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“I like you too, sweetie, but why don’t we sit you down, get you a little water and maybe a cup of coffee?”
Sarah made a scrunched face. “I hate coffee.”
“That’s blasphemy, but I’ll let it go this once.”
Sarah weaved against her, giving her a puzzled look. “What?”
“It was a bad joke, never mind.”
Marley half dragged, half carried Sarah to the bridal suite. The wedding and reception had been held at Lovers Lane Vineyard, because they had a beautiful chapel a hundred yards from the reception hall. If she could just let Sarah sleep it off for an hour, maybe nobody would notice.
“So, how many glasses of bubbly did you sneak?” Marley asked.
“Hmm, four or five?” Sarah lowered her slurred voice. “I think the server liked me.”
Oh, Lord, now was not the time for Sarah to start noticing other men. When she’d first met the nineteen-year-old bride-to-be, she’d been so excited, filled with childlike wonder. The closer they got to the date, the jitterier she seemed to get, though and more than once, Marley had asked her if she was sure she was ready. Sarah had waved her off, and made excuses that she was just tired, but Marley wasn’t so sure.
And tonight, she’d gotten hammered in the full view of her parents.
Yeah, she was definitely a happy camper.
Marley opened the door to the salon and laid her on the c
ouch. When Sarah promptly burst into tears, Marley was thrown.
“Sarah, what’s the matter?”
“I…I love Ryan, I really, really do, but…”
Marley waited for her to finish but she just cried harder. Marley wrapped her arm around her shoulder and hugged her close. “But what?”
“Do you promise not to tell anyone?” Sarah asked.
“Sure.”
Sarah sniffled, wiping at her eyes and dragging black mascara streaks across her cheek. “I’m not a virgin.”
Marley sensed that was probably a big deal, but had no idea why.
“That’s okay. Did you and Ryan…”
“No, it was with some guy at camp three years ago. I didn’t even know Ryan then. He knows what happened and he’s fine. That’s not the issue.” Sarah took in a shaky breath. “I hated having sex. I only did it twice but it was terrible. What if I don’t like it with Ryan either?”
Marley almost laughed aloud at the ridiculous situations she was thrown into while working for Something Borrowed. Breaking up fist fights. Having to chase a camel the bride had insisted on riding until it took off with her.
But giving a sex talk? This was a new one.
Marley thought about what she could say, and finally, settled on the truth. “To be honest, most women hate sex the first couple of times. It usually hurts and is messy and if you don’t have really strong feelings for the guy, it can be brutal.”
She thought back over the handful of partners she had, trying to find the right ray of sunshine, and her mind kept straying to her kisses with Luke.
“But when you are with a guy who knows what he’s doing and cares about you, who wants to know what you like and please you, then sex can be amazing. You just have to tell Ryan and don’t be afraid to be bossy.”
Sarah giggled. “I’m not very assertive.”
“Every woman should get assertive when it comes to sex.” Marley patted her knee. “I’ll get you that coffee.”
Marley left the room and grabbed a bottle of water from one of the tables. After she’d poured a cup of coffee, adding a bit of cream and sugar, she snatched up a piece of cake and juggled the load back to the bridal salon.
