Page 360 of Saving Forever with the Hockey Captain

"Tell him when you need him."

For a long moment...no one says anything. Then she reaches over and squeezes my hand. "Because you finally found someone worth telling."

***

Keisha glances toward the clock.

"Well..."

She claps her hands once.

"If we don't stop crying..."

"...Jamie's going to marry a raccoon."

Laughter fills the room. Several wipe at the corners of their eyes.

"Ladies..."

She smiles warmly at me.

"It's time."

***

For a moment, no one says anything.

Then Becca claps her hands as well. "All right."

She smiles warmly. “Keisha says it’s time, so let’s get cracking.”

The room immediately understands what she means.

Sadie closes the bakery box. Brooke gathers the empty coffee cups.

Paige straightens the garment bags hanging near the window.

Make up goes on, hair gets styled, earrings are next, and dresses of different pastels are slipped over heads and fastened. They are all radiant as Becca clicks over them like the mother hen she truly is.

One by one, the women begin slipping quietly toward the door. They move quietly to the bridesmaids’ room to await their entrance to the sanctuary.

Finally, Keisha pulls me into the longest hug of all. She doesn't say anything at first. She simply holds me. When she finally steps back, her eyes shine.

"I'm really proud of you."

My throat tightens. "I love you."

"I know."

She grins through suspiciously bright eyes. "I love you too."

She slips quietly into the hallway with the others.

The door closes softly behind them, and the room becomes quiet.

***

Then a gentle knock and the door opens. My mother steps inside carrying a silver tray with three flutes of champagne.