Chapter 17 Giselle
Giselle
“Did you find anything yet?”
Giselle slanted a glance at her friend Daphne, then went back to flipping through the rack of evening dresses. “No.” She needed
to find something to wear to Austin and Taylor’s reception in a couple of weeks. “If we weren’t invited to the wedding, I
don’t know why I have to find something new for a little reception.”
“Wait. Girlfriend, you’ve been holding out on me. What do you mean you weren’t invited to their wedding? That’s just wrong.”
“According to Austin, it was a spur-of-the-moment thing one of the weekends Taylor went to visit him.”
Daphne let out a sigh of relief. “Oh, so they eloped. That’s different.”
“They told Tariq and Kamryn about it, and they were there. I still feel some kind of way that Taylor asked only Kamryn to be there. I’ve been part of
the family for four years, yet we didn’t get asked to drive down and be part of the ceremony.”
“He didn’t invite Shawn or Vincent either? What did Shawn say? I imagine he was pretty upset,” she added, picking up a dress
and turning it one way, then another.
“Neither of them were invited, and Shawn hasn’t said much outside of not being surprised because of how close Tariq and Austin have always been.”
She shrugged. “Well, if he’s okay with it, then I wouldn’t worry about it.”
Giselle shook her head at the dress Daphne held up. “I don’t like that one either. And I’m not worried about it; I’m pissed.
Since Kamryn’s been around, everything has changed. My mother-in-law has never accepted my help when I offer, but she’s all
over Kamryn, and even Taylor sometimes. I guess since Taylor and Austin have been hanging out since they were teens and Taylor
lost her mother back then, I can understand, but it’s really irritating.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were jealous of your sisters-in-law,” Daphne said, eyeing Giselle. “Especially Kamryn.”
She’d probably think the same if she owned up to it. But she didn’t want to look into the shadowy corner of her heart that
might prove her friend was right. It was just that ever since Kamryn came into the picture, everything started to remind her
of how it had been growing up with her sisters. They’d made friends easily, but not Giselle. They got invitations to all the
cool things, while most of the time for her it had been an “oh, you can come too” kind of thing. She shoved the dress she’d
been eyeing back on the rack. “Let’s go to another store. I don’t see anything I like here.” The three dresses that had caught
her eye were either too tight in one area and loose in another, or so long that she’d have to pay the equivalent of another
dress just for alterations. Well, if you lose some of that weight, you won’t have problems finding clothes that fit. Her mother’s disapproving voice sounded in Giselle’s head, making her feel even worse. As hard as she tried, she could never
rid herself of all the hurtful things her mother continued to say or the feeling that everyone else saw her the same way.
The two women walked a few doors down and searched again.
After a good two hours, Giselle finally found something she liked.
The fit wasn’t perfect, but she could make it work.
Because she’d found something shorter, she wouldn’t have to worry about the need for major alterations.
She came out of the fitting room and studied herself in the trio of mirrors.
The emerald-colored, knee-length, split-sleeve dress fit a little snug across her stomach and hips, as usual.
However, the material had a lot of give, so she’d be comfortable, and if she put on some good shapewear, it would be fine.
“That’s a cute dress. I’d love to be a fly on the wall when Shawn sees you in it. It’s just tight enough to glide over all
those curves you have.”
She nodded. “I’m getting it. I don’t have to worry about shoes, so as soon as I change and pay for it, we can leave.”
“Sounds good,” Daphne said.
A few minutes later, the two grabbed drinks from one of the mall carts, then went to sit on a bench. “How’s it going with
Russell?” Giselle asked. “Do you think he’ll end up being your one?”
“The jury is still out. We have a good time together, but I’m not feeling all the good tingly stuff you’re supposed to have
when you’re in love—like smiling every time you think about him, feeling your heart rate speed up when he walks in the room,
or wanting to find a corner to steal kisses whenever he smiles at you. You know, that deep, passionate, I-want-to-rip-off-his-clothes kind of feeling.”
“I think all that’s overrated.”
Daphne lifted an eyebrow. “So you’re telling me you never get butterflies when Shawn looks at you a certain way or kisses
you?”
“No, not really.” At the time, the only thing on her mind had been not ending up like her mother. “I mean, I got them on my wedding day, like most people do when they’re nervous.”
“By the time my wedding day rolls around, I don’t want be nervous at all because I should be sure it’s what I want to do.
I’m looking for the same kind of fun and loving relationship my parents and grandparents have. To this day, my grandpa will
still impulsively pull my grandma into his arms for a dance or a sweet kiss, and she giggles like a teenager. That’s what
I’m holding out for, and will it be Russell?” She shrugged. “I don’t know. We’ve only been dating three months.”
“That’s all well and good, but don’t miss out on a good man because you’re trying to chase butterflies.” She sipped her tea.
“Hey, butterflies aren’t bad. And what about your brothers-in-law? Tariq and Austin got married pretty quickly, so they must
have had some sort of fireworks in their relationships.”
Giselle didn’t want to talk about them because both couples behaved exactly as Daphne described. At every family gathering,
Tariq and Kamryn would come up missing and be found in a corner somewhere laughing and kissing. Austin and Taylor, as well
as her in-laws, weren’t any better. Even Vincent had been sitting outside on the swing hugged up with Chanel. None of them
had a problem with public displays of affection. She was the only one who’d never been into airing her business that way.
While she and Shawn held hands while they were out sometimes, all the kissing stayed behind closed doors.
Daphne pointed her finger Giselle’s way. “The fact that you didn’t answer tells me I’m right. You should try it. Grab Shawn
and pull him into a dark closet. My grandma always tells me that you have to keep the spice in your marriage.”
“I never said we didn’t have spice in our marriage. We just don’t make a habit of doing it in public.” The last time she’d
attempted it at his parents’ house, he’d rejected her. It’s not something you usually do, especially in public. Your words, not mine. Shawn’s words came back and caught her off guard. Was she the reason he’d stopped showing much affection away from home?
The thought gave her pause. Then again, he’d never said anything about it, so maybe he agreed. But did you ask him? an annoying inner voice asked. Daphne’s voice cut into her musings.
“Hmph. Ain’t nothing wrong with a little heat outside of the bedroom to give him something to look forward to once you get into the bedroom,” she said with a smirk.
“If you say so.” Her phone buzzed, and she pulled it out of her pocket. Seeing her mother’s name on the display, she sighed.
Not wanting to get into any type of argument, which was a sure bet, she hit the Reject Call button and stuck the phone back
in her pocket. When she looked up, Daphne was staring at her curiously. “My mom.”
“Oh. She still saying all kinds of crazy stuff?”
“Yep, and I try to talk to her and my sisters as little as possible. Right now they’re still mad because I won’t give them
any money to help with rent, car notes, and whatever other thing they want.”
Daphne rolled her eyes. “Un-freaking-believable. So what? You’re supposed to just give them your hard-earned dollars while they do nothing?”
“Apparently.”
“I would’ve sent it to voicemail too,” she said, shaking her head in disgust.
Giselle opened her mouth to say something, and her phone buzzed again. She hoped her mother wasn’t calling back.
“Your mom again?”
“No. My mother-in-law. Let me see what she wants.” She connected. “Hey, Mama Yvonne.”
“Hey, baby. I hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time.”
“You’re fine. Is everything okay?”
“Oh, yes. I’m just calling because I decided to throw a little bridal shower for Taylor tomorrow afternoon, last minute. Nothing
fancy. Just us girls and her friend for a light lunch.”
She scrubbed a hand across her forehead. Here we go again. “What time?” she asked, forcing some enthusiasm into her voice.
“Around two. That way you can sleep in.”
“That’s fine. Do you need me to bring anything? Since this is a spur-of-the-moment thing, I can pick up some desserts so you
won’t have to do too much.”
Mama Yvonne laughed. “Kamryn is taking care of that, but if you want to bring a couple of appetizers, that’ll be fine. It’s
just a few of us, so no need to make a lot.”
“Okay. I’ll text you later with what I’m bringing.”
“Sounds good. Talk to you later.”
Giselle said her goodbyes, disconnected, and shoved the phone back in her pocket. “She just decided to throw a bridal shower
for Taylor. Tomorrow.”
“Well, I guess we’ve got more shopping to do. I don’t remember her doing all this for you when you were getting married.”
“She didn’t. Of course, my mother’s constant complaining didn’t help either.” Mama Yvonne had taken her to lunch once or twice,
but she’d never done all of the mini parties, spa days, and family get-togethers like she was doing now. In Giselle’s mind,
it felt as if she’d been treated differently. She was tired of feeling like an afterthought.