31. Meg - The Best Thing to be Borrowed

Chapter thirty-one

Meg - The Best Thing to be Borrowed

It's all about the dress . I'm ready to have to look outside of Seaside to find the perfect wedding dress, as there's only one boutique in town and the options are pretty limited. It isn't even a wedding dress shop, but rather a formal gown and tuxedo shop.

"I'm a firm believer that you shouldn't have to spend a ton of money on a dress you'll only wear once," Mia tells me as we walk inside to a wonderland of dresses in every style and color.

Bea, the older lady who owns the shop, greets us at the door with a polite smile. "Good morning, girls," she says. "Is there anything I can help you find?"

"We're looking for a wedding dress for this one," Mia says, nodding to me.

"Oh, congratulations!" Bea's little brown eyes light up. "I have to tell you though, this isn't a wedding dress boutique. But I'll do my best to help you find something that's perfect for your special day."

"Ready?" Mia asks. I take a deep breath and answer: "As much as I'll ever be."

I'm not a huge shopper anyway, so when we start looking through endless racks of clothes in my size, I immediately feel overwhelmed. Bea and my sister exchange a look before Bea walks over to me and gently takes my hand.

"I might be a bit bold to say this," she starts. "But it's not 1950. Who says your wedding dress has to be white?"

And just like that, the pressure of finding the perfect white dress is out the door and a new confidence washes over me. I nod and smile and dive into the racks again, this time thinking of what I want to get married in, not what tradition dictates.

"In that case," Mia starts. "What style? You're getting married on the beach, so do you want something breezy?"

"Yes!" I confirm. "I think it should definitely have color, but something pastel and light."

"What about this one?" Bea asks, pulling a delicate pink halter-top gown from the racks.

It's fitted around the torso but flows freely at my hips. It has specks of white peeking through, which adds to its beauty. Usually with my shorter stature, long dresses always mean alterations, but when I put it on, it fits like a glove.

"You're lucky it's a high-low cut," Mia points out how the front of the dress is cut higher to my shins while the rest of the dress becomes lower to the ground, making a small train behind me.

"It's perfect!" I say, jumping up and down and twirling like a little girl in the mirror. I can't wait for Drew to see it. "Oh, what about a veil?"

"I already got that covered," Mia says as she takes care of paying for my dress.

"You didn't have to do that," I insist.

"Call it your something new," she says, as we head back to the cottage. "Mom's veil can be your something borrowed."

My heartstrings are pulled at Mia's words and I fight back the tears that are dying to come out. The perfect dress with the perfect veil, trimmed with white lace.

"Now we need old and blue," she says, and we start thinking of what could fill those spots.

***

It's not until the week before the wedding that the nerves start to kick in. I try my best to hide it around Drew because I don't want to scare him, but Mia's antenna is always up when something's going on with me. I suspect it'll take Drew a bit longer to pick up on such things, but for now, it's Mia who confronts me about what's got me so jittery.

"I'm fine," I try to wave her off as I'm returning the last dog from his evening walk for the day.

"You're a terrible liar," she says plainly. "Now what's up with you? You've been quieter and more jumpy than usual."

"I haven't been jumpy," I deny.

"Susan said hello to you today and you nearly jumped out of your skin," she pointed out.

"In my defense, she came up from behind me and I jumped because I couldn't see her," I explains.

"Meg, stop playing. What's going on with you?" she asks softly, pulling me into her back office.

With her tone changed and the door shut, I know she won't let me out of this easily unless I just spit it out and tell her.

"I'm nervous about the wedding. That's all," I confess.

"I thought getting married in late June was too quick, and I knew Drew wanted all of his siblings to attend. I thought by booking the wedding in late August so Mona could have her baby and then fly out, I would buy myself some time to ease into the wedding planning.

"But now that it's here, my nerves feel like they're on overdrive, Mia." "That's perfectly normal," she says, as she sits in her desk chair. "It's a big day for both of you."

"Yeah." I nod but still hold back.

"Is there something else about the wedding has you feeling like this?" Mia has always been the one of us to push when she feels there is something I'm not saying.

"By the time Drew and I get married, we'll have been together for only four months," I say, and hearing it said out loud from my own mouth shocks me. "Am I rushing into this?"

Mia smiles and pats the folding chair next to her. When I take a seat, she shakes her head. "I don't think you're rushing it," she says. "I think that what you've found in Drew is someone who's perfectly fit for the kind of person you are and vice versa."

"How do you know that?"

"Because I can see the way you guys look at each other." She shrugs her shoulders like when she is trying to explain something to me.

"And how's that?"

Mia smiles and swallows hard before answering. "It's the same way Mom and Dad used to look at each other." Mia wipes back tears before they even have a chance to fall. I wrap her in a hug as the waterworks come for me next.

"I thought I had forgotten about that look years ago," Mia whispers. "But then I saw the way you and Drew look at each other it was like … like a piece of them was here again."

We were just kids when our parents passed away, and there are too many things that I know I've forgotten about them, things that I'd do anything to get back.

I can't say I remember their voices anymore, and the only time I can see them smile is in old photos. But their real smiles, the candid ones, those were the ones never caught on film.

Memories of them fade with time, never to return. At least, that's what I thought until Mia reached her teens. She looks way more like Mom than I thought she would. When Mia laughs hard enough, I can see a flash of Mom again, and I feel like I have a piece of her back in my life.

I guess that's the same way that I seem for Mia. I know she's only two years older than I am, but she has more memories of our parents to cling to. Mom and Dad's loving glances at each other must be her most treasured memories.

"I didn't know that," I whisper back to my dear sweet sister.

"When Drew told you who he really was, I was devastated," Mia explains.

"I knew my loyalty was to you and the inn but deep down, I was hoping he could make things right, because I didn't want you to lose someone like him."

"You gave him dagger eyes for weeks!" I point out, my tears mixing with chuckles.

"Hey, he was trying to buy the inn," she defends. "But he turned things around and look at the two of you now."

"Yeah," I nod. "I don't want to mess it up."

"Look at the ring on your finger," Mia says, pointing to it. "Do you think just any guy is going to propose with his mother's ring? Do you think just any guy would do everything in his power to save a quaint little inn like Seaside for someone he wasn't absolutely crazy for?"

"No," I shake my head.

"Drew isn't going anywhere anytime soon," she assures me. "He looks at you the way Dad looked at Mom," she says, choking back more tears. "I think you two will be just fine."

Somehow, that was all I needed. My nerves began to ease from Mia's words, and everything in my heart made sense again. Now that Drew is in my life, I can't see one without him.

He could have very easily insisted that we move back to New York, but knowing how much Seaside means to me, he didn't so much as hesitate when he said we were staying here. It was like it wasn't even up for debate. It was simple.

"When did you get to be such a softie?" I tease, as I wipe away a few more tears on her face. "First it was Drew, and now you."

"Well, I guess seeing you get your happy ending with Drew makes me feel like there might be one in my future too." She shrugs. "Maybe romance isn't just in fiction."

"It isn't," I assure her. "But it's nice when your crush can fly in every once in a while," I tease, nodding to her book about her angel boyfriend tucked into her tote bag by her desk.

She throws her head back laughing and I can't help but join in.

"This is true," she nods. "But I'll take a nice guy who doesn't mind a girl who likes to read as much as I do."

"That's a fair ask," I agree. "Thanks for the pep talk, sis."

"Anytime," she winks.

***

I've helped to set up so many weddings here at the inn, but I never thought one of them would be mine. My grandpa comes down the aisle as Mia and I are putting the last of the sunflowers on the altar.

"Hey, pumpkins," he smiles at both of us, wrapping us in a hug. It's rare for my grandfather to show affection, but with the special occasion upon us, he makes an exception.

"I know I don't say things like this a lot," he starts. "But I'm very proud of both of you and the young women you've become."

"Thanks, Papa," we say in unison.

"Now I know that you two are both staying here, and Mia will have the cottage to herself, I want to give you and your sister a special gift before your big day."

"Papa, you didn't have to do that," I insist.

"Well, it's about time for it anyway." He winks a wrinkled eyelid at us. "Mia, I know you know this place inside and out, and the Bellamy company is going to need someone experienced to oversee the renovations. That's why I'm promoting you to Seaside Inn manager."

"Seriously!" Mia's eyes light up and she wraps her arms around our grandfather, thanking him repeatedly.

"You've worked very hard and it's well deserved," he nods. "As for you, Missy," he points at me. "I made sure that when the Bellamy family worked with us on plans, they included a generous place for doggy daycare. That will be for guests AND others in the community who need it. I'm going to need someone to run it. Are you interested?"

Now it's my turn to hug and thank him over and over again. Not only am I marrying the man of my dreams, but my dream job just became pure heaven. Working with dogs and taking care of them all day long? That's the easiest yes ever, besides saying yes to Drew's proposal, of course.

"And I heard you still need something old and something blue, is that right?" He asks me.

"Yup." I nod.

"Am I old enough?" He offers to walk me down the aisle.

"I would be honored," I say, hugging him again.

"And this," he says, reaching into his pocket. "Can be your something blue." In the palm of his hand is a handkerchief that has our parents' names sewn into it in dark blue thread, with their wedding day just underneath it.

"I know they can't be here in person," Grandpa starts, holding back tears of his own. "But they can still hold your hand on your big day."

"This is perfect," I say, wiping away tears as he wraps me and Mia in one more group hug.

"Well good." He clears his throat, snapping back into stern business grandpa. "I'll see you two tomorrow."

Mia and I are still giddy by the time we're done putting the ceremony area together. As the sun is setting, I abruptly excuse myself, but before Mia can ask why, she sees Drew walking down the aisle.

He joins me by the sunflowers and we stroll down to the sea. His hair is a little bit longer than it was when I first met him, but I love it. It's lighter too, no doubt from all the walks on the beach we've shared.

He faces me and takes my hands in his before kissing the top of each of them, then kissing my lips once, then twice.

"Tomorrow's the big day. Are you nervous?" He brushes a strand of hair behind my ear.

"I'm more excited than anything else." I lean into his hand a little. "You?"

"Likewise," he says, with a soft smile.

"Are you going to tell me what song you picked for the ceremony?" I ask, hoping he'll tell me.

"Nope," he grins, knowing he's driving me crazy. It was his only request during the entire planning process. He wanted to pick the song I would walk down the aisle to, but I don't get to know what it is until the ceremony.

"Ah! You're killing me!" I gasp dramatically. "Your blushing bride is losing her mind. Can't you see things from my perspective?"

He tilts his head as if contemplating my question. Then he squats down, just enough, until his eyes are level with mine. He kisses my nose, stands up straight, and says: "Nope, you're too short."

At this moment, I can't decide if I want to laugh and kiss his adorable face or thump him right in the middle of his forehead.

"You think you're so funny, huh?" I poke him in the chest, but this only makes him laugh louder at his own joke. "Remember, you're marrying a little chaos pixie," I tease him, but he only tickles me back in return until I'm breathless, calling a truce.

"I promise you'll love it," he assures me. "The rest of my family is really excited to attend. Mona sends her best."

"Tell her she needs to send me pictures of the baby when he gets here, to make up for not being here. If he's half as cute as you were when you were little, I want to see it." I've already seen Drew's baby pictures. His brother and sister made sure of that.

I couldn't help but laugh when grumpy Troy flew down with Lillian, bringing plenty of baby pictures and other hilarious childhood photos of Drew with him. They were splayed across the cottage's dining room table for all to see.

"I just figured she should know what she's getting into," Troy laughed, when he held up the bath-time photos of Drew with the biggest smile on his face and suds stacked on his head.

"Aww, such a happy boy," Meg laughed. "Oh, look at this one!"

She held up a picture of Drew in all his naked baby glory, towing his blanket behind him, smiling as he looked back at the camera.

"Dad used to say he had the biggest hoss walk ever, and that he could swagger with the best of them," Lillian added.

"Even though he's the youngest, he had the confidence of a firstborn."

"I had to with three older siblings," Drew insists.

"I love this one," I said, picking up a picture of Drew at around age four.

It's a preschool picture day and he's dressed in a light blue suit, looking as happy as can be. With his blond hair swooped back, he looks like a little businessman in the making.

"Ours will be cuter, I promise," he assures me, and once again, I'm on cloud nine.

"How many are we talking?" I ask him. "Because I want at least two. A girl for me and a boy for you, or maybe a boy and two girls so they can be sisters like Mia and me."

"As many as you want," he kissed my forehead. "And we're taking all the ridiculous pictures we can of them because this," he said, holding up another of his baby photos, "is ridiculous!"

"What can we say? Our parents were sentimental?" Lillian giggled.

"Dibs on being the fairy godmother!" Mia raised her hand, claiming the title.

"You would spoil them rotten," I added.

"No, Lillian could outdo her easily," Troy said, pointing to quiet Lillian who holds her hands up in surrender.

"They're not wrong," she admitted.

"She's already spoiled Mona's future son plenty," Drew added. "The kid is already going to be dressed in baby suits like Troy and I were."

"As long as there's plenty of love, I think we'll be in good shape," I said.

Drew kissed my cheek. "I couldn't agree more."