Page 50 of Bride Games

He put a finger to his lips “Your mommy will get very, very mad at me. If you stop saying that, I’ll give you a heart sucker. I’m not above bribery.”

“What’s bwibwey?”

“In this case, it means a sucker.”

“O-tay.” And just like that the offensive phrase was already forgotten.

“What are you two talking about?” Emma asked as she reappeared with an armload of colorful flower girl dresses.

Lucy and Nigel exchanged glances. After a long pause and an even longer lick on both sides of the sucker, Lucy said, “Nothing, Mommy. Are those dresses for me?”

“Maybe. But finish your sucker first. We don’t want to get Nigel’s dresses sticky, do we?”

Lucy handed her half-eaten sucker to Nigel, wiped her hands on her pink shorts, and held both hands in the air. “My hands aren’t sticky, Mommy. Let me see the pretty dresses.”

After Emma inspected her daughter’s hands, she held up a flouncy hot pink dress and a lacy yellow dress. “Which one do you like, Luce?”

Lucy clapped her hands together as she gingerly touched each dress. “They’re like princess dresses, Mommy. I wuv them both.”

“You need to choose just one. Maybe you can decide after you try them on. Grace will wear one too, but you get to choose the dress.” Emma reached for her cellphone. “Eli’s meeting with parents after school. I’ll text him photos so he can be involved.”

“Brilliant choices.” Nigel stepped toward an empty dressing room and opened the door wide. He ushered Emma and Lucy inside. “I’ll be on this pink stool, Lucy. Will you model them for me?”

“Uh huh.”

Emma helped her daughter undress and pulled the yellow dress over Lucy’s head. “This one is scratchy, Mommy.”

“Try the other one.” Emma began to unzip the prickly dress.

“No, Nigel wants to see.” Lucy flung the door open and twirled on the carpet.

Nigel beamed. “Lucy, you look like you should be in a Disney movie.” He narrowed his eyes, “Are you Snow White?”

Giggling, she said, “No.” Lucy picked up the hem, unknowingly flashing Nigel who was kind enough to look away. “It’s scratchy.”

“I see.” Nigel tugged at his chin. “Try the other one.”

Emma noticed a bride-to-be and four bridesmaids rolling their eyes and glancing at their watches as they stood in line waiting for an open fitting room.This is a huge moment in Lucy’s life. And mine. I’m not going to rush her through this.

“Mommy, I can’t decide if I like the pink one or the yellow.”

Chuckling, Emma said, “Now you understand my dilemma.”

“What’s dilem-”

“Never mind.” Emma pulled the hot pink dress over Lucy’s head. It was fluffier than the yellow dress with rows of ruffles and short puffy sleeves. Lucy practically skipped when she stepped outside to model.

Nigel whistled. “Are you a princess?”

Lucy twirled as she bit her bottom lip. “Maybe.”

Nigel’s eyes brightened. “What will she wear in her hair? What will you wear? A veil? A tiara? Flowers?”

Emma rubbed her temples. “So many details. I hadn’t even thought about my hair.” Her shoulders drooped. “Why is this so hard, Nigel?” Before she knew it, her eyes filled with ridiculous tears. “Why am I overreacting? I love Eli. I can’t wait to marry him. I love the idea of being a family together. I just”—she stared up at the ceiling—“it’s a lot.”

Lucy hugged her mom’s legs. “Don’t cry, Mommy. I’ll try on an orange dress.”

Wiping her nose with the back of her hand, Emma said, “It’s not that. This pink dress is beautiful. It’s me. I’m such a disaster right now.”

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