Page 29 of Kiss the Bride

“Well, now. Look who’s here. Two of my favorite people, and your timing couldn’t have been more perfect, because our beautiful bride- and groom-to-be are headed in separate directions next.”

Beside Daniel, Brianna looked a little lost. The mayor’s gaze tightened on her.

“Brianna, I don’t have any personal experience picking out wedding gowns.” Laughing, he mock curtsied. “But I’m told it’s a lot more fun when you have someone to share such a special occasion. So we’ve asked Evelyn to accompany you to Dress For A Day. While you’re there, you’ll have a chance to try on three of the most exquisite wedding gowns you’ve ever seen. Just remember, you must choose one—and only one—to wear in your wedding!”

“Oh, that’s wonderful,” Brianna breathed. Delight shimmered in her eyes. She smiled at Evelyn.

Obviously pleased with himself, the mayor continued. “Daniel, since it’s bad luck for the groom to see the wedding gown before the big day, you, Ryan, and Curtis will come with me to Tux or Tails. I have the best three tuxes in the house waiting for you there.”

Was he mistaken, or was Daniel less enthusiastic about the mayor’s announcement? Ryan fell in beside the tight-lipped groom. Something was definitely bothering the man who, up until now, had seemed to enjoy all the wedding plans as much as his bride. Whatever it was, he’d ferret out the answer this afternoon at Tux or Tails.

“The White Dove is one of my favorite places.” Evelyn linked arms with Brianna for the short walk to the car that sat, its engine idling, at the curb. Aware of the bride-to-be’s nervousness, she stuck with small talk. “What’d you have for lunch?” she asked as they slipped into the back seat.

“Something called a Wedge Salad. Did you know that’s just a big ol’ hunk of lettuce?”

She laughed. She, too, had been surprised by how well the dish lived up to its name the first time she’d ordered one. “Did you like it, at least?”

“Oh, yes. It was absolutely scrumptious. I had a lobster roll, too. I’d never had lobster before, but I’d heard so much about it, I thought, why not?”

“How was it?” Her mouth watered. The White Dove served the best lobster salad this side of Maine.

Brianna gave a noncommittal shrug. “Like scallops? Only sweeter, maybe? We don’t get food like that back home.”

She nodded. Coming from a little town smackdab in the middle of Florida, Brianna had probably grown up on Southern staples like grits and black-eyed peas and—she shuddered—okra. “Except for one trip to Daytona Beach when I was in college, I’ve never been south of Baltimore. Do you really fry green tomatoes down there?”

“Yum.” Brianna closed her eyes. “Dip them in buttermilk and cornmeal, fry them in a little oil. That’s good eating right there.”

She tried to imagine the taste and failed. “People actually like them?”

“Oh, yes! We’d go through a whole bushel in a week at the diner. My mom won a blue ribbon for hers at the county fair every year. Daniel says mine are tasty, but I’ll never make them as good as she did.” Evelyn watched in horror as Brianna’s eyes filled with sudden tears. The girl turned to stare out the window. “What’s wrong?” she whispered, worried she’d said or done something to upset the bride-to-be.

The quiet hum of the tires was the only sound for about a block. Finally, Brianna mumbled, “It wasn’t supposed to be like this, you know.”

“What do you mean?”

“I wasn’t supposed to be picking out my wedding gown without her. Not supposed to walk down the aisle without my dad.” Brianna sniffled, her face pressed against the glass. “I’m beyond grateful for what Weddings Today and everyone here in Heart’s Landing is doing for us. But I’d be happy with a cheap off-the-rack dress if it meant …” She choked back a sob. “If it meant having my mom here to lend me her strand of pearls for my something borrowed. Or if my dad was here to give me away.”

Evelyn’s throat ached with unshed tears. She bit the inside of her cheek lest she, too, dissolve into a wet puddle. How would that help? When Brianna’s cheeks dampened, she tugged a handful of tissues from her purse and passed them to the younger woman. Making an executive decision, she leaned forward and tapped on the glass divider. “Take us north on Boston Neck Road. We’ll circle back to the dress shop in a little bit.”

“You don’t have to do that. I—I’ll be fine.” Brianna’s voice thinned.

“This is your day. They can’t start without us,” she said while her companion blotted her cheeks. Not that it helped. When more tears turned the bride’s eyes a watery blue, she reached for her phone. “I’ll text Cheri and tell her we’ll be along in twenty minutes or so?” She canted her head, waiting for an answer.

“Ten.” Brianna gave her nose a delicate swipe. “Just let me catch my breath.”

“Take as long as you need,” she agreed, texting that there’d been a slight delay. She paused. When Brianna continued to stare out the window, she sent another text, this time to Alicia.

911. Bring Jenny & meet at Dress For A Day. Bride needs motherly TLC.

Alicia and Jenny might have their hands full at the Captain’s Cottage, but this was a real emergency. Having done all she could think of at the moment, Evelyn reached for Brianna’s hand and gave it a squeeze.

“It’s okay. I’m okay,” the bride-to-be whispered.

Who’s she trying to convince? Evelyn wondered as a fine tremble ran through the girl’s fingers.

Another five minutes passed before Brianna straightened. “Geez.” She sighed, mopping furiously. “It’s been five years. You’d think I’d be over this by now. I am, mostly. In the beginning, I cried for days. Daniel was my rock through all of it. Holding my hand, passing me tissues. I don’t know what I would’ve done without him. Now, I’m fine most of the time. Then, out of the blue, something will happen—like talking about Mom’s blue ribbons—and it hits me all over again.” She balled the tissue and stuck it in her purse with a laugh. “Fried green tomatoes. Who’d have ever thought that’d be the thing to push me over the edge, right?”

Evelyn nodded in sympathy. “It’s not easy when you lose someone. Sometimes, it’s the oddest things that bring back memories so sharp, they take your breath away.” Like the day she’d wanted to hang a picture in her room. Rather than ask one of the staff, she’d gone to the shed. She’d found just what she’d needed there. Along with her uncle’s tool belt. The worn leather strip lay on the workbench exactly the way he’d left it after he’d gotten too sick to handle even the smallest jobs around the Cottage. Sobbing, she’d run from the shed empty-handed. The next time Ryan had stopped by to visit Jason, he’d hung the picture for her.

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