Page 48 of Ardently Yours

I have mine wrapped into a V-neck style, while Jane, standing beside me, is wearing hers as a one-shoulder dress. She looks at me, and I lean against her shoulder. She’s a little shorter than I am, but she wraps an arm around me and pulls me close, letting me rest my head against hers.

“Want to talk about it, Liz?”

“There’s too much to talk about, girlie.” I stare at myself in the mirror and notice the tired eyes staring back at me. I sleep but still wake up tired. I work but never feel like I’m done working. I stifle a yawn.

My eyes drift to Jane, who doesn’t push or pry. She just holds on to me. Could something be weighing me down on top of everything else? Yes. But I already know that.

I have a secret to tell. I clear my throat. On the other side of the bridal shop, next door in the tux shop, the guys are getting fitted too. The plan is for me to officially tell the girls while Will tells the guys.

I’m not sure it’s the best plan, but it’s the best one we’ve got. I figured it’d be easier to tell them separately so we wouldn’t have to immediately start acting all romantic and pretending to have lovey-dovey moments. We’ll break the news first. Then we’ll all spend time together at my place.

But my secret has to wait because Nic walks into the mirrored fitting area looking like an angel. She’s wearing a long, cream-colored, strapless mermaid gown that fits her like a glove. Her curls are pulled back into a low bun. Jane and I gasp and hurry over to her.

The bridal attendant smiles. “I’ll give you ladies a moment.”

“You look amazing!” I exclaim, gushing over Nic.

She beams at us and gives us a twirl. I watch as her dress sparkles under the lights of the bridal shop. My heart swells with happiness for her, and my eyes begin to water. I’ve been waiting for this day. To see her wedding dress.

“Don’t you dare cry,” Nic says, squeezing my hand. “If you start, then I’m definitely going to start crying, and I don’t want to ruin my makeup.”

“Then you should’ve worn waterproof makeup like we taught you,” I say, sniffling as I wipe away a stray tear. “Now, I know it isn’t the wedding day yet, but I just have to say that you are the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen. Seeing you and Jay finally take this next step after everything you’ve been through just makes me so happy to see you happy.”

And then I’ve done it. The next thing I know, I’m crying. Nic is crying. Jane is crying too. We’re all shedding tears of joy.

Our best friend is stepping into a new season of her life. She’ll always be our girl. But now she’ll be somebody’s wife too.

And that’s insane to think about because we used to plan our weddings together when we were growing up. Now look at us. All back in Selah Falls. All together. Helping her get ready for the one of the biggest days of her life.

“I always knew you and Jay would find your back to each other,” Jane says, wiping away her tears as she looks at Nic with affection.

The three of us stand in a little huddle like we have for years. Only this time we’re holding hands. This isn’t a huddle for sharing secrets or making confessions. It’s one for celebrating.

Jane adds, “You and Jay have always been goals.”

We all laugh. But she’s right. Growing up, it was always Nic and Jay. Even when they were just friends, there was always this bond between them that only grew stronger with time.

It was the kind of love story you read about in books. The kids who grow up together, and somehow you just know that one day they’re going to fall in love and get married. It’s crazy because I always knew.

Even when they weren’t together. Even when they went through all the drama they did. I always hoped they’d find their way back to each other. When they finally did, I wasn’t surprised. I was happy.

This moment isn’t about my failed engagement or my fake boyfriend. It’s about my friend. And that’s enough to fill my heart with joy.

“How did you know he was the one?” I ask Nic.

“That’s a hard question with an easy answer.” She smiles. “He was always my person before I even knew what that meant. I thought I was crazy for loving him even after everything that happened, but God had a way of bringing us back together.”

“After all those years,” says Jane. “That just goes to show that trusting God with your love story is the way to go.”

“You are so sappy,” I tease Jane playfully.

Then I turn back to Nic.

“And you are literally so blessed. Pretty much an inspiration to the rest of us single ladies out here.” I realize what I’ve said before I said it. I have to tell them I have a boyfriend. And I have to leave the fake part out.

Nic can’t read my mind. Thank God she can’t. Instead of calling me out for my new fake relationship, she says, “You just have to trust God and know that He will work it all together for good for you when it’s right.”

I wrinkle my nose, pretending to protest. “Sounds like a fairytale, ladies.”