CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
While the rest of the team was still working on the video footage, Jill went with Kate, Ajei, Georgie, Winnie, and Janine to get fitted for a dress.
“Come on out, Jill. We want to see it,” said Gwen
“I think it’s too tight,” she said, stepping up onto the elevated dais.
“Ho-lee cow!” said Janine. “I don’t think that’s too tight at all. Woman, you’ve got some insane curves. You need to show them more often.”
“They teach you in law school to hide them,” she smirked. “I don’t know, you guys, this doesn’t feel right.”
“If it doesn’t feel right, then you’re not going to be happy in it,” said Gwen. “Wear what makes you happy. Try on another one.”
“It’s funny we’ll both be married to men named Christian,” smiled Winnie. “Although, with as many men as we have here, I’m surprised it hasn’t happened more often.”
“I guess it’s a good thing that he goes by CJ,” said Janine. From the dressing room, Jill called out to the women.
“Do you guys think this is all moving insanely fast? I mean, I met CJ around the holidays, and then Tim dumped me, and suddenly, CJ and I were an item. Does that feel wrong to anyone?”
“No,” they all called back. Jill stepped out of the dressing room again, this time in a beautiful tea-length gown of ivory satin. It was simple, understated, and perfect for her and her conservative style.
“I like this one,” she said to the women.
“I love that one on you,” said Kate. “Maybe a little bling on a belt around the middle.”
Gwen nodded, running back toward her sewing room, and she came back with three different options. Each one was more beautiful than the next, but true to her simple style, Jill chose the satin band with one small crystal buckle.
“You look beautiful,” said Ajei. She turned and looked in the mirror, smiling at herself.
“I can’t believe it, but I actually feel beautiful,” she smiled. “But what about my question? Is this too fast?”
“Jill, we always give the new wives some advice.”
“I’m all about advice,” she grinned, taking a seat on the stool. Gwen lined up several pairs of shoes for her to try on as she prepared to absorb the wisdom of the women.
“Love is so very hard to find that when you do, recognize it as the gift it is. You should hold it gently. Don’t squeeze too hard, but don’t let it go. These men are different in every way. Their lives have been entirely about protecting others, with no thought as to who would protect them. Expect that they’ll be overbearing, alpha in every way. But recognize how unbelievably special that is and that they’ve chosen us to be by their sides. He will protect you, but you will protect him as well. He will drive you mad with his overprotection, but he will soothe you with his love and adoration of you. And there is nothing like the love of one of these men.”
“That’s so beautiful,” she said, looking at all the women. “I knew I loved CJ from the moment I met him. I felt so guilty. I was seeing Tim, engaged to him, or so I thought. Yet when CJ shook my hand it was like my entire body ignited.”
“I know that feeling,” smiled Ajei. “Luke and I have known one another since we were kids. But there was this moment one Christmas when I leaned over to him to whisper in his ear. It was the first time I smelled cologne on him. I was maybe fifteen, and he was almost eighteen. But I knew. And I think he did as well.”
“You were so young,” said Jill.
“We were but we knew. Luke went off to Annapolis, and I decided to go to nursing school in the area. We overlapped for about eighteen months, then, he was sent to his team in Virginia.”
“Still not very far,” smiled Kate.
“Nope. We saw one another whenever we could. I knew we were going to be married. I think I might have been one of the few wives who experienced being a military wife full-on. He was with the Teams for the first eight years of our marriage. Garrett was just a little guy, and he was missing his daddy big time.”
“It must have been so difficult,” said Jill.
“It was and it wasn’t. Look around you. I had dozens of amazing women to help me. Plus, I was always busy at the clinic. It seemed to never stop around here. What you’ll find, Jill, is that no matter where the men go, how long they’re gone, the wives here support one another. We stick together, we’re safe, and we always find ways to stay busy.”
“I love that,” she smiled. “I didn’t have a lot of female influence in my life. Mrs. Clausen was great, but she was old before I even knew her. She had very conservative ideas of what women should do and not do, wear and not wear. It influenced me a great deal.”
“As it should have,” said Kate. “You’re a beautiful woman, Jill. You’ll find what excites you and what makes you feel good about yourself. The great news is, you’ve got more than a hundred women who will always be willing to talk to you, help you, guide you.”
“Do you like to read?” asked Winnie with a smile.
“Read? I mean, I guess so. I never had much time for reading anything except legal journals. I like a good romance novel now and then,” she smiled.
“Perfect,” said Ajei. “Have you ever read anything by CC Robat?”
“Everything! I love his books.”
“Her books,” smiled Kate. “CC Robat is the pen name for Charlie. Ace’s wife, AJ’s mom.”
“Wait. She lives here?”
“Yep. She writes from here, runs her lingerie business from here, all of it. She’s even started doing podcasts. They’re very exciting. I think we should do some shopping in her store and see what we can find for your wedding night.”
“Holy cow, I can’t wait to show CJ what I buy,” she laughed. “He got excited with my plain old cotton bra and panties.”
“Men are simple creatures,” frowned Gwen. “Women tend to get all nervous about how a man might react to her when she’s naked. Never in the history of mankind has a man run away from a naked woman.”
“That’s true,” smiled Ajei. “I remember Luke and I when we first spent the night together. He was twenty-four, I was twenty-two. We were so awkward, and I was a nurse, for goodness sake. But he was so beautiful and perfect. I was incredibly nervous.”
“You? But you’re beautiful,” said Jill.
“We’re all beautiful,” said Ajei. “That’s what we need to learn. Men like the female form. Yes, they like certain female forms better than others, thank goodness. But they like our bodies, our shapes, what we have that they don’t have.”
“I guess that’s true,” she smiled. “Don’t tell CJ, but Tim and I didn’t have the best sex life. I guess maybe because it wasn’t real for him.”
“Or because it wasn’t right for you,” said Winnie. “Believe me, if it’s not right for you, the sex sucks. But when it’s perfect, when he’s perfect for you, goodness, it all aligns.” She fanned herself, and the other women laughed.
“Well, I think I have a dress, shoes, some sexy items for my wedding night, and Claudette’s taking care of the flowers and the food. I’ve got my escort down the aisle. I’m ready to be Mrs. CJ Abbott.”
“Then I’d say it’s time for dinner,” smiled Ajei. “Besides, now that you have some new things from Charlie, you can really make CJ’s head spin.” Jill laughed at the women, nodding.
“I cannot wait!”