Steal My Heart, Trevor (Best Friends To Forever Book 2)

by Barbara Lohr

  Although from time to time Bryn visited other Lowcountry towns, she’d never come across another consignment shop like this one. In style and price, Coralee’s was the best. The stock ran way above secondhand. When summer descended, people fled cities from Atlanta to Raleigh Durham. They came to the shore, eager for a cool breeze.

  And they brought last season’s clothes with them.

  No way did a belle from one of the big cities want to watch another bride sweep down the aisle, wearing her dress. Stuffed with tissue paper and encased in plastic, the gowns were carefully laid in the back of a luxury car or an SUV and dropped off, just before the summer residents visited the five and dime for sunblock.

  Money was not the issue. Exclusivity was.

  When Bryn pushed into the cool air conditioning of Coralee's, Josie and Emily were already there, chattering with excitement. Three or four wedding gowns hung from the display bar outside the fitting rooms. The confections of lace and shimmery chiffon made the breath catch in her throat.

  Yep, this felt real.

  “Howdy, y’all.” She drew closer.

  Turning, Emily pulled her into a tight hug. “Can you believe it, Bryn?”

  “No, can’t say as I do.”

  With Coralee hovering in the background, Josie motioned to the bridal gowns. “Which one do you like best?”

  Drawing closer, Bryn couldn’t choose. “Mercy, I don’t know. They’re all exquisite.”

  Coralee blushed, as if she'd designed and sewn them herself. “Everyone knows if you want your dress to sink into oblivion but be honored, bring it to Sweetwater Creek. Remember Linda Sue Darlington’s wedding last year?” Coralee asked. “We read about it in the Sweetwater Gazette because the Darlingtons have a place here.”

  Bryn and Emily nodded, faces glowing with the memory of pictures they’d pored over.

  “The most gorgeous wedding of the year.” Coralee brandished her ball point pen before sticking it back in her bun. “That train needed six children, three on each side, to escort Linda Sue to the altar.”

  If Bryn were honest, the dress had looked like a back breaker in the pictures. One glance at Josie told her she felt the same.

  “Oh goodness.” Emily shook her head. “And when Bobby Lee dropped his part of that train, some say Linda Sue almost bopped him with a bouquet that could have knocked him out.”

  “I want something a little lighter.” Emily regarded the gowns thoughtfully. “This is my wedding and I want to enjoy it. It's not going to be formal, just a little affair. In fact I'm thinking of having it in the gazebo.” Here she nodded out the window to where the white Victorian gazebo stood on the square.

  Coralee, Josie and Bryn all sucked in a pleased breath. The very idea felt so right.

  “Why of course,” Bryn said.

  “The gazebo makes so much sense, Emily.” Josie nodded. “That night at the Chamber event...that was when you knew deep in your heart.”

  “The night you held up the sign that said ‘Choose me. Forever’,” Bryn whispered. Recalling that moment brought tears to her eyes. Had there ever been a moment more romantic?

  “The wedding will be just as glorious. Just as romantic,” Josie said.

  Coralee clapped her hands, and the three of them snapped out of their wedding haze. “I know this is a special time for y’all but we have to move this along. My husband would like to be fed tonight.”

  “Oh, right.” Scurrying toward the back of the dressing rooms, Emily yanked her T-shirt over her head. Snagging the hanger of the first dress, Coralee followed the bride-to-be, positioning the gown down her back so it wouldn't drag on the carpet.

  “Holler if you need more help in there,” Josie called out, settling herself on the circular pink velveteen banquette.

  Bryn took a seat next to her. “Isn't this exciting?”

  Turning, Josie squeezed her arm. “You may be next, Bryn.”

  “In your dreams.” She fluttered a hand. “No way am I getting married anytime soon.”

  Josie’s face emptied. “Does Malcolm know that?”

  “The subject has never come up.”

  Her friend’s mouth dropped open.

  “Josie, shugga. I can just about see your tonsils.” Bryn would not take this seriously.

  Clamping her lips shut, Josie looked flabbergasted. “Two years and you've never even talked about the possibility of getting married?”

  “Only in general terms. Is that a bad thing?” She wished they didn’t always end up talking about her dating situation.

  Josie’s brow wrinkled. “Maybe. How would I know?”

  Sitting here in the midst of the wedding hoopla, could Bryn picture the same for herself? With Malcolm? No happy, excited feeling bubbled through her. She slid lower on the banquette.

  “Didn't you love those pictures Malcolm sent back from the camping trip?” Josie crossed her long legs with the strong calves other girls dreamed about. “Everything looked so green and wild. I could almost smell the pine trees.”

  “What pictures?” Bryn hadn’t checked her personal email lately.

  “Sunday. On Facebook. He’d just gotten there. The group was packing all their luggage and gear into a van that would follow them to the launch site. Does any of that sound familiar, Bryn Peachum?”

  Sunday. Her cheeks burned because she knew what she’d been doing on Sunday. The beach. Running a hand over the slight sunburn on her arms, she said, “I haven't been checking my emails much lately. The turtles, you know.”

  With an exasperated growl, Josie turned to face her. “Are you kidding me?”

  Bryn squirmed under Josie’s scrutiny. “I have other things to think about.”

  “Like what?”

  Thank goodness Coralee appeared in the doorway of the fitting room just then, singing her version of “Here Comes the Bride.” The poor woman never did have much of a voice. Emily dragged herself into the room in a dress that rivaled Linda Sue's. No train but lots of puffs and swirls––way too many for Bryn.

  “How many people would you need to get dressed?” Josie threw Emily a wicked smile. “You might end up with a back problem that would definitely put a damper on the honeymoon.”

  “Point taken.” Bryn didn’t know if Coralee agreed but Emily turned and slowly disappeared.

  “That dress needs power steering,” Josie shouted at Emily's receding back.

  “Josie, stop. You’ll hurt Coralee’s feelings,” Bryn said softly.

  “Maybe they need my assistance.” Josie sprang to her feet. She threw a mischievous smile over her shoulder. “I'm practicing for helping you into your wedding gown, Missy.”

  My wedding gown? Bryn’s stomach sank faster than the time she’d sat in the dunking booth at the Summer Fete. Who would be the groom? The fact that Malcolm’s smiling face didn't pop into her head bothered her. When she got home she had to search her emails for those photos. Well, after she checked on the turtles.

  The situation improved with the second dress, which had a regal look about it. The gown had long lace sleeves and a lovely neckline. The skirt swept the floor with silken folds.

  “This is called a Juliet gown,” Coralee told them. “That little puff accent at the top of the sleeve is very sweet, I think. I won’t even tell you who brought this dress in.” Lips pursed, she was clearly waiting for someone to ask.

  “Spill,” Josie demanded. “Or I may never shop here again.”

  Now, that wasn’t a threat. They all knew Josie spent her life in tank tops and running shorts when she wasn’t working in the library.

  “I cannot say this out loud. And you didn’t hear it from me.” Coralee crooked a finger.

  Josie cocked her head as Coralee whispered. Although Bryn just about broke her neck straining to hear, she couldn’t make it out. So she waited. Josie looked at Coralee. “So who is that?”

  “Why, her daddy just about owns Richmond.” Coralee waited with a dramatic pause.

  “What? I still have no clue.” Josie thre
w up her hands.

  Emily laughed. Bryn grew more frustrated and Coralee looked exasperated. “Why do I bother? Let’s move along.”

  The three of them weren’t high society people.

  By that time, Emily had climbed up onto the viewing pedestal in front of the three-way mirror. Very gingerly, she turned around, glancing at herself from all angles.

  What a vision. Emily could have stepped from the pages of a fairy tale. “You look beautiful.” This dress was a dream, although Bryn wasn’t sure about the long sleeves in August.

  Josie blew out a raspberry. “She looks as if she's going to a wedding in Wisconsin. “Whoever Miss Lah-dee-Dah is, she must have gotten married in February.”

  Cocking her head to one side, Coralee brought a finger to her lips. “You could be right. I believe they did have a holiday wedding at their summer home in Maine.”

  By that time Emily was laughing and holding her sides. “This dress might be a little tight on me. I’ve been doing a lot of emotional eating recently.”

  “But happy emotions, right?” Bryn asked softly.

  “Absolutely.” With a bride-like smile, Emily disappeared into the back, with Josie on her heels.

  Left alone, Bryn drifted back into the dressing room area. The first room to the right held peach and pink dresses along with others in lime green. After wiping her hands on her sundress, she began to look them over.

  While she was busy in the fitting room, Emily came out in two more dresses that weren’t her at all. She had to struggle to keep the strapless gown in place. An off-the-shoulder dress presented the same problem.

  “I don’t want to deal with this on my wedding day,” Emily complained as Coralee ushered her into the back room.

  A few minutes later, a swish of silk sounded in the hallway. Leaving the peach cocktail dress on a hook, Bryn joined Josie as Emily came tromping down the hall. The wood under the dark pink carpet creaked from the footsteps of excited brides and concerned mothers. Josie and Bryn hurried into the main room and Emily made her entrance. “What do you think?”

  Bryn’s throat thickened just looking at Emily, who was glowing. “Beautiful.”

  “Definitely a bride's dress.” Josie tilted her head, as if she were analyzing the library’s website. “This has wedding written all over it.”

  Now positioned in front of the three-way mirror, Emily turned in a dress that was demure but fashionable. With a long tulip skirt, the gown was all about shape. Wide straps crossed in the back and looped into a trailing bow. The gown tucked in at the waist, shaped her hips, and then flared from the knees down.

  “Did this dress come from New York?” Josie asked.

  “How did you guess?” Coralee was looking pleased with herself. Her reputation was well-deserved. “The dress was sold in a New York shops but the family lives in Connecticut. I could give you a really good price for this creation.”

  But Emily didn't look sold on it. “It's kind of tailored. And I will never be a New York girl. Or Connecticut either.”

  Bryn joined Josie in a solemn nod.

  Josie disappeared and came back holding another dress. “What’s this buried in the back room?” Josie jiggled the hanger.

  “That's not a wedding gown,” Coralee said quickly.

  Silence fell. The three women looked at each other. After all you didn't want to get on the bad side of Coralee. With her hair swept back into a severe bun that held the pen that had probably written up many an order, she was no one to be messed with. A frown from her could mean the end of your social season in Sweetwater Creek. She only held back dresses for her favorites.

  The fitted bodice had a minimum of beading with dainty straps. A series of wide ruffles fell from the bodice to the floor, flaring a bit at the back. Beading glittered on the fabric like pixie dust. A girl could dance all night in this dress.

  While the three of them waited, Coralee’s face cleared. “This might be more your style, Emily.”

  Wearing a smitten smile, Emily nodded, her brunette ponytail bobbing. “I’ll just try this one, Coralee, if I may?”

  “Why of course.” Sweeping the dress from Josie's hand, Coralee nodded. “This way please. A very good choice,” she said over her shoulder to Josie.

  Bryn giggled. “That means you can come back to pick out your own dress, Josie.” By that time she’d taken her place on the banquette.

  Collapsing next to her, Josie wiped her forehead, now shiny with perspiration. “That was close,” she whispered.

  “Coralee has her rules. Let's not wreck this for Emily. Or you.” But her friend didn’t respond.

  “So you haven't been opening your emails?” Josie leaned forward, elbows on her knees.

  Bryn swallowed. She loved Josie. Really she did. But sometimes she wanted to strangle her. “I’ve been busy.”

  “But he is your man.”

  The words hung in the air. Was Malcolm her man? Bryn wasn't sure. What she felt for Malcolm wasn’t like what she was seeing on Emily's face. How could she explain that to Josie? She worked with Malcolm, for Pete’s sake. Couldn’t she see that?

  When Emily swept into the room with a smile that could heat the entire eastern coastline, Josie and Bryn both screamed, “Yes!”

  With Coralee fluttering about the dress, Emily mounted the display stand. Happiness cast a rainbow over the room as she twirled.

  As she watched her friend, Bryn’s heart pinched. Oh how she wanted this. But not with Malcolm. As if it were emblazoned on the shop wall, suddenly she knew that.

  “What's the matter?” Josie whispered. “You’re so pale. She looks great.”

  Pretending that her eyes were filled with tears of happiness and not a result of her own revelation, Bryn nodded. “Oh Emily, honey, you look gorgeous.”

  Seeing herself from every angle, Emily spun and then turned again. Nothing was holding her down. Where they lived, August was not to be trifled with. Makeup would be melting. Hair would droop. There was bound to be enough drama going on without having to deal with a dress that weighed as much as an Army pack.

  “Well then.” Clasping her hands in front of her, Coralee beamed. Following Emily back to the fitting room, she called out, “Why don't you girls check out the dresses in that first cubicle. I’ll be right with you.”

  They were back on track and hustled into that fitting room.

  “What color do you want? What would work for you?” Josie was flipping through the dresses as if they were cards on a poker table.

  But there was only one color for Bryn and that was the color of the roses at work. “Peach.”

  “Well, sure. Your red hair and all that. I'll take the other room.” Clutching three hangers, Josie left.

  Did Bryn want strapless, sleeveless or a tiny capped sleeve? A sleek fitted skirt or skirt that would whirl?

  She could hardly get undressed fast enough. Kicking out of her sundress, she slipped into the dress but couldn’t zip it. “Josie?” Sitting down, she slipped into her three-inch heels with a rhinestone strap around the ankles. These were her dress-up shoes. Shoes she wore to weddings and parties and anything in between. “Josie,” she called out louder.

  In the back came the laughter from Coralee and Emily, who were now fitting the gown. Coralee prided herself on doing her own alterations so that they were perfect.

  “I'll meet you up front,” Josie shouted from another room.

  “Okay.” Although she almost dislocated her shoulder, she managed to zip the dress. Then she scurried into the showroom, being careful in her high heels. When Bryn mounted the steps to get a good look, she could hardly believe her eyes. The dress was perfect. The heart-shaped neckline dropped to cap sleeves. The skirt whirled around her when she turned. She could picture peach roses tucked in her hair if she wore it up, with tendrils falling to her shoulders. Hearing a rustling behind her, she turned.

  “Well, I'll be.” Looking at Josie, that's about all Bryn could get out.

  “Ridiculous, right.” Her friend sm
oothed her hands over the fitted hips of a strapless lime green dress. Since Josie was outdoors a lot when she wasn’t at the library, she had a great tan. The effect was stunning.

  Stepping down from the viewing pedestal, Bryn helped Josie up. “I like the lime green beading on the bodice. That'll really light up if there's a sparkle ball.”

  “Just look at you two.” Back in her shorts and top, Emily stood in the doorway. “Bryn, that is definitely you.”

  And it was. The bodice was soft, linked to a tiny cap sleeve.

  Looking from one to the other, Emily said with a cheeky grin, “Are you two trying to upstage the bride?” Then she laughed.

  “Heck no.” Josie looked personally affronted.

  Emily almost bent double with laughter, and Bryn joined her. “I can hardly believe it. We're going to be one hot wedding party.” The three collapsed on the banquette together in a pouf of lime and peach with Emily sandwiched in between.

  Emerging from the back, Coralee blew back a wisp of hair. Then she stopped. All three of them sprang to their feet, smoothing out any wrinkles. “Well, ladies, those dresses look made for you.” She looked really proud.

  When Emily explained that she wanted to stop in with her mama the following day before any alterations were made, Coralee didn’t blink. Every southern girl knew that a mother had to okay the dress.

  Bryn drove home in a daze. All kinds of unexpected feelings tumbled through her. Watching Emily choose a wedding dress tapped into the hopes she’d built growing up. During sleepovers, they’d talked about their weddings endlessly. Every girl dreamed of this day.

  Oh, she wanted her wedding fiercely. Yearned for it like she’d wanted Hawaiian Barbie when she was little. The way she'd wanted her puppy Puff who, bless his heart, had passed on only a few years ago.

  But she didn't know who she wanted. Maybe she should do what Emily had done and go online with Lowcountry Singles to find The One. But her heart felt hollow just thinking about that.

  Pulling into the driveway, she could hardly wait to do a quick scan of the yard and check with Nanny. Had Nanny found the strength to eat her chicken noodle soup? If she hadn’t eaten, Bryn was taking her to see Dr. Greenway, whether she liked it or not.