Bearly Enough (8 page)

As shocked as Lucy was, she was touched that Gabby was even
worried about whether or not she would like the dress.

“It’s your wedding, Gabby. I’m sure the dress will be great.
Just tell me what you need me to do.” She said. “Wait! Does this mean that I
don’t get to plan a bachelorette party?”

Gabby rolled her eyes. “As if I would have a party anyway?”

Lucy tried to look put out. “Well, then we at least need to
get our nails done. Or do something! I can trade shifts on Friday so that I can
be free.”

Holy crap. It was already Wednesday. The next few days would
fly by.

Gabby’s face brightened at the suggestion. “I would love
that! Think we could get appointments at this short notice?”

Lucy nodded. One of her only friends from high school, Ella,
happened to work at one of the nicer salons in Salem. Lucy was sure she and
Gabby could get in for massages, pedicures and manicures.

Something struck Lucy.

“Have you told Mom yet?”

Gabby looked down and fidgeted with her ring.

That was a big, fat no.

“No. I’m going over there next.” She looked up at Lucy, and
Lucy saw the sister she had always known. “Part of me doesn’t want her to
come,” Gabby said flatly.

Lucy shrugged. “You don’t have to explain things to me. I
get it.” One of her customers was waving at her. “I’ll be back.”

She hurried over to the table and then checked on a few
more. Gabby’s fries were up and Lucy picked them up and carried them back to
the booth. Jimmy smiled at her, so she figured it was okay to sit down and talk
to Lucy for a few more minutes.

“Whatever you do with Mom, just be prepared to watch her if
there’s alcohol at the wedding,” Lucy warned.

“I know,” Gabby said darkly. “That’s what I’m worried about.
I know she’s going to embarrass me.”

“What does Zane think?” Lucy found herself asking. He was
about to marry her sister, and Lucy hardly knew a thing about him.

Gabby shook her head. “He thinks that family is important.
He thinks that she should be there even though she’s a crappy-ass parent.”

Hmm. That was unexpected.

“Do what you think is best. No matter what, I’m sure you’re
going to be a beautiful bride and it’s going to be an incredible day.”

“I hope so.”

“I have to get back to work,” Lucy apologized.

Gabby waved her off. “Go ahead. I’m going to head out as
soon as I finish these. I just wanted to tell you in person.”

Lucy smiled at her sister, the one person who truly got her,
who truly understood. “Thanks.”

Something about her conversation with Gabby helped steady
her for the rest of the day. Lucy was able to quit worrying about what had
happened with Stone and to actually wait on her customers without screwing up
their orders.

Lucy knew that she had fucked up a lot.

The best thing that she could do now was to move past it and
put it behind her. Friday would come, and she would be perfectly normal around
Stone. She could just play it cool and hopefully they could go back to flirting
or whatever it was that they were doing.

And she would focus on her classes.

Steeling herself toward better choices, Lucy felt the buoyancy
of her determination.

As Lucy sat anxiously in her seat Friday morning, she wasn’t
so sure about her resolve to play it cool around Stone. It was two minutes
until class began, and Stone was nowhere in sight.

What if he didn’t show up?

What if he thought she was such a hot mess that he didn’t
want to come back to class?

Lucy laughed in spite of herself. That would solve a lot of
damn problems.

And just when she thought that Stone wasn’t going to show,
he slipped into class, flashing her a grin that made her pulse quicken and her
insides clench.

That’s what was so dangerous about Stone.

He was sexy
and
sweet.

A lethal combination.

They couldn’t talk because the professor began speaking, but
Lucy could feel his eyes on her the entire time. She squirmed in her seat,
feeling uncomfortable yet desired at the same time.

At long last, the teacher ended class and she immediately
turned around to look at him.

Screw playing hard to get.

“Hey,” Stone said, his voice deep and gruff.

“I thought you weren’t going to show today,” she couldn’t
help saying.

“I got held up.”

Lucy was drawn to his eyes again; the brilliant blue one was
even brighter than normal, thanks to Stone’s dark blue shirt.

They made their way to the next class.

“Want to cut again?” he teased.

Lucy laughed nervously. “Right.”

Stone seemed to sense her uneasiness. “So, I know we kind of
know each other a little better now.” Lucy grimaced. That’s what she got for
giving him a blowjob after knowing him for three days. “But, I was thinking
maybe we could get to know each other a little better. You know, like a date.”

Her heart flip-flopped again.

Ugh! He was such a good distraction.

“I know, it’s kind of late notice, but would you want to go
out this weekend?”

Thrilled, Lucy hoped that he was into more than just the
idea of sex with her. But then she remembered the wedding.

“I’d actually love to, but I can’t this weekend. My sister
is getting married.”

Stone paused for a beat. “Wow, that’s great.”

Something seemed off.

“Yeah. It’s kind of a last minute thing. Otherwise I would
love to.”

“No, I understand. When is the wedding?”

“Tomorrow. Actually, I would say that you could come, but
it’s going to be a pretty small affair. And I think she would freak if I
brought someone she didn’t know.”

Stone laughed, the sound lighthearted and sexy wrapped into
one. “That’s okay. I get it. Some other time.”

Lucy nodded.

“But sometime soon,” Stone insisted. They were at the
classroom now, and they walked inside. “You drive me crazy,” Stone whispered
before slipping into the seat behind her.

Lucy watched as Ella curled Gabby’s hair, carefully pinning
the pieces loosely to the top of her head.

She couldn’t believe this was actually happening—Gabby was
getting married.

Yesterday, she and Gabby and enjoyed massages, pedicures and
manicures, thanks to Ella squeezing them in at the salon. When Gabby said that
she was going to do her own hair for the wedding, Ella refused to hear it and
offered to come do her it for her, as a wedding present.

And now as Lucy watched Ella do Gabby’s hair, she felt an
overwhelming sadness come over her. Gabby was slowly slipping away. Lucy
wondered if Gabby would have kids soon. The thought was both joyful and
depressing.

“Finished!” Ella sang, spinning Gabby around.

“Oh my goodness!” Gabby cried, looking at herself, “It looks
beautiful.”

“You look beautiful! I hate to run, but I’ve got to get
going,” Ella said, grabbing her bag. Gabby thanked her again and Lucy gave her
a hug.

“Thanks for doing this,” she whispered.

“Any time! Don’t be a stranger.” Ella hugged her back.

Lucy nodded and walked Ella to the door before returning to
Gabby.

“You look gorgeous. It’s going to be a beautiful wedding.”

They had lucked out with an unseasonably warm day; it was nearly
sixty degrees.

“I just hope Mom doesn’t cause a scene,” Gabby said,
frowning.

Their mother was seated in the living room, flipping through
the TV channels. She was relatively calm, but Lucy assumed that her mother had
probably consumed half a bottle before coming over.

“Whatever. We’ll deal with it.” She looked at her watch.
“Half an hour till show time,” she murmured.

Gabby had picked out a beautiful dress, and Lucy realized it
was time to get dressed. The plum-hued material draped across her shoulders,
highlighting her slender frame; it gathered just at the waist, and flowed to
the ground in two gauzy layers.

Lucy had set her hair in curlers the night before, and now
her hair fell in soft waves down her back. She studied her reflection in the
mirror—her dark hair set off her pale blue eyes. She had to admit that she
looked pretty.

She turned around to help Gabby, but Gabby had managed to
dress herself. Gabby’s dress was simple; off-white and made of lace. It clung
to her curves, and then gently flared out at her thighs—a slight mermaid style.
It had a halter neckline, and Lucy thought it was perfect for Gabby’s shape.

“You look beautiful,” Lucy breathed.

Gabby gave her a shaky smile. “I must be crazy, huh?”

Lucy laughed. “As long as you’re happy.”

They peered outside and saw the guests arriving. Gabby had
said there would only be about thirty people. Lucy recognized Quentin, and she
saw Zane pacing near the simple arch of flowers at the head of the backyard.

A tent was constructed on the other half of the lawn, and
three large wooden tables sat inside, along with a makeshift dance floor.

“Ready, girls?”

Lucy turned around, surprised to see her mother standing
there. Andrea would have been beautiful if she hadn’t destroyed her body with
alcohol. Her face, which must have been pretty at one time, was now weathered
and pallid, a permanent effect from all the substance abuse. Her blue eyes were
sunken into her face in a way that no amount of makeup could brighten up. She
was skinny in a sickly way, and the silver dress she wore hung off her body,
doing nothing for her frame.

“Yes,” Gabby said.

The trio made their way to the back of the house, and Lucy
thought how odd it was for them all to be together and dressed up. Lucy
couldn’t even imagine herself getting married, so she tried her best to savor
the moment, to remember this place in time.

Quentin must have noticed them hiding out by the back door,
and he strode up, smiling.

“Good afternoon,” he said cordially, extending his arm to
Andrea. “Can I walk you to your seat?”

“Oh, yes,” she said, surprised. Something flashed in her
eyes, and she quickly turned to Gabby. “You look so beautiful, Gabrielle,” she
said quietly, before taking Quentin’s arm and allowing him to escort her down
the small aisle.

Gabby’s eyes filled up with tears, and Lucy rushed to find a
tissue. “Here,” she said pushing the tissue to her face. “Don’t mess up your
makeup,” she said, trying to sound light.

“Thanks,” Gabby said, dabbing at her eyes. “It’s just
so…weird. I feel like Daddy should be here, you know? And Mom seems almost
half-normal.”

Lucy nodded. It was weird. She had never stopped to consider
that most fathers walk their daughters down the aisle.

Something that would never happen for Gabby.

Or Lucy, if she ever did get married.

“Hey, at least you are marrying an amazing guy,” Lucy said,
trying to lighten the mood.

Gabby sniffed and pushed her shoulders back. “Right.” She
smiled. “What the hell am I crying for?”

Lucy laughed.

She heard the music change, and realized that everyone had
taken their seats. They turned to look back toward the house.

“That’s you,” Gabby whispered.

Lucy took a deep breath, clutched her bouquet of orange mums
and started to walk.

At least there weren’t many people to look at her. She made
it quickly to the arch and stepped to the side, smiling at Zane, who was
beaming proudly. The music changed again, and Gabby emerged from the house.

Gabby was a vision.

Lucy watched with pride as her big sister walked down the
aisle. All eyes were on her, and she saw the guests smile and nod as she came
toward Zane. In fact, their faces were so filled with joy that Lucy was
touched.

Gabby grinned at Zane when she reached him and then Lucy got
lost in the simple ceremony. Before she knew it, they were kissing each other
and the justice of the peace had proclaimed them husband and wife.