Chapter 9

Rylee, Karen, and I sat on the front porch of our house. We lounged in the mismatched chairs we had collected from thrift stores and yard sales.

"It's starting to feel a bit too big here, don't you think?" Rylee remarked.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"The house," Rylee said. "This big house."

I nodded in agreement, a pang of sadness tugging at my heart. "Yeah, it's not the same without Lauren and Jenny here."

Karen let out a sigh, her fingers tapping absentmindedly against the armrest. "And splitting the rent is getting more difficult without them pitching in their fifth. The house is awesome, but it's more house than we need."

Rylee nodded. "My tips aren't just fun spending money anymore. I've had to dip into them to cover the rent lately. I don't know how much longer I can keep this up."

I frowned, a knot forming in my stomach as the inevitable became clear. "I know what you mean. It's tough. My salary is barely enough to cover my portion. If I lose my job, I'm not going to have the money to cover rent."

We lapsed into a heavy silence. A sense of loss crept in. Not only was I losing my library, but now it seemed like I was going to be losing my home too. I tried to push the thought aside, but it had been lurking in the back of my mind for weeks. We all knew it was coming. When we rented the house, it was perfect for our group of five, but with just the three of us, it felt like too much. It was definitely too much for my dwindling bank account.

"Well, this makes me want a drink," I muttered. "My world is getting flipped upside down."

"If the library closes, can't you just transfer to another branch?" Karen asked.

"Maybe." I shrugged. "I'll have to commute."

"Not if we get another house," Rylee said. "You can apply at whatever library we live by."

"Maybe," I echoed, hesitating a bit. "That's assuming there's an open position and they would even consider me."

Rylee laughed lightly. "Mary Ellen, you're the best librarian I've ever known. Who wouldn't want you?"

I chuckled softly, appreciating my friend's attempt to lift my spirits, but her kind words weren't enough to chase away the worries brewing in my mind. "Thanks."

"We have to do it, don't we?" Rylee sighed. "We can't afford to live in our house anymore."

"I'm afraid so," Karen said, nodding.

"I could get a second job," Rylee said.

"Rylee, you're already working long hours," I said. "Adding a second job won't help. It will just wear you down.

Karen nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and besides, we shouldn't have to kill ourselves just to pay rent."

I stared out at our too big front yard, my heart heavy with the decision we were about to make. This house held so many memories—parties filled with laughter, late-night heart-to-hearts, moments of solace, joy, and heartache.

"We should start looking for a smaller place," I suggested, breaking the melancholy for a moment. "Something more affordable."

The others nodded in agreement, their faces reflecting my own resignation. "Yeah," Rylee said.

"I'm going to miss this place," Karen said. "We had a lot of good memories here."

"Stop, you're going to make me cry," I said.

We were all quiet for several minutes. I was sure we were all jogging down memory lane. It was part of life. We were growing up and making new lives. At least, Jenny and Lauren were. They had found men and were starting new lives in new homes.

Before I could dwell on it any longer and really work myself up into a fit of tears, a sleek black limousine pulled up to the curb in front of our house.

"What the hell?" Rylee asked.

The heavily tinted window rolled down.

"Get in, losers!" Jenny called out, her voice carrying from the street. "We're going shopping!"

I exchanged a glance with Rylee and Karen, my confusion mounting. "A limo?" I asked.

"Ah, I hope I marry a rich, handsome dude," Rylee said with a laugh.

With a shrug, we rose from our chairs and made our way to the waiting limo. As I climbed inside, I was greeted with the sight of Lauren reclining on one of the plush leather seats, a bottle of champagne clutched in her hand.

"Surprise!" she exclaimed, her laughter ringing out.

She poured us each a glass of bubbly as we climbed inside.

"Hi." I gave Lauren a side hug. "You didn't have to do this."

"But I'm not about to complain," Rylee said, and we laughed.

"I figured we would shop in style," Jenny said. "It'll be a treat."

The limo delivered us to one of the upscale bridal shops in the city, a place you had to know someone just to get an appointment. We walked in and were met with more glasses of champagne.

"Let's find you all some bridesmaid dresses," Lauren said, lifting her champagne flute. The rest of us toasted with her, and the heavy mood from earlier evaporated.

The bridal shop was a sea of tulle and satin, the air filled with the scent of lavender and excitement as we browsed the many selections.

"I feel like we've just stepped into a fairy tale," Karen commented, her eyes wide as she took in the display of dresses.

"Yes," Lauren agreed, an impish grin on her face. "Only in this one, we are the princesses."

Jenny led us through the establishment with an air of familiarity, stopping here and there to show us gowns that caught her eye. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and it wasn't long before we were all laughing and pointing out the dresses we loved.

"Go wild, ladies," Jenny said. "I want all of you to feel comfortable in what you're wearing. Just not too much cleavage. This is a classy affair."

Rylee held up a slinky strapless number. "You mean I can't wear this? This would be perfect for catching the eye of some handsome groomsmen."

I cringed. "There is no way I'm wearing something like that. It's way too revealing for me. You're not supposed to upstage the bride."

"Come on, girls! Weddings are prime hunting grounds for eligible bachelors!" Rylee declared as she held the dress up to her chest. "It's hot."

Karen wrinkled her nose in disapproval, her practicality shining through even in the midst of our fantasies. "Short dresses at weddings are trashy, Rylee. You'll look like you're trying too hard."

Rylee brushed off her concerns with a laugh. She was never one to care all that much what anyone thought about her. I envied her bravery. "Oh, come on, Karen! Live a little!"

Meanwhile, Lauren was content to let Jenny take the lead, her easygoing nature making her the perfect sidekick to our bride-to-be. "I'm up for whatever you want, Jenny. As long as we all look fabulous."

"Let's focus on finding something that makes all of you feel comfortable and confident, okay?" Jenny said.

"Party pooper," Rylee pouted.

"What about you, Mary Ellen?" Jenny asked. "What do you like?"

I grimaced and looked around. I wanted to belong up there with all my girls. "I don't know. I'm not really one to talk to about fashion."

"She would rather wear a flowy skirt and sweater," Rylee teased.

"You're right." I smiled. "But for this one event, I'll wear whatever you want."

"Let's try on a few different styles and colors," Jenny said. "We'll narrow it down."

As we tried on dress after dress, the room filled with our laughter and gasps as we admired ourselves in the mirror. Some of the dresses were stunning, while others were downright hideous. I put on a particularly ugly one that was a vivid lime green and cut in all the wrong places. I stepped out from behind the curtain, and the room went silent for a moment before everyone burst into laughter.

"Oh, Mary Ellen," Rylee choked out between laughs. "You look like a neon Christmas tree!"

I looked at myself in the mirror and had to admit, I did indeed resemble something of a festive disaster. "I think I found my dress," I replied, striking a pose and sending everyone into a fresh giggling fit.

"Let's see what you've got on, Karen," I called out.

We were all trying on different dresses to see what worked and what didn't. If we found one that looked good and met Jenny's approval, we would all try on the same dress and see if we still agreed. So far, we were striking out.

"I'm pretty sure this is a hard no," Karen said from behind the curtain. "I don't know if I even want to come out."

"Hey, I'm wearing lime green," I reminded her. "You have to show us."

"Nothing could be worse than that," Lauren added.

"Alright, alright," Karen reluctantly said and stepped out from behind her curtain. She was wearing a fuchsia dress that looked like it had been wrapped in too many layers of tulle. We all stared at her for a moment before collapsing with laughter.

"It looks like you're being eaten by a pink cloud," Rylee managed to say through her giggles.

Karen rolled her eyes but couldn't help laughing along with us. "I think I'm done with pink for a while. Jenny, you cannot choose pink."

"I second that," Rylee said.

"Okay, I have a dress I want you all to try on," Jenny said.

We all exchanged looks before agreeing. We were each given a dress and sent to try it on. I stepped into the plum-colored floor-length gown. The dress hugged my curves in all the right places, the simple strappy sleeves and sweetheart neckline were beautiful. It was nothing like I had ever worn before. Nothing I would have ever chosen for myself, but I liked it. It made me feel gorgeous.

"Alright, on the count of three, all of you have to come out," Jenny said.

I was the first one out. Jenny gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. The other ladies stepped out as well. We all eyeballed each other. We all looked damn good. I didn't even think that was possible for bridesmaids' dresses.

"I think this might be the one, you guys," Jenny said, her voice choked with emotion.

And just like that, the decision was made. Jenny bought the dresses, her generosity bringing tears to my eyes. I hugged her tightly. "Thank you," I said. "The dresses are gorgeous."

"Nothing but the best for my girls," Jenny said, her own eyes glistening with emotion. "You deserve to feel beautiful on my wedding day too. Just not too beautiful."

We laughed.

Next came the shoes. Again, we each had our own preferences. Rylee loved heels but detested anything open-toed. Karen liked wedges, while Lauren and I preferred flats. Trying to find a style that suited everyone was a task even more daunting than the dress hunt.

However, Jenny proved again to be our saving grace when she found a delicate pair of strappy sandals with a small, manageable heel that even I could walk in without fear of stumbling down the aisle.

We climbed back into the limo and headed for a restaurant to get a late lunch, triumphant after finding our outfits.

"So, Mary Ellen, is that hot guy still stalking you at the library?" Rylee asked, a mischievous glint in her eye.

I shook my head, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "He's not stalking me, Rylee. He's just interested, I guess. Or I don't know."

But as I spoke the words, a sudden realization washed over me, sending a shiver down my spine. If I thought about it, it did seem odd that he suddenly appeared at the library.

Maybe Rylee was right after all. Maybe he was stalking me.

But was that so terrible?