Never Far Away (The Never #2)(41)
“Hmmm,” he bent down to kiss her again. “Drive safe. Remember to text me.”
“Ok, you drive safe too and have a good day at work.”
“Bye, Baby,” he said and she could feel herself drift back to sleep.
Ella pulled up to her store, only this time she was alone, without Porter to help ease the panic she felt roiling to the surface. She silently chastised herself for not calling the psychiatrist the doctor had referred her to; obviously, she needed to talk to someone about her panic.
She spent a few moments in her car, breathing deeply, trying not to think about the man in the dark hoodie who had disrupted her life so suddenly. Through the window of the store she could see Brittany and the thought that someone else would be there with her calmed her slightly. When she felt like her fear was ebbing, she ventured out of the car and into the store.
Throughout the morning she had a few moments where she wasn’t sure she could push the panic back and at one point she ran to the bathroom, afraid the fear was going to make her sick. She managed to keep everything under control, although she wasn’t entirely sure that the girls at the store didn’t think she was crazy.
When she wasn’t wracked with worry or trying to maintain the fa?ade of someone who wasn’t suffering, she marvelled at how different her life had become in just the span of a few days. She recalled being in her store and spending days in a haze, when her mind would drift to thoughts about the missing weeks in her mind. Now, she knew with certainty everything that had transpired during those weeks, and she was grateful to take the good with the bad. Her mind had sacrificed her security and mental well-being to bring Porter back to her. She smiled, partly because she knew she would eventually be ok. The panic would subside and her anxiety would ease, but she would never be able to be ok without Porter. So, it was a sacrifice she was willing to make.
When it was finally time for Ella to leave for the bridal shop, she felt exhausted emotionally. Trying to maintain a calm and cool demeanor while she felt like her heart was going to pound out of her chest was more taxing then she could have imagined. The panic she felt at the apartment and the anxiety she felt at the shop were similar and eerie. In her mind she tied the two events together, which seemed logical as they happened within a few hours of each other. She had a hard time separating the events in her mind, and the longer she spent at the store the more she thought about the night of the shooting and Kyle’s attack.
“Brittany, I am leaving for the day. Call me if you need anything. I probably won’t be in tomorrow until at least eleven.”
“Bye Ella. Have a good rest of your day!”
Ella was glad she had such dependable women working for her and she knew the store was in good hands.
When Ella arrived at the bridal store, she was relieved to feel her anxiety melting away slightly. It worried her that she knew the physical distance from the store was the reason she felt better; she didn’t like having to feel afraid at her store, the business she’d worked so hard to build up and make successful.
She immediately heard her sister’s musical laughter deeper in the store and she followed it to her.
“Ella! So glad you’re here! Kalli and I were waiting for you!” Megan said as she pulled her into a tight hug.
“Have you tried anything on yet?” Ella asked as she moved to give Kalli a hug as well.
“No, but I’ve picked a few out.”
“Why isn’t Mom here?”
“Well, don’t be mad, but I went out dress shopping with mom last week. I knew she couldn’t make this trip, some school board curriculum thing, so we went alone.” Megan looked at her, waiting for her to get upset.
“I’m glad you and mom got some time together and that she isn’t missing seeing you try on a wedding dress for the first time.”
A woman, who Ella assumed was the consultant helping Megan, approached them.
“You must be the sister and Maid of Honor?” She looked at Ella.
“That’s me,” Ella said with a smile.
“Great. Now that everyone’s here, let’s get some choices locked down and get Megan in a dress.”
As they sifted through dresses, Ella found Megan deferring to her about style choices and different fabrics. Kalli had a lot to contribute and Megan mentioned a few times how lucky she was to have such sophisticated fashion aficionados at her disposal.
Ella made sure her sister didn’t touch any mermaid cut dresses or any ball gowns. Kalli was a big fan of the sweetheart neckline on Megan, but didn’t like her in the blush colored fabric.
Ella heard Megan squeal from the fitting room and she and Kalli exchanged excited looks. When Megan came out of the room, Ella was sure she had never seen a bigger smile on her sister’s face. To see her sister so happy and in a wedding dress, immediately brought tears to Ella’s eyes.
“Oh my gosh, you guys, I think this is the one!”
Megan was stunning in a creamy white, satin, sweetheart-neck gown with cap sleeves. There was no poof, no bling, no embellishment at all. It was simple. It was classy. It was perfect. The way the satin draped over Megan’s curves was ridiculously flattering and Ella knew Patrick would die if he saw his fiancé in this dress.
“Megan, you look amazing,” Ella said, trying to hold back tears.
“Do you really like it?”