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I smile at Dori, then turn to Ethel. “I’m here to look at the bridesmaids’ dresses.”
“Yes, they’re pretty much done. The girls are stopping over when they get off work tonight to try them on.”
“Sit down, you two. You can have my dessert.” Midge places a cup of pudding in front of Noah.
I chuckle, and he holds the chair out for me before folding himself into one of his own.
“That’s okay, we ate before we came.” He slides the pudding cup back over to Midge.
“Lunch is almost over, then you guys can come down to my room if there’s time before the next activity,” Midge says.
“Maybe they want to come to mine,” Ethel says, seeming offended.
“We can go to both.” I have no idea why they’re pushing this so hard.
“Mandi, I wanted to let you know that I had the sewing club make a junior bridesmaid’s gown as well,” Ethel says. “It’s in navy blue, like you requested.”
“Junior bridesmaid?” I glance at Noah to see if he has any idea what she’s talking about, but he shrugs his big shoulders.
“Calista happily agreed to walk down the aisle with Rylan. I guess they have some soccer tournament the day after the wedding, so she’s going to spend the night at Marla and Hank’s,” Dori fills me in on details I wasn’t aware of.
“Rylan is standing up too?” I look at Noah, who didn’t really care which of my brothers stood up for him at the wedding. He said all of his friends moved out of Greywall as soon as they could, and he isn’t inviting anyone from New York because he felt bad asking them to pay for airfare and take time off work for a fake wedding.
“Yes, your mom arranged the whole thing. It will be so cute.” Dori looks off into the distance as though she’s picturing it.
“Okay great. And then that’s it.”
“Just Emelia’s dress, since she’s the flower girl,” Ethel says.
“But no ring bearer,” I clarify.
“Oh, we’re going to have Logan escort little Noah down the aisle,” Ethel says.
“Good thing you guys don’t need my help planning any of this.” My sarcasm is clear.
Noah’s hand lands on my thigh, making me jump. His hand hits the table, and he retracts it, shaking it against the pain. Dori’s staring at me when I apologize to him for being so jumpy.
“You know what? After lunch today, we’re having dance lessons. You two can join us and practice up for your big day.” Midge seems very excited about her idea.
I look at Noah. “Oh, well we…”
“LeeAnn! Can Noah and Mandi join us for the dancing lesson?” Midge calls.
LeeAnn, the social director, among many other roles, comes over. “Congratulations, you two. I can’t see why not.”
“Great,” we deadpan at the same time.
Forty-five minutes later, after a lot of help from Noah and me, the tables are pushed back and the chairs are stacked, making room for a dance floor.
A couple in their late forties comes into the room and introduces themselves as the instructors. The woman is wearing short heels and one of those dresses where the fabric flares when she spins, and the man has on high-waisted pants and black shiny shoes.
“They’re the real deal,” I whisper to Noah.
“I have a confession.” He stares at them. “I’m not some closet, good dancer. I didn’t even think about our first dance. I might’ve dipped you earlier, but that’s about the extent of my moves.”
I look up at him and bite my lip to keep from laughing at how stressed he looks. He’s even got a bead of sweat along his hairline.
I link my arm with his. “Don’t worry, we can step on each other’s feet.”
