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“Come on and just pick one already,” Bree whines through the dressing room door where Courtney is currently trying on yet another dress.
Bree, who’s less than five weeks away from giving birth, picked out her dress after trying on a whopping two. She settled on a light blue, knee-length number that’s fitted in the bust and flows out over her belly. Even at eight months pregnant she looks gorgeous in it. Even though I can tell the pregnancy is wearing on her internally, externally she looks beautiful. Pregnancy really suits her.
“This is prom. It needs to be perfect,” Courtney retorts, coming out of the dressing room wearing a floor-length red gown that does wonders for her complexion. She looks stunning. Then again, she looked stunning in the last twenty dresses she’s walked out in as well.
“That one.” Bree smiles, her feet stretched out in front of her as she lounges in one of the dressing room chairs, her hands splayed across her belly.
“Yeah?” Court questions, turning to look at herself in the floor-length mirror in the corner.
“Definitely,” I agree, hoping maybe she’ll actually take our advice this time.
I, like Bree, picked my dress pretty quickly, only trying on a handful before settling on the perfect one. It’s a strapless pink gown that hits me about mid-calf. It’s simple and elegant which is completely my style. I’m not nearly as flashy as my two best friends. Then again, I never have been.
“I think you’re right.” Courtney stares at herself for a long moment, nodding in approval.
“Thank god.” Bree sighs loudly. “Do you see how swollen my feet are?” She holds up a flip flop-covered foot, her ankles about twice their normal size.
“God, I’m never having kids,” Courtney says, shaking her head.
“Yeah, right,” I disagree. “You say that now. Give it a few years.”
Courtney starts to object but is quickly cut off when Bree abruptly announces, “I’m moving to California.”
Not really sure where this is coming from, at first I’m not sure if I believe her. I can tell that Courtney is right there with me.
“Shut up.” Courtney snorts.
“I’m serious. As soon as the baby is born. Honestly, I’m only staying that long because my doctor is here.” She says, looking up to where the two of us are standing completely blindsided by her announcement.
“Wait, you’re serious?” I question, my chest tightening.
“I am. I can’t subject this child to what I grew up with. I won’t. And honestly, I’m scared that if I stay here Blake will try to take the baby from me just out of spite. I think it’s the right decision all around. My grandparents’ have already cleared out a room for me and the baby and have talked to the local high school about me transferring for senior year.”
“You’re really leaving?” Courtney blurts, still not seeming to fully process the news.
“I am.” Tears swim in Bree’s eyes as she stands.
I can tell she’s trying like hell to hold it together. She’s cried more times since she’s been pregnant than I’ve seen her cry during our entire friendship. I know it drives her crazy because she’s never been one to show a lot of emotion.
“Trust me, the last thing I want to do is leave the two of you.” She closes the distance between us, taking my hand in one of hers and Courtney’s hand in the other. “But if I’m going to give this baby the best chance at a good life, I have to get it away from my mother and Blake. My grandparents’ have already agreed to watch the baby during the day so I can go to school and graduate normally. I think this is the right choice all around.”
“Bree.” I fight back my own tears.
“You can’t leave us,” Courtney interjects, her voice swimming with emotion as well. “It’s always been the three of us.”
“And it always will be,” She squeezes both of our hands. “I will come back and visit from time to time, and you guys can always come to visit me in California.”
“But nugget.” Court rests her free hand on Bree’s belly. “We won’t get to see him grow up.”
“Yes, you will. I will send pictures, and we will see each other as often as we can. Besides, this isn’t forever. This is just until I can establish myself on my own two feet and become stable enough to provide a life for this baby.”
“I don’t like it.” I finally find my voice again. “But I get it. And I’m proud of you.” I force a smile. “You’re going to be an amazing mother.”
“Thank you.” The tears Bree has been holding back finally spill over and once they do, mine and Courtney’s follow.
It’s so hard to imagine my life without Bree in it. She’s always been there, her and Courtney both. Now, not only am I losing Sebastian, I’m also losing one of my best friends—someone who is like a sister to me.
What started out as a fun, carefree day has morphed into an emotionally heavy and mentally exhausting one. By the time we leave the dress store just a few minutes later, all I want to do is go home and try to forget that next month is going to be one of the hardest I’ve ever had to face.
