Chapter Twenty-Two
“WHAT DO YOU mean, get ready?” Shauna asked as they ushered her into the house and down the hall.
“You know that text Zander got from Blaine about letting Woody out?” Reese asked.
“Yeah,” Shauna said.
“It was a ruse to give us time to sneak into Zan’s house and pick up your wedding outfit,” Madigan explained as they entered the master bedroom, where Shauna’s jumpsuit was hanging on the closet door.
Stunned, Shauna said, “How did you even know I had something to wear?”
“Zander mentioned it to Zeke at church last night. I didn’t see any heels in your closet, but I found cute sandals and I figured that’s what you planned on wearing.” Madigan pulled out a chair in front of a makeup desk and mirror and said, “Sit down. We’ll do your hair.”
“This is going to be so much fun,” Chloe said. “I’ll help you with your makeup.”
Shauna’s stomach dipped. She’d never spent time with women. She saw her friends at pole class, but they didn’t socialize outside of class, and they certainly never did her hair. She didn’t know how to act around them or what to say.
“Girls, Shauna’s just met our very loud, very pushy family,” Reba said. “How about we let her breathe for a second?”
“You’re right,” Madigan said. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Shauna said.
“When I met the Wickeds, I’m sure I was like a deer in the headlights,” Reese said.
“You should’ve seen me when I first met everyone,” Sidney said. “I’ve known Gunner and his family forever, but I’m an only child and I was raised by my dad, who’s ex-military. I was used to hanging out with military guys. Becoming part of the girl squad was like culture shock.”
“Do you have any brothers or sisters?” Leah asked.
“No.” Shauna shook her head.
“That’s not such a bad thing, trust me,” Madigan said, earning laughs from the others.
“I wish I could have invited your parents,” Reba said. “Preacher tried to track them down, but we weren’t able to find them.”
Oh God. How was she going to explain this? “It’s better that you didn’t. I haven’t been in contact with them since I was seventeen. They weren’t…like your family.”
“My mother wasn’t either,” Chloe said.
“Same,” Reese added.
“Yeah, our mom sucks,” Lettie said.
“Not many families are like this one,” Emerson said sweetly.
“You can say that again,” Leah said. “When I lost my younger brother, River, the Wickeds barely knew me, and they were right there for me and the girls every minute of the day. If not for them, I don’t know how we would’ve survived.”
“You would’ve survived, sweetheart. You’re stronger than you know.” Ginger put her arm around Leah, hugging her against her side.
Seeing the woman who had lost her daughter comforting Leah for the loss of her brother made Shauna’s heart hurt. “I’m sorry you lost your brother, Leah, and Ginger, Zander told me about Ashley. I’m sorry you lost your daughter. I’m sorry all of you lost her.”
“Thank you,” Ginger said. “River and Ashley will always live on in our hearts.”
“Shauna,” Reba said gently. “I’m sorry for whatever happened with your parents, but if you ever want to talk about it, maybe over a glass of wine sometime, we’re here for you.”
“Definitely,” Madigan added.
Even though she was nervous about dumping all her baggage on them at once, she had a feeling this supportive group of women wouldn’t be too quick to judge. “Actually, I’m sober, but maybe we could talk over coffee?”
“I’d like that very much,” Reba said.
“Me too!” Madigan said.
As the other girls chimed in, eagerly offering to be there for her, Ginger suggested they all meet at the Salty Hog for lunch one day soon. Everyone talked at once, and Shauna learned that Ginger and Conroy owned the Salty Hog and that Leah occasionally helped out as a waitress.
“Shauna, give me your phone number, and I’ll set up a group text so we can coordinate.” Madigan pulled out her phone.
Shauna rattled off her number, and a minute later, her phone chimed with a text. “That was fast.”
“That wasn’t from me. I’m still adding everyone to the group,” Madigan said. “I’m adding our friends Marly and Evie, too. They’re in the book club. You’ll love them.”
Shauna pulled out her phone, and her pulse quickened as she opened a text from Zander.
Zander: You okay in there? Are they interrogating you? Need me to rescue you?
“Is it from my brother, or is some other guy making you smile like that?” Madigan asked.
Shauna tried to quell her smile. “It’s Zander. He’s just checking on me,” she said as she thumbed out a reply. I’m fine. Everyone’s really nice. They picked up my outfit. I just have to change.
“That’s thoughtful of him,” Leah said.
“Unless he’s begging her not to bolt,” Sidney said.
“Or telling her he’s got cold feet,” Emerson added.
“The way he stood up to me and Preacher, I don’t think that’s happening,” Reba reassured her.
“I hate clingy guys who text all the time,” Lettie said.
“Zander doesn’t know the meaning of the word clingy,” Reese said, and they all laughed.
Shauna’s phone chimed with another text, and the girls raised their eyebrows.
“Clingy,” Lettie said in a singsong voice.
“He’s not clingy,” Shauna said. “We text all the time. It’s just a friendship thing.”
“Careful,” Chloe said. “Texting is innocent until it starts to include devil emojis and eggplants.”
They all laughed.
“He does not send me eggplants,” Shauna said, laughing as she opened and read the text.
Zander: Don’t change. I like you just the way you are.
Her heart stumbled, and as she read it again, her phone chimed, and a flame emoji popped up.
Madigan leaned in, scanning the text before Shauna could think to close it. Her eyes lit up and she read it aloud. “Don’t change? I like you just the way you are?”
Shauna’s cheeks burned as the girls exchanged curious looks.
“That doesn’t sound fake,” Sidney said.
“That doesn’t sound like Zander,” Reese said.
“Are you sure there’s not something real going on between you two?” Emerson asked.
“Yes. He’s just being sweet,” Shauna said to herself as much as to them, and pocketed her phone.
“Well, you’d better tell him to stop, or I’ll start rooting for you two to be a real couple,” Madigan said.
“That’s not going to happen,” Shauna said with a hint of discomfort that she needed to squash. “This is already the weirdest day of my life. I’m getting married for real to a fake husband. Can we not make it any weirder, please?”
“Yes, girls, give Shauna a break,” Reba said. “We have a wedding to prepare for.”
“Time to work our magic,” Madigan said excitedly, guiding Shauna into the chair.
There was a flurry of activity as Madigan began brushing Shauna’s hair, and the girls chatted about hairstyles and makeup. “Do you know how you want to wear your hair?” Madigan asked.
Shauna shrugged. “I never style my hair. I usually wear it up.”
“Then leave it to us,” Madigan reassured her. “You’re going to knock Zander’s socks off.”
As they primped and curled and applied her makeup, they asked Shauna about her work and told her about theirs.
Shauna was fascinated to hear that Reese was a forensic scientist. She also learned that Chloe was the administrator for the assisted living facility where Zander’s grandfather lived and that Emerson was a part-time editor and an extraordinary baker who sold her cookies at the Salty Hog and other places around Bayside.
“I can’t cook worth beans,” Shauna said.
“We can teach you,” Reba offered. “The girls and I love getting together to cook.”
“And gossip,” Sidney added.
“Lots of gossip.” Lettie rolled her eyes. “They gossip more than my friends.”
“Nobody gossips more than high schoolers,” Reese argued.
“Wanna bet?” Lettie said, laden with teenage attitude.
“How else would we know what was happening in our kids’ lives if we didn’t gossip?” Ginger said lightly. “Everyone needs some girl talk, right, Shauna?”
“Honestly, I’ve never really had girlfriends to talk with,” she admitted. “I mean, I have friends at pole class, but we don’t socialize outside of class.”
“I never did either before these girls swept me into their nest,” Sid said.
“Wait a minute. Can we back up? Shauna, you take pole classes? Like pole dancing?” Chloe asked.
“More like exercise, not dancing. It’s great for upper-body strength.” Shauna turned to look at her, but Madigan tugged her head back.
“Hold still or you’re going to have rogue curls,” Madigan chided. She was standing in front of the mirror, holding a lock of Shauna’s hair. “I’m almost done.”
“Sorry,” Shauna said. “I could’ve just kept my ponytail in. You didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”
Madigan waved the curling iron. “If you say that one more time, I’m going to put this where the sun don’t shine.”
“She’ll do it,” Sidney warned.
Shauna pressed her lips together in mock fear, which made everyone laugh. They asked a dozen questions about her pole classes, and she told them they should come try one.
“I’ll definitely take a class with you,” Madigan said. “Tobias will love it!”
“Can I take a class?” Lettie asked Reese.
“Sure, if you want Blaine to lock you in the basement,” Reese teased, and Lettie rolled her eyes.
“Okay. Done!” Madigan set the curling iron down and stepped aside.
As the girls gathered around, oohing and aahing, Shauna stared with wonder at her reflection.
She didn’t recognize the person with silky waves and slightly smoky eyes looking back at her.
Her hair was shiny and full, her makeup soft and subtle, transforming her from an on-the-go girl to a beautiful young woman.
“Oh, sweetheart, you are radiant,” Reba said with awe.
“Gorgeous,” Chloe said.
“She looks hot,” Lettie clarified with teenage enthusiasm.
“You are truly lovely,” Ginger said, touching Shauna’s shoulder. “What do you think, honey?”
“I’m blown away. This feels like a dream. Is that really me?” She laughed nervously.
“It better be, or Zander will kill us,” Sidney said.
A knock sounded at the door, and Shauna popped to her feet, her nerves catching fire.