For Better or Worse Read Free Page B

man, just as she didn’t want to judge the shop.
Just as I don’t want people to think I’m a bad mom when they see Zoey
. The inward admission pained her. Daily, she teetered between feeling like a failure and inwardly defending herself as a mother. Shaking the thoughts away, she smiled at the man. “I was looking for a boutique. I’m trying to find a wedding dress …”
    “Yeah. I bought this place a couple months back. The man said he was losing money, but I’ve sure had a lot of women trying to buy dresses.” He waved his hand around the room. “What you see is what’s left. It’s all half off.”
    “Maybe we should just go,” Brittany whispered.
    Kelly turned toward her daughter and smiled. “Half off? Honey, I think we’re going to look around.” Extending her hand, she took a few steps toward the motorcycle guy. “I’m Kelly Coyle. Nice to meet you.”
    He grinned and shook her hand. He looked past her. “Jim Lucas. Nice to meet you. Are these your kids?”
    “Yes. This is my second wedding. Their father died three years ago….”
    “Sorry to hear that. My wife died about five years ago from cancer. If it hadn’t been for the Lord …” He shook his head and took a deep breath.
    “I understand completely.” Kelly looked back at her girls, who had already begun to inch their way toward her.
    Jim winked at the girls. “There’s peppermint on the counter, if you want some. I’m going to keep working in the back. Let me know if you need anything.”
    Kelly turned toward her daughters. She shrugged. “See. You never know.”
    Candy cocked her eyebrow. “You don’t exactly feel that way about Zoey’s friends.”
    Kelly lifted her finger. “Ah, but you forget. I’m a high school teacher. I already know the kids Zoey hangs out with. We didn’t know him.”
    “I guess that’s true.”
    “Oh, Mom, look at this dress.” Brittany’s voice sounded from the other side of the room. “It’s a Mon Cheri.”
    Kelly made her way over to her middle daughter. Her mouth dropped. “You’re kidding?”
    “Who’s Mon Cherry?” asked Candy.
    Kelly shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know, but I’ve got to agree with Brittany. This dress is beautiful.” She fiddled with the bodice of the gown. “Doesn’t this thing have a size somewhere on it?”
    Brittany pulled it off the rack and held it up to Kelly. “I don’t know, but it looks close.”
    Excitement streamed through Kelly’s veins. “Let’s try it.” She gently lifted the dress from Brittany’s grasp and headed toward the empty fitting room. “Jim,” she yelled, “is it okay if I use this fitting room?”
    “Sure. Just ignore the mess.” His voice sounded from somewhere in the back of the store. Kelly quickly took off her T-shirt and jean shorts then slipped into the dress. Thankfully, the dress zipped as well as having hook and eye buttons that covered the zipper. It was a tad big, but Kelly could hardly wait to see it in the 360-degree mirror.
    She stepped outside of the fitting room. Both girls gasped. Candy covered her mouth with her hand. Kelly bit the inside of her lip and scrunched her nose. “Is that good? Is that a good gasp?”
    “Turn around and look, Mom.” Brittany turned Kelly toward the mirror.
    Kelly closed her eyes. How would she feel seeing herself in a wedding gown? She had loved Tim completely when he was alive. Would seeing herself in this make her feel as if she’d somehow tainted his memory? She thought of Harold and how good and sweet he was to her and the girls. She knew Tim would have liked Harold. He would approve.
    She opened her eyes and took in the straight, floor-length, ivory gown with off-the-shoulder lace sleeves. Delicate lace covered the soft silk material. The straight-line neck was adorned with dainty, floral, V-shaped beading. The same beading styled the waist and floor of the gown giving it a romantic and whimsical appearance. The gown was not too young looking, nor did it look like