Page 100 of Book Club Confidential

She’d wanted a short classic ceremony on a grassy lookout vista in a national park outside her hometown. Immediate family and friends only. Then a larger reception to follow at a nearby hotel.

The event’s scope had grown steadily with the guest list over each passing month. Eventually, Bryce’s parents booked their country club with its massive historic home and gardens. Hallie reluctantly agreed to have the ceremony in the country club gardens, but much to the Haymakers’ dismay, she’d insisted on a reception of her mama’s choosing. Mrs. Montgomery was paying for that, after all, and according to Hallie, it was a point of pride for her family to pull their weight on her big day. She’d booked the Barn at Baker’s Farm, a large two-story barn on the outskirts of town, where events were regularly held. The property was scenic, historic, and owned by the same family for nearly 150 years. Hallie’s family planned to transform it into the reception hall of Hallie’s dreams. They’d saved a mint by hiring a local catering service and planned to decorate the space themselves. Simple, elegant, country fun.

All in all, there had been a lot of compromising on both sides. Hallie’s hair and dress, however, remained nonnegotiable.

The wedding gown featured her great-grandmama’s lace, nylon, and spandex longline bra as Hallie’s sleeveless corseted bodice. She’d commissioned a local seamstress to add fabric to conceal her body while showcasing the nineteen sixties lingerie. From there, she’d added a layered skirt from one of her mama’s old wedding dresses to the cinched waist of the corset, showing off her tiny frame. The seamstress brought it all together, then raised the hemline in front by a foot for a dramatic high-low appearance. Hallie wanted thigh highs and garters to peek as she walked, or perhaps thigh highs with small white bows at the tops. She’d also dreamed of adding sprayed edges to the skirt in shades of purple and black but knew that would never fly with Bryce or his family.

Another point that saddened Tessa for Hallie’s sake.

A door opened at the side of the room, and a mass of white rocked forward.

Tessa performed a double take before recognizing the shimmering ball as Hallie.

She wore a corseted gown with long sleeves in a thin layer of illusion tulle that ran from her wrists to her waist, effectively covering her grandma’s lingerie. The hemline on her high-low skirt had been lowered, or filled in somehow, hiding Hallie’s legs and stockings. Assuming the thigh highs were under there at all.

“There she is,” Mrs. Haymaker said. She approached the mirrors to wait for Hallie’s sullen arrival. “Isn’t this better?” She motioned for Hallie to spin and face the waiting group.

The attendant reappeared and rushed forward to meet them. “It’s lovely,” she said, smoothing a palm over the sheer coverage of Hallie’s arms and along her side. “Exceptional.”

“As I said,” Mrs. Haymaker announced, nodding to underscore her words.

Hallie stared at the attendant’s shoes.

“Darling, chin up,” Mrs. Haymaker commanded. “You’re a bride. Shoulders back.”

One of the sisters, whose name Tessa had already forgotten, moved closer. “Your friends are here, sweetie.”

Hallie’s gaze snapped upward and darted toward the door, finding Tessa and Kate in a nanosecond. Then her pretty hazel eyes filled with tears. Spawned by rage, frustration, or heartbreak, Tessa wasn’t sure, but based on the state of Hallie’s beloved wedding gown, all were appropriate.

Tessa waved.

Kate locked her arm with Tessa’s at the elbow, likely to restrain one, or both of them, from running to Hallie’s rescue.

“Smile, darling,” another of the older women said. “You look as if you’re going to cry.”

“Do you regret what you’ve done to your hair?” a third woman asked.

“Marcy?” Mrs. Haymaker asked the attendant. “Let’s have some champagne. I think we need to loosen the nerves.”

Marcy turned and left.

“I don’t drink,” Hallie said, but it was too late. Everyone had moved on.

At the mention of nerves, Mrs. Haymaker, her friend, and her sisters spoke at once, sharing tales of their own prewedding memories and anxieties.

Kate tightened her grip on Tessa. “Tell me they know she doesn’t drink and just forgot?”

“They must,” Tessa said. “She’s been dating Bryce for eons.”

“Did you hear what that one said about her hair?”

Tessa nodded.

The women closed in on Hallie, tugging and fussing at the gown.

Drinks arrived, and Hallie waved away the champagne, asking instead for water.

Tessa bit her lip, hating how helpless their usually fiery friend appeared.