LITMIR.BIZ

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      “Mom!” Caroline sputtered. Had Evelyn Armstrong just said “shacking up”?

      Her mother patted her hand. “Sweetheart, your father and I were young once, too.”

      Caroline sat silent in her seat. Where was the woman who had nervously told her about the birds and the bees, blushing furiously the entire time. Caroline’s engagement had suddenly elevated her from the baby of the family into the secret society of women.

      Nick’s family had reacted differently to their announcement two weeks earlier. His parents had made it clear when he went off to college that they would not pay his tuition if he was living with a woman. He had thought that by getting engaged the situation would be more palatable. After his call home, he had reported that they had said little, except that they didn’t know if they’d be able to travel to both his graduation and a wedding that year.

      A letter from his father had arrived later that week, detailing all the reasons why Nick needed to reconsider getting married at such a young age. Reading the first few lines, Caroline had become so angry, she had crumpled the sheet into a ball and tossed it across the room.

      Nick had hugged her close, telling her that it didn’t matter what his parents said, they were going to get married. “I don’t need his permission, Caro. Let’s see what he says. We don’t have to agree with him.”

      The letter had been addressed solely to Nick, her name never mentioned at all. Dr. Eddington had reminded Nick of the dedication that would be needed to complete his medical training. Being married would delay that and he wanted Nick to weigh his decision carefully.

      “I’m not going to be a doctor,” Nick told her. “They want me to follow in their footsteps and I’m not going to do it.” He had tugged her close. “Instead of getting married at Christmas, let’s plan a May wedding. I can finish my degree on their nickel.”

      She had reluctantly agreed. Now that she had decided to marry him, she wanted to get started on their life together. But he was right. It would be smart to let their parents pay for their last semester.

      “How about we get married graduation weekend?” he asked, kissing her cheek. “They can’t complain about travel time that way.”

      Her mother turned onto Main Street. The downtown area was being renovated and several new stores had sprung up over the last few months. Brightly colored awnings shaded the downtown sidewalk. Ornate lamp-posts identified the streets.

      When her mother parallel parked in front of a shop with the name Radcliffe’s discreetly lettered on the glass door, she said, “I thought we’d stop in and see Lily’s shop first, and visit for a few minutes with her.”

      Caroline did want to see her best friend. Lily’s aunt had bought the old dress shop that summer and from her mother’s letters, she knew it had become all the rage in their small town.

      “I’m not buying anything, Mom. I have a white linen suit picked out that I can wear later for church and special occasions.”

      “And I’m sure it’s lovely, dear. You’ve always had impeccable taste.” Her mother unlocked the car door and gracefully climbed out of her side. Caroline slid out and followed her mother across the sidewalk.

      Her mother paused at the door. “All I want to do is see what she has to offer. You’re my only daughter and this is the only wedding I can truly help plan.”

      A pang of guilt hit Caroline in the stomach. Her mom had been involved with the weddings of Caroline’s three older brothers, but only in a superficial way as the mother of the groom. “I’ll look, Mom. But that’s all I can promise.”

      Lily rushed across the silvery-gray carpet as soon as the door opened. Her stunning red suit accented her curvy figure and slender legs. Caroline had only a second to wish she had put on something besides worn jeans and a peasant blouse before she was wrapped in a warm hug.

      “Oh, Caroline! I still can’t believe you’re getting married!”

      Neither could Caroline. Then Nick had asked her to marry him and she’d known she had to say yes.

      Lily leaned back, her eyes roaming over Caroline’s face. Caroline stayed still during the scrutiny.

      “You look happy,” Lily said.

      “I am.”

      “Then I’m happy for you.” She tugged Caroline over to an elegant gray sofa that sat perpendicular to the front door and perched on the armrest. “Let me see the ring.”

      Caroline held out her hand. The simple round diamond caught the ceiling lights, sending shimmers of rainbows around the room. The brushed-gold band sparkled.

      Lily smiled at Caroline. “We were going to be career women. We didn’t need men in our lives.”

      “I can still be a career woman,” Caroline said.

      Lily laughed. “Of course you can.”

      Caroline wanted to say that she had fought her attraction to Nick. She didn’t have time for a romance. She was going to finish her degree and go on to graduate school. Shortly after they started dating, he had said something about their future together and she had broken up with him, alarmed at how serious he had sounded.

      If she had been alone with Lily, she would have explained. How she had ignored him for two months, tamping down the feelings he had roused in her. Her plans didn’t include a man. She had watched her mother move from place to place, packing up their belongings and her four children whenever her husband changed jobs. Caroline’s father had been on a search for the perfect career and he had dragged his wife and children along with him.

      But her mother was sitting with them and she couldn’t say anything in front of her. Her mom had never complained about the moves and had seemed content with her volunteer work and homemaker status in each of their new towns.

      Caroline wanted more. She had made it clear to Nick that she wanted a career, that she couldn’t be happy staying home. He had agreed and she had accepted his ring.

      “Do you have the drawings?”

      Her mother’s question interrupted her thoughts. “Drawings?”

      Lily hopped up from her seat. “I have some drawings I want to show you. I’ll be right back.”

      She disappeared through a light gray curtain at the back of the shop.

      “What is she talking about?” Caroline asked her mother.

      “Be patient.”

      Drapery in the same muted gray as the sofa flanked several alcoves, a simple backdrop for the dresses and suits that were displayed on faceless mannequins. Caroline had a feeling she couldn’t afford any of the clothes in this shop. Her childhood friend had moved from giddy schoolgirl to savvy retailer.

      Lily came back into the room and sat on the couch next to Caroline, a large book in her hands. “The sketches are still pretty rough. When Evelyn mentioned that you were coming home, I immediately thought of all our conversations about weddings. I couldn’t draw fast enough.”

      She bent the cover back, creating an easel, and flipped through the pages. She rested the book on the low glass table in front of the sofa. “What do you think?”

      Caroline took one glance at the page and knew she was in trouble. “Oh, Lily!” she breathed.

      “Do you like it?”

      At the tremor of uncertainty in her friend’s voice, she reached over and touched the back of Lily’s hand. “It’s wonderful.”

      “I knew you wouldn’t like a lot of frills and ruffles so I kept the lines clean and simple.” Lily ran a finger over the pencil drawing, trailing across the long skirt that flared out just before it touched the floor.

      Lily had drawn two views, the front and the side. The sleeves were long and fitted, ending at the wrists with

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