By Mid-March, Melanie was still searching for a wedding dress. During the spring break recess, Leonard, Jim and Joanna flew out to New York for the week; both men had promised to lend a helping hand to the wedding preparations, especially when Chris had to be at work every afternoon.
"I don't know why I have to be the one to sit and watch you try on a billion gowns," Jim whined, as he and Melanie strolled down the sidewalk. "It's just too much..white."
Melanie snorted, "Because Len would snatch the ugliest gown off the rack and force me to buy it," she said, as they waited at the corner. "Len has zero patience when it comes to clothes shopping, Jim. You know this."
Jim nodded, "I do," he huffed, taking her hand. "But I don't know why you waited til now to get a dress! Are you sure it's going to be ready before November second?"
They quickly crossed the street and dashed into the bridal boutique that Nyota researched from her new apartment in Montreal, promising that they had the best reviews.
"I hope so," Melanie sighed, removing her scarf. "Ohhh, my goodness! Look at all these gowns!"
Ten minutes later, Melanie had met with a consultant and they were looking at gowns. "I don't want anything poofy," she said, as the woman pulled a gown off the rack. "It's a very simple wedding and I want a simple gown."
When the woman excused herself to look in the stock room, Jim turned and made a face. "Is she deaf or what?" he asked, rolling his eyes. "What part of "I don't want to look like a human cotton ball!" did she not get?"
Melanie smacked his arm, "Be quiet!" she whispered. "See, this is pretty!"
Pulling the gown off the rack, Melanie held it up against her and smiled, "I like this one."
The one shoulder lace dress had a slightly full-shirred skirt, flowers covering the lace on the bodice and skirt. Jim made a face and shook his head.
"What are you? Fifty?" he asked, eyeing the dress in disgust. "That is so ugly! You can't marry Chris in that thing!"
He then turned to the rack and started looking through the gowns, muttering as he went. Melanie held the dress in her hand and watched as Jim observed every gown on the rack, stating what was wrong with each one.
"Too skimpy! What is with all the damn silk? Ugly! Ugly!," he shook his head in frustration. "Nyota said this place was good!"
Melanie set the dress back onto the rack, "Jim, you are not helping me here!" she hissed. "Just.. chill the fuck out!"
She then moved to the rack on the opposite side of the store and started rifling through the gowns. After a few minutes, she finally reached the end of the selection and fell upon another lace gown. She gasped and pulled the gown off the rack, holding it up as she turned to look at Jim.
"I think this is.." she said softly, eyeing the gown.
Full-length, the gown was entirely made of lace from the bodice to the very bottom. The bodice was an asymmetrical design, the skirt flaring out slightly above the knees. It was perfect. Simple and perfect.
"You need to try that one on," Jim said, nodding. "I think that's the one."
…..
Meanwhile, Leonard, Chris and Joanna were hanging out in the kitchen at the apartment.
"Now you put the batter into the pan," Chris said, as Joanna picked up the mixing bowl with the cake batter. "Make sure you pour an even amount out for each pan."
Joanna nodded and carefully divided the chocolate batter into the three pans; all the while, her father and uncle watched her carefully.
"You think three cakes is enough?" Leonard asked, as Joanna set the bowl down. "You know my sister and Jim will eat at least two of those."
"Daddy! Don't call Aunt Mellie fat!" Joanna gasped.
Chris snickered, "Yeah! Don't call Mellie fat!" he shook his head. "Okay Jo, lets put these in the oven."
With her help, Chris managed to arrange the three pans in the small oven, before leading her to the sink to wash up.
"Can I go watch tv now?" she asked, once her hands were cleaned and dried. "Phineas and Ferb is coming on!"
They both nodded, "Go on," Leonard chuckled. "Just keep it down in there, kiddo. Your Aunt and Uncle can't be gettin' noise complaints in this city."
Joanna raced off into the living room, leaving the mess she created behind. As the cakes baked in the oven, Len and Chris started cleaning up the kitchen.
"So, why did my sister wait until now to get a dress?" Leonard asked, as he put the eggs back into the fridge. "Doesn't she realize that it might take longer to get the dress in?"
Chris shrugged, "Mel's been scattered all over with the planning," he sighed, turning the faucet on. "Did she tell you how she cried when Nyota and Gaila emailed her to let her know that their gowns would be in by the end of the month?" he asked.
Leonard shook his head, "No," he said, moving back to the counter. "I didn't even tell her that Jo's is being shipped here as we speak."
"Oh god," Chris shook his head. "She's so convinced that nothing will be ready by the time November comes. I told her that if she wanted to wait til next year, that I would be fine with it. I don't want to see her stressing out over this and making herself sick."
"You know she's not going to change the date," Leonard shook his head. "She's already waited a year, being engaged and what not. Now she wants to make it official because she's turning thirty in the summer and that alone is making her crazy."
Chris shook his head, "I wish I was turning thirty," he sighed. "She thinks thirty is bad? Wait until she's forty-nine! Fifty doesn't look so appealing to me right now."
Leonard laughed, "I forgot about that…" he shook his head. "Next month's the big one, huh?"
He glared at the younger man, "I wouldn't laugh, Len," he waved a soap covered spatula. "Let's see if you'll be laughing when your time comes."
"At least you don't look a day over forty!" Leonard shot back. "I've been with Jim for almost six months and I already look older than thirty-eight! Damn infant has aged me!"
….
"You're in luck!" the sales woman said, looking down at the order schedule from her tablet. "I just submitted your order and they already have a dress in your size ready!"
Melanie gasped, "Really?" she asked. "When can you get it in?"
The woman tapped a few things and smiled, "How's next Thursday?" she asked.
Jim and Melanie exchanged looks, "I could kiss you right now," Melanie said, smiling at the woman. "Next Thursday is fine!"
After a few more details, Melanie paid for the dress and walked out of the store holding onto Jim's arm. "I cannot believe my fucking luck!" she said, giddy. "My dream dress is going to be here NEXT week! The girls are getting their gowns at the end of the month! I feel like everything is falling into place!"
Jim snickered, "All we need to do is get flowers, our suits and what else?" he asked, as they crossed the street. "Your Pop is still coming right?"
Melanie nodded, "He's coming! Had to tell Mama that he was going to a antique car show on Long Island."
"Lying just to see his daughter get married," he shook his head. "I don't blame him though. You're Mom is a total bitch."
"Which is why she's not invited, "Melanie nodded. "Let's eat here! I'm starving!"
Heading into the diner, Melanie and Jim grabbed a booth near the back and chucked their coats into the corner.
"You know," Jim said, as he scanned the menu. "You're boobs looked a bit.. bigger. I don't know if it was the dress or the bra you had on."
Melanie shrugged, "It's probably because my period is due sometime this week," she sighed. "I should probably start tracking it that way I can prepare myself for the big day."
A waitress came by a few seconds later and took their orders, before taking their menus.
"Since when did you eat Jalapenos?" Jim asked with a frown.
"Since… forever?" Melanie shrugged, twirling a strand of hair around her finger.
Jim shook his head, "Um, if I remember correctly, you nearly took my eye out with a fork when I put them in the salsa for the super bowl last year."
Melanie shrugged, "Whatever," she scoffed. "I want them so I'm going to eat them."
"Ohhkayyy," Jim sighed. "God, for a second I thought you were having a weird craving there. Like a pregnant woman."
He looked up when Melanie didn't speak, "What?" he asked.
"Oh my god.." she covered her mouth. "What's today's date?" she asked.
Jim frowned and counted in his head, "March… twenty-first?" he counted again, before nodding. "Yeah, the twenty-first."
Grabbing her bag, Melanie quickly dug through the mess and pulled out her phone, opening up her calendar. "Okay, the last time I documented my period was in October," she said, skimming through the last five months. "Oh god.. I don't remember having my period the last three months."
"What!" coughed, setting his glass down. "Aren't you on the pill?"
Melanie nodded, "Yeah, but I stopped taking it December because it was making me sick," she cursed. "Oh my god, I think I'm going to be sick."
Jim shook his head, "No you're not," he said, quickly looking for the waitress. "Lets get our food to go and we'll get a test at the drug store by your apartment."
She nodded, "Mel, what's the worst that could happen?" he asked. "If you're pregnant it'll be fine! You and Chris want kids and so what if it's a bit early for all that?"
"Oh my god," she cried, covering her face with her hands. "I knew this was too good to be true!"
Jim sighed, "Jesus Christ," he muttered, climbing out of the booth. "Just, calm down and try to remember the last time you opened a box of tampons! It wouldn't surprise me if it was the stress that's keeping you from bleeding out."
Melanie nodded, "Okay," she whispered, resting her head in her hands. "Oh my god, oh my god," she chanted, as Jim moved to find their waitress.
