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Before I even opened my eyes I felt a heavy weight on my chest. Then a small
tap tap tap
on my cheek. I fluttered my lashes open and was nose to nose with a very disgruntled Chaz. Looking at the clock by my bed, it read ten in the morning. Clearly I’d slept too late for his liking and he wanted to be fed,
again
. Stretching my arms high above my head, he jumped off of me and stood patiently by my door.

“You know, waking up your owner isn’t very polite.” He blinked as if to say “whatever.” I sat up and rubbed my eyes with the palms of my hands. Geez, I must have been pretty tired. I didn’t normally sleep this late, but it was always welcomed when I did. Shuffling my way into the kitchen with Chaz traipsing behind me, I fed my bottomless pit of a cat, and turned to make a pot of coffee. I had a little bit of time to sit out on the deck and soak in the sun before Keegan would be here to pick me up. When the machine beeped, I fixed my cup of Joe just the way I liked it and stepped through the sliding glass door that was right off of the kitchen. A rickety old, wooden, rocking chair sat facing out towards an empty field with a few rolling hills. I know I should probably buy new outdoor furniture, but the idea of getting rid of this chair sent me into a tailspin. As I sat down, the wood creaked as if the small frame would give way and fall apart right under me. You see, this was my dad’s chair. Every morning he woke up before the birds and came outside and sat in this very spot. He would sip his coffee and read the newspaper. When I’d wake up, I’d come bounding outside and I’d sit on the railing across from him and we’d talk about anything and everything. There was a time when I used to crawl into his lap, but of course as I grew older and bigger, it just made sense that I graduated to a different spot. Daddy and I were close. I was never a girl that hated her father during my teenage years like everyone said would happen. I was the apple of Daddy’s eye, and he was my favorite person on earth and he was my best friend. Of course I loved my mom just as much, but we had a completely different relationship. I was just like her. I even looked like her with reddish blonde hair and aqua colored eyes. My parents were my everything. The mere idea of trashing something that was theirs, things that were part of my fondest memories, was never going to happen. Looking out over the green grass, I watched as the clouds made shadows of different shapes and sizes, as they slowly moved on to another part of the field. I was mesmerized by the way things came and went, changing and molding to the atmosphere around it. I found it peaceful and slightly disturbing. I hated change. It was exactly why I was still in the
same exact spot
. In the
exact same chair
.

An hour passed before I decided I’d spent enough time outside in my own thoughts. I had to get moving. Tossing what was left inside my mug over the edge of the deck, I turned and went in the house. Once ready, I had just enough time to get to the door before Keegan pulled up. I picked my purse up off the ground and locked the door behind me. Keegan smiled at me from inside the car, and something about it made me relax. I hadn’t been looking forward to the shopping trip, but seeing her made me remember that I enjoyed the companionship and I really did need a girl’s day out.

Climbing in the car, she gave me a very cheerful, “Hey, how’re ya doing?”

“I’m good,” I replied. “Spent a leisurely morning out on the deck and got a little bit of sun.”

She looked at me from the corner of her eye. “Yeah, your shoulders have a cute little pink tinge to them.”

Ugh! I always burned. My red hair accompanied pale white skin. Just another feature I’d inherited from my mom. During the summer months, my freckles came out in full force. They annoyed me. “Apparently it’s time to start slathering on the sunscreen before I spend any length of time outside. Someone remind me
why
I’m still living in the south?”

She laughed. “Uh, because the food is better and the guys are hotter.”

“You’ve got the food part right. Maybe I should move to Seattle or Alaska where the sun barely shines. I could accept my paleness and live with my people.”

“Your people?”

“Yeah . . . albinos with see through skin.”

She giggled. “You’re not albino, you weirdo. You do know that Alaskan people aren’t as pale as you’re making them sound, right? And you better not move. What would I do without you?”

“First of all, yes, there are pale Alaskans. They live way up north . . . with the polar bears. And you’d be fine without me. You’d spend more time with that gorgeous, moody man of yours.”

“I think you’ve been reading too many paranormal books. It’s the vampires that are that white. Also, time away could be a good thing. Believe me. He’s insatiable.”

I turned to face her. “Are you actually complaining about the amount of sex you’re getting to have?”

“No, I suppose not, but sometimes my little friend down there needs a break.”

Now I was the one giggling. “We work around vaginas all day and you call it ‘your little friend’?

She shrugged. “Yep. But all of this brings me back around to a question I’ve wanted to ask you for a while. How come I’ve never seen you go out on a date? In fact I don’t think I’ve ever even heard you talking about a guy.”

Inevitably, I’m always asked this question. I don’t announce that I’m not into dating, but people
do
take notice. “It’s just not something I’m interested in at this stage in my life. I’m getting myself settled into a new job, and figuring out my long term goals.”

Her voice became softer. “Don’t any of those long term goals include someone tall, dark, and handsome?”

“I just don’t think that’s in the cards for me.”

“It could be if you opened yourself up to the possibility.”

I turned to look out the window. We were heading into downtown Athens, and the historic buildings were passing us by. “You make it sound like a fairytale. I like being alone.”

I saw her reflection in the glass. Keegan glanced over at me with sad, wistful eyes. A hand came over and grasped my own. “I’m here. I’m always going to
be
here, even if you just want to sit and not talk.” With a light squeeze she put her hand back on the wheel and focused on the road. I turned back toward her and gave her a small smile. We rode the rest of the way to the bridal shop in silence.

When we arrived, I saw that Rowan, Keegan’s mom, Sarah, her little sister, and Donna were all standing on the sidewalk waiting for us. A little flutter went through my tummy at seeing Donna. Last time I saw her was the day I embarrassed myself during their baseball game. I may or may not have had a brief flash of Turner’s face run through my head. I pushed it away just as another car pulled in. It was Macie. She had been Keegan’s best friend since they were kids, but she has taken a liking to me too. We’ve hung out quite a few times over the past year, and have gotten to know each other. I liked Macie. She was loud, colorful, beautiful, and easy to get along with. But what I liked best about her was she never held back about how she felt. It’s a quality that a lot of people are missing lately.

As Macie stepped out of the car, she lifted her long brown hair off of her neck and fanned herself in a dramatic fashion. “Y’all know just what kind of madness it is to get married in the middle of Georgia summer, right?”

“Yes, but there will be plenty of icy drinks to keep the heat away.” Keegan stated positively. Nothing was going to get her spirits down.

“You better hope so, ‘cause I swear, you keep my ass out in this heat longer than ten minutes for you to say ‘I do’ I’m walking.”

Keegan grinned. “You’d walk out of your best friend’s wedding?”

“Does this look like a face that is kidding?” She pointed to her pout. “Never mind. Who can see my face when it’s melting off? Can we just get inside please?”

“Yes, please,” I seconded.

As we all walked in the door, Keegan hugged everyone that was there to support her. As she checked in with one of the front desk girls, Donna gave me a bright grin. “Hey there. Annabelle, right?”

I nodded as she approached me then welcomed me in a warm hug like we were relatives or old friends. “I thought so. I’m usually good with names, but I haven’t seen you in what?” She paused to think about it. “Well, I think it’s been about seven or eight months.”

Donna was a typical southern woman. She dressed well, with perfectly coifed hair, and flawless make-up. Living in this region of the US, most of the female population treated each other like long lost friends even if they were total strangers when greeting one another. And of course everyone hugged everyone else. Donna’s small arms wrapped around me and her scent wafted through the air, covering me up like a warm blanket. She smelled so similar to what my mom used to smell like. Clean, almost like a fresh towel or sheet out of the dryer mixed with a hint of lavender. The smell hit me straight in the gut. I tried not to frown when she pulled away. All I wanted to do was bring her small frame back into me and breathe deeply.

“So how are you, honey? Been stayin’ busy?” Her sweet-as-a-peach southern draw was smooth, like a fine wine.

I paused briefly to shake myself from the tears that wanted to work their way up. Swallowing down the lump that was forming, I reciprocated her smile. “I’m good, thanks for asking. Just working on the L&D floor like Keegan and taking on a couple extra shifts now and then.”

“That’s right. Keegan said y’all worked together. How’re ya likin’ it?”

Keegan started making her way toward the showroom floor and we all trailed behind her, the consultant leading the way. “It’s good. I didn’t realize how rewarding the work would be, but I really am happy with it.”

She rested her hand on my forearm as we stepped into a wide space with wedding dresses and prom gowns galore. “That’s great honey. I know the nurses that were there when I birthed all four of my boys were an invaluable asset to me. I’m so happy for you.”

The mention of her sons brought my mind back to Turner. I had to admit I was quite taken by his poise, his blue eyes staring at me from across the kitchen. How his deep voice resonated in my chest. Him lifting me like I weighed nothing. He was still the most handsome man I’d ever laid eyes on. What in the world? My thoughts sounded like I had a crush on him. Crazy sauce! Someone coughed, bringing me back into the present.

“Earth to Annabelle.” Macie snapped her fingers. “Do you want to try on these two dresses?”

The little blonde consultant was holding up the options and I looked them over. Both were black, and both seemed exactly the same to me. Honestly, I didn’t care either way. It was Keegan’s wedding, so it’s her opinion that mattered more than mine, right? “Sure.”

Macie went into one room with one dress, and I went into one with the other dress. What I tried on was a strapless A-line, satin cocktail number. The top was fitted around my chest, and the bottom flared out with black tulle. It was short, very light and flowy and probably wouldn’t make me too hot with the outdoor wedding. I doubled checked my appearance in the mirror before stepping out. Macie was already out, standing on a podium. Keegan was up, picking apart the flaws when I came into view. Stepping up next to her, Macie looked me over.

“Should’ve tried that one on,” she declared. “This dress is way too itchy and I don’t like how the back poofs out. Makes my butt look bigger than it already is.” She turned, giving us a view.

Her dress was also black cocktail dress, but it had spaghetti straps, with a sweetheart neckline. It had pleating from the waist down to the knees.

“What do you think, Annabelle?” Keegan asked.

“Me? It’s your wedding. I’ll wear whatever you put me in.”

“Oh shut up. No you won’t.” Macie glared at me. Not in an angry way, but more of a “shut your mouth or I’m going to kill you” sort of way.

I glanced back and forth between the two of them. “I think this one is lovely and will look perfect on the three of you. Plus, we can ask the seamstress to add a couple of small straps to Sarah’s dress.” A warm hand came to rest on my shoulder. Donna had stood up to come to my rescue. “How long will these take to come in?”

“These we can get in pretty quickly. Three weeks should be the longest you’ll have to wait.” The consultant replied.

“Are you good with that, Keegan?” Donna asked her.

“Yep! I think these will be perfect. Sarah, I want to try on the one that Annabelle has on to see what we need to do to make it work on you too, okay?”

As Keegan turned to talk to her mom and little sister, Macie leaned in to whisper, “We need to plan this bachelorette party now, or it’s never gonna happen.”

Donna grinned at us and took a step towards the other girls. “Y’all are on your own. My bachelorette days are over.”

Macie and I laughed, but I couldn’t help the blush that came to my cheeks. Donna turned and joined the other girls.

I raised my arm as the consultant placed a tape measure around me and wrote down some numbers. “Do people even have those anymore?”

She scoffed. “Bachelorette parties? Well, whether anybody else has them, I don’t care,
we
sure as hell are.”

I giggled. “Oh boy. What do you have in mind? And don’t tell me strippers. If there are strippers you can count me out.” The little blond girl coughed, and walked out of hearing distance.