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“Do you think you’ll ever get married?” she asks, noticing my fingers lingering on one of the dresses.
I laugh. “Probably not,” I say, following her to the display of shoes at the far wall.
“You just have to find the right person,” she says.
“The only age-appropriate men for me are old, divorced, or if they’ve never been married, then something’s wrong with them,” I explain.
“You’venever been married,” Beth points out.
“Exactly my point,” I say, raising an eyebrow as she picks up a beautiful jewel encrusted heel.
Beth shakes her head and laughs.
“Looks very uncomfortable,” I say and Beth sighs, placing it back on the rack.
She turns toward me. “I didn’t mean to plan the bridal shower on your birthday; it’s just that Laura’s family was only able to…”
“I’m not five, Beth,” I cut her off. “It’s just a birthday.” Which is true, and I’d rather not celebrate it. Her bridal shower falling on my birthday is actually a welcomed distraction.
“I don’t know why I’m looking at shoes, I already have a pair,” she says, flopping her arms at her sides.
“You know I’m happy for you, right?” I say, grabbing onto her arms, holding her in front of me.
“I know,” she sighs. Her expression turns solemn, and I know we’re both thinking the same thing.
“I wish mom were here, too.” We both feel her absence, especially during big moments like this. As the years go by, the gap in her presence gets bigger instead of smaller.
“What do you think she would say?” Beth asks, tilting her head, her brown hair falling down her shoulder. She has mom’s heart shaped face and wide eyes, while I take more after our dad’s angular, sharp jaw.
“About you marrying a woman?” I ask, confused, and Beth nods. “Mom wouldn’t care if you were marrying the Loch Ness Monster, as long as it made you happy,” I confirm.
Beth laughs, her posture easing, and she pulls her purse further up her shoulder. “I’m sorry if I’ve been a bit bridezilla lately,” she apologizes as we make our way to the entrance.
“A bit?” I tease, eyeing her.
“Okay, a lot, but I promise to rein it in,” Beth laughs.
We stop in front of the double doors and Beth looks at me expectantly. “Are you bringing Noelle to the shower? I haven’t seen her in a while, and Ashley will be so excited.”
Already feeling the heat through the glass, I brace myself.
“She’s looking forward to it,” I say with a smile, knowing I passed on my penchant for social gatherings to her.
“She is not, and neither are you,” Beth laughs, knowing us better than I thought. “But you better be there and on your best behavior. Eric is picking up Ashley after the shower,” she warns.
“Who, me?” I feign innocence, giving her an overly sweet look but I can’t be responsible for my behavior around her dick of an ex-husband.
“I don’t need any more problems with Eric,” Beth says, referring to the last time he and I came in contact at Ashley’s birthday party when he wasn’t willing to let her stay later.
“He tripped, Beth.” I roll my eyes. “I can’t be held responsible for his clumsiness.”
Beth holds back a smile while opening the door, unleashing a wave of hot air. “Do not forget to pick up your dress,” she reminds me, pointing at me with an accusatory finger.
“What if I accidentally pick up a blue one instead?” I tease, while walking backwards to my car through the parking lot.
“Lake,” she warns, narrowing her eyes at me while I slip on my sunglasses.
“Sabrina seems like the type to mix things up,” I say, while shimming my hips, eliciting just a hint of a smile from Beth.
