CHAPTER 27
By the time they reached their third bridal shop, Beth was wilting.
“This one is pretty.” Sue said, holding up yet another gown.
Beth sat on a bench in a puffy white dress, rubbing her temples. “I already tried that one on. Can you help me out of this thing? I’m done.”
“Are you sure you tried it on?” Sue asked.
“Even if Beth’s not, I am,” Kim called from across the room. “She tried it on right before that hideous pink one.”
“Oh, you’re right. It wasn’t flattering. Are you sure you’re ready to leave?”
“I’ve tried on so many dresses, and none of them feel right. I’m exhausted,” Beth let out a long breath. “Honestly… I’m starting to wonder if this whole wedding idea is worth it.”
“It’s worth it because you don’t remember your wedding or your wedding night. That alone is reason enough to do it. Now stop being Mrs. Doom and Gloom and take that awful dress off—I’ve found the dress.”
“Lynn…” Beth said as her sister tugged her back into the fitting room.
“Lynn, wait…”
“Beth, trust me. It’s THE dress.”
“But Lynn I…”
“Seriously woman just trust me! Now turn around so we can get that ugly thing off of you.”
“LYNN, STOP!”
Lynn threw her hands up in mock surrender. She reached out to help with the dress again, but Beth caught her wrists and tugged her down next to her on a bench—tulle and all.
“No… Lynn… I…” Beth hesitated. “I need your help.”
Lynn blinked, surprised by the shift in tone. “Okay.”
“I want to tell Bryce I love him.”
“What? You haven’t told him?” Lynn’s eyebrows shot up. “Why?”
Beth shrugged, her voice quiet. “The why doesn’t matter. Not really. What matters is—I want to tell him. And I want to do it in a way that he’ll remember.”
“Okaaaay…” Lynn drew the word out slowly, eyes narrowing with interest.
“Bryce is really good at flirting, and I…”
“…suck at it. Go on,” Lynn smirked.
Beth rolled her eyes. “Yes, thank you. Bryce is really good at flirting and making it sound like he means something totally inappropriate… but then it ends up innocent. You know what I mean?”
“Yeah. It’s called a double entendre.”
“It has a name?”
“Yes.” Lynn answered rolling her eyes.
“Anyway… do you know how I could do something like that to him?”
“Of course…”
“Really? Just like that?”
“Yep. I am a woman of many talents. I mean, ya know… I am also the sister who knows how to flirt. Here’s what you do…”
Lynn leaned in and whispered something in Beth’s ear.
Beth’s eyes grew wider by the second. She gasped, pushing Lynn away. “No! Absolutely not! What even—noooo!” She scrubbed at her ears. “I can’t unhear that!”
From outside the dressing room, Kim’s voice drifted in. “Should I be concerned… or recording this?”
Lynn’s laughter echoed through the boutique, unapologetic and loud.
Beth stared at her sister, completely scandalized.
“What is wrong with you!”
“Nothing, I’m just not a prude like you.” Lynn said, still grinning.
“Just get me out of this thing and into the next dress,” Beth grumbled, cheeks still bright red.
Kim stuck her head into the room, raising an eyebrow. “Why is Lynn suddenly little Miss Sunshine?”
Beth gave Lynn a warning look that said ‘not a word’.
Lynn winked. “Oh, I don’t know… maybe I spiked my coffee. Maybe I’m just high on couture. Or maybe—Beth and I have switched roles. I’ve been cast as Pollyanna, and she’s the grumpy old Mrs. Snow.” Her antics caused them all to laugh.
“There,” she said a moment later, zipping Beth into the next dress. “It’s perfect. Go show Mom.”
Beth walked out and heard her mother’s soft gasp. Turning toward the mirrors, she caught her own breath.
“Wow.” Beth gasped.
“Wow is an understatement, sis,” Lynn said, moving to stand beside Sue.
“I feel like a bride.”
For the first time all day—she actually did.
“You look amazing, honey. It’s as though the dress was made for you,” Sue said, eyes glistening with tears.
Beth turned slowly, her hands smoothing down the soft white lace overlaying the silky skirt. The dress itself was simple, if not for the bodice—where silk folds gathered like a Japanese fan and pinched at the center.
Hundreds—maybe thousands—of silver pearls looped in an elegant strand around her neck and trailed down one side of the V shaped neckline.
“This cannot be right!” Beth said looking at the tag.
“Why? How much is it?” Sue asked, stepping forward.
“It was originally $6,500… and now it’s marked down to $450!” Beth said, wide-eyed.
“Yeah right! I’ll go ask Madam Genivi,” Lynn said loudly.
The slightly plump shop owner, with black shoe-polish hair piled high on her head and a dramatic flair, entered with a flourish—bun first.
“You call for me, no? How does Madam Genivi help you?”
“We wanted to check if the price is correct,” Sue said, holding out the tag. “It says $450, but the quality seems much higher.”
“IMPOSSIBLE!” Madam Genivi cried, tapping the corner of her lips beneath a painted beauty mark. She twirled her finger in the air to signal Beth to turn.
“Where did you dig up dis dress?”
“I noticed it in the back room when I used the restroom,” Lynn replied.
“Oui, oui. Zee price is accurate.”
“But why is it marked so low?” Beth asked.
“Ah, dis dress—it is a Madam Genivi original. One of my first. But zee fool seamstress made it wrong, all wrong.” She gestured dramatically. “Dis skirt should be white silk, not ivory. Zee lace? Irish, not French. Never would Madam Genivi request Irish lace!”
She shuddered.
“Zee bodice—it should be gathered, not pleated. And zee beads—HA! Silver pearls. Just because something is round does not mean it is a pearl. It was to be my launch gown for zee beach line. But dis… failure... ended zee line before it began.” She pressed a hand to her heart.
“Yet—on you? Oh-la-la! Dis dress is my greatest accomplishment. You will buy, no?”
“YES!” all four women chorused.
“Tant mieux, tant mieux! Good, good! You must try a veil.”
“I wasn’t planning to wear one,” Beth said softly.
“Wait here. Madam Genivi will change your mind!”
Seconds later she returned with a short veil attached to a comb adorned in rhinestones and silver pearls. She clipped it behind Beth’s temple, smoothing the veil into place so it capped her shoulders.
“Magnifique! Magnifique!”
Beth stared at her reflection. She looked like she belonged on the cover of a 1950s bridal magazine.
She turned to her mom for approval—and saw tears. That wasn’t surprising. But what caught her off guard were the tears in Lynn’s eyes.
“What do you think about the veil?” she asked quietly.
“It looks like your Aunt Helen’s veil. I have hers if you want to wear that instead.”
“I’d love that.”
“You look amazing,” Sue said, her voice catching.
“You really do, Beth,” Kim added. “Like you stepped right off the cover of a magazine.”
“Wow, sis,” Lynn whispered. “You’ve always been a beauty— but in this? You’ll take everyone’s breath away… and won’t even look like you’re trying.”
After leaving the boutique with the dress and shoes carefully packed, Lynn suggested they make one more stop before dinner.
“Since we’re already out and riding the high of your bridal glow, we might as well check something else off your list.”
Beth groaned. “You promised me food.”
“This won’t take long. There’s a cute little invitation place on the next block. Same-day printing. Trust me, have I ever steered you wrong?”
Kim raised an eyebrow. But no one objected.
Inside the cozy shop, the scent of ink and new paper filled the air. Warm lighting reflected off display cases full of shimmering cardstock and delicate vellum.
A cheerful woman behind the counter welcomed them and, after hearing what they were looking for, pulled out a portfolio of elopement and post-wedding announcement templates.
It didn’t take long.
Beth and Sue picked out a simple navy blue cardstock with gold-embossed lettering. The paper had a slight texture—classic but elegant. To go with it, they added a piece of translucent vellum overlay and a sheer gold ribbon to tie everything together.
Kim had the idea to use a photo, and when Beth showed them the picture Bryce carried in his wallet—of the two of them dancing in front of the fountain in Vegas on their wedding night—everyone agreed. It was perfect.
They placed an order for fifty printed invitations and worked with the shop’s designer to create a digital announcement they could email and text to extended friends and family. An hour later, with their printed stack in hand, they went in search of the promised food.
Halfway through dinner, one of them realized they’d completely forgotten about bridesmaid dresses.
Beth groaned good-naturedly. “Pick your dresses. Just match the invitations. I don’t care what they look like—I never want to go dress shopping again.”
They lingered over dessert and laughed late into the evening. By the time Beth was dropped off at the loft, it was surprisingly late.
The loft was dark except for a single light over the kitchen island. A note waited for her next to a vase of flowers.
Lizzy,
I couldn’t get you on your cell, but Dr. Gibson needs me to cover a shift. I’m working from 1am until 9am. I’m heading to bed but should be off in time to meet you at church. Hope you had fun with your mom and sister.
Love you
Bryce
P.s. Got one with a vase this time…;)
Beth turned the note over and scribbled her own message on the back before turning off the light and heading to bed with a smile.
Good morning.
My phone died—I didn’t realize until I was already on the way here.
We had a great time. I GOT A WEDDING DRESS!
I hope you’ll like it. I’ll save you a seat at church and pray your shift is uneventful.
Night.
P.S. !!!Check out our wedding invites.
P.P.S The flash drive has a digital copy of the wedding announcement and invitation!!
In the morning, she found his reply written along the edge of her note.
If you’re in it, I know I’ll like the dress—almost as much as I’ll enjoy taking it off you. (It’s a shame I won’t get to see the blush on your face right now!)
See you soon, sweetheart.
The coffee’s ready to be turned on—like me.
There’s a misprint on the invite…it doesn’t say June 1st… ;)
I sent the announcement to my family and work…no turning back now.
She hadn’t even seen him, but somehow, he’d still managed to make her blush.
Smiling, Beth turned on the coffee and headed upstairs to get ready.
This was shaping up to be a good day.