Eden Read Free

and let’s not let it wrinkle. I don’t want to upset
my mother.”
    Beth nodded, and carefully pulled the
dress from its hanger. “Neither do I.”

Chapter Two
    Promises
     
    “ She was right,” Beth
said, tears in her eyes. “It does wrinkle easy.”
    I nodded, staring at my reflection in
the full-length mirror Beth had brought for the occasion. The woman
staring back at me was soft and mature, draped in the muted sheen
of silk and chiffon. Beth wasn’t human after all; only magic could
have transformed me into the elegant, graceful creature in the
mirror.
    Soft, blonde curls caressed my
shoulders, and just a hint of blush and pink lip gloss reminded me
that I had makeup on at all. Beth had spent hours making sure that
I appeared timeless and natural.
    Beth clapped her hands together and
held them tight to her chest, as impressed at her work as I. “Jared
is going to crap!”
    I laughed. “I knew eventually Oklahoma
would break free from the professional East Coast stylist role
you’ve played today!”
    Beth gathered the tools she used to
transform me, rolling wires and putting the various bags of makeup
into the different tubs the villagers had carried to the casita. I
stood in place, afraid to move. The realization hit that the church
was miles away, across a muddy jungle, and I was wearing
white.
    I blanched. “Oh, God. Cynthia will
stroke out if this dress is soiled before the wedding.”
    “ If she can get here
without a speck, I’m sure she can get you to the church
mud-free.”
    “ You’re probably right,” I
nodded, trying to relax.
    “ I wish Kim could be
here,” Beth said, shaking her head. “I called her, but she’s out of
town.”
    “ I understand. This was
very sudden.” I hated lying to Beth, especially while she was being
the poster child for a best friend, but I already knew Kim wouldn’t
be at my wedding. She was two hospital rooms down from Ryan,
nursing wounds she’d sustained when Isaac had sent her flying
across the cathedral of St. Anne’s. It wasn’t right that she had
saved my life, and instead of being at her side, I was primping in
a tropical paradise.
    “ She did say to tell you
to not worry about her. She said she’s fine and she wants you to
enjoy your day…why would you worry?” Beth said. Her question was a
second thought, as if it hadn’t crossed her mind until that
moment.
    “ When do I not worry about
her?” I said, fidgeting with my dress.
    Beth thought for a moment. “True,” she
agreed, carrying on with tidying up the room. “Okay, I’m going to
grab your mom, and then I’m going to get ready. If you need
anything, I’m just a casita away.”
    “ Beth?” I
called.
    “ Yes?” she said, spinning
around.
    “ Thank you,” I smiled.
“For everything.”
    Beth returned my smile. “Of
course.”
    “ And Beth?”
    “ Yes?” she said. She was
clearly impatient about getting to her casita.
    “ Think I could sit for a
while?”
    “ Oh!” Beth said, rushing
to fetch me a chair. “Here. This one has a back on it so you can
relax. Thirsty?”
    “ Not at the moment. You
are the best maid of honor, ever.”
    “ I know,” she beamed. She
backed out of my room, shutting the door on her wide and
excessively proud smile.
    With Beth’s absence the room became
uncomfortably quiet, but I didn’t feel alone. I looked down to my
stomach. Bean was invisible, nestled under the fabric of the dress
I would wear to marry her father. I placed both of my hands above
my bump, and smiled. Would Bean know he or she was a guest at our
wedding? The thought of a tiny body inside of me with a fancy dress
or tux on made me giggle.
    “ What’s funny?” Cynthia
said as she entered the room. “Certainly not the sight of you.
You’re a vision.” I smiled and stood so that she might get a better
look. “I’ve arranged for a car. Well, not so much a car as a
beat-up truck, but it will get us to the chapel.”
    “ I wondered how I would
get there and keep my dress