Love on the Rocks (with Salt) Read Online Free PDF Page B

tell Alex?”
    “ I told him I’d think about it,”
she says, pulling me into a hug.
    “ It does make sense,” I say,
hoping I’m not smashing banana on her back.
    “ Yes, it does,” she agrees,
hugging me harder. “I’m so happy. We’re both getting exactly what
we want.”
     
    ~~~~
     
    I arrive at the wedding at two
o’clock to dress Elizabeth. It’s great extra money—250 dollars cash
to help the bride into her dress, button up the back and fluff it
up for pictures. It’s really what the maid of honor should be
doing, but most brides are more than happy to pay for the
service.
    I see a woman who is obviously the wedding
coordinator from the authoritarian look on her face, pastel
pantsuit and sensible shoes. Of course my shoes are sensible as
well, so I shouldn’t be so judgy.
    “ Hi, I’m Laney. I’m here to dress
Elizabeth.”
    “ Oh yes, from Gabriella’s. I’m
Krysti. Come this way.”
    I follow Krysti to a dressing room in the
church. I like church weddings. They’re so beautiful and often
don’t have too many location changes for photos. I like to keep my
fluffing to a minimum.
    “ Hello, Mrs. Fenway,” I say to
Elizabeth’s mother. She’s from old California money. Her
grandfather owned half of the central valley according to
Gabriella.
    “ Please call me Barbara, Laney.”
Then she turns her head and calls out, “Betsy, Laney is here. Are
you ready to get dressed?”
    Elizabeth separates herself from her
bridesmaids and walks over to us. “Mom, it’s Elizabeth. Please! I
don’t know why I have to keep reminding you. You’re the one who
named me.”
    Elizabeth’s mother shoots me
a look. Nerves are clearly getting to Elizabeth. In all of my
dealings with her she’s never been bitchy. Well except for showing
up at the shop two days ago with Andy and a look that said, Ha ha! Look who I get to marry and you
don’t. That’s bitchy.
    “ Oh great, you’re here,” Elizabeth
says to me. “I wasn’t sure you’d show.”
    “ I’m not late, am I? I was sure it
was two o’clock.” I’m often late for social engagements, but I’m
never ever late for work.
    “ Laney’s right. It was two
o’clock. She’s not late,” Barbara confirms.
    “ I know,” says Elizabeth with a
smirk.
    “ Have you eaten anything today,
Elizabeth?” I ask her.
    “ Yes, why?”
    “ Oh, the stress of the day. A lot
of brides forget to eat. It will probably be at least four or five
hours before you can eat again. I have a Luna Bar if you’d like.
Trust me, you’ll still fit into your dress if you eat it,” I add
wickedly.
    “ I’m fine. Thanks.”
    Usually I refuse to dress my
brides until they eat the Luna Bar. They all say they’ve eaten, but
most of them are lying. With Elizabeth I decide I don’t care. If
she wants to bitch out due to low blood sugar, who am I to deny her
that simple pleasure? It’s her day.
    “ Great. Let me know when you’re
ready to put on your gown.”
    “ I’m ready now. The dress is over
here.”
    She leads me to a separate little room. The
dress really did turn out beautifully if I do say so myself. It has
spaghetti straps with a draped neck and low back in a cream colored
satin. It skims her hips and then flares out a bit. Not quite a
mermaid style but close. It has a vintage feel to it. I start to
unbutton the tiny buttons at the back of the dress.
    “ So,” Elizabeth says, her mother
and bridesmaids out of earshot, “you looked rather taken aback on
Thursday.” She starts the process of squeezing into her Spanx. She
has a great figure, but this dress is very unforgiving. Much like
Elizabeth.
    “ Taken
aback?” Who says that? What is
she—eighty?
    “ Yes. Meeting Andrew. Or I suppose
I should say seeing him again.” For someone who is standing before
me naked and squeezing herself into Lycra, she seems pretty
confident.
    “ What’s going on, exactly?” I ask,
tired of her game.
    “ I found a picture. Did a little
digging. Thought I’d see if