Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
I thanked her for the coffee, and she smiled. “Put that hand down. You’re blinding me.”
I laughed. She had been cordial and congratulated me at work on Monday when she saw the ring, exclaiming over the beauty of it. It surprised me, but I was pleased.
“Have you made your plans?” she asked.
“Everything is all set. It’s going to be very simple. My parents and my brother, some friends. A quick ceremony, pretty flowers, a nice dinner, cake, and dancing. No gifts, no fuss.”
“A party, really,” she surmised.
“Yes, I suppose. I want a lovely day with the people I care about. I want pictures to look back on. I don’t want to be stressing that someone’s shoes don’t match mine.”
They laughed.
Eleanor took a sip of her coffee. “What about a dress?”
“That’s my biggest issue. I am wearing my mom’s. She brought it with her last week. I need it altered, but Mrs. Gallagher at the Sewing Center hurt her wrist and she can’t do it now.”
Holly grimaced. “I don’t know anyone else. I can stitch a broken seam, but that’s about it.”
“What has to be done?” Eleanor asked.
“Nothing major. A tuck or two in the waist and tightening the shoulders, a torn hem, and a few pieces of lace to be repaired. But sewing is not my forte. Mrs. Gallagher was going to call a few friends to see if they could fit it in.”
“I can do it,” Eleanor offered.
“What?”
“I love to sew. I make quilts and a lot of my own clothes. I can alter the dress for you.”
Reaching over, I clasped her hand. “Really?”
“Yes, of course.” She paused. “That’s what friends are for, right? To help one another?”
I beamed at her. “Yes.”
On the way home, I shared a look with Holly, who turned to Eleanor in the back seat. “We would like it if you came for supper with us at our place.”
Eleanor looked surprised. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, ah…”
“We can stop by my apartment, and you can look at the dress, then we’ll go to Holly’s place. I’ll drive you home later,” I offered. “Please.”
“I’d like that.”
“Great.”
At the apartment, I put on my mom’s dress, and Eleanor studied me. “Do you have pins?”
I laughed and handed her a box. “Mom brought these with her.”
Eleanor tugged and smoothed, pinned and adjusted, then stepped back. “There,” she said, taking a few pins from between her lips. “That’s better.”
I looked in the mirror. The tea-length dress was a rich cream with a nipped-in waist and a full skirt. The top was strapless, but the whole dress was overlaid in lace. The covering ended at my elbows and had an intricate scallop around the neck. A thin belt wrapped around the waist. I fingered a piece of the torn lace. “Can this be fixed?”
“Absolutely.”
Holly clapped her hands. “It’s perfect for you. Simon is going to love it.”
“Mia picked a blue dress online this week, and it came last night. Fits her like a dream. She loved it—especially the sparkles.”
Holly grinned. “I got my dress too. Empire waist in case baby in here grows even more than I expect.”
I took Eleanor’s hand. “Will you come to the wedding?”
“Oh, I can’t.”
“Please. You can make sure the dress is okay and enjoy the day. It’s small, so no need to be nervous.”
“I won’t know anyone…” She trailed off.
“You can sit with us,” Holly said.
“And my parents. My brother. Sheldon won’t know anyone either. Please come.”
A pleased smile crossed her face. “Okay.”
“Perfect.”
SIMON
I woke up, putting my hand out for Amy, only to find cold sheets. I sat up, looking around. The door to the bathroom was open, but the one to the hall was shut. I pushed back the blankets and grabbed my sweats, tugging them on. I wandered down the hall toward her office, seeing the sliver of light coming out from under the door.
I twisted the door handle and went into the room. Amy was at her desk, a book open in front of her. She was making an entry, looking up startled as I walked in.
“Hi,” she mumbled, closing the book.
“What are you doing?”
“Wedding stuff.”
“At two in the morning?”
“I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I would do a few things.”
I sat in the chair. “Couldn’t sleep?” I questioned.
“I had far too much coffee today with Eleanor and Holly. Plus two cups of Evan’s java after dinner. I’m still wired.”
I chuckled. “I barely recognized Eleanor when you brought her into the house. Talk about a transformation.”
“She’s so pretty,” Amy said, drawing her knees up to her chest. “And lost. She is funny and smart. But so afraid to be herself. I’m not sure she knows who Eleanor is. Under all that snark and attitude, she is really very sweet. I like her.”
“Maybe she just needed a friend or two,” I stated. “You and Holly will be good for her. And I agree. She was quiet at dinner, but when she spoke, she was funny at times.”