Ready to Wed (Ready #1.5)(4)

At least I was giggling and my mood felt a bit lighter. That was an improvement.

“No, but what am I supposed to do, Leah? Do you see a wedding shop here?” I asked, sweeping my hands in a grand gesture to point out the obvious. We were in paradise. There were bars, restaurants and tourist traps, but definitely no places to buy a wedding gown. I was screwed. Maybe I should just get married in that burlap sack Logan mentioned…or a bikini. He’d definitely like that a lot more than a sack.

“What are you grinning about?”

“What? Nothing.”

“Shit, you’re totally tossed.”

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

“Nuh uh,” I argued, but the words slurred and totally ruined my argument. I laughed.

“Oh, for f**k’s sake, Clare!” she said, trying not to grin. I could see she was trying to be serious, but she was doing a terrible job of it because the corners of her mouth were struggling to stay turned down and she finally had to turn away.

“Come on, Leah! Have a drink with me! My wedding is ruined…let’s get drunk! Well, I mean I’m already there…so you just need to catch up!”

She whipped her head around and planted her sundress clad body on the lounger next to mine. Her blonde hair and sun kissed legs looked right at home in this tropical location. I, on the other hand, with my freckled pale skin and red hair, looked like I hopped on the wrong plane. The only way I could stand the sun was slathering on four layers of sunscreen and wearing a huge floppy hat.

“You two are going to drive me insane by the end of the week. Listen to me, your wedding is not ruined. You had a setback, that’s it. We are going to get a driver and I’m going to talk to the concierge and we are going to find you a dress, come hell or high water. Got it?”

Snorting and trying to mask my laughter, I nodded; Bossy Leah always cracked me up. I loved her to death and she always managed to take charge when needed, but when she took on her alter ego and started barking orders and taking charge, I couldn’t help but grin. It reminded me of the little girl who stood up for me in that cafeteria so many years ago and instantly became my lifelong best friend.

“So, get your cute ass upstairs, change, and meet me in the lobby in fifteen minutes!”

“Yes, Ma’am!”

“And I’ll get you some coffee.”

“I like sugar!” I sung, as I started for the sliding door back into the hotel.

“Mmmhmm…I know. And for f**k’s sakes, wrap a towel around that shit before your fiancé has to kill half the crew for hitting on you.”

“Oh,” I laughed. “Oops.”

I grabbed a towel from the stack next to the door, and wrapped it around my scantily clad body. The last thing I saw was Leah shaking her head and laughing as I haphazardly made my way back to my hotel room.

“Drink it all,” Leah said, shoving a huge cup of coffee in my hand as I walked out of the elevator fifteen minutes later. Dressed in jean shorts and a green tank top, I was ready for whatever adventure she’d mapped out for us. I tried to have faith, but I was really doubting that I’d be able to find a new dress with such limited time before the big day. I’d barely been able to find the first dress, having just enough time to visit two stores in a single afternoon. The dress I’d bought was off the rack, of course, and one of the few in my size. It was beautiful, well…not anymore.

“Yes, Ma’am!” I said again, snickering.

“Mommy is funny today!”

“Yep, sure is,” Leah said, giving me a wry look.

While I was upstairs changing, Leah had picked up Maddie from the day camp and asked if she wanted to help us shop. Being the little diva she was, she naturally agreed.

“Let’s go shopping, ladies!” Leah said cheerfully, and all of us, including my extra-large cup of coffee with cream and sugar, headed out of the hotel and into the black rented sedan Leah had managed to obtain.

“The concierge gave me a couple places to check out, but based on everything she told me, there is one place I want to go to first.”

I gave her a thumbs up and we were on our way.

“I think you should get a pink dress Mommy.”

“Oh yeah? I’m not sure pink is my color baby girl.”

She gave me a pointed look that could only be pulled off by a five year old and said, “Pink is everyone’s color Mommy.”

Put in my place by my own offspring. Figures.

“Well, if there is a pink dress…I promise I’ll try it on.” I gave Leah a wink, knowing full well I wouldn’t have to keep my word. What kind of bridal shop had pink dresses?

I really should have kept my mouth shut, because as soon as we walked into the door of the beautifully decorated bridal salon Leah had chosen, in all its pink, glittery glory, was a dress that would have put Glenda the Good Witch to shame.

I think I almost went deaf from the squeals that emanated from my daughter.

“Mommy! You have to try this on!”

At least she said I just had to try it on. Based on the decibel level of that squeal, I figured she would have demanded I buy it on the spot.

No doubt hearing the noise from our grand entrance, a store clerk emerged and gave us a warm welcome. She was the nicest woman you could ask for when shopping for a wedding dress. A complete contrast to the stores I visited back home. They were all rush, rush…and highly annoyed I had come in at the last minute. Who gets married that quickly? Um, lots of people. Get over it. And no, I wasn’t pregnant. But thanks for giving me the once over.