“Hurry, Megan. Everyone’s already out here.” Marianna’s voice sounded from the runway area at the back of the store. She appreciated the relative privacy the boutique had for brides and their parties to model dresses. Sure, people could still see them if they wanted, but a person would have to be purposeful or downright rude to be able to do it.
Megan already knew what her mother would say about the dress. Sucking in a deep breath, she pushed open the changing room door and walked out to join Julie and Amber.
Marianna clapped her hands when the three of them stood side by side. “You all look beautiful.”
Megan glanced at Julie and Amber. One of the seamstresses pinned the fabric around Amber’s waist to make it a bit tighter. The pale yellow color harmonized with the dark skin and hair color of both of their friends. Megan glanced at her mother. Her expression spoke volumes.
She remembered one of the skits she’d watched on Sesame Street as a girl. Four shoes—three small tennis shoes and a great big boot—sat on the ground while some off-camera guy sang for the audience to try to figure out which of the things was not like the other, and to try to figure it out before he finished the song. Well, today Megan was the bridesmaid who didn’t belong.
“Are you going to try to get a bit of a tan, Megan?” her mother asked.
Megan studied the woman. Light red hair, cut short and curly, framed her face. Her skin, much lighter than Marianna’s and Megan’s, would have been washed away in the pale yellow dress if she’d been the one to have to wear it. Worse than Megan. She’d have thought her mom would have a little bit of mercy on her.
But it was her mother. Mrs. I’ll-say-what-I-want-when-I-want-and-make-no-apologies-for-it.
Megan sighed. “Probably not. I work until five Monday through Friday.”
“Have you thought about going to a tanning bed?”
Megan shook her head.
“It’s not a cooking coffin, Megan.”
Megan shook her head again. She wasn’t going to get back in a tanning bed. Not even for her sister’s wedding. She looked at her friends with their gorgeous darker skin color then down at her own white-as-snow legs. She’d just be the bridesmaid who looked a little different. She was the maid of honor, after all. It was okay she wouldn’t look the same.
“What about a spray tan?” said her mom.
“Last time I had one, I was orange. Though it would go with Marianna’s colors, it’s not a shade I prefer for my skin.”
Marianna jumped in. “Mom, look how beautiful the style fits Megan. Her calves look amazing.” She pointed toward the top of the dress and arched her eyebrows. “My sister’s got a killer body.”
Megan squinted at her. “We have the same shape.”
Marianna shrugged. “What can I say? We both have killer bodies.”
Megan, Julie, and Amber burst out laughing, and Megan noticed her mom chuckled a bit as well.
“They all look beautiful if you ask me.” Her stepfather, Bill, placed his arm around her mother’s shoulders. “I can’t believe one of our girls is getting married.”
Megan couldn’t believe he sounded so sentimental. He’d been their stepfather since they were toddlers. In truth, he’d been the only father they’d known. Both of them called him Dad. He’d never been cruel, but he hadn’t been overly close with them either. He worked a lot, and when he was home, he watched television.
“I can’t believe it either.” Her mother reached across her chest and touched his hand on her shoulder.
“Well, I can’t wait,” Marianna squealed. “Only sixty-three days.” She swatted the air. “But who’s counting.”
“Obviously you are,” Julie laughed. “Have you decided on our shoes?”
Marianna clapped her hands. “Actually I have. Be right back.”
She raced to the shoe section of the store. Megan pursed her lips together when her sister returned with a very loud red, orange, and yellow floral high heel. She didn’t know how they were twins. No way. Not in a gazillion years would Megan pick those gaudy shoes for someone to wear in her wedding.
Amber grabbed it from Marianna’s hand. “Oh, they’re so cool. I’ve never seen anything like them.”
Megan agreed with her there.
Julie touched it. “Feel the texture. They’re so soft.”
Megan didn’t care how soft the disgusting things were. Baby’s bottom. Kitten fur. They were still revolting.
“I’ve got a surprise for you.” Marianna pressed her hands against her chest. “The cost is on me. I’m so thankful y’all were willing to pay for the dresses that Kirk and I agreed to buy your shoes.”
“That’s so sweet.” Julie hugged Marianna.
“Yes, thanks.” Amber joined her. “I’m going to have to find an outfit to wear these shoes with. They are so cool. So unique.”
Megan joined her friends in hugging her sister, but she wasn’t feeling the same excitement over Marianna’s gift. She was just thankful she didn’t have to fork over the cash for the atrocious footwear.
Marianna whispered in her ear. “I know you hate them.”
“I don’t hate them.”
Marianna grinned. “Yes you do.”
Megan slid her arm through the crook of Marianna’s. “You know I’ll wear anything you want for your day. I’m so happy for you.”
“I know that.” Marianna kissed Megan’s forehead. “You are the best twin sister a girl could ever have.”
“Wearing this.” She pointed to the dress then the shoes. “And those. Uh, yes I am the best sister ever.”
Marianna laughed. “You really look beautiful. Your skin is flawless.”
“Freckles?”
“Your freckles are adorable. I’m sure Hadley’s uncle would think so.”
Megan elbowed her sister. “Whatever! I have no interest in Colt Baker.”
“You should.”
Julie called from the bridal dress section of the store. “Marianna, I know your dress is still being altered, but why don’t you try on the floor model so we can see all of us together?”
Their mother stood and walked in Julie’s direction. “That’s a marvelous idea. Here, let me help you find it.”
Marianna’s face lit up. “I’m coming.”
She raced off the platform, and Amber and their dad followed behind. Megan stepped down and plopped into the chair her mom had left. The last thing she needed to do was encourage Colt. She still couldn’t believe she’d kissed Justin yesterday.
She’d tossed and turned most of the night, fretting over how she would behave in front of him at work. Worry niggled her brain over how he would act with her. To her relief, he’d spent the best part of the day out of the office. He’d said he had court, but she had no idea who for. She logged their cases, and it was no one she knew of.
Maybe he was meeting up with some woman and he’d only been playing the part of Christian. Maybe it was all some weird act.
Shame washed over her at the ugly thought. He’d given her no reason to believe his faith wasn’t genuine. She was the one who’d behaved less than appropriately, flinging herself at him at lunch after church.
She didn’t want to think about Justin. Marianna was right. Colt would be a better match for her. A solid Christian. Raising his niece on a farm. Didn’t seem to have a sordid past. Very protective. She couldn’t imagine him disrespecting a woman.
She also couldn’t imagine herself in a relationship with him. She didn’t want a man. Any man. Sordid. Solid. Stable. Or surly. She didn’t want to partner up with anyone.
She was destined to be single. She’d finish school and find a job as a music teacher. Love her students. Love her nieces and nephews. And one day die a contented old maid. That was her plan. And neither Colt Baker nor Justin Frasure was going to alter the plan she determined for her life.
“We found it.” Marianna’s face shone with delight as she made her way to the fitting room. Their mother followed close behind, and normally Megan would join to help. Bu
t she wasn’t sure what her mom would say. Besides, it would be good for the two of them to have a little time together.
Dad sat in the chair beside her. She crossed her legs, twitching her foot. Not wanting to be stuck alone with her dad, she scanned the shop for Julie and Amber. They hadn’t followed her mom and sister into the fitting room. But they couldn’t be too far.
“How are things going, Megan?”
“Good.” She continued to scan the room. It was just as she feared. He would start talking to her.
Their conversations had been limited since their blowup when she was almost seventeen. As soon as she’d graduated, she’d hightailed it out of their house and never looked back. Of course, she saw them on holidays. And on occasion, Marianna would drag her to their hometown to visit. But Megan kept to herself. Listened to conversations between Marianna and Mom. Dad usually stayed in the TV room anyway.
“You still working at a law firm?”
He was looking at her. She knew he was. Why he wanted to start a big old conversation now after all these years, she had no idea. “Yep.”
“Still in school?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Finished for the summer?”
She nodded.
“So what are your plans?”
She glanced at him then studied the hem of her dress. She wasn’t going to get away with not talking to him. Praying for God to give her peace and patience, she said, “Well I hope to get a job this summer so I can do my student teaching while I’m actually working. It’s the only thing I have left to complete the program. And since I already have a degree, I could complete my student teaching on the job.”
He nodded, and Megan was surprised to see he genuinely seemed interested. “You have any prospects?”
“I have applied for an opening in an elementary school in Lexington. I haven’t gotten a call about an interview yet, but school isn’t out for the summer until next week either.”
“They wait until school’s out to start interviews?”
Megan shrugged. “That’s what I hear.”
Her dad patted her shoulder, and Megan tensed. “I hope you get the job.”
She looked into his face, and she could tell he meant it. “Thanks.”
“Here we are.” Her mom guided Marianna out of the fitting room.
Her sister was a vision in the sleeveless, sweetheart-cut dress. The fit was tight around her top and waist and loosened only a bit around her hips. It then flowed down over her legs and into a long train. Unlike the decorations and the styles she’d selected for the bridesmaids, Marianna’s dress was simple elegance. It was something Megan would pick for herself.
Though that would never happen.
Julie and Amber appeared from whatever corner they’d been hiding in. They stepped onto the platform with Marianna. Megan couldn’t deny the dresses flattered the wedding gown. Marianna had an excellent eye.
Her mother nudged Megan out of the chair. “Go on up there with them. Let me look at you all together.”
Megan joined her sister and friends. She grabbed Marianna’s hand. “You are absolutely gorgeous.”
“Thank you.”
Their mom waved her hands. “Okay. Stand in the order you’ll be in at the wedding. Let us get the whole effect.”
Megan stood beside her sister, then Julie, then Amber.
“Breathtaking,” said their dad.
Mom grabbed Dad’s hand. “You all look so beautiful.”
They turned to look at themselves in the mirror. Megan couldn’t help but smile. She still looked like the one that didn’t belong, but she couldn’t deny the overall picture was lovely.
Julie made her way to Marianna. She pulled back her hair to get a better visual for what it would look like in just a little over two months. “You’re going to be the most beautiful bride ever.”
Tears glistened in Marianna’s eyes, and Megan felt such excitement for her sister. Kirk was a wonderful, godly man. He would be a good husband. One day the two of them would have a passel of children, and Megan would have the opportunity to spoil them all rotten.
Amber stood beside Marianna. “This dress flatters you so much.” She turned toward Megan. “You’ll have to get a similar one when you get married.”
Her mother huffed. “She can’t wear white.”
Megan heard Marianna draw in her breath. Megan’s mother might as well have jabbed a knife through her stomach. Julie and Amber didn’t know the past. They had no need to know. Megan had spent eight years trying to forget. More time than usual of late.
Megan lifted her chin and straightened her shoulders. The look of confused shock on Julie and Amber’s faces made her nauseous. She nodded to Amber. “Thank you. Marianna does look gorgeous, doesn’t she?”
Marianna smiled. Megan knew her sister well enough to know it was forced. She clapped her hands. “I’m starving. Let’s get out of these dresses and get some lunch.”
Megan snuck a peek at her parents who were deep in conversation before she turned to head back to the dressing room. Julie and Amber seemed to have forgotten her mother’s outburst as they giggled back to their rooms. Or maybe they’d simply decided to ignore the comment.
Megan walked into her room and shut and locked the door. A slight knock sounded. Megan stared at the door knob. “Yes?”
“Are you okay?” Marianna’s voice, laced with concern, was a little above a whisper.
“Of course. I’ll be out in just a minute.” She sucked back the sniffle, determined not to let anyone know the hurt of her mother’s words.
Silence sounded from the other side, and Megan thought Marianna had moved on. Then another whisper followed. “I’m sorry, Megan.”
This time she heard the rustling of dress fabric and knew her sister had made her way to her own dressing room. Megan pulled at the thick red bow tied in the back. She turned toward the mirror. A single tear slipped down her cheek. She brushed it away with her finger. She was sorry, too.
Chapter 10
Conflict is inevitable, but combat is optional.
MAX LUCADO
Justin lifted his baseball glove and bat out of the trunk of his car. It felt good to hold the equipment again. At first, he’d been a little rusty at the practice on Sunday afternoon.
Could have been because it had been years since he’d picked up a bat. Or because of Megan’s kiss. He pressed his lips together at the memory of it. They didn’t have some passionate, fire-brewing exchange. And yet it had churned something inside his gut he didn’t know needed stirred.
He’d pondered what it could mean. Maybe the kiss was different because he was a Christian, determined to live for the Lord and not his temptations. Or because he didn’t whisk her off her feet and take her back to his place. Maybe it was because she let him know point-blank she hadn’t meant it and wasn’t interested.
Whatever it was, that kiss haunted him.
He’d avoided Megan yesterday at work. Spent most of the day running errands, met a few clients in a coffee shop. Today he had to go to the office. Seeing her tightened his chest. Even in a long skirt that appeared a couple sizes too big and a crazy, ruffled floral top, she’d looked so cute, he’d wanted to scoop her up and at least kiss the tip of her nose.
He shook his head. This wasn’t good. Not good at all. Women were his weakness. His greatest temptation. When he’d committed himself to the Lord, he’d promised to develop and grow his relationship with Jesus for a while. Then he’d consider trying to build one with someone of the opposite sex. He hadn’t been a Christian long enough. Only a few months. There was still so much he needed to learn about God and faith and trust and sacrifice. He still had too many women to seek and offer an apology.
“There you are.”
Justin looked to his left. Kirk and a blond woman wearing sunglasses and a ball cap walked toward him. Justin waved. The girl looked so much like Megan. Same height. Same build. He even noted the same hair color spilling from the back of her ball cap. He needed to
get a grip. He spent too much time thinking about his secretary.
Kirk motioned to the woman. “Justin, it seems like it’s taken forever to get the two of you in the same place. But I want you to meet my fiancée.”
“It’s about time.” Justin extended his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
The woman took off her sunglasses, and Justin dropped the bat and glove to the ground. “Megan?”
The woman laughed, and Justin instantly realized she wasn’t Megan. Megan had a dimple in her left cheek. The look-alike extended her hand. “Megan’s my twin. I’m Marianna. How do you know my sister?”
Justin blinked. He hadn’t known Megan had a twin. Of course, he hadn’t known she sang until Sunday. The woman had worked in his office for more than half a year and there was so much he didn’t know about her. Too much he wanted to know. He accepted her hand. “She works for my firm.”
“You’re Justin? Justin Frasure?” She shook her head. “How could I not have put this together before now?” A look of contempt flashed across Marianna’s face, and her smile wavered, but she recovered and kept it plastered to her lips.
“Guilty as charged.” Justin studied the woman’s face, wishing he could ask what Megan had said about him. He’d been a scoundrel. He couldn’t and didn’t deny it. But he was a new man. Something in him needed Megan to know that. More than any other person on earth. What had his secretary told her sister? Had she mentioned the kiss? Didn’t twins tell each other everything?
“This is great.” Kirk’s response broke Justin’s concentration. He looked away from his friend’s fiancée. “Megan is Marianna’s maid of honor. You’re my best man. And the two of you already know each other.”
Marianna frowned. “You’d told me his name was Justin.” She shoved her hands in her pockets. “You probably told me his last name. I just didn’t put it together.”
“No problem, honey.” Kirk wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “It’s great they already know each other. Especially since I took so long selecting my groomsmen.” He laughed and spread his arms. “It’s kinda hard to pick stand-ups when God, Marianna, youth, and video games are a guy’s life.”
Wedding Song in Lexington, Kentucky Page 8
