“Did you find a dress?” he asked while leading me into the living room.
“I did. Thank you, again. That was very generous of you. My mom also says, ‘thanks’. I think she was panicking when there weren’t price tags on any of the dresses, until Lainey explained that came from you.”
He set Ruthie’s seat on the floor and replied, “I hope I didn’t step on your parents’ toes by buying your dress.”
“I don’t think my mom was offended. If anything, I think she was relieved once she saw the price of just the mothers’ dresses.”
“Did our moms find anything?”
“Your mom did. My mom is going to check the outlet stores.”
I didn’t blame her. It’d been an awful lot to spend on a dress she probably wasn’t going to wear again. While I’d been curious how much my dress was, I’d also secretly been grateful that Lainey wouldn’t tell me.
I’d probably have changed my mind and decided I could just borrow someone’s from the church.
As it was, I’d had a hard time not picking out a simple, tea-length one. It wasn’t until Lainey, Jade, and Kristy insisted I get a “gownsuitable for a princess”—their words—that I allowed myself to try on the ones featured in bridal magazines.
I ended up going with a dress that was straight out of a fairy tale with its bead and lace bodice and full ball-gown tulle skirt.
I knew Mama was hesitant because it was strapless and showed my ample cleavage, but she didn’t put up a fight when everyone chimed in.
Jade exclaimed, “Oh my god! That’s the one!” when I walked out of the dressing room and onto the bridal pedestal.
Mrs. Callahan seconded her with, “You look absolutely breathtaking.”
Kristy smirked, “Alan’s not going to be able to keep his hands to himself the entire ceremony.”
Lainey just shook her head and said, “You are drop-dead gorgeous. But are you comfortable in it? You don’t want to be tugging at your dress all day.”
I spun around as I tried to figure out if there was anything poking me or not laying right against my skin. In the process, I caught my reflection in the three-way mirror and decided even if there was something, I’d suffer through.
I looked freaking amazing.
And I liked the idea of Alan not being able to keep his hands to himself.
With his palm pressed to the small of my back, he led me into the kitchen where I perched on a stool at the island while he stood next to me seasoning the steaks.
He didn’t look up when he asked, “So, how upset will you be with me if I don’t go to the florist with you on Monday?”
To be honest, I’d been surprised when he’d said he’d go to the appointment in the first place.
“I won’t be upset at all.”
He paused and glanced at me with a sheepish look. “Or the cake tasting on Tuesday?”
I winced. “I don’t want to pick out a cake without you. What if I pick something you don’t like?”
He resumed putting dry rub on the meat. “How is that possible? It’s cake; you can’t go wrong with cake.”
“Okay. As long as you won’t complain about what I choose.”
“Unless you go with something crazy, like orange marmalade frosting—which doesn’t even sound bad, actually—I promise I will love whatever you decide.”
I was still hesitant, but I agreed. “All right.”
“But you have to promise me you’ll get whatyouwant. You won’t let Lainey or Jade or anyone else talk you into something. Stick to your guns.” He set the steaks on a platter then put it in the fridge.
“I promise.”
