“Eww!”
“And it has to be that pink suit Mom picked out. I need a shower.” She headed for the staircase as he continued his protests and shut herself in her room, feeling better about herself than she had in a long time. While she was in the shower, washing her hair and reliving the shower she’d taken with Josh, a new thought occurred to her. If she was actually going to go through with this wedding, she should wear the dress she wanted . . . no matter how much of her hard-earned money she had to spend on it. When she finished, she toweled off and pulled up the bridal shop’s number on her cell phone.
“Hi,” she said when the salesperson answered. “This is Megan Vandemeer. I came in a couple of times this week to try on my dress and get alterations.”
“Oh, yeah, I remember you. Your mother is the dragon lady.”
Megan hesitated. She understood why the woman felt that way, but after seeing a more human side to her mother, she felt indignant on her behalf. “Yeah,” she finally said. “That’s her . . . Anyway, my mother changed my original dress order.”
“Oh, I know.”
“Okaaay . . .” Megan took a deep breath. “Do you know if it’s still there? I’d like to buy it.”
“But you already have a dress. I was assured you picked it up yesterday.”
“I know, but I want to know if you have the other one. I realize I can’t exchange it. I just want to buy it.”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Vandemeer,” the salesperson said, her voice thick with regret. “We sold it.”
Megan let the words sink in. “Are you sure? I just tried it on yesterday.”
“Oh, yes. That dress is pretty famous here. It was sold this morning.”
This morning? Why hadn’t she thought to buy it yesterday? But all the regret in the world wouldn’t change the fact that the dress was gone. “Okay. Well . . . thank you.”
“Have a good day,” the salesperson said before she hung up.
Megan sat down on the edge of her bed. Sold. It was such a final word, but she told herself not to get upset. She was determined to make this the best fake wedding ever. It sure was expensive enough to qualify.
Blair continued to call her multiple times. She knew avoiding the calls wasn’t the best idea, but she was terrified to hear what her friend had to say and wanted to put off the conversation for as long as possible.
Megan fed them all sandwiches that her mother had prepared and stored in the refrigerator. Then she and Kevin loaded his car with her wedding dress, shoes, and a change of clothes for after the reception. She wondered if she’d forgotten anything and suddenly wished her mother were around to oversee it all. The thought shocked her enough that she fumbled with the door handle as she put Gram in the front passenger seat.
Megan was squished into the back seat next to the monstrous dress bag, which inevitably made her think of her mother. Her dad had called not long ago to tell them her mother hadn’t even been seen by a doctor yet, and now Megan was worried her parents wouldn’t make the wedding at all.
They rode in silence all the way to the gardens, even Gram staying remarkably quiet. When they pulled into the back parking lot, Kevin helped Gram out as Megan gathered her things. As soon as she had everything, she started toward the bridal changing room.
“Megs, wait up,” a gruff voice called out from behind her.
Butterflies flapped in her stomach. “I don’t want to fight with you anymore, Kevin.”
He shook his head. “No more fighting.”
“Really?”
“Well . . .” A teasing grin lit up his face. “Not all fighting.”
She grinned back. “Good.”
“I just wanted you to know that I’ve thought about what you said, and I’ve decided to respect your decision. If you want to marry that asshat, I’ll let you.”
“There are so many things wrong with what you just said.” She laughed. “But I’ll take it.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Thanks.”
She took off for the dressing room, one of the rooms in the walk-out basement under the chapel, grateful to discover she was the first to arrive. After her morning, she needed a few moments to herself.
The room was furnished with a sofa and several wingback chairs that faced a wall of windows overlooking the flowering gardens. A full-length mirror stood in one corner, and Megan knew the door across the room led to a bathroom. She sat in one of the wingback chairs and stared out a window, trying to let the peaceful setting settle her unrest.
“Megan?”
She turned around to see Gram standing in the doorway. She looked older than usual in the Pepto-Bismol suit Knickers had chosen.
“Can I come in?”
Megan hopped out of her seat and crossed the room. “Gram. Of course. I’m glad you’re here.” She helped the older woman into the chair next to hers, and they sat together, taking in the view.
“It’s a beautiful day for your wedding,” Gram finally said.
“Isn’t it?” Megan sighed. The sun shone bright in the sky, and the temperature was comfortable in the shade, which would be perfect for the outdoor reception later. She almost wished it were for real.
Gram released a sigh. “I’m sorry I ruined everything for you. Your mother . . .”
Megan hugged her grandmother’s arm and leaned her head on her shoulder. “Good heavens, Gram, you didn’t ruin anything. Think of the stories we’ll tell.”
Gram chuckled. “Your mother will never let me live it down.”
“True,” Megan laughed. “And it will be awesome.”
“I know you two have your differences, but a girl should have her mother with her on her wedding day.”
“She’ll get here in time. I know it.”
The older woman fingered her pearls, then smoothed an imaginary wrinkle from her skirt. “There’s a reason your mother acts this way, you know.”
Megan sat up and turned to face the older woman, who patted her hand.
“I kept hoping she’d tell you herself one day, but she never did. She can hardly admit it to herself.” She swung her gaze to the gardens. “You wonder why you never saw your Aunt Heather again . . . I know your mother told you some ridiculous story about a fight over toilet paper.” Her mouth lifted into a weak smile.
Megan took her grandmother’s hand in her own, sensing what she had to tell her would be bigger than she ever anticipated.
“It wasn’t true, of course. Heather was always interested in your father, but he only had eyes for your mother. I hoped Heather would get over her infatuation, and I honestly thought it had died down. But one day when you were eleven, your mother came home and found your father and Heather together.”
“Together?” Megan asked in confusion. Then horrified understanding set in. “Oh, no.”
Gram nodded. “They were in your mother’s bed.” She took a deep breath and released it. “Your mother was devastated. She saw it as the ultimate betrayal. Her sister and her husband in her own bed. You and Kevin came and stayed with your grandpa and me for a week, remember?”
“Yeah . . .”
“That’s when it happened. Your mother didn’t take it well, as you can imagine. She and your father vowed to stay together, and your father was truly sorry. He did his best to make it up to her, giving her anything and everything she wanted. He still does. But Nicole was certain he’d cheated on her because she wasn’t enough. She’d always thought Heather was the prettier of the two of them. Since that day, she’s tried her best to be perfect, and she’s made herself and everyone around her miserable in the process.”