Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Fifteen
JESSA
T he clinking and clattering of dishes and pans disturbed my slumber, and I covered my head with a pillow. The girls were already up and out of the room bright and early. No surprise there. I really wanted to sleep for about six more hours after staring at the ceiling for far too long, contemplating whether I should or shouldn’t sneak up to Ethan’s room, then even longer after I’d done it, doubting what I’d done.
Our conversation had ended abruptly after his little speech about me being afraid. His words hit me deeply, but of course, I wouldn’t admit that to him. And then he had to go and say the sweetest things to me, which made my run-for-the-hills reflex kick in.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I’d snapped. “Let’s just stick to our truce and get through Ellie’s wedding without fighting, like she wanted. Good night.”
I had rushed out of his room and gone straight to the bathroom with tears threatening to fall. No way would I risk waking the girls and having them see me cry. Then I’d have to explain why I’d been in Ethan’s room and what had me so upset.
Ethan wasn’t wrong. I was afraid. Of a million things. I was afraid of being hurt again, but more than that, I was scared of turning out like my mom. I worried I’d be the one to do the leaving and someone would be hurt the way she hurt my dad. I was also terrified if I found someone, they’d want kids. My life had been forever changed by my mom’s decision, and it made me never want to bring kids into this world for the chance that I could mess them up.
I spent a while slumped down against the bathroom door and let the tears fall. I felt something for Ethan, which was most unexpected. But after seeing my brother Wyatt’s recent heartbreak over his marriage failing, I was afraid that no matter how much you loved someone in the beginning, love still died. I meant what I told Ethan. I wasn’t sure I believed in happily ever after. I could only hope and pray that Penny, Ellie, and Tally’s relationships lasted.
I rolled off the air mattress I’d slept on in Ellie’s old room, threw on jean shorts and a T-shirt, pulled my hair up in a ponytail without brushing it, and topped the look off with my favorite baseball cap. Ellie was making us get hair and makeup done today—ugh!—so no sense in fussing with it.
I headed into the kitchen and felt a smidge of disappointment that Ethan wasn’t there.
“Good morning, sleepyhead,” Ellie said from her place at the table.
“Morning.” My voice sounded scratchy.
Ellie looked closer at me. “Your eyes are puffy.”
“So.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?”
She went to the refrigerator, and I watched as she grabbed a cucumber, cut off a couple slices, and handed them to me. “Here. Go lay back on the couch and put these on your eyes.”
“What? Why?”
“It helps with puffiness.”
I rolled my eyes and ate one of the slices instead.
“Jessa!” she cried.
I grabbed the nearest chair, and it squeaked when I pulled it out. “What’s for breakfast?”
Ellie let out a sigh as she sat down again. “Gram made us a breakfast casserole.” She took another bite of hers.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Penny asked.
I wrinkled my brow at her. “Why are you asking me that?”
She pointed at my hat. “You usually wear that when you’re having a bad day. And you’ve been wearing it a lot lately.”
“My dad gave me this hat.” I pondered what she’d said. “I wear it because it makes me feel comfortable. Like a security blanket or a stuffed animal.”
Tally chuckled. “I can’t imagine you with a stuffed animal.”
“Maybe a G.I. Joe,” Penny teased.
“Duke slept on my pillow every night and kept me safe from Cobra Commander,” I said proudly.
The girls laughed, then went back to eating and chatting about things we had to do.
I glanced toward the staircase as I chomped on the other cucumber slice.
“He’s not here,” Tally said quietly.
I eyed her questioningly.
“Ethan. He went to Luke’s with the other groomsmen. They’re having breakfast before getting ready.”
My stomach fluttered. “I didn’t ask.”
Tally shrugged her shoulders.
“Hey, can you dish me up some of that casserole, Red?” I asked Penny when she went to get seconds.
“Only if you tell us where you disappeared to in the middle of the night.”
I coughed on a bit of the cucumber.
She came to the table with a plate for each of us and smirked as she set it down in front of me.
“The bathroom,” I replied.
The girls exchanged glances.
“Just say what you want to say,” I told them.
“You know when someone walks around upstairs, we can hear it down here, right?” Ellie said.
“I used the upstairs bathroom,” I replied.
“I didn’t know the bathroom had been moved into Ethan’s room,” Penny said with a chuckle.
I took a bite of the casserole and ignored them. “This is good. What time do we have to get our hair done?”
“Nice try,” Penny said.
Tally let out a little laugh.
Ellie shook her head. “Come on. Fess up, Jessa.”
“Fine. I went to Ethan’s room.” I nervously poked at the casserole. “But it wasn’t all scandalous like you’re making it out to be. I needed to talk to him about something.”
“About your loooooove?” Ellie teased.
I frowned at her.
“I’m just joking,” she said, but I knew better.
“Look, we’re going to behave for your wedding today. That’s all you need to worry about.”
The girls exchanged glances again. This was what I didn’t want. A bunch of attention on me and Ethan.
Ellie focused on her breakfast momentarily. “You know we’re here if you need to talk about anything.”
I looked up at her again. “I know that. But there’s nothing to talk about.”
“Okay.”
Grandma June entered the room then. “Are we ready to go to the salon?”
“Just about.” Ellie jumped up from her seat and bolted out of the room.
“If only she’d walk that fast down the aisle,” I said through a bite of casserole. “The less time I have to spend in high heels, the better.”
Penny and Tally chuckled as Ellie returned with three hot pink gift bags, one for each of us. Shreds of light pink paper stuck out the top and curled pink ribbons dangled from the handle. So much pink. I was thankful she’d taken our advice and chosen subtle shades of pink for our bridesmaid dresses or she might’ve ended up with a Pepto Bismol-colored wedding, like in that movie Ellie made us watch once, Steel Magnolias .
Ellie had insisted we each choose a style and color of dress we were most comfortable in. I tried to get her to let me wear dress pants in black, but she wasn’t having it. Fancy dress lingo wasn’t in my vocabulary. I would describe mine as a long, pink dress, but apparently, it was called a chiffon tank dress with a scoop neck in dusty rose. The top was cut like a tank top, which felt most like me. Penny’s dress was a pale pink and had lacy-capped sleeves and a v-neck, while Tally’s dress color was pink blossom with a higher scoop neck and fuller, fluttery sleeves. All of our dresses were floor-length, mine with a slit up to the middle of my thigh. I wasn’t one to wear dresses often, especially not pink ones, but I felt comfortable and pretty in the one I chose, which was saying something. I wouldn’t expect to see me wearing it around town after the wedding, though. Once was enough for me.
We each opened the gift bags Ellie had given us. Inside was a bag of pink and white M&M’s with “E+C” printed on them, a card, and a small square box. I lifted the box out and opened it without reading the card. Inside was a thin silver cuff bracelet with a subtle arrows-and-hearts pattern etched into its surface.
“Wait,” Ellie said as I went to put it on my wrist. “Look on the inside of the bracelet first.”
I turned it over in my hand and discovered a message etched there.
Solo Sisters 4-ever.
Unexpected tears burned my eyes. Why did I feel like crying? What was wrong with me and all these tears this weekend?
I cleared my throat as I pushed the tears away and put the bracelet on my wrist, noticing that Penny and Tally each had more delicate bracelets that went better with their styles. Ellie really was the best gift-giver. Always thoughtful about the gifts she chose. And she knew us so well.
“You didn’t read the card?” Ellie asked.
“Is it going to make me cry?”
Ellie grinned deviously.
I groaned as I opened the card and faced away from the others as I read.
Jessalyn,
When I think back on our friendship, one thing comes to mind instantly.
Fire.
So many of my memories are of us around the fire in my back yard. Talking about nothing. Laughing until our sides hurt. You helping my dad get the fire going. You fighting with Ethan over the best way to stack the logs to keep them burning.
I smiled as the memories came pouring back, and new tears stung as I thought about Dwayne and Jody and how they wouldn’t be here today. They wouldn’t see their daughter walk down the aisle. And I couldn’t imagine how Ellie felt about that.
You’ve always been there for as long as I can remember. Like an honorary part of our family.
You may not realize it, but you have a fire within you.
Your fire burns bright to everyone around you.
You’re strong and brave and no-nonsense. You get things done. You tell it like it is. But you’re also warm and kind, even though you don’t let people see that side of you. And despite your grumpy cat energy, your smile shines, and you bring so much light and love to our little circle of friends.
We may be opposites when it comes to our personalities, but we have everything in common when it comes to the people we love. And you are one of those people to me.
Thank you for standing up with me today as I marry the love of my life.
I love you like a sister, Jessa.
Forever,
Ellie (soon-to-be) Mason
The tears streamed down my cheeks, and I looked over at Ellie. “I hate you.”
She was grinning ear-to-ear, obviously proud that she’d made me cry. “I know.”
I crossed to the other side of the table and met her in a hug. “Thank you, Ell.”
“Love you.”
I squeezed her tight. “Love you too.”
The others exchanged hugs with her as well while I went and wiped my face. I frowned at my under-eyes, which were even puffier than they had been when I woke up. I dabbed a cold washcloth against them as I thought about what Ellie’s letter said about my fire burning bright to everyone around me. It reminded me of what Ethan had said to me last night.
You were always the brightest spot in any room. You still are.
Funny that they saw the same thing in me. Like brother, like sister, I guess. But if anybody was a bright spot around here, it was the two of them.
When I returned, Ellie handed me two more cucumber slices and pointed at my eyes.
“Don’t eat them this time.”
Spending the morning at Mane Attraction was annoying in and of itself, but it was made worse by the paparazzi outside, taking pictures of Ellie through the window, while her official wedding photographer took pictures of us inside the salon.
“I don’t know how you’re so calm with those creeps following you around,” I told her.
Ellie shrugged. “I’m choosing not to let them ruin my day.”
“Too bad this place doesn’t have curtains in the windows,” Tally said.
“We can fix that,” the owner, Dawn, said as she headed to the back of the shop.
“I mean, how many pictures do they need of you getting your hair and makeup done?” Penny rolled her eyes.
“I kind of want to go outside and give them a piece of my mind right now.” I’d do it if I thought it would get them to leave.
“Cooper was ticked when he found out they were in town,” Ellie said. “We were very secretive about this. At least we tried to be. We even leaked some false information to make them think we were getting married in Nashville, but somehow they’re still here.”
“They’re sneaky,” Penny said.
“Stalkers.” I scowled at them through the window.
“It’s my fault they found us here,” Ellie said with a frown. “I shared the group picture we took when we got here. There are only so many salons in town.”
“Smooth move.”
“I know. I wasn’t thinking.”
Dawn returned with some orange plastic tablecloths and masking tape. “I had these in my car left over from my daughter’s graduation party. Go Orange!”
“Go Orange!” Penny cried.
“Go Eagles!” I cheered.
Penny and Tally, who were waiting their turns for makeup, helped her tape them to the windows, which worked like a charm.
“I’m sorry, Ellie,” Dawn said. “I wish I’d thought to do that sooner.”
“No worries. I just wish we could get them off our trail somehow.” Ellie scowled. “I don’t want them sharing pictures of our wedding with the public. Cooper and I planned to sell a few of the official photographs to People magazine and give the money to charity. I want those to be the first pictures people see, not some tabloid photos taken from the bushes. If they found us here, I’m sure they’ll find out we’re having the wedding at the house.”
“Not necessarily,” Tally said. “They haven’t been snooping around the house, have they?”
“Not yet, as far as I know.”
“They might’ve found out the wedding was at the church and still think it’s there.”
Ellie frowned. “They won’t when they see the roof is gone.”
My mind started working, trying to come up with a plan to help.
“If only we could keep them away from your house and the church,” Penny said.
That gave me a sudden lightbulb moment. “Hey, what if we sent them on a wild goose chase?”
“What do you mean?” Ellie tilted her head to the side, and the hair stylist tilted it right back.
I filled them in on my idea, and they cracked up laughing. “It will take some coordination, but I think it just might work.”
“I love it,” Ellie beamed.
“Let’s do it!” I held my hand up in the air, and we all did air high-fives from our salon chairs.
We made a list of people to contact, and each of us took some names and made phone calls. Before we knew it, our hair and makeup were done and all the details of the plan were in place.
On our way out of the salon, Penny spoke loudly. “I wonder if the guys are still at Jimmy’s Cafe having breakfast before they go to the wedding venue.”
Ellie shushed her, pretending she didn’t want the paparazzi to hear, even though she really did so they’d go there in search of the guys. But the guys weren’t actually there. They were at Luke’s, waiting for their phase of the plan.
Over at Jimmy’s, Penny’s coworker Jasper and his girlfriend were waiting. Penny had sent them pictures of the photographers so they’d know who to look for, and they were all set to discuss how excited they were for the wedding and what a miracle it was that a new location had been found after the storm—The Sawmill—even if the ceremony had to be pushed back an hour. Despite being a bar, The Sawmill had plenty of space for a wedding with its large dance floor and seating area, which used to be a factory space. Lots of country music lovin’ couples had been married there. And the owners of The Sawmill were happy to oblige when Ellie called to explain the situation and asked to rent the place out for the afternoon.
We headed back to the house to pick up our dresses, crossing our fingers that the paparazzi would fall for it.
“Do you think this will work?” Ellie asked. “Because I really want it to work.”
I gave her a hug. “It will work.”
“Should I bring my shoes and makeup and everything?”
“Just bring your dress,” Penny said. “We’re not actually staying there. It just has to look like we are.”
“You’re right.”
Penny’s phone rang then, and she nearly dropped it while setting it to speaker. “Hey, Jasper, what’s the word?”
“They fell for it,” he replied.
We laughed and cheered.
“One of them came inside, and when he saw the guys weren’t there, he went to the counter and pretended he was one of the wedding photographers, saying he was lost and was supposed to photograph the groom.”
“Are you kidding me?” Ellie asked with disgust.
“Yeah, but I let Vonda in on the plan when we arrived, so she told him the wedding had been moved to The Sawmill and she thought that’s where they would be getting ready.”
“Thank God for Vonda,” she said.
“Yeah. She tried to stall him by offering him coffee, but he didn’t wait. We noticed the others were in their vehicles outside waiting, and they all took off in the same direction. Mission accomplished!”
“Thanks, Jasper.”
We headed for The Sawmill next. It was the ultimate triumph to see the paparazzi camped out in front of the building when we arrived.
We carried our garment bags inside with us and gave them our best grumpy faces to make it seem legit. There was a crew of people setting up chairs, an arch, candles, and decorations all around the wide-open dance floor.
“This looks really nice.” Ellie admired the work that had been done for this ruse.
“Hey, if you’d had a smaller guest list, you probably could’ve had the wedding here,” I said with a grin.
Penny and Tally laughed.
“Married in a bar?” Ellie gave me a disapproving look. “I think not.”
“Don’t forget, it used to be a brothel,” I joked.
Her mouth fell open. “Can you imagine me telling my grandkids I was married in a former brothel?”
We all cracked up.
“Could’ve made for an interesting wedding story.” I said with a chuckle.
Ellie wrinkled her nose just as my phone buzzed.
“Our ride’s here.”
We thanked The Sawmill staff and made our way out the back door into the alley, where my brother Shane was waiting with a U-Haul truck. He opened the back door to reveal four lawn chairs set up for us.
“So elegant,” Penny said as she climbed in.
“And unsafe,” Tally remarked. “Not to mention illegal.”
“You can survive fifteen minutes,” Shane said.
“Don’t drive crazy,” I told him.
“Let’s go before someone sees us.” Ellie scampered into the truck, and Shane locked us in.
The ride was a bumpy one, and the chairs slid whenever he turned a corner, which had us cracking up the whole way home.
“I never thought I’d spend my wedding morning like this.” Ellie held the garment bag containing her wedding dress across her lap as she pressed one hand against the side of the truck to keep from sliding into it.
“But you’ll never forget it, will you?” I grinned.
She smiled happily. “Never.”