“No, no bridal gown,” replied Kelsey. “I have plenty of beautiful dresses to choose from, including my pink cocktail dress. I just love that one,” she continued, picking up her milk “and besides it’s good luck.”
“What is good luck?” Elena asked.
“My pink dress,” Kelsey grinned. “It’s what I was wearing when I met Ty.”
“But a bride must wear a white dress,” Elena gasped in shock. “It is the tradition, yes?”
“Only for a virgin,” Kelsey stated firmly “and I am not that.”
“Kelsey,” Jo laughed. “If only virgins wore white gowns the bridal business would be extinct. It’s acceptable for brides to wear white, regardless of their previous marital status, age or level of experience.”
“I agree,” Elena chimed in. “Besides aren’t we all virgins still in some ways?”
Everyone looked at each other, not exactly sure what she meant as Elena blushed. “Have I said something wrong?”
“Not at all,” Sue replied. “We’re just not sure what you mean. In what ways are we still virginal?”
“Well, I’m not sure how to say this correctly,” Elena said quietly, “but surely some of us are virgin in certain areas, yes?”
Brandy got it first and coughed discretely into her hand to hide her smile. “I’m sure you’re right,” she assured Elena, patting her hand. “Not all of us have experienced everything and therefore could be considered virginal in that area, sort of,” she said looking to Susan for help.
By now all the women were giggling and Sue shushed them.
“Now we are all friends here and Elena obviously has something on her mind. What is it honey?” she encouraged.
“If I marry Jeff, I want to be able to wear white and have a beautiful church wedding, so there have been a couple of things he has wanted me to do that I manage to wiggle out of. I was thinking that if I was a virgin in some areas I could still wear white,” she said.
“Of course you can,” Erica said smiling. “I for one intend to have a huge wedding when I finally find the right man, and I don’t care what anyone thinks.”
“Exactly,” Jo agreed, “but Elena is there something Jeff wants you to do that is making you uncomfortable? Something you don’t want to do?”
“It is not that I do not want to please him, it is that I do not know how,” she sighed sadly.
“What exactly does he want you to do?” Sue asked, looking at the concerned women around the table.
Elena opened and closed her mouth several times, yet nothing came out. Finally she reached to the middle of the table and picked up a banana from the fruit bowl. Slowly she peeled it and gently slid it between her lips, her face on fire.
Instantly silence engulfed them as each woman clearly understood what she was asking.
“I am sorry if I have offended any of you,” she sighed. “I have no close friends and I can hardly ask my Mama.”
Susan promptly picked up her glass and raised it. “A toast to Elena for being so brave,” she said clearly and each woman raised their glasses in turn and clinked them together smiling in approval.
“Now,” Susan continued, deadly serious. “As far as your question, I don’t think there is any wrong way to do what you’ve asked, providing you’re gentle. I’m sure you will be able to tell if he’s enjoying it. That being said, there is one cardinal rule. You must never allow him to sink his hands into your hair or even touch your head, for it is at that precise moment you will no longer be ‘doing’ him, he will be ‘doing’ you.”
The table erupted in laughter and after a moment Elena got the clear picture of what Sue said and joined in. Heads turned from every direction, wondering what was going on at the table of beautiful women and it was several minutes before they quieted to the occasional snicker and giggle. Even Kelsey had trouble getting herself under control and she smiled at Elena.
“Thank you for asking that, Elena,” she said. “You and I are in the same boat and I just learned a valuable bit of information.”
“Me too,” added Erica, blushing madly but smiling just the same. “Thanks Susan.”
“Glad I could be of assistance,” Sue replied sweetly. ‘Now how about we ‘blow’ this joint and go find a dress suitable for our beautiful Kelsey to marry the love of her life in?”
The girls were laughing so hard, they were holding each other up as they made their escape from the curious eyes in the restaurant.
They found Kelsey’s dream dress at the second store they hit. It was pink chiffon, so pale it was almost blush and spattered with glistening stones that reflected every beam of sunlight that came through the shop window. The tea length creation was as delicate as a spider web with a full crinoline that made the dress swirl with each movement. A blush, elbow length veil was perfect with the sleeveless gown and they added long gloves and Cinderella heels.
Kelsey balked at the price until Susan whispered in her ear that if she didn’t buy the dress immediately she would tell Marcus to have Ty spank her.
