tell you to get me a beer, but your mother is watching me like a hawk. She thinks if I cut down on beer, my belly will disappear.”
“How about water?” Melissa suggested.
“How about a new wife?” her father shot back.
“Sure. Should I go into town and pick one up for you? Bringing her home could be tough, though. It could get ugly with Mom.”
“I’ll have some water,” her father said grudgingly.
Melissa smirked, then exited the bedroom. She heard her cell phone ringing and quickly ran to the front of the house, where she’d dropped her purse. Seconds later, she had her phone in her hand and saw her sister’s smiling face flashing on the screen.
“Hey, sis,” Melissa greeted her.
“You here?” Arlene asked without preamble. “In Sheridan Falls?”
“Yep. Just got to Mom and Dad’s.”
“Great. We need you here ASAP.”
A loud wail sounded in the background. “Where are you?” Melissa asked. “And what is going on?”
“We’re at the bridal shop,” Arlene told her. “Tasha is having a meltdown. She’s worried your dress won’t fit, and there’s only a short time left for alterations. Tasha’s maid of honor put on ten pounds and her dress has to be altered.”
“I’m sure my dress will be fine,” Melissa said. “I sent in my exact measurements for every part of my body, and my weight hasn’t changed. I might have lost a couple of pounds, actually.”
“Yeah, well, nothing’s going to appease Tasha unless she sees it with her own eyes. How quickly can you get here?”
“I’m on my way.”
* * *
Melissa arrived at the upscale bridal shop twelve minutes later and found the bridal party in the back. Tasha was slumped in a velour armchair, two of her bridesmaids on either side of her. Maxine, Tasha’s older sister, stood to her right and held Tasha’s hand. The friend who must be Tasha’s maid of honor was on her knees beside the chaise. She was also holding Tasha’s hand and worrying her bottom lip.
“How can you tell me everything will be all right, Maxine?” Tasha demanded. “Bonnie’s dress doesn’t fit. And she’s my maid of honor. She has to look amazing.”
Tasha shot a glance at the woman on her knees. Yes, she was definitely Bonnie. “It’s only the zipper,” Bonnie said. Her plump face lit up with a reassuring smile. “Enid already said that can be fixed. Plus, I’ll eat only salad for the next two days.”
“But what about Melissa?” Tasha countered. “What if her dress doesn’t fi—”
Tasha’s words died on her lips as her eyes ventured beyond the women trying to console her and landed on Melissa. Tasha immediately eased up in the chair. “Melissa?”
“Hey, you.” Melissa beamed as she moved toward her cousin. The moment Tasha got to her feet, Melissa took her in her arms.
“You’re here,” Tasha said, then burst into tears.
“Hey,” Melissa said softly, easing back and taking Tasha’s hands in hers. “What’s this all about?”
“I just want everything to be perfect, and if your dress doesn’t fit...maybe they won’t get all the alterations done in time.”
“It’ll fit,” Melissa assured her.
The attendant, a red-haired woman with a worried expression on her face, whom Melissa had briefly noticed as she entered she shop, tentatively approached the group. “I’m Enid.” She looked Melissa directly in the eye. “I take it you’re Melissa.”
“Yes.”
“Oh, thank God.” The woman’s shoulders slumped with relief.
Melissa fully turned to face the woman, asking, “Where’s my dress?”
“It’s hanging in dressing room number four.” Enid pointed toward the door. “You can try it on any time you’re ready.” Then she leaned close to Melissa and whispered, “But sooner would be better.”
“Got it,” Melissa said, facing her cousin and giving her a bright smile. “Everything’s going to be okay. Don’t you worry.”
Tasha nodded, but her glum expression said she didn’t believe Melissa’s mollifying words.
Melissa greeted the other women with smiles and hellos, then briefly hugged her sister before heading into the dressing room. The bridesmaid dress was hanging on the back of the door. Melissa’s eyes widened as she checked it out. It looked even more beautiful in person than it had in photos. The lavender dress was a floor-length, one-shoulder stunner. The charmeuse fabric was soft and shimmery. The bodice of the dress was covered with a layer of lace, and a ribbon of satin surrounded the dress’s waist.
A lump of emotion suddenly formed in Melissa’s throat. She’d always thought that by thirty, she would either be married or on her way to being married. Yet here she was, single with no prospects, while her twenty-seven-year-old cousin had found the love of her life.
Melissa disrobed and put the dress on. It was meant to be fitted from the waist up and flowed elegantly from the waist down. There was a slit in the dress that came to midthigh.
“Do you need any help?” the attendant asked.
Melissa opened the door. “If you could zip me up...”
The attendant eased forward and zipped the dress at the back, then Melissa fully exited the dressing room and moved to stand in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror. The rest of the bridesmaids gathered around her. Through the mirror, Melissa could see their eyes lighting up. That was when she fully took note of her outfit, giving it a slow gaze from the top of the one shoulder, along the lace-covered bodice that somehow managed to make her breasts look more shapely, and down to the length of the flowing skirt. A smile spread on her face. It fit her perfectly. And she looked beautiful.
Tasha came up behind her, and her eyes filled with fresh tears. She had already cried a lot, given how puffy and red her eyes were. But at least these tears were happy ones.
A bubble of laughter escaped Tasha’s throat. “It’s perfect. You look gorgeous. Just stunning.”
“I told you not to worry,” Melissa said.
“You look so beautiful.”
Melissa turned and faced her cousin, the gown swooshing around her bare feet. “But not nearly as beautiful as you’ll be. The picture you sent me of you in your dress...you’re going to knock Ryan off his feet.”
“You think so?” Tasha asked, a hitch in her voice.
“I know so.” Melissa reached out and tucked a strand of her cousin’s curly hair behind her ear. “How could you not?”
Tasha
