smell like a fabulous woman all night.” He quickly hedged toward the door. Cherry spritzed my body twice then placed a dab on my wrists and behind my ears. “You’re good to go.”

“What is that?” I asked, breathing in its heavenly scent.

“It reminded me of you,” she said. “It’s got bluebells, persimmon, lily of the valley and eglantine. It’s very elegant. Do you like it?”

“I love it,” I said, almost drunk on its unbelievably yummy bouquet.

All five of us piled into Tom’s most awesome Imperial and rode in laughter and fun to The Bowery. We were half an hour early but I preferred it that way.

“I can’t believe you’re not wearing Tie-Dye, Tom,” I said.

“Oh, but I am,” he said, yanking down the collar of his dress shirt to reveal a yellow tie-dye t-shirt, making us all lose it in the laughter department.

It was going to be quite a happy day.

It was weird to walk into my place of work in a wedding dress but I just laughed at how I couldn't believe any of the stuff that had been happening to me lately had been happening. We walked up the steps to the rooftop. Cherry shielded my eyes as she wanted it all to be a surprise and led me to the ancient greenhouse. The glass was so old you couldn’t see out and I was told to stay put while they readied everything outside. There was a little broken corner of glass on the door and it allowed me to see who was coming. I didn’t expect anyone but was pleasantly surprised when I saw a few of our co-workers from The Bowery as well as the restaurant, including Martin and Rodrigo. I saw Van scrambling around a little bit and wondered what in the world he could be so flustered about. I saw our entire group of friends pass by. I saw a few people I had no idea who they were but figured they knew Cherry or Charlie or any of the others. I saw a few of the bands who would open for The Ivories often. There were a lot of people. I just had no idea they would have showed so last minute. Finally, I saw Judge Ryder in his robe and a lovely older woman I could only assume was his wife, Karol.

My heart jumped in my throat a little when I could hear Tom playing a soft melody on his acoustic as people arrived.

“Oh no!” I said out loud to no one, bringing my hand to my face. “Who’s going to walk me down the aisle?”

“I am,” Charlie stage whispered through my peep hole before laughing, startling me. He opened the door and shut it behind him quickly. He shook his head as he took me in. “My God, Harper. You are a vision.”

“Thank you,” I smiled.

“You don’t mind?” I asked.

“It would be an absolute honor,” he crooned in his charming English accent.

“Thanks, Charlie,” I said hugging him.