LITMIR.BIZ

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fit...maybe they won’t get all the alterations done in time.”

      “It’ll fit,” Melissa assured her.

      The attendant, a red-haired woman with a worried expression on her face, whom Melissa had briefly noticed as she entered she shop, tentatively approached the group. “I’m Enid.” She looked Melissa directly in the eye. “I take it you’re Melissa.”

      “Yes.”

      “Oh, thank God.” The woman’s shoulders slumped with relief.

      Melissa fully turned to face the woman, asking, “Where’s my dress?”

      “It’s hanging in dressing room number four.” Enid pointed toward the door. “You can try it on any time you’re ready.” Then she leaned close to Melissa and whispered, “But sooner would be better.”

      “Got it,” Melissa said, facing her cousin and giving her a bright smile. “Everything’s going to be okay. Don’t you worry.”

      Tasha nodded, but her glum expression said she didn’t believe Melissa’s mollifying words.

      Melissa greeted the other women with smiles and hellos, then briefly hugged her sister before heading into the dressing room. The bridesmaid dress was hanging on the back of the door. Melissa’s eyes widened as she checked it out. It looked even more beautiful in person than it had in photos. The lavender dress was a floor-length, one-shoulder stunner. The charmeuse fabric was soft and shimmery. The bodice of the dress was covered with a layer of lace, and a ribbon of satin surrounded the dress’s waist.

      A lump of emotion suddenly formed in Melissa’s throat. She’d always thought that by thirty, she would either be married or on her way to being married. Yet here she was, single with no prospects, while her twenty-seven-year-old cousin had found the love of her life.

      Melissa disrobed and put the dress on. It was meant to be fitted from the waist up and flowed elegantly from the waist down. There was a slit in the dress that came to midthigh.

      “Do you need any help?” the attendant asked.

      Melissa opened the door. “If you could zip me up...”

      The attendant eased forward and zipped the dress at the back, then Melissa fully exited the dressing room and moved to stand in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror. The rest of the bridesmaids gathered around her. Through the mirror, Melissa could see their eyes lighting up. That was when she fully took note of her outfit, giving it a slow gaze from the top of the one shoulder, along the lace-covered bodice that somehow managed to make her breasts look more shapely, and down to the length of the flowing skirt. A smile spread on her face. It fit her perfectly. And she looked beautiful.

      Tasha came up behind her, and her eyes filled with fresh tears. She had already cried a lot, given how puffy and red her eyes were. But at least these tears were happy ones.

      A bubble of laughter escaped Tasha’s throat. “It’s perfect. You look gorgeous. Just stunning.”

      “I told you not to worry,” Melissa said.

      “You look so beautiful.”

      Melissa turned and faced her cousin, the gown swooshing around her bare feet. “But not nearly as beautiful as you’ll be. The picture you sent me of you in your dress...you’re going to knock Ryan off his feet.”

      “You think so?” Tasha asked, a hitch in her voice.

      “I know so.” Melissa reached out and tucked a strand of her cousin’s curly hair behind her ear. “How could you not?”

      Tasha beamed. “Everything’s going to be fine, isn’t it?”

      “Of course it is,” Melissa said. “Why wouldn’t it be? You’re marrying the love of your life, and he absolutely adores you. Everything is going to be perfect.”

      Tasha wiped at her eyes. “You’re right.” Then she glanced at the rest of the bridal party. “I’m sorry I’ve been such an emotional mess.”

      Maxine looped an arm through her sister’s. “You’ve just got the prewedding jitters. It’s perfectly normal.”

      “But Bonnie’s dress—” Tasha said.

      “Will be fine,” Enid said, stepping forward. “There’s enough room to let the dress out at the sides so that it zips up. I’ll be working as long as necessary to make sure that everything is just right.”

      Tasha inhaled and exhaled deeply. “You’ve been so good to me, Enid. Working overtime to make sure that all is perfect.”

      “I’m happy that you gave our boutique the opportunity,” Enid said, smiling. “A big wedding like yours... I thought for sure you’d find a boutique in Buffalo or New York City.”

      “Never,” Tasha said. “You and I go way back. Fourth grade. Of course I’d give you the business.” She squeezed Enid’s hands, then glanced at her wristwatch. “Ooh, we only have a couple of hours before the welcome dinner. We should really get out of here so we can get ready.”

      Melissa glanced at Enid, seeing relief wash over her face. “The alterations will be started immediately,” she said in an effort to allay any possible concerns that Tasha might have.

      Melissa waved a dismissive hand. “No worries. We’ll be back tomorrow for the dresses.”

      Tasha wandered back over to the armchair where she’d been sitting, lifted the champagne glass from the table beside it and finished off the contents. “Okay, ladies. My meltdown is over. Let’s get ready for tonight’s dinner.”

       Chapter 3

      Tasha was marrying Ryan Burke, part of the Burke family dynasty in Sheridan Falls. He was Aaron’s first cousin, which explained why Aaron—and his brothers—were in the wedding party.

      Melissa slowed her car as she approached the sprawling house where the welcome dinner was to be held. The Burke estate.

      She had never been there before, but she’d driven past it when she was a teenager. She and her friends had marveled at the mansion where the town’s most famous family lived.

      The Burke home was in an exclusive neighborhood in the city’s west end. There were only three homes on this court, and the Burkes’ house, in the center of the court, was the largest. It was arguably the largest house in town.

      Though Ryan was Cynthia and Cyrus Burke’s nephew, the welcome dinner was being held at their home because of its large size, plus its location on the lake, which made it an ideal spot.

      Melissa pulled up behind a silver Lexus SUV. Her pulse was racing as she exited her car and made her way to the massive cobblestone driveway leading to the house. It was a Georgian colonial-style home with a gray stone and white wood exterior. There were two stately pillars standing on each side of the red front door, which provided a pop of color in the center of the house. The four pillars held up a rectangular balcony on the second floor.

      There was a circular fountain in the center of the driveway, around which was a bed of colorful flowers. A myriad of luxury cars filled the space. Mercedes sedans and SUVs. BMWs. A classic Corvette was parked at the front of the house, before the main door. Canary yellow. That was Cyrus’s vehicle. Melissa remembered him driving around in that sports car when she was young. The paint was shiny and polished, and there wasn’t a blemish on it. If she hadn’t known it was an older car, she would’ve thought it was brand-new.

      Melissa counted approximately thirteen cars in the driveway, not including the ones parked on the street. The place was clearly packed. There were more people here than she’d expected for a welcome dinner, but she’d heard that the extended Burke family was vast.

      Melissa took her time heading up to the house, acutely aware of the fact that she would be seeing Aaron any minute now. She wished more

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