by Ginny Baird
“Maybe it’s being in Blue Hill,” he went on, “and the place where I spent so many happy childhood summers. Maybe it’s being around my parents, who have their own fairy-tale marriage, and seeing the love between Sofia and William, too. Even my Grandmother Margaret and Grandpa Chad share a certain connection. It may not be evident on the outside, but—way down deep—I suspect they love each other very much and always have.”
“I think you’re right about your grandparents,” she answered. “Your parents and Sofia and William, too. They’re all so different, and still such great matches.”
Brent stopped walking, so she did, too.
“Just like us.” His voice grew husky when he took her in his arms. “I know you must feel it. This overwhelming attraction between us. And it’s more than attraction. It’s deeper than that. You and I got along great before. We had similar interests and goals. We were perfect together on paper, and yet…” He hugged her tighter. “There was something missing inside.” He gazed down into her big dark eyes and nearly lost his bearings. Then her smile brought him home. “The something we seem to share now.”
“You’re the sweetest guy.” Her voice trembled when she said it. “An absolute dream.”
“If you still don’t want kids, I’ll learn to live with that, because the most important thing in my life is having you in it. But if you think you ever might reconsider…”
A tear leaked from her eye, and he stroked it back with his thumb.
“Hey. What’s wrong?”
After a beat, she drew in a shaky breath, then said, “I can’t imagine anything more magical than making babies with you.”
“For real?” He felt like a man who’d just won the lottery, and this stunned him a little because he’d never known how badly he wanted kids until now. But not just anybody’s kids. Jackie’s kids. His and hers together. Brent had not one shadow of a doubt. The woman he held in his arms was going to make a phenomenal mom.
“Then, sweetheart,” he said, cradling her face in his hands. “We’ll make it happen.”
She tilted up her chin and said something that confused him. “If only we could make this real.”
“It is real, darling,” he said, bringing his arms around her. Then he held her up against him, deciding to show her just how real it was.
His lips brushed over hers, slowly at first—until she whimpered. Then he deepened the pressure of his kiss until she ran her fingers through his hair, begging for more. They stood there lost in each other as tiny droplets speckled their cheeks and clothing. Finally, thunder rumbled above them, and the skies opened up in a torrential downpour.
“Oh no,” she cried, but she was laughing. “It’s raining. So hard.” The sky had morphed from powder blue to an angry gray haze beneath rumbling thunderclouds.
He took her hand. “We’d better make a break for it.”
Then they raced back toward the house as the rain came down in droves, splashing up against the gravel drive and splattering their clothing, but neither one cared.
…
“Suck it in. Suck it in,” Meredith urged, and Hope drew in another deep breath, the sides of the beautiful bridal gown pinching at her waist as Meredith cinched the ties of the lace-up back tighter.
“Careful,” Elsa said. “We don’t want to tear it.”
Sally studied her thoughtfully. “We could maybe camouflage that part that doesn’t quite come together.” She turned her brown eyes on Hope. “How long is your veil?”
“That could work,” Sofia agreed.
“I’ve got it.” Margaret snapped her fingers with a victorious smile. “Spanx.”
“Spanx?” They all stared at her, and Margaret nodded proudly.
“I’ve got some right here in my dresser.”
Margaret pranced to her dresser and produced the promised body armor. A few minutes later, in the bathroom, Hope was distressed to learn that it fit. It also did help slim her waist some.
“Okay,” she said, emerging into the bedroom, where the rest of the women waited. “Let’s try again.” Sofia and Sally scooped up the dress and carefully settled it over Hope’s head as she held up her arms.
“Inhale,” Meredith said in commanding tones, and Hope did as she pressed her palms to her waistline.
Yank. Ava tugged at the laces, and the back of the dress came together. Well, almost all the way. “Maybe we should try that veil idea?”
Bile churned in Hope’s stomach. She would never pull this off.
“Here it is,” Sofia said, carrying it over. She settled the veil on Hope’s head and adjusted it while Meredith secured it with bobby pins underneath so they wouldn’t show.
Ava tied the bow at Hope’s waist, and Sofia dropped the lower portion of the veil. It draped down Hope’s back, landing a few inches above her waistline and concealing the slightly gaping back section of the dress.
“Success!” Ava grinned, and the others did, too.
“Oh, Jackie,” Sofia told her. “You look like a fairy princess.”
“Just beautiful,” Sally said.
Hope frowned, worried about how she looked from behind. She peered over her shoulder into the mirror.
Ava discreetly shook her head as Margaret murmured, “Lovely.”
Meredith beamed at her. “That dress fits you like a glove. You look beautiful.”
A very snug glove, Hope thought, feeling stuffed inside it. But, when she turned back around and gazed at her reflection in Margaret’s dresser mirror, she saw that it was true. She really did look beautiful. The gorgeous gown had a lace appliqué bodice with pretty long sleeves, and its organza skirt flounced out like a puffy white cloud around her. The shimmering material crinkled when she moved.
Hope held up the hem and tiptoed to the full-length mirror on a swivel stand in the corner to study her image. She turned and peeked over her shoulder one more time at the stunning lace-up back. The veil really did cover up the gaping portion pretty well. Through its gauzy fabric, it was pretty tough to tell what was laces…and what was Spanx.
“Ooh,” she said, noting the color in her cheeks. “Nice.”
“Better than nice,” Meredith countered. “Spectacular.”
“Ooh. Let’s try it with the veil down,” Sally said, admiring its inlaid lace appliqué that matched the lace on the dress. “How are you going to wear it for the ceremony?” she asked. “Veil forward or flipped back?”
“Not sure yet.” With her standing here in this wedding dress, it was pretty hard not to imagine Brent actually being her groom. Not to want that. So badly.
In an alternate universe, yeah… That would be something.
“What about your hair?” Meredith asked. “Up, or down like you have it now?”
Hope was embarrassed to be liking this so much, but the truth was, she was loving being fussed over. Who knew when she’d ever have a real wedding of her own? So she might as well enjoy this fantasy moment. “I think up would be good.” She smiled at Meredith. “Don’t you?”
“Absolutely.” Meredith seemed to be getting into this, too. So did her mom. Weirdly, it almost seemed that they were half wishing Hope was the one marrying Brent. But that was maybe all in her head.
“I’ve got more bobby pins in the bathroom,” Margaret said. “I’ll go grab some and be right back.” When Margaret returned, Hope removed the veil, and Meredith styled her hair in a loose chignon at her nape with wisps spilling forward.
Sofia added the veil again, and Meredith pinned it in place. Hope’s heart thudded at her reflection. It was hard to believe the gorgeous bride in the mirror was really her.
She bit her bottom lip, wishing with all her might that this was more than make believe, yet she knew that it wasn’t. She’d tried texting Jackie after returning from her walk with Brent, in part to assuage her building guilt. There seemed to be no good solution to this t
rap she was in—none at all. If only her sister hadn’t continued delaying her arrival, Hope wouldn’t have gotten in so deep with Brent and his family. Maybe Jackie didn’t deserve any of them after all. But, in that case, she reflected sadly, neither did she.
“Hey,” Sally said gently. “No pouty frowns. You look amazing.”
“Wait,” Ava said suddenly. “Shoes.” She rummaged through a box on the bed and pulled out a stunning pair of high-heeled mules that looked like glass slippers. They were accented with ivory lace and had cross-straps over the ankles, which tied in the back with silky cream-colored bows. “I want these shoes,” Ava said, handing them to Hope.
“You never know,” Elsa teased. “Your day could be up next.”
Ava actually blushed. “I might be a little past those opportunities.”
“Bosh,” Margaret contended. “Never.”
“If you’re going to toss a bouquet,” Meredith joked, “your mom and I might have to fight for it.”
“Fine by me,” Sally said, chuckling. “I’m not interested for a while.”
“Are you seeing someone, Meredith?” Grandmother Margaret asked her.
Meredith heaved a sigh. “Yeah, lots of someones, but they’re only clients—and all of them are for somebody else.”
“Hope’s still single, too,” Elsa commented. “Maybe she’ll catch the bouquet.”
“Er…I’m not so sure she has anyone on the horizon, either.”
“That’s what catching the bouquet is for,” Margaret said with a wink. “I caught the bouquet at my best friend’s wedding. Chad and I married eighteen months later.”
“Grandmother,” Sally said warmly. “You’re such an old softie.”
Though she never would have guessed this at first, Hope conceded it was true. She exhaled a bit, and the fabric of her dress pinched. Hope was a bit heavier than Jackie, and every ounce mattered in an outfit like this. All those yummy baked goods back at the carriage house hadn’t helped her figure, either. It was lucky this wedding gown was the lace-up kind and the laces were long enough to be let out enough to accommodate her frame. It still wasn’t very comfortable, but at least she’d gotten it on.
“I know it looks a little snug,” she said self-consciously.
“Not one bit,” Sofia said. “You look radiant.”
“It’s true,” Meredith chimed in. “Extra pretty. Almost glowing.” She sent Hope a knowing look, then said sneakily, “I’m sure you’ll glow even brighter on your wedding day.”
“Extra pink,” her mom chimed in unnecessarily, and Hope wanted to die of embarrassment. Fortunately, nobody but Meredith had any clue what her mom was talking about.
“Um, right.” Hope surveyed the room, catching her mom and Meredith exchanging secretive glances. “Thanks, everyone.” She couldn’t help but wonder what her own wedding gown would be like one day. She could only hope it would be just as pretty as this gorgeous ivory one with the lace-up back.
“Let me snap a few pics,” Sofia said. “So you can post them.” She glanced around the room. “Do you have your phone handy?”
Hope swallowed hard. Not this again… “My phone?”
Before she could truly panic, Meredith pulled her cell phone from the back pocket of her jeans. “Why don’t you take them on mine?” she said to Sofia. “That way I can edit the best ones for Jackie and send them to her.”
“You’re such a great maid of honor,” Elsa said.
Meredith tapped her temple. “Always thinking.” When the others weren’t watching, she winked, and Hope wanted to hug her for her quick save.
After a few glamor shots, Sally surprised Hope with a sweet hug. “I’m so happy you’re becoming my sister. Growing up, I always wanted one, and now I’ll have two.” She smiled at Sofia, then looked back at Hope.
Hope hugged Sally back, feeling extra terrible about deceiving her. Brent had said she could so easily read people. But Sally obviously couldn’t read her. Or maybe the scarier thought was that she could, and Sally could tell Hope was honestly in love with her brother.
Would Sally feel that same connection with Jackie once she got here on Friday? In one way, Hope wanted that for her sister—for her to blend in as seamlessly with the Albright family as she had. But, in another, those same thoughts made her gut clench and her heart ache. Especially when she was thinking of Brent.
Their kiss in the rain this morning had been so romantic. And, for that fantasy moment, she’d wanted so badly to believe what Brent was telling her about everything being real.
She stared back in the mirror, seeing herself outfitted as his bride, and she knew it was all a lie. A lie that would be ending very soon, unless she died of heartbreak first.
Meredith handed her a tissue, and Hope realized she’d been crying. The other women probably mistook her tears for tears of joy instead of worry and regret. Either way, she was embarrassed to have gotten emotional. “Could I have a moment with Meredith?”
Everyone murmured their agreement and gave her warm smiles.
“She’s just so happy,” Meredith said as they were leaving. “About her big day.”
“Girlfriend,” Meredith said when the others had gone, and Hope sobbed harder, because her sister’s best friend was being so kind. “Are you all right?
Hope dabbed her eyes with the tissue. “No. What am I’m going to do?”
Meredith pulled her in for a hug and patted her back. “Hang tough, chica. Hang tough. Friday will be here soon.”
…
Brent and Derrick stopped at the co-op in town to purchase potatoes and corn on the cob for that night’s clambake. He’d tried texting Jackie to see how the dress fitting was going, but he guessed she was too busy to answer. That was okay, though. They’d have plenty of in-person time later, just like she’d requested. He hoped at least some of that would be one-on-one, because he was enjoying discovering this new side of Jackie. A passionate side that was clearly not opposed to private displays of affection. And one that didn’t shy away from connecting on the deeper level he’d always craved.
He and Derrick stopped at the fish shop, where they had lobsters, littleneck clams, and a variety of fresh seaweed called rockweed on special order. In true New England tradition, they’d bake the seafood and vegetables outdoors in the firepit.
After this morning’s rain, the skies were still gloomy and gray. As they drove back to their grandparents’ house, they chitchatted about the wedding and Jackie. Even the weather.
Since neither one had mentioned the elephant in the room—Meredith—Brent decided to bring her up. He didn’t need tension between his best man and Jackie’s maid of honor on his wedding day. Maybe if he had a man-to-man chat with his little brother, he could preempt that.
“So,” Brent began cautiously. “The wedding party’s almost all here.”
“Yeah, all except for Jackie’s sister.” He glanced at Brent from where he sat behind the steering wheel. “Any updates?”
“Jackie called her this morning but couldn’t get through. She left a voicemail, though. I’m hoping for good news.”
Derrick frowned with concern. “Me, too. Poor woman. She’s had this bug all week?”
“Since Saturday, apparently. She thought she was getting better, then had some kind of relapse.”
“The week of her sister’s wedding. That rots.”
“I know. It’s my wedding week, too.”
“Lucky man.”
“Derrick, about Meredith—”
“What about her?” His tone sounded snappy.
“She is Jackie’s best friend.”
“Yeah, and so?”
“So, do you think you could hold your fire? Just for a few days.”
“My fire?” he asked combatively. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“She’s our guest, Derrick. An Albright family guest.
”
“To ask her, you’d think she’s the queen.”
“Unfair.”
“No?” Derrick shot him a daggered look. “First, she rams into my SUV—and claims it’s my fault. Next, she insults my job at the table.”
“Yeah, she probably shouldn’t have done that.” Brent issued a conciliatory yet reasoned response. “But maybe you shouldn’t have insulted hers first?”
“Come on, man. The woman took an immediate—and intense—dislike to me. How was I expected to handle that?”
“With dignity and calm?”
“Funny.”
“I wasn’t trying to be. I’m serious.”
Derrick flicked on his turn signal and glanced at Brent. “I get along with everybody. You know that.”
“Normally, yes.” Brent paused a beat before asking: “So, why not her?”
Derrick set his chin. “She’s…challenging.”
“So then, rise to the challenge.” Brent shrugged.
“What?”
“Please, Derrick. I don’t ask you for much, but I am asking for this one thing: a totally uneventful and happy wedding day.”
Derrick considered this a moment, and then his shoulders sagged. “Sure, of course. I’ll see what I can do to get along with Meredith.”
…
“All things considered,” Meredith said as they packed the bridal gown and accessories away, “I think the fitting went okay.”
“Yeah,” Hope said. “Apart from the fact that I got all weepy in front of everybody.” After a few sniffles and reassuring hugs from Meredith, she was feeling better about things. It really was just a few more days until Jackie would be here.
“Nobody thought anything of it,” Meredith told her. “They just figured you were being sentimental.”
“It’s hard not to be sentimental when you’re playing a fake bride.”
“I can only imagine.” Meredith daintily picked up the wedding shoes and slipped them into their box. “But I honestly wasn’t kidding. You really do look dynamite in that dress.”