Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Ramsey steps out from around the corner and up onto the small platform surrounded by mirrors. Instead of looking at the dress, I watch my best friend’s face as her lip quivers.
“Oh, Ramsey,” Carol sobs. “Sweetheart, you’re stunning.”
“This was my favorite one out of all of them, so I tried it first, and I” she pauses and turns on the platform to face us. “This is the one.”
“You know you have the right to be a bridezilla,” Piper teases her.
Ramsey laughs. “We’re getting married at Willow Park on the two-year anniversary of the day we met.” She looks down at herself in the dress. “This dress is everything I imagined when I think about our day.”
“It’s the classic A-line V-neck with a bodice of embroidered lace motifs atop a tulle floor-length skirt.” The boutique attendant rattles off the technical details of the dress.
“Deacon is going to be beside himself,” I say, feeling myself get choked up. “He loves you so much, Rams. I love you. I can’t believe my best friend is going to be my sister.”
“And mine.” Piper leans her head on my shoulder.
“I’m so proud of you, sweetheart,” Carol tells her. “Thank you for letting me be a part of this process. I’d like to think that the women my sons choose as wives one day would allow me to be involved, but this might be my only chance for something like this. I love you, sweet girl.”
A flash of Brooks standing at the altar while I rush down the aisle to him flashes in my mind. It causes sharp pain in my chest. I’ve been distancing myself from him. So much so that even last weekend, I cut our night short, claiming I didn’t feel well. It wasn’t a complete lie. My heart was hurting. He was being so sweet, telling me he missed me and spewing sweet words. It’s like he knew I was thinking about calling off our little deal to preserve what might be salvageable of my heart, so he pulled out the big guns. My heart was cracking wide open. I went back to my place and cried myself to sleep.
“I love you too, Aunt Carol.”
“So, do you want to try on the next one?” the attendant asks.
“No.” Ramsey’s smile is radiant. “I don’t need to try on any other dresses. This is the one.”
“Well, all right then. I think you might just be the easiest bride I’ve ever worked with,” she jokes.
“It’s not really about the dress. It’s the man.” Ramsey’s eyes flash from me to Piper. “I love your brother with all that I am. I’m honored to have you both here with me today. My sisters,” she says, her voice cracking.
“Now you’ve done it.” I stand and go to her, wrapping her in a hug. I feel arms around me, and I know without looking that it’s my sister.
“Got room for one more?” Carol asks. She joins us, and the four of us start to laugh.
“Well,” Piper says, stepping back and wiping under her eyes, “we planned for all day, but Ramsey is a super bride. So now what?”
“Well, how about we go to my place? Deacon is there with all my boys helping Raymond put a new railing on the back deck. We can pick up some food, something easy like pizza, and take it back with us.”
“Perfect.” Ramsey’s quick to reply. “Are you two good with that?”
Piper’s phone alerts her to a message, and I watch her as she reads it. “The guys got called out to another fire. I think I’m going to go to the firehouse and make them dinner to come back to. Heath says they went from the accident to the fire, so they’re all starving. They’re almost finished.” She looks up at us. “What do I make a bunch of hungry firefighters?”
“Spaghetti,” Carol answers. “It’s cheap, filling, and it goes a long way.”
“Oh, good idea.” Piper looks at Ramsey. “Raincheck?”
“Of course. Do you need help?”
“No. I’m good. Thank you. And the dress is beautiful. Palmer’s right. Deacon is going to lose his mind when he sees you.”
Ramsey grins. “I hope so. Thank you for being here today.”
“Nowhere else I’d rather be. Oh, I was supposed to tell you that Mom said she’s sorry she didn’t make it and she would make the next one. I guess the joke’s on her.” Piper laughs. “That’s what they get for taking yet another cruise.”
“Hey,” Carol defends them. “They’re retired. In fact, I need to tell my husband it’s about time we take a few days away.”
“If it were me, and Deacon wanted to get away, I’d be there too. I don’t blame her.” Ramsey smiles. “Okay, let me get out of this dress and have them ring it up, and then we’re off.”
“I’ll order the pizzas,” Carol says.