Elena meant well. I didn’t doubt that at all. She loved Alex as much as I did. But I still didn’t understand why her wedding had to be such a big deal. It would be one thing if it’s what she wanted. But the expression on her face when we arrived and when she’d been swallowed by the cupcake dress didn’t align with that.
“No, why does she need astatement dress?” I echoed Elena’s words.
“Erik is a partner in one of the most prestigious law firms in the city. In the state.” She waved her hand around as if it were self-evident, which considering my own profession, it was. “The rest of the partners and associates, all the local politicians, anyone who’s anyone will be at this wedding. It’s going to be the social event of the season. I’m going to make sure Alex shines. She deserves that.”
“She’s amazing. She already shines. She doesn’t need to marry Erik to do that.” My tone was harsher than I intended it, but the idea of my smart, talented, resilient friendplaying second to a man—even one who adored her as much as Erik seemed to—made me a little crazy.
“Of course she does.” Elena gave me a look that said she thought I was crazy too. “But this wedding is a big deal. It’sourjob.” She punched the wordourand hit me with another look. “To make sure she has everything she needs to show the world how amazing she is. How amazing they are together and how lucky they were to find each other.”
Beside me, I felt Meredith stiffen. She was as sweet as the pastries she created and the most likely of all of us to avoid a confrontation. And she was the definition of hopeless romantic. If my job left me jaded, hers reinforced the illusion of true love and happily ever after. Not to minimize what she did. The woman was a sugar artist, but she saw the couples when the biggest thing they had to decide was what flavor cake they wanted. We had a very different frame of reference.
I gave Meredith’s hand a squeeze and ignored the schoolmarm edge to Elena’s voice. I didn’t like being chastised, even if her intentions were admirable and she was probably right.
“That’s what we all want,” said Kindra, the calm in her voice and demeanor a balm to my rising temper.
She was right. I knew she was. Everyone there, including Elena, wanted the very best for Alex. My irritation likely had more to do with me than anything going on in the bridal salon at that moment. I promised myself when Erik suggested I write the prenup that I wouldn’t do anything to diminish Alex’s happiness or point to the irrefutable statistics on marriage. It wasn’t like she was going in blind. Everyone knew what the odds were. Everyone just assumed they’d beat them.
“Next one!” chirped the salesclerk. Behind her, Alex followed in a much more manageable dress.
“That’s lovely,” said Meredith as Alex stepped onto the platform. “The shape of the dress suits her and the pickwork on the lace is exquisite.”
“Isn’t it?” Elena leaned so far forward on her seat, I worried she might fall. “But I’m not sure about the back on this one.”
Alex peered over her shoulder, doing a decent dog chasing its tail impersonation.
The dress made me think of lilies. It was beautiful on her, even if the back was a little plain.
“People are going to spend a lot of time looking at the back.” I didn’t know dresses,but even I knew that much. It at least gave me something to contribute besides dismal marriage statistics.
“Charlotte’s right.” I tried not to let the surprise in Elena’s voice bother me. “Let’s try the Herrera.”
The salesclerk nodded her agreement and Alex started the shuffle step off the platform and back to the changing area. At least she could manage this dress without minions bringing up the rear.
“This next one is a little out of her price range, but I think it could be perfect. Erik can afford it.”
She finally sat back in the seat as if that settled everything while I tried to figure out why my blood pressure had just spiked and how to handle it without being a bitch.
Erikcouldafford it, whatever it cost. But aside from the fact that spending an obscene amount of money on a dress rubbed me the wrong way, Alex might not want to start her marriage in a dress her soon-to-be husband paid for. It felt too proprietary. Too much like he’d own her somehow, which didn’t exactly make sense, but it was how I felt. I didn’t want Alex to feel any of that.
“I don’t want her to feel beholden to Erik just because he paid for her dress.” Saying it out loud didn’t make it make any more sense.
“She’s marrying him,” said Elena. “They’re going to bebeholdento each other.”
“I think it’s kind of romantic for him to buy her dress.” Meredith had that look in her eye. The one that said she’d built a world in her mind full of flowers and beading and buttercream. The kind where people who loved each other acted like it.
“Is it? Or is it just another way to make her feel like she’s second to him? Like he takes care of everything and she just follows along.” I could tell by the expressions on my friends’ faces I was walking a very fine line, but I couldn’t stop myself.
“Don’t we want Erik to take care of Alex? For them to take care of each other?” Kindra was consistently the voice of reason. It was equal parts reassuring and irritating.
“And when have you ever known Alex to just follow along with anything? She’s the least malleable person I know. Present company excluded.” Elena’s look made it clear exactly how big a pain in the ass she thought I was.
I didn’t care. I was right about this.
“How much over is it? Maybe we can help instead of Erik. I don’t mind chipping in.” Ididn’t. I loved Alex. I might not understand the wedding thing, but if it was what she wanted, I could throw myself and some of my money behind it.
“Why is it different if you help pay for it instead of Erik?” Meredith tipped her head to the side, watching me.
She was making the cake for Alex and Erik as a gift. It made sense for me to have some skin in the game too. If nothing else, it was a way for me to show I supported my friend. Especially since I was drawing up the paperwork that planned on their marriage failing.
