Vic retrieved the box that Kendra had brought upstairs and set it on the table, then hurried off to put on her own dress. “Winona, can you help me with the zipper?”
The bridesmaids’ dresses were identical to Lexi’s, except that they were all a deep shade of lavender and didn’t have the beading.
Winona hurried to help zip the gown, then stood back. “Wow. You look pretty amazing, too.”
“I think I’ve gained ten pounds while I’ve been here.” Vic adjusted the bodice, then fidgeted with the skirts.
Winona shook her head. “I don’t think so—unless it all went to your boobs.”
Itdidlook pretty tight up there.
Unable to do anything about it, she walked back into the main room to find Shawna pinning sprigs of lavender, eucalyptus, white rose buds, and deep purple lisianthus along the top edge of Lexi’s chignon.
“Britta, do you want help getting your gown on?” Vic asked.
“I supposed I’d better get dressed, huh?” Britta hurried over to where her dress lay draped over the back of the sofa.
Vic had just zipped her in when someone knocked on the door. She answered to find Bob and Kendra. “She’s getting flowers put in her hair. Come in.”
“Don’t you all look pretty?” Kendra’s smile was colored around the edges with envy. She’d always been jealous of Lexi and Britta—and their mother.
“Let me see you, Lexi girl.” Bob walked over to his daughter, then stared in blank amazement as she got to her feet, a bright sheen coming into his eyes. He nodded, clearly at a loss for words. He reached into his pocket and took out a small box. “These were your mother’s. She’d want you to have them.”
Eyes wide with surprise, Lexi opened the box. There on black velvet sat two perfect white pearls with diamond accents. “They’re lovely.”
“They were my gift to her after you were born,” Bob told Lexi.
Vic looked down at them. “Those are going to look even better with your hair and dress than what you’re wearing.”
Lexi took off the dangly earrings she was wearing and put on the pearls, a sheen in her eyes. “What do you think?”
Her father cleared his throat again. “Beautiful—just like your mother. She’d be so proud of you if she could see you now.”
“Oh, great,” Britta said. “Thanks, Dad. Way to make everyone cry.”
The photographer entered and got a few photos of the last-minute preparations. Then Vic walked to the box of flowers and retrieved Lexi’s bouquet. She carried it over to Lexi and held it out for her. “Now you’re a bride.”
Lexi took the flowers. “Thanks.”
Her father glanced at his watch. “We’d best head down. If you want to back out, kid, you need to do it now.”
Lexi laughed. “Nice try, Dad. Not a chance.”
Chapter 18
Eric walked with Austin, Moretti, and Belcourt down the wide, spiral aisle toward the space in front of the aspens, where Rose stood in a long purple gown, a silver headband bound around her brow, her long silver-gray hair tied back with purple ribbons. It looked like the whole town had turned out. People with invitations sat in the chairs, while those who hadn’t been invited sat on blankets on the grass. Attire ranged from long gowns and suits to shorts and T-shirts.
Yeah, this was Scarlet.
Some folks said hello as they passed. Jack and Nate West stood, shook Austin’s hand and then Eric’s.
“Don’t you boys clean up nice,” Megs said.
Austin chuckled. “Why, Megs, is that an actual skirt you’re wearing?”
“I figured why not go all out, given it’s a special occasion and all.”
Joe was wearing a suit with a bolo tie, Rain sitting beside him in a pretty black dress. Rico had worn his best pair of overalls and a clean T-shirt. Gabe Rossiter wore jeans, a white shirt, and a sports jacket. His lovely Navajo wife, Kat, sat beside him.