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Pippa’s blue eyes turned to me. “And you, wedding planner extraordinaire, what’s the verdict?”
“With your figure you can make just about anything look fantastic, but maybe don’t go for white?”
Pippa frowned. “Are you maligning my purity?”
“Absolutely,” I joked. “No, I just mean that a very light shade of purple or blue, even a pale yellow would take the sex appeal up a notch.”
Pippa thought about it for a long time as she examined her reflection with a soft smile. “Maybe you’re right,” she said and disappeared back inside the fitting room.
Valona and I sat on a plush sofa on our first stop for this girls’ day excursion. The lingerie shop specialized in wedding undergarments, and the more I sat there surrounded by shades of white and pastel, surrounded by reminders of love and happy endings, the more it reminded me of what I didn’t have. Might never have. It left me both depressed and hopeful.
“What’s on your mind?” Valona’s eyes were full of concern, and I knew I had to get her off the scent because today was about Pippa, not me and my drama.
I let out a rough laugh. “What’s not on my mind? Just keeping a running tally of all the things I need to do for upcoming events.” The barn was being decorated at this moment, and even though Margot was more than capable, my stomach clenched at not being there to supervise it myself. My assistant was handling the ballroom for another upcoming event, and my mind really was swirling with all that had to be done.
“Relax Carlotta, this is meant to be a fun day for all of us.” She wrapped an arm around me and laid her head on my shoulder. “I’m sorry about you and Chase. I thought you were a really cute couple.”
“Thanks. I’m sorry too, but I’m also used to it, you know?” Dating at my age was difficult enough without getting heartbroken over the end of every almost relationship.
“Believe me, I know.” She too had given up on love until she’d met a gorgeous younger man determined to win her over. “But the right man won’t stop at anything to have you, to be in your life.”
“I know. I was there, remember?” My words drew a laugh from both of us. But I knew what she was saying, Chase clearly wasn’t the man for me, since he wasn’t willing to do anything outside of his comfort zone to make room for me in his life. “The disappointment will pass.”
“It always does,” she sighed and took my glass to refill them both. “Can I say how happy I am that Ryan got us a driver for the day? Now that man is a keeper.”
I drained the champagne and smacked my lips. “Amen to that sister.”
“All right ladies, how about this one?” Pippa stood in a pale pink lace set that was sexy and just edgy enough for a rock star. The bralette and panties wrapped around in a crisscross pattern that made it look as if it were a one-piece.
“Damn woman, you are gorgeous,” Valona said breathlessly.
I nodded my agreement. “Sexy and feminine, with just a hint of color. Ryanna’s going to have a sibling sooner rather than later.”
“You think so?” Her excited eyes were so happy, I felt tears sting the back of my eyes.
Valona and I both nodded our agreement. “Definitely,” I told her. “That’s the one.”
“Perfect!” Pippa performed an excited toe-tap dance in a circle and she did a little shimmy. “Thank you ladies so much, and now,” she banged her fingers against her thigh and made a drumroll noise with her mouth. “I’m buying you lingerie. In solidarity.”
I laughed. “Solidarity lingerie. Is that a thing?”
Valona shrugged. “Apparently, and I for one don’t plan on turning down free, fancy and super sexy lingerie” She pushed off the plush sofa with the grace of a dancer and started browsing.
“And I never look a gift horse in the mouth, whatever that really means,” I said and took my time searching for the perfect lingerie set that was sexy enough to boost my confidence, even though no one was likely to see it anytime soon.
As I browsed through racks and racks of over the top, completely impractical sleepwear, I wondered if there were some comfy white flannel pajamas for older couples on their wedding day.
Eventually Pippa’s eyelids grew heavy and it was time to head to the next destination, which was perfect, because I was definitely in the mood for good food and plenty of wine.
Lots and lots of wine.
When we arrived at the reserved room inside Dark Horse, the party had already started without the bride-to-be. Lacey and Margo sat talking quietly over big glasses of wine, red for Lacey and white for Margo. Lacey’s soon-to-be daughter in law Michelle, arrived soon after we did, and she wore an uncertain smile.
“Honey, your goal for the next year is to make more friends,” I whispered in Pippa’s ear before we joined the party.
“No kidding. How sad and pathetic is this?” Pippa’s shoulders fell and I rubbed encouraging circles on her back. “I spent so much time working over the past couple decades that I didn’t take the time to foster real friendships.
I shrugged and wrapped an arm around Pippa’s waist. “That’s all right. More booze, and more of Nina’s delicious food just for us.”
