Reunited In The Rockies

“If you ladies will excuse me for one moment.” Monique set the tray on the counter before disappearing into a back room.

Nibbling on her chicken salad sandwich, Kayla took in the array of dresses on display in the upscale shop. Princess gowns, strapless gowns, mermaid and sheath dresses. Some were covered in lace while others sparkled with jewels. Good thing she’d ditched her overalls for a pair of black yoga pants and a short-sleeved tunic top. Not exactly the height of fashion, but at least she didn’t look like a construction worker.

Sandwich devoured, she returned for a cupcake. She recalled the joy of choosing the perfect dress for her wedding. If only the memories of her marriage were as pleasurable. Shortly after Shane’s death, she’d opted to donate her gown to Goodwill, praying it might serve as a sweet remembrance for the next person who wore it.

“Come look at this, Kayla.”

She joined Lily in a far corner of the shop where numerous wedding photos adorned a brick wall.

“I love the rustic arbor in this photo.” Lily pointed.

“That is pretty.” Kayla eyed the simple squared arch made of cedar. “Is that what you’re planning to have?”

“No.” Her friend faced her. “All the planner had to offer was one that was painted white. I wanted something with character. You know, that has that rustic feel.”

Kayla nodded at the photograph. “Well, that would definitely do the trick.” And if they were back in Denver, she could easily create one just like it. But without her power tools or a place to do it...

“Oh, well.” Her friend shrugged. “There’s not much I can do about it now.” She inched closer, a twinkle in her green eyes. “So, I guess you’re having a girl.”

Kayla scanned the area to make sure Monique was no where in sight. “You don’t really believe her, do you?”

“She says she’s never wrong.”

“There’s a first time for everything.”

“True. But a little girl would be so much fun. Just think of all the cute—”

“Ladies, I have your dresses ready.” Monique waved them toward the dressing rooms.

Kayla waited as Lily slipped into her dress, helped her with the zipper, then stared at her friend. The simple ivory cap-sleeved satin sheath dress was as elegant and understated as the woman wearing it. “Lily, it’s perfect.”

“You think so?” She glanced at her profile in the mirror, smoothing a hand over the nipped waist.

“It’s sophisticated and classic. Just like you.”

“Not too much for a rustic wedding?”

“Never.”

Lily grinned. “Your turn.”

“Okay.” Kayla hurried into the next room to don her dress.

A few minutes later, Kayla joined her friend at the mirrors in the main part of the store, feeling somewhat uneasy. Though the long flowing dress with a fitted bodice and off-the-shoulder sleeves exceeded her expectations for a maternity gown, it was a far cry from the jeans and T-shirts she was used to wearing.

A grinning Lily tugged her in front of the mirror. “You look absolutely stunning.”

Kayla wasn’t sure about that. “It’s been a long time since I’ve worn something so feminine.”

“Do you like it?”

She pondered her reflection a moment. “It is flattering.” It even camouflaged her baby bump. “And I love the color.”

“Me, too.” Lily peered at the shop’s owner. “Monique and I agreed that plum was the perfect shade for you.”

The older woman set to work then, scrutinizing the fit of each of their dresses, making certain they were just so.

Once they’d changed back into their regular clothes, Lily and Kayla grabbed their dresses, said their goodbyes and climbed into Lily’s vehicle for the drive back to Ouray.

“I have a confession to make.” Kayla eyed her friend as they began to pull out of the parking lot.

“Uh-oh.” Lily put on the brakes. “You hate the dress, don’t you?”

“No, not at all. There’s just something I haven’t told you.”

Still skeptical, her friend continued down the road. “And that would be...?”

“I kinda already told Jude I was going to accept your job offer.”

Knuckles white around the steering wheel, Lily said, “What do you mean, you kind of told him?”

“I got mad when he started trying to tell me what to do.”

Stopping at the corner, Lily looked right then left before making her turn. “Telling you what to do? Like what?”

“When I was at the hotel this morning, something startled me, and I screamed. Jude came rushing to my rescue, then suggested I go put my feet up so the baby wouldn’t be stressed.”

Lily laughed then.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because I can totally hear Jude saying that. And Noah and Clint... That’s the Stephens men for you. Gentlemen to the core, thanks to their mother. Or so I’ve been told.”

“Yeah, well, it gets annoying.”

Lily reached across the console to lay a hand on her arm. “Kayla, Jude’s not Shane. He wouldn’t try to make you do anything you didn’t want to do.” She glanced her way. “But then, I think you already know that.”

Somewhere deep inside, she did. Recent history had her on high alert, though. “I not only refused to put my feet up, I told him I was going to turn the hotel into the greatest thing Ouray had ever seen.”

A slow smile split her friend’s face. “Does this mean...?”

She nodded. “If you’re certain, then I guess so.”

“Yay! Now we’ll really have something to celebrate tonight.”

“What’s tonight?”

“We’re all having dinner at the ranch. Didn’t I tell you?”