“Hey hold up.” Gabe grabs my elbow bringing me back to him before I can open the door. “Is something the matter?” His face etched with concern for me.
“No, I just want to get this dress thing over with.” I lie.
He looks at me hard and long eventually accepting defeat letting my elbow go.
The dress shop is small and quaint with the tuxedo shop through a little walkway to the right. I notice all the guys already in the tuxedos since we are late.
“What the hell Basso?” Jack is screaming to Gabe. “Maddy, the girls are waiting for you in the dressing room.” He points me in the right direction.
Gabe and I raise our eyebrows at each other walking away from each other like school girls that just got in trouble but don’t care.
“Finally Maddy.” Lindsey comes out from the dressing rooms urgently waving her hands at me to meet her.
“Are we really that late?” I ask checking my watch realizing I was in such a hurry I forgot to put it on.
“We only have an hour before the next bridal party.”
“Are you serious?” I say in disbelief. They couldn’t spread out the whole two weddings that happen in this town a year.
“Yes Maddy. This is the best wedding shop in the county. A lot of girls come here from all over.” She challenges my why look. “Now, go in there and try on the dress.” She pushes me into the fitting room.
“Alright Lindsey. When did you become so bossy?” I stop myself short of running into the mirror from her push.
I cringe looking at the long emerald green satin gown hanging in front of me. There are beads sewn on the top half falling into an A frame over the stomach and hips. It’s a beautiful dress for someone else. I look at my pale post winter New York skin wondering how fast I can get a spray tan before Saturday.
“Let’s go Maddy.” Lindsey knocks on the door impatiently.
“Just a minute Linds.” I scream through the door.
Five minutes later after numerous knocks and yells from Lindsey I walk out of the room in the Irish bridesmaids dress to the main area. All the other girls are sitting down bored and annoyed. I am pretty sure they are annoyed by me, the groom’s little sister who is ruining the dress fitting by showing up late and taking forever. I notice instantly I am the only one in a green dress. The other girls are in red, yellow, blue, orange.
“Oh you look beautiful like I knew you would. Green is your color Maddy.” Lindsey rushes over to me.
“How come we are all in different colors?” I ask her. This is my first time being a bridesmaid except for Mackenna but they eloped in Jamaica and all I needed for that was a sundress.
“It’s a rainbow wedding. Every bridesmaid wears a different color.” Her smile showing how exciting she is.
“Oh, I’ve never heard of that. Interesting.” I didn’t really care what Lindsey wanted; it was her day and her wedding. I just wish I could trade my Irish prom dress for the blue one. Maybe then I could wear it again one day.
“Go up to the pedestal so Marge can do the last minute alterations since you haven’t been here yet.” She pushes me forward again. You would think she was my naturally born sister the way she treats me. I love it though. Lindsey didn’t have any sisters either so we were both equally excited when we found out we would be sister-in-laws.
“Jeez Linds, calm down.” I say walking grudgingly up to the pedestal so Marge the shop seamstress can molest my body.
“Hey, don’t be talking to my fiancé like that. She is technically going to be your older sister in a couple days.” Jack’s deep voice carries over the store as he and his groomsman come into view behind me.
Now I am going to have the boys as an audience to my humiliation of being poked and pulled.
“Wow Little Jennings” one of the Bigs says. “What’s that phrase? An ugly duckling turning into a swan.”
“She was always a swan.” Gabe whispers. I pretend I don’t hear him but the smile that forms across my face might have given me away. My eyes meet his from the mirror making him instantly look down.
“Whatever, now she’s a smokin’ hot swan.” The guy bellows.
“That’s my sister Edwards.” Jack hits Bryan’s older brother.
“It doesn’t change the fact.” He says shaking his head.
“Enough boys, get out.” Lindsey looks directly at Jack pointing towards the door.
“Sorry Linds, gotta stay it’s like she’s on display for all of us to observe and appreciate.” Edwards sits down making himself comfortable. It is hard to believe he is brothers with Bryan.
“Listen Shawn Edwards, I know your mom and dad. They wouldn’t like you disrespecting a girl like this. I suggest you go with your friends.” Marge looks him square in the eye.
“Alright, alright Marge. Calm down.” He stands up pressing his hands down to the ground. “Maddy, we can catch up later. If I am lucky you will be the one I will be escorting to your brother’s funeral on Saturday.” He winks at me through the mirror.
“Enough Shawn!” All the girls scream as well as Jack.
“Ok, ok. I’m leaving.” He backs up still checking me out in the mirror.
I roll my eyes in disgust but once they meet the right side of the mirror my eyes lock with Gabe’s again. This time I notice him staring at me and when he sees me staring back he moves them across the room towards Jack.
“Let’s go Edwards.” Jack grabs the back of his neck leading him out of the store. “Linds, we will meet up after at Taps?”
“Yeah baby. I still have to try on my dress and you cannot be here for that.” She lovingly looks at Jack.
I wave good-bye to Gabe and my stomach drops when he winks back at me. Why does it keep doing that?
After Marge finishes pinning me making a zillion little holes in my skin I get my reward and take off the dress. Changing back into my capris and flip-flops I feel back to normal.
I hear loud oohhs and ahhs from the fitting room and I assume Lindsey has her wedding dress on. I don’t really see what the big deal is. She is going to wear white even though if old rules still prevailed she should wear ivory or something other than white. She probably spent more than her months salary on this dress that she will wear one day. I truly don’t see the point in the whole big wedding thing.
I slowly walk down the hallway following the compliments ringing at the end. Don’t get me wrong I am sure Lindsey looks beautiful. She could look drop dead gorgeous in a burlap sack. Maybe I am just cranky today. Turning the corner I see Lindsey in a Cinderella style dress. It’s form fitting through the top and flares out at the waist into layers of tulle and satin. She was more than gorgeous; she should be a model in a Brides magazine. It isn’t just her in the dress. Her smile is pure and honest lighting up her face. Lindsey is genuinely ecstatic to be marrying my brother. Her eyes are sparkling not being able to turn herself away from the mirror. I can’t imagine what is going on in her mind but she isn’t paying attention to all the flattering remarks from behind her. Her mind is somewhere else. I never wanted to experience something as much as Lindsey was at that moment. I desire stirred through me to know what Lindsey was thinking to make her face appear as if her life ended tomorrow she would die happy.
It is a short walk over to Taps after we finished. I assume we will have lunch and then I can go home and lounge.
“So, are you with Gabe?” A girl’s voice comes up alongside of me as we are walking.
I think her name is Caroline. She is Lindsey’s college roommate or something.
“Um…No.” I look her way. I think she was in the orange dress. She has short strawberry blonde hair. She is shorter than me by a couple inches and attractive in that make-up model kind of way. I would like to see her cosmetic drawer or drawers in this instance.