Eden
white.”
    Cynthia frowned. “I didn’t say it
wouldn’t be difficult. I’ve considered wrapping you in plastic. It
will take all of us along with a concentrated effort, but it can be
done.”
    “ Thank you,” I smiled.
“I’m so glad you’re here.”
    Again, a deluge of emotion caught
Cynthia off-guard, and she furiously searched through her purse for
a tissue. Before the first tear could pour over her lashes, she
dabbed it away. “I’ve never,” she said, annoyed. “I hope this
doesn’t continue throughout the day.”
    I rested in the chair and Cynthia sat
on the bed, seeming uncomfortable and out of place, yet she
remained cordial and poised. She brought up appropriate subjects
such as the weather, and stayed far away from anything that might
induce another onslaught of tears. We shared a few polite laughs,
and I silently prayed that Beth would return sooner rather than
later.
    “ Ding dong!” Bex said,
opening the door. “The truck is less than a mile away. You
ready?”
    “ Something like that,” I
sighed.
    Beth popped in behind Bex. Her smile
lit up the room. She was stunning in her French blue cocktail
dress, and for the first time since I’d met her, she actually
looked like the former beauty queen that she was. Her lips were
stained a wine color, and her short auburn hair was wavy and soft
instead of sticking out in every direction. “Oh, good!” Beth
squealed as the engine grew louder upon the truck’s approach. “It’s
like a Bronco! It has a back seat!”
    “ That’s nice,” I said,
minding my mother’s expression as I gathered my skirt.
    The trip from my chair to the door was
uneventful, but the preparations for me to step outside into the
murky jungle were firmly coordinated by my mother. Cynthia barked
orders at Bex, Beth, and the driver. Bex lifted me and held me away
from his body—at Cynthia’s request—to keep from wrinkling the dress
further. Beth and Cynthia held any protruding pieces out and away
as Bex made his way to the truck, and then help spread the fabric
while he lowered me to the backseat. Cynthia’s tactic worked. I was
seated atop a clean blanket, and my dress remained untouched by the
jungle.
    Bex led us to the chapel on a dirt
bike, while Cynthia commandeered the passenger seat. Beth squeezed
against the door to my right to give the dress plenty of
room.
    “ You are all being a
little ridiculous about this dress. Once I get out of the truck,
the wrinkles will fall,” I said.
    “ It’s possible. What will
you do if mud is splattered on it? Have you found a dry cleaner on
the island?” Cynthia asked.
    “ Good point.”
    Within half an hour, the truck was
bouncing over familiar cobblestone streets. My heart pounded
against my chest when the chapel’s steeple appeared above the palm
trees, and I could barely restrain myself from bursting from the
truck and running inside when the fountain, and then the wooden
double doors came into view. Jared was inside, and the wait had
already been an awful test of my patience.
    Beth lightly touched the top of my
hand, and only then did I realize I was tapping her
knee.
    “ We’re here,” she said,
pulling at the door handle.
    Bex stood on the walkway with a wide
grin on his face. “You look good.”
    “ Thanks,” I said, touched
by his sentiment.
    “ All right, enough
chitchat. We’re not in the church, yet,” Cynthia said,
orchestrating another transfer. She lifted the hem of one side of
my dress while directing Beth to lift the other, and together we
climbed the steps.
    Inside, Lillian waited. Once
recognition hit, her eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands
together, quickly bringing them to her mouth. “Oh. Oh my goodness,”
she said, tears glossing her eyes. “You’re even more beautiful than
I imagined.” She looked to Cynthia. “It’s so good to see you,” she
said, hugging her old friend.
    “ As it is you,” Cynthia
said with a warm but demure smile.
    Lillian blotted her eyes with a tissue
and

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