Bikini Season

by Sheila Roberts

  “You look beautiful tonight,” Dan murmured, his warm breath ruffling her hair.

  Those were the words of one lover to another! What are you doing?

  Erin’s eyes popped open and she stepped away. “I can’t be your perfect woman, Dan.”

  His lips compressed into a tight line. Then he said, “How do you know for sure that this other guy is really right for you? It’s not too late to put on the brakes.”

  “I don’t have to. I know what I’m doing. I want to marry Adam.”

  Dan took a deep breath and nodded. “If he’s perfect for you, then you should.” And before she could insist that he was, Dan turned and left her standing alone among the swaying lovers.

  “Did you see what I saw?” Angela asked Kizzy.

  Kizzy nodded slowly.

  “There’s the man she needs to be with,” Angela said. “What are we going to do?”

  Lionel chose that moment to insert himself into the conversation. “You’re doing nothing.”

  Kizzy frowned at him. “I don’t remember asking your opinion.”

  “Well, I’m going to give it to you anyway. You don’t want to be poking your nose into someone’s love life, Kizzy girl, unless you like getting it punched.”

  Kizzy shook her head at him. “Men may let their friends do stupid things, but women don’t.”

  “That’s called meddling, and it’s never a good idea,” Lionel said.

  “Lion, she’s with the wrong man!” Kizzy protested.

  “Wait a minute,” said Lionel. “Am I missing something here? You watched her for one dance and now you know for sure that she’s with the wrong guy.”

  “Yes,” said both women.

  Lionel rolled his eyes and shook his head.

  “And she knows it, too,” Kizzy said. “She just hasn’t admitted it to herself yet. That’s why we need to help her, before it’s too late.”

  “Well, when you learn how to get a woman who’s determined to do something not to do it, then let me know. I’m all ears,” Lionel said to her.

  “No, you’re all mouth,” Kizzy said. Then added, “But I love you anyway.”

  “Are you sure?” he shot back. “What do your girlfriends think?”

  The women ignored him. “What are we going to do?” worried Angela.

  “I have no idea,” said Kizzy.

  “You have got to try and talk to her,” Angela pressed. “You’re our leader. If she’s going to listen to anybody she’ll listen to you.”

  Kizzy doubted Erin would listen even if Cupid himself whapped her on the head. The girl was that determined to marry the wrong man. She sighed. If she talked to Erin would it wind up being the last time Erin ever talked to her?

  Twenty-three

  “So when are you going to talk to Erin?” Angela nagged as Kizzy rang up her purchases.

  “Not yet,” Kizzy said. “I’m waiting for the right time.”

  Angela grabbed some napkins proclaiming chocolate a girl’s best friend from a display rack next to the counter. “Add these on, too. They’re too cute to pass up.” Just when Kizzy was beginning to hope that she had dropped the subject, Angela picked it up again. “If we don’t do something soon she’ll be married to the wrong man.”

  “This isn’t as easy as you think.”

  Angela drummed her fingers on the countertop. “Maybe we should all talk to her. Then it wouldn’t just be you.”

  Kizzy shook her head. “If we do that she’s liable to think we’re ganging up on her.”

  “We’re not ganging up on her. We’re helping her.”

  “I don’t know,” Kizzy said doubtfully.

  “Well, I do. We can’t afford to waste any more time. I think we should say something on Friday.”

  “At her bridal shower? That will be cute.”

  “She can keep the gifts. She just needs to see she should be using them with a different man. And we can’t keep waiting. Time is running out.”

  “Okay, okay, I’ll talk to her,” Kizzy promised.

  So, true to her word, she gave Erin a call at work and invited her over for dinner with the vague idea of bringing up the subject of marriage at some point during the evening.

  “I probably won’t even be hungry for dinner,” Erin said miserably. “Not unless it’s nachos or something else bad for me. My computer crashed and I didn’t back up my file for the Black and White ball. I’ve lost months of work and I’ve already gone through half a bag of Doritos. I feel like my head is going to pop off.”

  “Oh, I’m so sorry,” Kizzy said. This was hardly the time to talk about Erin’s love life, not when her work life was swirling around in the toilet. But then she remembered Angela’s plan to gang up on Erin and made herself push forward. “How about burning off some frustration with a walk around the lake after you get off work?” she suggested. “That way you could burn off the stress without eating.”

  And then she’d stress poor Erin out all over again. That would go over about as well as a church picnic with no potato salad and fried chicken. How was she going to manage this, anyway?

  “That sounds great,” said Erin. “I know I’ve got to find better ways to cope than sticking my head in the chip bag.”

  “Don’t be too hard on yourself. There’s a reason they call those goodies we love so much comfort food,” Kizzy said. “We’re trying to change lifelong habits. I don’t think that happens overnight, maybe not even in a couple of months.”

  “It’s been longer than a couple of months.” Erin sighed. “I’m a mess.”

  “Then come on over to my place after you get home. We’ll burn off some of that bad energy. And meanwhile I hope you can regain some of your lost files somehow.”

  “Someone from the Geek Squad is coming over this afternoon, but I’m not holding my breath.”

  Kizzy wasn’t, either. In Erin’s present mood she’d never get through to her.

  But Erin’s mood had improved vastly by the time she got to Kizzy’s house. “Those guys are amazing. He actually recovered all my lost documents. It’s a miracle,” she finished, hugging herself and beaming. “Now our walk can be just for fun.”

  Just for fun. Oh, Lord. “Well, then,” Kizzy said resolutely. “Let’s go.”

  And so they started off at a good clip, which quickly left Kizzy winded. At times like this she remembered she was the old woman in the group. She grabbed Erin’s sweatshirt. “Slow down, Road Runner.”

  “Oh, sorry,” Erin said. “I guess I am walking a little fast. It’s just that I’m so relieved I want to run and jump and go crazy. Life is good.”

  Okay, here was a tiny opening. It could be the only one she’d get. “I guess so. Everything smoothed out at work, and everything all set for the wedding?”

  Erin nodded, smiling.

  Push the opening a little wider. “And you and Adam have reached an agreement on all the wedding expenses? No more arguments?”

  “Nope. It’s going to be fine.”

  “Everything you hoped?”

  “Close enough. A woman has to compromise. You know that.”

  “True,” Kizzy nodded. Great. Where to go from here? “And when you know it’s the right one you don’t mind compromising.”

  “That’s what it’s all about,” Erin agreed.

  They were getting nowhere this way. Kizzy took a deep breath and kicked down the door. “And you’re sure Adam is the right one?”

  Erin’s brows drew together. “I’m getting married in a month. Why would you ask that?”

  Oh, Lord, this was awkward. “Oh, I don’t know. You two were fighting so much for a while there, I guess I was a little worried about you.”

  “Well, you don’t need to be. Adam is exactly what I need. He’s sweet and stable, and life with him will be perfect.”

  “And he’s the only one who turns your heat up,” Kizzy added. If Erin agreed with that she’d be lying. To both of them.

  “Of course he is.”

  “Because I always say it�
��s never too late to change your mind.”

  Erin turned and looked hard at her. “Is there some point you’re trying to make?”

  “No, no. I just want you to be happy.”

  “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “You’re marrying someone who’s pretty much your opposite.”

  “So? Opposites attract. Anyway, we’re not all that opposite.”

  “You’re spontaneous. You love parties. You love things messy. Does Adam?”

  “Of course he loves parties. And okay, he is a little bit of a neat freak.”

  “And maybe a bit of a control freak?” Kizzy suggested.

  Erin’s cheeks turned pink. She was probably remembering how he’d hauled her away on St. Patty’s Day. “He’s not really a control freak. He just likes to keep on top of things. And there’s nothing wrong with that. I don’t want my life to be out of control. When my mom was sick …” Her sentence died, and she blinked furiously.

  “I know,” Kizzy said, patting her shoulder. “It was hard.”

  Erin took a swipe at a corner of her eye. “My life growing up was fun, but it was kind of crazy, too. I don’t want to live the rest of my life like that. Adam is the most stable man on the planet. He was there for me when I needed him.”

  Kizzy nodded. Okay, she’d tried. “I understand. You have to make the choices that are best for you.”

  “Yes, I do. So what’s with the third degree?” Erin asked with a puzzled frown. “I’m the one getting married. Why are you getting cold feet?”

  “I just saw you dancing with that cute bass player at the Slugfest and—”

  Erin cut her off. “Dan Rockwell,” she said in disgust. “Why would I want Dan when I could have Adam? Adam is amazing. He’s smart and handsome, goal-oriented. He’s so perfect he could have been on The Bachelor.”

  “He’s got the whole package,” Kizzy said. “But is it the right package for you?”

  “Of course it is. And I’m very happy,” Erin added, punctuating her statement with a scowl.

  “Good. I’m glad,” Kizzy said. “That’s what we all want for you.”

  “Well, then, you’ve got it,” Erin said, and changed the subject.

  Okay, thought Kizzy, so she’s going to be happy even if it kills her. And she’d tried. She really had. Short of kidnapping Erin, there wasn’t anything more she could do.

  Erin did a great job of looking like a happy bride-to-be at the Bikinis’ bridal shower for her on Friday night.

  Maybe they’d been wrong, Kizzy thought. Maybe she and Angela had imagined what they saw that night at Slugfest.

  “Did you talk to her?” Angela whispered.

  Kizzy looked to the living room where Erin sat with Megan, noshing on chocolate-dipped strawberries. “Yes. She assured me she knows what she’s doing.”

  “Well, she doesn’t,” Angela said and bit the head off a broccoli spear. “This is bad. Malissimo.”

  “I’m not her mother. I can’t tell her what to do.”

  “I can,” Angela said, and started for the living room.

  Kizzy grabbed her jeans belt and yanked her to a stop. “No you can’t, and you know it. We’ve got to let her make her own decision here. It’s her life.”

  Angela shook her head. “This is all wrong. I can feel it.”

  “That may be, but unless she asks for our help our hands are tied.”

  “Come on, guys. Let’s open the presents,” Megan called.

  “The best present we could give her is to have the groom kidnapped the day before the wedding,” Angela muttered.

  Kizzy sighed and raised her eyes heavenward. Lord, we’re still needing a miracle down here. This girl needs her eyes opened. And before the wedding would be good.

  Erin was more than ready for the big day now. The Bikinis had showered her with enough Victoria’s Secret to put on a fashion show. Two weeks before the wedding her aunt had thrown a kitchen shower for her, and this week the gang at work gave her a Macy’s gift card. She’d known exactly what to do with it. On the way home from work Friday she stopped by the mall and bought a high-end espresso maker.

  “Look what I got,” she said to Adam when he came over.

  He frowned at it. “I thought we were making our purchase decisions together.” ,

  “I got this with a gift card that was a present to me. I thought it was something we’d both enjoy. You love my lattes and my old expresso maker is dying. And you know we save a fortune making them instead of buying them.”

  He held up both hands. “Okay, okay. Never mind. Just promise me when we’re married you won’t do this.” He slid an arm around her shoulders.

  It didn’t make her feel all warm and fuzzy. “You know, you are a control freak.”

  “What?”

  “I never realized it. I don’t know why not, but I didn’t. Are you going to try to micromanage me after we’re married?”

  “Micromanage you? Is that what I’m doing?”

  “Yes, as a matter of fact, it is.”

  He heaved a long-suffering sigh. “Look, I don’t want to fight,” he said.

  He never did. He just wanted to get his way and have that be the end of things. “You know things can’t always be the way you want them, Adam,” she snapped.

  He pulled back and looked at her like she’d just had a psychotic break. “What is with you tonight?”

  “Nothing. I was fine until you came over and started making me feel bad.”

  “Come on. I’m not trying to make you feel bad.”

  He had rolled his eyes. He had actually rolled his eyes, like she was the problem. “You know, you have just managed to suck all the happiness right out of me.”

  Now he looked hurt. “Oh, babe. Come on. You know that’s not what I’m trying to do. Come here.” He tucked a finger under her chin and kissed her.

  She was too irritated to feel anything.

  He looked at her like she was a naughty child. “Come on now. You don’t want to be mad. Let’s save that for the big stuff.”

  He was right, of course. “Okay. No more being mad,” she said, and they kissed again.

  There. Everything was fine.

  We’re going to be so happy, Erin told herself as she drove to the Heart Lake Lodge to go over all the final details with Bev. It was now three days until the big day. She had taken the week off to give herself some breathing room, maybe get some extra sleep. Oddly enough, though, she hadn’t slept that well. She kept tossing and turning and dreaming strange dreams. In one she’d outgrown her wedding gown and it had popped open right before she said, “I do.” In another, she was walking up the aisle while the groom stood with his back to her. He turned to take her hand and she saw it wasn’t Adam. He looked like Dracula. He grabbed her with an evil chuckle and said, “I vant to suck your blood.” She woke up just as he was sinking his fangs into her throat.

  But this morning the silly dreams were just that. Her newly altered wedding gown was still fitting and Adam, after hearing about her dream, simply laughed and assured her he hadn’t grown fangs overnight. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and the weatherman had promised it would stay that way through the weekend—a perfect June wedding.

  The Heart Lake grounds were lush with rhododendrons and azaleas, camellias and wild roses. Tall fir trees stood guard over the large timbered lodge and the smaller buildings, which were scattered about the grounds like children playing in the yard. The lodge itself had a huge reception room with a wall of glass looking out at the stone veranda, the sweeping lawns, and beyond, the lake itself.

  It was going to be a lovely wedding, Erin told herself as she carried her box of Wal-Mart napkins into the lodge. That had been Adam’s suggestion and it had been a good one. It had taken her a while to see that, but now she totally got it. Who cared if the napkins didn’t have their names on them? She could re-use the leftovers for any occasion, and they were the perfect shade of green. They’d be wonderful.

  “Are you all ready for the big day?”
Bev greeted her.

  “Of course. I had to let out my wedding gown, though. How pathetic is that?”

  Bev waved that failure away with a flick of her hand. “You were too skinny anyway.”

  Erin smiled and shook her head. “You always know the right thing to say.”

  Bev led Erin into her office and they settled in with cups of tea. “So, I see you brought the napkins.” Bev made a check on the piece of paper in front of her. “Sweet Somethings is delivering the cake Saturday morning.”

  “Good.”

  “Then Changing Seasons will be setting up the flowers at two.”

  “Great.”

  “And,” Bev continued with a sly grin, “we’ll have the salmon dinner buffet set up to serve one hundred and thirty.”

  Erin’s heart stopped. Salmon dinner buffet? Where had that come from? “Bev, I didn’t order the salmon dinner buffet. You know that.” That would cost a fortune. Adam would kill her. “We’re having fruit platters from Safeway, and appetizers that my aunt is making.”

  “Well, you still are. But you’re getting this, too.” Bev beamed. “Happy wedding.”

  Erin sat back in her chair, dumbfounded. “Bev, you can’t afford that.”

  “You’re right. It’s not from me.”

  “Who, then?”

  “Your brother.”

  “Brett? He can’t afford that.”

  “Okay, Brett and someone who preferred to remain anonymous.”

  Anonymous, just like with the upgrade on the wedding flowers. “I don’t want it,” Erin snapped.

  “What do you mean you don’t want it?” Bev protested. “I don’t understand.”

  “I just … don’t want it.”

  “Erin, the salmon’s already here. You may as well take it.”

  Erin pressed her hands to her forehead and groaned. “Why is he doing this to me?”

  “I don’t get you,” said Bev. “Someone is nice enough to spring for this for a wedding present and you don’t want it? I know brides who’d kill for a gift like this.”