Chapter 20 Allie
ALLIE
Allie and Charlotte walked down the snowy sidewalk of one of Burlington’s cutest streets toward the dress shop.
Burlington wasn’t exactly New York, but back when she was in high school, Allie imagined that when she grew up and had a car she’d be here in the city every weekend, hitting the bookshops and cafés, and maybe even going to concerts and other events.
She hadn’t anticipated how demanding her job would be, or that it wouldn’t pay nearly enough for her to spend money on things she didn’t need.
“I can’t believe Ash really did this for us,” Charlotte said for about the tenth time, shaking her head in disbelief. “You know people get wedding dresses at this place. It’s all over social media.”
“Wow,” Allie said. “I mean this is just a town event, right? We don’t want to be overdressed.”
“Alice Lee Lawrence,” Charlotte said, stopping in place and turning to her with fire in her eyes. “We live on a dairy farm. And you know I love it. But how many chances do we get to dress up?”
“Not that many,” Allie said, trying not to laugh.
“Exactly,” Charlotte said, marching toward the boutique with renewed energy as she nodded to herself. “We are not going to ruin this for ourselves by wondering if it’s too nice. We’re going to be grateful.”
“Okay,” Allie said, unable to resist her best friend’s enthusiasm. “You win. Let’s spoil ourselves a little.”
“We’ll be respectful of Ash’s wallet, of course,” Charlotte said demurely.
“No, we won’t,” Allie decided. “He’s got more money than sense, so let’s show him how it’s done.”
“That’s the spirit,” Charlotte said, smiling. “I was just trying to keep in mind that it will be your wallet one day.”
Allie wanted to laugh at her friend’s remark. But the reminder that she was living a lie made her swallow over the sudden lump in her throat instead.
They continued in silence until they reached the shop with the pink and white striped French-style awning.
“Amazing,” Charlotte murmured, gazing through the big glass window at the gorgeous dresses inside.
Even Allie, who wasn’t usually that into dressing up, was properly impressed. The dresses were all so pretty, especially the ones in the front that were all done in soft pastel colors.
“They look like fluffy cupcakes,” she said admiringly. “Or cotton candy or something.”
“You spend too much time with kindergarteners,” Charlotte sniffed as she opened the door. “They look glamorous.”
Allie tried not to laugh as a beautiful saleslady in a neat black skirt and white blouse approached.
“You must be Allie Lawrence,” the lady said. “I’m Barbara. And I see you’ve brought a friend with you, just as your fiancé said.”
“Hi, Barbara,” Allie said, trying not to wince at the reference to her fiancé. “This is my best friend and sister-in-law, Charlotte.”
“Lovely to meet you,” Barbara said. “Mr. Tailor explained that you’re looking for dresses for a big event right in Sugarville Grove. Is that right?”
“Yes,” Allie said. “We don’t have many formal events, so neither of us has a good dress.”
“Shopping for a new gown is such a pleasure,” Barbara said with a smile.
“And I’ll try to make sure you find something you absolutely love.
But you must promise to be honest with me about anything you don’t like.
Mr. Tailor made it very clear that price is no object, so anything at all that you like we can fit for you right here in the store. There’s no need to worry.”
“Amazing,” Charlotte sighed. “I promise.”
“Me too,” Allie said, trying not to feel bad about all this.
On the one hand, Ash could afford it.
On the other, Allie didn’t really want a beautiful reminder of him hanging in her closet when all this was over.
“First, I’m going to get you ladies some refreshments,” Barbara said. “Then I can bring out some choices for you and we can get to work making your dreams come true.”
Allie nodded.
“Are you okay?” Charlotte whispered as Barbara floated away.
“Yes,” Allie said.
“No,” Charlotte said, her eyes widening. “You’re not. Don’t think you can lie to me, Allie Lawrence. I’ve known you too long.”
Allie looked into the eyes of her best friend in the world and let out a sigh.
She had promised to keep this secret. And Tripp was right—telling Charlotte was as good as telling Tag and maybe their teenage daughter, too. And from there, it would be no time at all until the whole family knew.
But Allie had been holding onto her worries for too long to keep them to herself any longer. Not when she and Charlotte had this unique opportunity to chat privately.
“It’s not real,” she heard herself murmur.
“What’s not real?” Charlotte asked.
Allie opened her mouth and closed it again, suddenly not even sure where to begin.
She pointed to the ring on her finger.
“No,” Charlotte breathed.
Allie nodded, pressing her lips together.
“Your engagement?” Charlotte asked, her eyes wide. “No, Allie. Not that, right?”
“It’s… complicated,” Allie said, looking down at the pretty little ring. “He just wanted someone to walk around with at the Fun Festival since his ex was going to be there with her new boyfriend.”
“He’s trying to make her jealous?” Charlotte asked, looking unconvinced. “That doesn’t explain him putting a ring on your finger. I don’t really know him yet, but this doesn’t sound like you at all.”
“Well, when she appeared, she shared that she was pregnant,” Allie said. “And then her boyfriend said something about her wanting a normal kid this time.”
“Was that a dig on Maya?” Charlotte asked, looking horrified.
Allie nodded, feeling angry all over again at the thoughtless remark.
“So, I kind of overreacted and basically blurted out that we were engaged,” Allie admitted. “And that we thought Maya was going to be the best big sister ever because she’s such a remarkably wonderful child.”
“She sure is,” Charlotte said, her eyes twinkling. “And that actually does sound a lot like you. But that doesn’t explain why you two are still at it.”
“Libby and Hayden are staying in town for the holidays,” Allie said. “And Ash offered to help me with the greenhouse if I let this play out until they leave.”
“Wow,” Charlotte said, nodding thoughtfully. “I’m still lost though.”
“Why?” Allie asked. There wasn’t much left to be lost about. She had pretty much laid her cards on the table.
“None of that explains the way you two look at each other,” Charlotte said. “I know you can sing like an angel, but you’ve never been that good of an actor.”
Allie’s best friend’s words struck her right in the chest, and she sucked in a quick breath, trying to figure out how to tell her the rest, the part that had left her tossing and turning in her bed every night since Saturday.
“Here we are, ladies,” Barbara sang out as she came in pushing a little cart.
“Oh, wow,” Allie breathed.
The cart had a little tray with two champagne flutes full of something pink, and several more trays of tiny cakes and fruit with cheese. If Allie could have described the treat of her dreams, this would have been it.
“Pink lemonade and petits fours,” Barbara said with a big smile. “Come lounge and enjoy, and I’ll have a few dresses brought out.”
Charlotte met Allie’s eyes and the two of them followed Barbara over to a low sectional sofa covered in soft pillows.
“Get comfy. We’ll start bringing things out for you to look at in a few minutes,” Barbara said, winking before she disappeared again.
Allie grabbed a tiny pink cake with a white frosting bow and popped it into her mouth.
“Oh, wow,” she moaned over the creamy sweetness of the frosting paired with the intense lemon of the cake inside. “Incredible.”
“Don’t think you can sit there stuffing your mouth with cake and not answer the question I asked you a minute ago,” Charlotte scolded.
“I didn’t hear a question,” Allie said, taking a glass of pink lemonade and sipping the sugary concoction.
“Fine,” Charlotte said. “If this is all fake, then why do you look at each other like that?”
“You really think there’s something in the way he looks at me?” Allie heard herself ask softly as she put her glass back on the tray.
“Yes,” Charlotte said simply.
Allie nodded, thinking for a moment.
“He told me on our first fake date that he’d gone into all of this because he wanted to get to know me better,” she said at last.
Charlotte kept her mouth shut, but she was smiling, and her eyes were sparkling as she nodded.
“But I’m not sure I believe him,” Allie said, hating to disappoint her friend who was so clearly enjoying the romantic fantasy Allie was spinning.
“Why not?” Charlotte asked.
“Okay, this is embarrassing,” Allie said. “But I was sort of hoping he’d fall for me in real life.”
“That’s not embarrassing,” Charlotte said. “You’d be a great couple, and it’s clear how you and Maya feel about each other.”
“Yeah,” Allie said, wanting to cry at the idea of not seeing as much of Maya as she’d been getting used to. “Anyway, sometimes when he would look at me, it felt like… well, like my heart was fluttering, and like my cheeks were going to burn off my face.”
“I’m familiar with that feeling,” Charlotte said, winking.
“Ugh,” Allie groaned. “Don’t remind me you’re in love with my brother. Gross.”
Charlotte cackled and Allie had to laugh too. It felt good to laugh with her best friend, even if everything else in her life was up in the air.
“Anyway,” Allie went on. “When he told me he wanted us to see each other for real, he looked me right in the eye, and I didn’t get any flutters.”
“Hm,” Charlotte said.
“I think,” Allie began, not sure she wanted to say the words out loud. “I think maybe he likes me because I’m convenient and I’m good for Maya. But… maybe he doesn’t like me for me.”
“What?” Charlotte demanded.
“I mean think about it,” Allie said. “His first wife was practically a supermodel. And what do we even have in common?”