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Chapter Two
Shelby sat at the back of the church where she’d been a member for as long as she could remember. It was strange that she would be marrying here, in the place where she’d gone to Sunday school and experienced so many different dances and youth events.
Dressed in her wedding gown, she sat with her two sisters who were there for moral support. She’d decided not to have anyone stand up with her because she didn’t know if her groom—whoever he may be—would have someone, and it would be lopsided. Not that it mattered much.
Now that the day was here, she was more nervous than she ever remembered being. Her mother stepped into the room, smiling at Shelby. “You look amazing!”
Shelby smiled. “Thanks, Mom. I sure hope whomever my groom is agrees with you!”
Mom laughed. “He will. How could he not?” She stepped closer to Shelby. “I wish your dad was here to see you today.”
“I have no memories of him. I was only three months old when he passed, but…I wish he was here as well.” Her father had died in a training exercise for the Gulf War, and her mother had immediately moved back to Scranton to be near her family and support system.
It seemed strange to miss someone she’d never known. Her father had never even gotten to hold her. As the oldest, Angela had some memories of their father, but neither Rachel nor Shelby had any. Rachel was only a year older than Shelby. It had always seemed to Shelby that they had a complete family, even though they never had a father, which was a testament to how their mother had filled both roles.
They talked quietly, sharing memories of growing up together. “Remember when Rachel snuck out at two in the morning to meet her friends and TP that house across the street?” Angela asked. “I loved seeing Mrs. Wells’s look when she was sweeping up the mess they made the next morning. Surprised she wasn’t wearing it.”
Mrs. Wells’s son, Tim, had “dated” Rachel in junior high, and he’d broken up with her by telling all their friends they’d broken up after two days together.
Rachel laughed. “And they called the police and said I’d been there to spray-paint their house, and it was just me. But it was really like ten of my friends. I wouldn’t tell on them, but they came in one after the other the following morning all of them admitting it.”
Shelby shook her head. “I’m so glad Tim wasn’t my first boyfriend.”
“Only boyfriend,” Angela said.
“That either.” Shelby’s lips quirked as she thought about Nate, knowing she was giving up on her dream of rekindling her flame with him by marrying.
Dr. Lachele joined them, a moment later, walking into the room, spreading her arms, and yelling, “Boobie bump!”
Rachel and Angela were certain the woman had lost her mind, and it was obvious by the looks on their faces, but after spending an entire day in Dr. Lachele’s company, Shelby hurried to hug the older woman.
Dr. Lachele looked at Mom. “You get that mailbox fixed?”
Mom nodded. “Check should clear the bank in a couple of days. My husband did the work, so it didn’t cost nearly as much as you thought it would.”
“You should have taken him out to dinner on me,” Dr. Lachele said. “I’m the one who forced him to fix a mailbox that would have been fine if I hadn’t run over the thing.” She focused her attention on Shelby, not waiting for a response from Mom. “Well, you nervous?”
“Shaking like a leaf,” Shelby responded. “Not sure I can go through with it.”
“I promise, this is what you want. He’s a good man.”
Shelby took a deep breath, feeling a little better at the older woman’s words. “Still nervous.”
“Well, of course you are! You’re promising to have and to hold and cherish and all that other stuff today. But it’s the right thing for you to do. Definitely.”
“All right. If you say so.”
“I do say so! And if you back out, I’m forcing another couple’s massage on you.”
“No, thank you! One was more than enough.” Shelby was still in disbelief over the couple’s massage. Who could possibly think that was a good idea?
Dr. Lachele looked at her watch. “It’s time.
Mom stood up. “You girls go ahead,” she said to Angela and Rachel. “I’m walking my daughter down the aisle.”
“I don’t mind if Bryan does it if you don’t want to!” Shelby said, referring to her step-father.
“No need,” Mom said. “I want to walk my baby girl down the aisle.”
