Empower
Page 25
Tessa grabbed the magazine, and when she looked down at the page, her mouth dropped open, and she let out a high-pitched squeal. “Melina, this is a wedding dress! Did Lee propose?”
Melina grinned and nodded as she held out her left hand for Tessa to see the ring.
Tessa let out another squeal and grabbed Melina’s hand as she admired her diamond ring. “Oh, Melina! I’m so happy for you!” She jumped up from her chair and rushed over to Melina and gave her a big hug. “And yes,” she said as she pulled back and made her way to her seat again, “I love the dress! It’s so beautiful, and so you.”
Melina picked up the magazine and stared down at the picture of the dress. She had gone out first thing that morning and bought a handful of bridal magazines, but she’d only had to look through one before she had found the perfect wedding dress.
The dress was a one-piece sheath gown with a sweetheart neckline and delicate tulle cap sleeves. It had two layers with a beautiful overlay of embellished lace and tulle draping over a soft white satin. The back of the gown had a simple corset closure, and the lace and tulle overlay flowed out behind it to create a small sheer train. It was exquisite. Exactly what she wanted.
“Hopefully one of the shops here in town can order it for me,” Melina said, a huge grin still on her face. “I can’t wait to try it on.”
“You will look absolutely beautiful in it,” Tessa said.
“Thank you,” Melina said. “And I know you’ll look just as beautiful in one of these dresses.” She flipped to another marked page in the magazine and pointed to the selection of bridesmaid dresses.
Tessa glanced at the pictures of the dresses and then looked back up at Melina with watery eyes. “You mean…”
“Yes, silly! Who else would I ask to be my maid of honor?”
“Oh, yes, yes, yes!” Tessa said. “I can’t wait.” She looked back down at the picture. “So I can pick any one of these dresses?”
“Yep,” Melina said. “As long as it can be ordered in a pale yellow.”
“Well of course,” Tessa said. “Yellow’s your favorite color.”
Just as the two of them started to laugh, a male voice came from behind them. “What’s so funny?”
Melina turned and saw Lee walking up to the table with Dean following close behind. She stood up and gave Lee a quick kiss and then looked curiously over at Dean. “Dean, what are you doing here?”
Dean just smiled then glanced at Tessa.
“He’s my mystery date,” Tessa said with a grin.
Melina’s eyebrows shot up as she smiled at both of them. She knew Tessa had been seeing someone for a few weeks now, but every time Melina had asked about him, Tessa had said that it was a secret because they wanted to see how it would go before they told anyone. It had never occurred to her that it was Dean, but she was pleasantly surprised.
“That is just wonderful!” Melina said and then turned to Lee. “Did you know?”
“I just found out this afternoon,” he said. “When you asked Tessa to meet you early, she asked if I would come with Dean.”
Melina turned back to Tessa and Dean. “This is great. We’re going to have so much fun going out together!”
“And I believe congratulations are in order for you,” Dean said to Melina. “Lee told me the good news on the way here.”
Melina beamed. “Yes, thank you,” she said to Dean and then turned back to Lee. “We’re very happy.”
Lee leaned over and gave her a quick peck on her cheek.
“So…” Melina said as she looked back at Dean. “If you two are an item then I guess that means that business is going well in the new satellite office that you started up here?”
“Yeah,” Dean said. “It’s going very well. I really like running my own office, and it’s nice to be around people who truly support and accept me for me.”
Melina gave him a warm smile then suddenly she heard a woman’s voice in her head.
I don’t know why I applied for this new position. I mean, why did I ever think that I could take on that much responsibility? I’m not that smart, and I definitely don’t have the experience. I’m going to have to quit. If I don’t, I’ll just end up getting fired. Oh, this is such a mess. What did I get myself into?
Melina and Dean both looked at each other.
“Do you want to take this one, or should I?” he asked.
“I will,” she said. She had a genuine desire to help people, and the fact that she had supernatural powers to assist her in doing so truly was a gift. A gift that she was meant to receive. And she was never going to doubt it or herself again.
About the Author
Ashley Stambaugh grew up in a small town in Illinois where she and her two siblings created some of the best memories playing on their family’s farm. She stayed in the southern region of the state to attend college where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and also met her husband.
Now, she and her husband live in central Illinois and spend their time creating new memories with their two rambunctious boys. She also enjoys reading, taking long walks, and finding great bargains. When her sons are a little bit older, she has a great desire to travel with her family. Oh, and she also has a slight obsession with chocolate.
When she’s not busy chasing after her two young children or losing herself in a good book, you can find her curled up on her couch with her laptop, writing.
@ashleystambaugh
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ashleystambaugh.blogspot.com.