Page 29 of Back in the Country
“Oh my goodness, Cheyenne! Congratulations!” I gush and then hug her again. This time she squeezes me tight. It is the type of hug that girlfriends share as if the good news is their own.
“Thank you.” She blushes furiously but I havesomany questions.
“Who is the lucky guy?”
“His name is Jake. He owns the land where they do all those shows in Blackstone Falls.”
“Oh! The Brew, Q ’n Boogie? Waylon took me there recently and it wasamazing! Do you go over there for the shows?”
“Sometimes. It depends on how busy we are.”
“It depends on what side projects she’s working on,” Gwen interjects from behind me. She beams at her daughter, and the resemblance is uncanny.
I lean in conspiratorially. “What kind of secret projects are you working on?”
She looks exasperated at her mother, but her eyes hold an enthusiasm that is so unlike her. She is overflowing with happiness, and I find myself over the moon for her. I miss having girlfriends.
“It’s nothin’,” she says nonchalantly.
“It’s like you don’t know me at all.”
“Come on.” Cheyenne turns and walks to the back of the shop. “Don’t make a big deal about it, okay?”
“What do you mean—” I pull up short as we enter the expansive back room. Sketches of wedding dresses litter the table while pieces of a lace overlay hold subtle crystals in their threads.
It is easily the most beautiful fabric I’ve ever seen.
“You’re makin’ your wedding dress?”
Cheyenne blushes and wrings her hands in front of herself.
“Oh, Cheyenne, it’s so pretty.”
“Thank you. I’m not done with the beading yet, but I love the way it looks so far.”
From what I can tell, the bodice will be fitted to her slim figure and the beading will provide elegant detailing. It’s already stunning, and I’m slightly in awe.
“Have you thought about doing this for the shop?”
“It’s time consuming, but I’m hoping to maybe do it in the future, you know? I mean my mom can do it too, but it’s a lot, and I do this because I love it—I don’t want to lose that, you know?”
Do I ever.
“I do. Just promise that you’ll consider making mine when I get married.”
She blushes.
“How long do you think it will be till Waylon asks you?”
Now it’s my turn to blush as I let my fingers trail over the delicate fabric.
“We’re”—I pause as I search for the right word— “together but not anything official.”
“Uh-huh.”
I give her a look, and she laughs as she leads me back out into the shop.
“I’m serious!”
