Page 33 of Welcome Home to Ivy Falls (Ivy Falls #3)

PIPER

Have A Little Fun

I’d discovered a new form of torture – trying on a bridesmaid’s dress in ninety-degree heat.

It wasn’t Ms Darcy’s fault that the air conditioning was out at Brides and Blooms right off the square, but it made sliding taffeta and lace over my skin a scratchy nightmare.

‘Turn around one more time,’ Tessa said, spinning her finger in a circle like I needed instructions.

Taking small steps in the ridiculously high heels they made me wear, I moved around the elevated circular platform.

Torran, Tessa and Maisey sat in old wooden chairs against a bright pink wall that was covered in framed photos of recent Ivy Falls brides.

While Maisey and Tessa tried desperately to fan themselves, Torran’s attention stayed on her phone.

Tessa tapped at her chin. ‘I told Tor sapphire blue was a good choice. What do you think, Maisey?’

When she’d stopped by the P&P earlier, I’d begged Maisey to come to this appointment. I trusted her fashion sense, and knew she’d tell me if I looked like a bright blue popsicle in the dress Torran had picked out months ago.

As I spun another time in front of the mirror, Ford filled my head.

Did he like blue?

He seemed to like the cobalt-colored thong he tore off with his teeth last night.

We’d gotten into a routine lately. Work.

Rehearsals. Dinner. Well, a few bites before we ended up in bed together.

It was strange how quickly we melted into one another’s lives, but every time he pulled me close, pressed a kiss to my forehead, I had to remind myself that it was temporary.

That in a few short weeks he’d be on a plane to Africa.

That it was the deal we’d agreed to that night on the rooftop.

Maisey let out a low whistle. ‘Hot damn, Pipe. That is some dress! The cut does wonders for your shoulders, and a good push-up bra will really show off your tits!’

‘Maisey!’ Tessa laughed. ‘You are too much.’

‘You always gotta pump up your bestie.’

She gave me a quick wink, which made the knots in my stomach loosen. This was why I’d invited her. The wedding was making everyone too damn tense. We needed a little comic relief, and Maise never disappointed in that department.

‘Tor? Thoughts?’ Tessa nudged her sister’s knee.

‘Yes. It’s good,’ she mumbled, still staring at her phone.

‘What is so important that you can’t pay attention to this?’ Tessa asked.

‘I have a lot going on at work. Teddy Ray, that restaurant client of Beck’s, keeps pestering us about that damn property he wants, but it’s tied up in probate. It’s a mess.’ She gulped uncomfortably.

Tessa nudged her knee again. Tried to get her to focus on my dress, but it was clear Torran’s mind was in another place.

Ms Darcy returned to the room with a cherry-red pincushion strapped to her arm.

She bent down in front of me, surveying the hem.

‘It’s only a minor alteration. It’ll be done in time for the wedding.

’ She shot a look to Torran like she expected a response, but Tor kept her nose buried in her phone.

Once she was done fixing my dress, Ms Darcy said, ‘You’re next, bride-to-be. ’

Torran tried to give the kind middle-aged woman a smile but it didn’t quite reach her lips.

Things were settled with Hearth and Home. The old Thomas Place was on the market. Besides the restaurant account, what else was distracting her? Was it Beck? Were there other issues about the wedding? I didn’t live with them anymore so I had no idea what could be making her so damn distracted.

Tessa snatched the phone out of her hand but not before Torran made the screen black.

‘Go try on your dress. I’ll hold your phone,’ Tessa ordered.

‘Fine. I’m going.’ Ms Darcy raced behind her offering to help.

Once Torran was out of earshot, I stepped down from the platform and sat next to Maisey.

‘What is going on with her?’ I said. ‘You’d think she was having a root canal, not preparing for what is supposed to be the happiest day of her life.’

‘I don’t know,’ Tessa confessed. ‘Manny says she’s been extra crabby these last weeks.

He even admitted she’s been disappearing from work when they’re supposed to be going over plans for their next season.

’ She glanced in the direction of the dressing room.

‘I’ve always been able to read her, but recently she’s put up a wall between us, and I can’t figure out a way to knock it down.

It has me very worried.’ She pressed her lips together as the dressing room door squeaked open.

Torran walked toward us and Maisey reached out and squeezed my hand. Silence filled the room as the corners of my eyes burned. My mom would have loved this.

‘Holy shit!’ Maisey crowed. ‘A satin magnolia ballgown with a basque waist and a Regency-inspired neckline. That’s some fucking gown, Tor! Well done.’

It should have been a magical moment, all of us finally seeing the dress she’d selected, but Torran’s face contorted in an unhappy pinch.

‘What’s wrong?’ Tessa jumped to her feet.

Torran’s shoulders slumped. ‘It’s too tight.’

Ms Darcy watched her with caution until the phone rang in the other room and she rushed out to get it.

Torran kept moving around the platform looking like a baby deer just finding her balance. She could be grumpy on occasion, strong-minded, but the way her body folded inward said she was miserable.

It had to be Beck. Did she want to call off the wedding?

My mind did that panicked, frenzied thing where it spun out like an EF5 tornado. I grounded myself in this place. Focused on the trickle of perspiration racing down my back. The way the ceiling fan made a grumpy-old-man kind of groan.

With careful strokes, I moved my fingers over the hummingbird’s wings. Tracing over the head and then down its green belly. Slowly, my breathing returned to normal.

Ms Darcy rushed back into the room and she wasn’t alone. Old Mrs V’s white hair was freshly set. Her signature pink lipstick expertly applied. Baby sat tucked under her arm and gave a small bark hello.

According to Ford, he’d seen Old Mrs V earlier this week in the office and she was feeling better after a few weeks of the new medicine. As she approached the platform where Torran stood, her posture went stiff. Her jaw locked in resolve. Yeah, the woman we all loved, and feared a little, was back.

‘Mrs V, what are you doing here?’ Tessa asked.

‘I come by every once in a while to check in on my old business. And a little birdie,’ she tipped her chin at Ms Darcy, ‘may have whispered that Torran was trying on her dress. Thought I’d come by and see if I could get a sneak peek.

’ Her attention returned to Torran. She paced in front of her, the set of her shoulders growing tense.

After a minute she let out a low huff. ‘Sweetheart, I spent twenty years putting the women of Ivy Falls into the perfect wedding dress, so please excuse my frankness, but you look damn unhappy in that gown.’

I thought Ms Darcy might be offended but she nodded in agreement.

What color was left in Torran’s cheeks faded. ‘Do you all think that?’

We stayed frozen until Tessa said, ‘Don’t panic. We’ll fix it.’ She turned to Ms Darcy. ‘Can you double-check the paperwork to make sure it’s the right size? That might be the issue.’

Torran patted at her hips. Stared at how her boobs spilled out over the white lace on the bodice. She shook her head and hopped off the platform. Instead of returning to the dressing area, she sprinted into the bathroom, the door slamming shut behind her.

With her lower lip trembling, poor Ms Darcy said, ‘I’m gonna go look at the order.’

Tess jumped up from the chair. ‘I need to find out what’s wrong with Tor.’

‘Please, let me.’ Old Mrs V shoved Baby in my direction and marched toward the bathroom.

Tessa slumped back in the chair, her eyes going watery. ‘This is what I mean. Our entire lives she’s held her worries and fears close to the chest, but in harder moments she’s talked to me.’ She flailed her hand in the direction of the bathroom. ‘But now I have no idea what is happening.’

‘Give her time, Tessa. Torran always does things in her own way.’

She gave me a sad nod as Baby made himself comfortable on my lap.

We all stayed quiet until Maisey said, ‘She looks good, doesn’t she?’

‘Baby?’ Tessa said.

‘No. Old Mrs V. Barb and Susan say she and Silvio are back to having breakfast at Sugar Rush. That she’s getting stronger thanks to the medicine she’s taking for her heart.’

‘You know about her diagnosis?’ I said, fanning myself as the room grew warmer.

‘Yes,’ Maisey replied. ‘She’s been slowly telling friends all over town, knowing word would spread like wildfire.’

‘Smart woman. Tell a few souls in Ivy Falls and by sundown the whole damn town will know,’ Tessa snickered.

‘Ford did say she was doing better.’

‘Ford, huh?’ Tessa grinned. ‘You two did look cozy at “Music in the Square”.’

‘We’re spending a little time together.’

Maisey nudged my shoulder. ‘Told you so.’

I waved away her gushing. ‘It’s casual. He’ll be gone by October anyway.’

‘Training wheels,’ Maisey said in a singsong voice only I could hear.

I gave her a playful jab with my elbow and she poked my side.

‘Hey, don’t make me break you two up like I do my girls,’ Tess said, even though her stare stayed fixed on the bathroom.

‘Where are Iris and Rose? Aren’t they flower girls?’ Maisey said like she knew Tessa needed a distraction.

‘Their dresses came in last week and fit perfectly. Manny took Lou and the girls to see the horses over at Breyer’s farm so I could have this time with Torran.’

She stood like she was ready to go pound on the bathroom door, when it opened. Old Mrs V held on to Torran’s arm as they walked our way. Torran’s red-rimmed eyes had me squeezing the side of the chair. Shit. I knew it was bad.

‘Girls, Torran needs to tell you something.’

Torran rubbed a hand over her mouth. Looked at the floor and pulled in a deep breath. She started to speak when Maisey said, ‘Oh fuck. You’re pregnant!’