Page 55 of Engaging with Her Enemy

“Where's Carrie?”

The corner of Eliza's lips tilted. “The strangest thing, but Dewey offered to watch her until Uncle Jimmy's shift ended and his started. They are hanging out at the Sheriff's station.” Her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink. “I think Carrie is half in love with Dewey.”

“Just wait,” Juliana said. “She'll get to know him, and that will change.”

Ms. Iris laughed, and Becky tried, but Eliza kept her head down, staring at her phone. “Are you okay with Dewey watching her?” Becky canted her head to the side, analyzing her. “You seem a little strange.”

“Oh.” Eliza shook her head. “It's no problem. I trust him. A little odd that he hasn’t spoken more than a few words to me since I got back.” She sighed and stared out the window. “But he’s not that way with Carrie.”

Hudson's curious statement from before popped back into her mind, the way Dewey watched Eliza. Maybe it went both ways. “I can't handle your melancholy.” Not while waiting for her accounting grade to post. “Turn the radio on something fun, Juliana. Maybe we can find Juliana's wedding dress while we're looking.”

Juliana turned to an upbeat pop song. “What did you say? I can't hear you!” Everyone in the car laughed. But Becky didn't think it'd take Grayson very long to pop the question. The man was head over heels in love with Juliana. Planned on building her whatever kind of house she wanted on a wide chunk of land in the south part of the county.

“You know, Eliza, I met Addie’s brother yesterday. He’s a pretty nice-looking man.” Becky nudged her with her elbow. “And you’re a pretty nice-looking woman.”

Ms. Iris waved her hand in the air. “Nice looking? The man is gorgeous. Lord, but their parents turned out beautiful kids. Inside and out. You should have seen him eating with Addie. He listened to her non-stop. For being a quiet, shy girl with the rest of us, she sure did talk his ear off. You can tell he tries to take care of her.”

“I’m not looking to date anyone. Not having Carrie.” Eliza sighed and set her chin in her hand, staring out the window at the pine trees flying by. “I have too many things I want to do on my own before I bring another man into the mix. I still need to figure out a way to support myself and her without relying on Dad.”

“You will,” Juliana said, reaching into the back seat and patting her sister’s knee.

Becky leaned her head against the window, contemplating the man in her life. If only her future with Hudson could remain uncomplicated. Sweet mornings. Quiet evenings. No more damn accounting.

Ms. Iris pulled into the wedding dress shop. “Here we are. You wouldn't think I'd be this nervous. But I am.”

“Of course, you are. I think anyone would be nervous, marrying Hugh Campbell.” Becky's statement ignited eye rolls by Eliza and Juliana. “Are you going to wear white or something else?”

Ms. Iris twisted her purse strap as she walked to the door. “I don't know. What do you girls think? That's why I asked you to come.”

“I think you can wear whatever you want to wear,” Juliana replied, holding the door open and patting Ms. Iris as she walked by. “My dad will think you are beautiful, no matter what.”

“I hope so. I read in a beauty magazine about a bridal workout plan.” She smiled back over her shoulder. “You girls should know I think that's a bunch of fiddle-faddle. Hugh proposed to me at this weight. I wouldn't want to disappoint him and show up as something smaller.”

“You're a perfect size.” Eliza walked to the counter and spoke to a woman dressed in all black. “Hi, we have an appointment.”

“Yes. Iris?”

Ms. Iris raised her hand. “That's me.”

The woman smiled in a tight, professional way. “I'm Charity. Let's find you a bridal gown.” She led them to a wall of long, white dresses. “Now, what shape were you considering? A-line? Mermaid? Dropped waist?”

Ms. Iris stared at the wall, that deer-in-headlights look on her face. “Oh my.”

Becky moved to stand beside Charity. “Let's try this a different way. You take her to the dressing room and give her a glass of champagne. One of us will sit with her, and the other two will go through these racks and pick out dresses for her.”

Ms. Iris visibly relaxed, but Charity looked skeptical. “If you think so.”

“I know so. Juliana, you go with Ms. Iris. Eliza and I will dig our way through the dresses. You can give Ms. Iris all the juicy dirt on your dad, so she goes into this marriage with all the facts.” Becky patted Ms. Iris on the shoulder, giving her a little shove. “Once you try on a few, we'll be able to know what you like and what you don't like.”

“Yes, yes. I think that will be nice. Thank you, Becky.” Ms. Iris let Juliana lead her to a dressing room. Charity reappeared a moment later, two glasses of golden liquid in her hands.

Becky took a moment to corner Eliza. “What was your problem in the car?”

Eliza's eyes shifted away, and she began to examine a dress with intense scrutiny. “I don't know what you mean.”

“Come off it, Eliza. And unless you think Juliana will look good in that see-through bodice, corset dress you're pretending to consider, I think you're stalling.” Focusing on Eliza’s odd behavior would keep Becky from trying to figure out the situation with Hudson.

Eliza's shoulders dropped. “I don't want to talk about it, Becky. I just am not in a place to date again, so you might as well give up.”

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