Lucy and Alyssa stay back with Sabrina. Though they’ve known her longer, they’re not in the wedding party so they cankeep an eye on their little one who is the flower girl. I would’ve assumed Maddie would be the flower girl, but instead she’s walking Sabrina down the aisle, which I think is infinitely more special.
Whimsy and I are each shuffled into our own changing rooms.
The green scoop neck dress with spaghetti straps and a drop Basque skirt hangs in a clear garment bag. I change out of my clothes and into the dress. I’m not able to get the zipper fully up, but it’s good enough when I finally step out of the room.
“I’m Shaina,” the woman says. “I’m just going to check everything and make sure no final adjustments are needed.”
She gestures for me to step up onto a platform and finishes zipping the dress for me.
Whimsy pushes her curtain open and steps out in the same style dress but while mine is green, hers is a blue shade.
“Hottie,” she says, poking my side playfully before she sits in the chair to wait her turn.
Shaina checks various areas of the dress, humming as she goes, and making slight tweaks with pins.
“Switch,” she commands and I change spots with Whimsy.
When she’s finished with both of us, she helps us back into the changing rooms and out of the dresses, so we don’t mess up her pins.
Sabrina’s gone when we rejoin Lucy and Alyssa.
“Isn’t she so beautiful?” Lucy says almost dreamily. “I can’t believe she’s getting married.” She reaches over and squeezes her wife’s hand. Tears fill her eyes when she says, “It makes me so happy to see how she’s flourished. She deserves this so much.”
“She does,” I agree.
Sabrina is one of those rare, kind-hearted people who was too often dealt a bad hand. It’s time the cards turned in her favor.
After a quick, early dinner with all of us, we head back to Sabrina and Noah’s house. The closer we get, the clammier my palms become. It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask if he’s still at the house, but I know that would lead to questions and speculation from both of my friends that I would rather avoid.
I get my answer when Sabrina pulls into the driveway and the matte black Ford Bronco I’ve decided must be his is still in the driveway. The Mercedes he picked us up in I quickly deduced is one of Noah’s cars.
Sabrina pushes the button for the garage doors and pulls in beside a Range Rover.
As we head inside, Sabrina says, “I just want to thank you guys for coming again. I know it was unnecessary and too much to ask, but I’m glad you guys were there today.”
“It wasn’t too much to ask,” I say, pulling her into a hug.
“Not at all,” Whimsy agrees, hugging her next.
“You’re back!” At the sound of Maddie’s voice, we all turn to look and find her running around the corner from the area of the kitchen. She stops in front of Sabrina with a pleading look. “Never leave me alone with the boys ever again.”
Sabrina laughs. “I’m sorry. I would’ve taken you with us if you weren’t already going to that ice cream party.”
“I know.” Maddie tucks her hair behind her ear. “But Dad picked me up with Elias and Fisher and all they’ve done is talk about tennis. Bleh. Do you think they’d like it if I talked about books that much?”
Sabrina smiles at her and says, “I’m fairly certain your dad would love to listen to anything you want to talk about.”
“Mm,” Maddie hums. “I think you’re just sticking up for him because you’re going to marry him soon.”
Laughing, Sabrina gives Maddie a tender pat on her cheek. “Not a chance. You know I like to keep your dad on his toes. I don’t coddle him.”
Maddie hums and says, “You’re right.”
In the kitchen, we find the three guys sitting at the counter eating sandwiches.
Noah beams with love and pride as soon as he sees Sabrina. “How’d it go?” he asks, motioning for her to come over to him. As soon as she does, he turns the stool and pulls her to stand in between his legs. He kisses her with a mixture of passion and sweetness.
“Great. Just a few small tweaks and the dress will be perfect.”