Page 13 of All Dressed Up

“Hold on a second. Just because Amber found a wedding dress does not mean she’s marrying Will.”

“But she could.”

“Anyone could.” Bethany put her hands on her hips. “Hell, I could.”

Rachel swung her legs around, leveling her friend with a stare.

“Sure... Maybe the evidence is damning, but we don’t know the end result...” Bethany paused for a beat. “But we could see what’s in your future. Open the trunk.”

“Why bother?” Rachel shook her head, a wave of nausea washing over her. The thought of Will enjoying his evening with another woman was more than her wounded heart could bear. “Can you just take me home?”

“But there might be something in there for you,” Bethany insisted, reaching for Rachel’s hand and pulling her off the bed. “It’s time to find out.”

Bethany wasn’t going to let this go. Rachel was well aware of that fact, so she did the only thing to end this night—she conceded, “Fine, I’ll do it, but then we’re leaving.”

“You got it.”

Rachel crossed the room. If they had only grabbed that pizza as planned, she would have been none the wiser that Will was on a date getting on with his life.

Her heart twisted. If she’d been honest with him about her feelings and how much she missed him, he wouldn’t need to have drinks with another woman.

She squared her shoulders, standing in front of the trunk. It didn’t matter. Will was outside on a date, and right now, she needed to get far, far away from it.

Bending down, she placed her hand on the handle, holding her breath as she lifted it up.

It only took a second for her disappointment to consume her all over again. “Of course.” She didn’t bother hiding any sarcasm. There wasn’t a white gown, but something familiar was inside. She should have known.

“Is it a wedding dress?” Bethany asked.

“No.” She reached in and pulled out one of Mary’s notorious cream-colored cards. “Here.” She handed it to Bethany. “It’s probably an invitation to Will and Amber’s wedding. Can we go now?”

“Aren’t you curious what it says?”

“No. Not at all.” Rachel held her ground, locking eyes with her friend. “Okay, maybe a little. Read it.”

Bethany handed the card back. “I think you should.”

“Whatever.” Rachel flicked it open.

Rachel, go get my purse. Now! XX, Mary.

Bethany came up beside her to take a peek. “Purse? That’s all it says?”

“That’s it,” Rachel deadpanned. Without hesitating, she tossed the card back in the trunk. “Mary, you can keep your damn purse,” she said and stormed out of the room and down the stairs.

She should have never opened the trunk.

“Wait up,” Bethany called out. She’d retrieved the card and was now holding it along with Amber’s wedding dress. “What purse does she mean? When did you find a purse?”

“I didn’t.” Rachel knew exactly what purse Mary was referring to—at least, she suspected she did. Donovan had acquired the antique lavender bag with exquisite pearl beading a few months ago.

And it was no ordinary purse.

She stopped at the landing and sighed. “Zoe found it hanging off her front door at the Ice Heaven a few months ago. It’s magical.”

“What do you mean by magical?” Bethany asked.

“I don’t know... it’s a portal or something. It’s yet another one of Mary’s belongings that showed up out of nowhere just like the trunk.”

---