The Marrying Type

by Laura Chapman

  He sighed, falling silent again. “I wonder why she isn’t married.” To someone else.

  “Why? It’s not like she’s old. You think I’m too young to get married. I’m surprised you aren’t saying she’s smart for not rushing into marriage.”

  Her words hit like a dagger to the heart, but he betrayed little more than a twitch in his face. Eric sighed and reached up a hand to massage the back of his head. “I’m not calling her a spinster or old maid.”

  “Of course not. They’re antiquated terms, and you’re all about the modern.”

  “I didn’t mean to sound condescending.” Eric itched to run his fingers through his hair, but settled for tapping them on the steering wheel. “I figured a woman in her line of work might be more inclined to get married sooner rather than later. She can’t be hurting for potential husbands living in this area. Her family has good connections with ties to old money.”

  “Elliot isn’t a gold digger. Why are you saying this? You sound like you don’t like her.”

  “I like her well enough.” His jaw clenched. “You wanted my opinion, and I gave it. Let’s drop the subject, okay? As long as she pulls off your wedding and you are happy, nothing else matters.”

  His sister dropped the topic and sat in silence for the rest of the drive.

  Eric appreciated the quiet—more opportunity to contemplate the evening. He couldn’t reveal his real feelings without having to explain his and Elliot’s full past. That was a disaster waiting to happen. He’d risk losing control of the emotions he’d kept contained for years. Unleashing the anger, confusion, and pain would take away from his sister’s happiness.

  Being around Elliot certainly reawakened the hurt he’d experienced years ago. It raised the questions he tried to avoid without success throughout the years. Did she ever love him the way he loved her? Was he foolish to pop the question when he hadn’t even been old enough to rent a car on his own?

  Had he overreacted when she called off the engagement?

  And now he had his sister’s question to add to the mix: What were his impressions of Elliot eight years later? Much as he hated to admit it, while she might be older, Elliot was as sweet and beautiful as ever. He had to be careful of letting his mind—or heart—shift in that direction again. Letting his guard down where she was concerned could only spell trouble.

  From The Marrying Type Transcript

  Filmed: June

  Airing: October

  Camera pans the exterior of Rosalyn’s bridal boutique in downtown Charleston.

  Announcer: Perhaps the biggest decision a bride makes—besides choosing the groom—is selecting the perfect dress to wear down the aisle. But is bride Sadie Warner in trouble already?

  Sadie: I have no idea what kind of dress I’d like. I want the dress to wow my fiancé. This sounds old-fashioned, but I don’t want Adam to see the dress before I walk down the aisle. Other than that, I’m open to anything.

  Announcer: Never fear, our favorite Southern wedding planner has the perfect place in mind to help the bride say ‘I do’ to the right dress.

  Elliot: My mom’s best friend Rosalyn opened her bridal shop a couple of years before Mom started Engagements. My mom and sister each bought their dresses here, and people come from across the state, because no one does wedding dresses like Rosalyn and her staff.

  Rosalyn: Finding the perfect dress is all about understanding the bride and what kind of a statement she wants to make when she says “I do.” We work closely with top designers from around the world to bring high fashion and traditional gowns to give our local brides more options.

  Elliot: They’re the best in South Carolina.

  Announcer: Because this may be the most important outfit she ever buys, the bride brought her cavalry along to help her make the right decision.

  Elliot sits in a crowded showroom of spectators waiting to watch Sadie try on dresses.

  Elliot: Today we’re here with Sadie’s bridesmaids and her future mother-in-law.

  Announcer: But wait—where’s the mother of the bride?

  Sadie: Unfortunately, my mom wasn’t able to come to town for this appointment. It’s a busy time of year at her office. She wanted to save her vacation time for the actual wedding.

  Announcer: But maybe our favorite wedding planner has something up her sleeve.

  Elliot: This is highly unconventional and breaks a few big rules, but . . . (holding up mobile device) Rosalyn agreed to let me work around the system for the day. Thanks to the store’s wireless connection, Mrs. Warner will be able to keep tabs on the progress. We’ll send updates and even bring her in on the video chat when—

  Heloise steps in front of the camera wearing a short skirt and tank top with a plunging neckline.

  Heloise: Is Eric going to be here?

  Elliot: No, he—

  Heloise: Well, (BLEEP). I wasted this (BLEEP)-ing dress.

  Elliot: It’s . . . nice. I’m sure—

  Heloise: I wouldn’t have put in as much effort if you would’ve told me he wasn’t going to show.

  Elliot: I doubt bridal shops are his scene.

  Heloise: You’re right. Silly me.

  Heloise blows a kiss at the camera and walks off screen. Elliot directs a pained glance at the camera.

  Elliot: (Sigh.)

  Chapter Nine

  “Marriage is not just spiritual communion, it is also remembering to take out the trash.”

  ~ Dr. Joyce Brothers

  SADIE STEPPED INTO the showroom floor with a shop consultant and cameraman following closely behind. The ruching on the sweetheart-neck, corset-style bodice drew attention to the bride’s slim waist. Unlike the two ball gowns before, she could walk without tripping over a mountain of fabric. Carefully, she stood up on the pedestal and gazed at her reflection. A hint of a smile formed on her lips. Taking a deep breath, she faced her audience.

  “Well . . . what do you think?”

  The crowd—including her bridesmaids, future mother-in-law, and Elliot—made the appropriate sighs and exclamations.

  “You’re beautiful,” the groom’s sister said.

  “Amazing,” Jessie, the maid of honor sighed.

  The groom’s mother simply sniffled.

  “You’re going to knock your future husband over when he catches a glimpse of you wearing that,” Rosalyn said, stepping into shot, casting a nervous glance toward the camera. “Is this the one?”

  “I . . .”

  “Excuse me,” Heloise interrupted. “I haven’t shared my opinion yet.”

  “Well?”

  Teetering on her high heels, she stepped around the bride carefully examining the gown from every angle. She pursed her lips together and shook her head.

  “No. Your hips are too wide. The satin draws too much attention to your problem areas, and the ruching makes you look like you’re getting hitched because there’s a bun in the oven.”

  Everyone else breathed a collective gasp. Elliot stood, but before she spoke, Sadie took another glance at the mirror and nodded. “You’re right. This isn’t the one.”

  “We can do better,” Heloise said. “Back to the racks, ladies.”

  While the shop consultant led Sadie to the dressing room, Rosalyn pulled Elliot aside. Elliot’s chest tightened when she gave a tense smile and asked the cameraman to sit this shot out.

  “What’s wrong?” Elliot asked, voice low and hand over the microphone.

  “I’m concerned about the expectations everyone here seems to have,” Rosalyn whispered. “The wedding is a few months away, and gowns usually take six to eight months to arrive in stock. Add a couple of weeks in alterations, and you’re well past your Labor Day weekend deadline.”

  “Can’t you work your magic?”

  Rosalyn raised a well-groomed eyebrow. “Honey, you’re asking for a miracle.”

  “What can we do?”

  “Let’s focus our attention on the sales racks.” Rosalyn led her to a different section of the store, rolling her
eyes when Chase followed them with the camera. “We have plenty of stylish, flattering gowns in style for her to choose from.”

  “What about the entourage?” Elliot glanced over her shoulder, where the other women perused the main showroom floor. “Should I tell them we have to change our focus?”

  “I doubt that’ll be a problem.”

  “Why not?”

  Grabbing Elliot by the shoulders, Rosalyn spun her around to face the other women again. Blinking to overcome the dizziness from the sudden movement, Elliot managed to focus on the activity in time to catch Heloise pulling a hot pink mess of tulle and satin from one of the racks. She held the gown up in the mirror, nodded, and handed it to the bewildered sales assistant.

  Adam’s mother pulled a simple lace dress from the rack, and Heloise rushed over. Grabbing it from the woman’s hands, she shook her head and placed it back on the shelf. The rest of the group took a giant step back from the racks, probably afraid of losing a hand or breaking an arm.

  “Oh. My. God.” Elliot’s pulse quickened and her hand formed into a fist. “She’s a monster. What are we going to do to stop her?”

  “I have a bottle of champagne in the back.”

  Elliot’s eyebrows rose. “You want to introduce alcohol into this situation? After she almost threw up in a flower arrangement at her last wedding?” She narrowed her eyes. “I’ve always considered you the sharpest woman of my acquaintance, and I’m asking this with love, but are you crazy?”

  Rosalyn chuckled. “There’s barely enough wine for everyone in this party to have a full glass. She can’t get drunk off of one glass.”

  “What if she hip-checks the future mother-in-law and steals her share?”

  Still laughing, Rosalyn snuck into her office and came back a few moments later with the bottle. Another shop consultant suddenly appeared with a set of champagne glasses. Directing the crowd back toward the seating, she sent Elliot a glance as if to say, “Now’s your chance. Check the racks.”

  Glasses poured, Rosalyn raised a flute in the air. “A toast to the bride.”

  The party followed her example and took a sip in Sadie’s honor. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Marissa snagging a glass and downing half the flute in one gulp. Poor thing. Even a trip to the hospital hadn’t earned her any sympathy points. For as harsh as Heloise had been to the bride, she’d given her sister-in-law ten times the grief.

  “Are you sure you want to eat that scone? It’ll go straight to your hips.”

  “What do you mean I ruined the shot by walking in the background? I’m a freaking bridesmaid.”

  “Why don’t you have any single men on your crew?”

  With the women settled back in their seats, drinks in hand, Sadie walked out wearing Heloise’s latest pick. The ice pink strapless fit-and-flare with hot pink tulle popping out at the bottom had a slit high enough to shock even the least conservative of guests.

  Standing on the pedestal, Sadie waited patiently—a note of weariness in her eyes—while the shop attendant put on the final touch. The matching fascinator, covered with a dozen pink feathers and rhinestones. The bride waited for someone to speak.

  No one said a word. If possible, the gown was even worse off the hanger. Elliot tried to imagine when a person might wear such an outfit, but couldn’t. This didn’t belong in a wedding, or anywhere.

  Heloise’s laughter broke the silence. Sadie’s face fell. Glaring at the bridesmaid, Elliot left her to search through the racks and moved toward the bride.

  “It’s not you; it’s the dress.” She spoke low enough so only the bride could hear. “Whoever designed it is nuts. Heloise is even crazier for having you try it on.”

  Sadie gave a weak smile and nodded. She allowed Elliot to lead her back toward the changing room. Elliot gave her tissues to blot the tears threatening to fall. Rubbing the bride’s back, she offered words of comfort. “Rosalyn and I are going to find you a beautiful dress. Do you trust me?”

  “I trust you.” Sadie sniffed.

  Back in the showroom, Elliot caught Heloise pulling a backless seminude sheath from a rack. Where did Rosalyn find some of these pieces?

  She had to act fast. Grabbing Rosalyn’s hand, Elliot went into action. Despite Heloise’s ridiculous selections, most of the gowns were actually quite beautiful. There had to be one perfect for Sadie.

  The women combed through the racks. One dress gave Elliot pause. The simple white lace A-line gown flowed to the floor. Straps formed a low, but elegant, V in the back. An ivory ribbon wrapped around the waist. Romantic and sweet, the gown would sweep the ground when worn, leaving a small train behind.

  Elliot cleared her throat, hoping to dislodge the lump forming. She’d only spent a month as an engaged woman, but she’d imagined what she’d wear walking down the aisle to Eric. This was it.

  In that dream, she’d worn her hair pulled back in a low bun. Softer and wavier than how she pulled it back most days. A veil wouldn’t work. Veils drew too much attention. Instead, with a fresh white orchid pinned behind her ear, she’d walk through the garden. Once she reached the end of the aisle, she’d take his hand and . . .

  A nudge from Rosalyn jarred her back into the present. “Are you okay?”

  Elliot nodded and returned her focus on finding something for this bride. Without a doubt Sadie would be stunning in the gown, but the same could be said for countless others. Elliot pushed past it. This wedding needed something more spectacular. The bride needed to grab the attention of more than three hundred guests. While the gown needed to make a big statement, Elliot had a hunch the bride would want something that screamed classic and elegant.

  Elliot found what she was looking for seconds later. She removed the cascade of lace and silk from the rack and let the train hit the floor. The strapless fitted bodice had delicate lace flowers forming into a sweetheart neck. The mermaid cut would fit down to the knees. The scalloped lace at the bottom and jeweled belt added the detail needed to steal attention from a groom and congregation.

  This dress mixed quiet elegance and high fashion. It melded traditional and modern. Paired with a long lace-trimmed veil, Sadie would be perfect when she said “I do.”

  Elliot knocked on the changing room door. Through a small opening, Sadie peeked through. Eyes falling on the gown, she swung the door open completely.

  “Oh my.”

  “How about this?”

  “It’s gorgeous.” Sadie’s voice fell in a whisper as her eyes scanned the piece in Elliot’s arms. “The lace and beadwork. Oh, this is darling.”

  Her eyes lit up, and Elliot watched the bride fall in love. Sadie reached out to the lace, but pulled back. “I’m not sure I can pull it off. It’s like something a princess would wear.”

  “Aside from marrying into the royal family, when else can a woman be a princess if not on her wedding day?” Rosalyn asked.

  “Well . . .”

  “Don’t worry about what anyone else will say,” Elliot said. “Do you or don’t you like the lace and beading?”

  “I do,” Sadie said without hesitation.

  “Do you like the shape?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is this one of the most beautiful things you’ve seen in your life?”

  “It is.”

  “I agree.” Elliot grinned. “Even if it’s not the one for you, aren’t you a little curious to try it on?”

  “I am.”

  “Then let’s try it on.”

  At last, Sadie broke down and pulled it into the changing room.

  Elliot stayed with Sadie to assist the shop clerk, who showed her how to button the back. They shared a glance while they worked together wordlessly. This was the one. Elliot could barely contain her excitement imagining Sadie’s delight when she caught her reflection.

  Holding her shoulders lightly, Elliot slowly turned Sadie to face the mirror. She caught the moment the joy reached Sadie’s eyes and tears filled her own.

  “I love it,” Sadie said, tears
flowing down her cheeks. “It’s beautiful. I look beautiful. I . . . This is it. This is what I’m going to wear when I marry Adam.”

  After taking a moment to dry her tears, Sadie faced her companions. On the pedestal, the consultant added a cathedral-length lace-trimmed veil. Even Heloise couldn’t find any flaws.

  “I love it, and I love you.” Sadie pulled Elliot into a tight embrace. “Thank you. I don’t know what else to say, but thank you. You understand what I want better than I do.”

  Elliot lifted her arms to hug the woman back, barely noticing the camera zooming in for a closer shot of the moment. Right now she didn’t care. The TV show and drama from the past didn’t matter. Sadie had found what she wanted to wear the day she started a life with the man of her dreams.

  With the gown selected, Rosalyn assured the bride the adjustments could be made before her wedding. The women still had a couple of hours left before their lunch reservation, and Rosalyn suggested the bridesmaids try on a few outfits.

  Elliot winced. Trying on wedding gowns had been a challenge, but finding one all of the bridesmaids wanted to wear would be purgatory.

  Sadie’s bridesmaids came from different parts of her life, and their tastes in clothing were equally varying. She’d been friends with Jessie, the maid of honor, since first grade. The rest of the party included the groom’s sister, a friend from high school, and two sorority sisters. Heloise fell into the last group.

  Once, after a particularly tense encounter with Heloise, Elliot caved and asked how she’d ended up in the wedding party. Apparently, Heloise had been Sadie’s “big sister” in their sorority. While they hadn’t always gotten along, it would’ve been a major faux pas if she hadn’t been invited to be in the wedding—especially because they now lived in the same city. Sadie’s hands were basically tied.

  Now, Heloise was proving how difficult she could be with her outspoken opinions for the bridesmaid’s dresses. She wanted high fashion and would accept nothing less. She was a local trendsetter, or so she said, and she had a responsibility to set the city’s fashion tone.

  That loosely translated to her wanting to be the center of attention—even if she upstaged the bride. Adam’s sister echoed Heloise’s sense of style, but the other bridesmaids weren’t as comfortable with her selections. For one, they required the wearer to be stick thin. Another factor: the price tags far exceeded the two-hundred dollar budget they’d previously set.