Page 11 of First Date: Divorce
CHAPTER FOUR
Sheriff Grainger would check in with them — or checkonthem —by phone over the next couple days, then be on hand for the wedding charade, before a final meeting before she and Eric checked in at Marriage-Save on Friday afternoon.
In the meantime, the folks from Far Hills would take care of the wedding plans.The important preparations to fool the people at Marriage-Save were in her hands.
Well, hers and Eric Larkin’s, she supposed.
“Let me take you to Rebecca now, K.D., so we can get your measurements for the dress.Why don’t the rest of you enjoy the porch a while.”
Ellyn’s kind suggestion had nearly as much authority as the sheriff’s orders.
“I need to get back to Bardville,” Eric said.“Work to take care of with not being available next week.Tal has room to drive K.D.back along with Cully.See you all later.”
He was out the door before Cully Grainger grumbled a curse and went after him.
As Ellyn led her to another room, K.D.saw through the kitchen window the moment when the sheriff caught up with Eric by the driver’s door of his vehicle.
The sheriff was emphatic.
Eric Larkin was not happy.
The sheriff was more emphatic.
Eric Larkin grimaced, controlled it, gave a curt nod, and slid into his vehicle.
*
“This used to be the ranch office, but when Luke got a separate office, we turned it into a sewing room.Good thing.You would not believe how many brides, grooms, and guests need last minute repairs to get through a celebration without showing more than they intended.”Ellyn opened the door to a room that included a sewing machine, a long table, comfortable chairs, a hanging rack, and a half circle of full-length mirrors.“Rebecca?K.D.is here for measurements.”
Rebecca smiled.“Perfect timing.I zipped over to the house for one dress and we have two others here that might do.”
“Jo-Lynn never picked up those other dresses?”Without waiting for Rebecca’s answer, Ellyn said to K.D.“We had a bride a couple months ago who had four dresses —four— and couldn’t decide until the last second to wear one down the aisle and another to the reception.”
“Yup,” Rebecca said.“Let’s try the one she didn’t wear down the aisle, first.”
In less time than K.D.would have believed, they had her out of her serviceable blazer, shirt, and slacks, and stepping into a dress.
Before K.D.could even focus on her image in the mirror, Rebecca frowned.“No.It’s not you.It’s fashionable, and you’re stunning in it, but this isn’t what you’d wear for your wedding.”
“This isn’t my wedding, so if it fits—”
“No.”Rebecca unfastened the dress.“Step out and we’ll try this one.”
Ellyn tipped her head.“To really know what’s best, K.D.needs to let her hair down.”
For a second K.D.thought the other woman meant that metaphorically.Then, she put her hand to her hair bundled at the nape of neck.“Oh, my duty bun.”
“She might wear her hair up for the wedding anyway, Ellyn,” Rebecca said.
“Not in a duty bun.”Ellyn gestured toward it.“Take it down.”
K.D.complied.Even when it wasn’t in a duty bun, she wore her hair up a lot during the summer.But she had nothing against wearing it down.
Rebecca stepped back, looking from K.D.to the mirror and back.“You’re right, Ellyn.Good call.This first dress still isn’t the one, but it does change things.”
Rebecca didn’t like the second dress, either, though K.D.thought it fit well enough.On to the third.As soon as Rebecca stepped in front of K.D.— preventing K.D.from seeing herself in the mirror except for edges around Rebecca’s reflected back — the other two women said, “Yes.”
“Now, close your eyes,” Rebecca ordered K.D.
