Only the characters you don't recognize are mine, everyone else belongs to J.E.

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Chapter 14

SPOV

I can't believe we are done addressing all of the invitations; I am so glad I didn't have to do it myself. I was mentally checking what was next on my list.

"Thank you all for your help tonight. I was thinking that tomorrow morning we could go dress shopping." I said.

"Sounds good. What time and where do you want to meet?" Connie asked.

"I was thinking 9:15, and here." I told them.

"Sounds great, Mary Lou and I can come together, and I will ask mom to babysit. I'll tell her I have last minute shopping to do." Val said with a smile, and Mary Lou nodded her head in agreement.

"Just remember no coffee!" I said, I didn't need to get sick before trying on dresses.

Everyone just smiled and nodded. We got their coats and walked to the door, then waved goodnight as they left. I walked into the living room where the guys were. I walked over to Carlos and stood there for a minute listening to what they had been planning.

"Carlos, I am going to bed. I have to wake up early to go shopping with the girls. Night guys." I said as I gave Carlos a light kiss.

The guys said good night.

I went to the bedroom and got ready for bed. I slipped into bed, and was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

The next morning I woke up at 7:04, wow, I slept in today. Carlos was walking out of the bathroom as I was getting out of bed. He bent down to give me a toe curling good morning kiss. I started to think about all the wicked things I wanted to do with him. I shook my head to clear it. I definitely didn't have time for that this morning. I continued walking into the bathroom. I answered nature's call and then went through my morning ritual. I did my makeup light and left my hair down.

I was standing in the dressing room with a white strapless bra and matching undies. There were so many clothes in the closet, I was having a hard time figuring out what I wanted to wear. I took a few minutes, and then I made my choice. I first put on a pair of jeans and they were comfortable. Ella, my clothes fairy, must have been hard at work. Next, I found a sweater that was a deep red. Finally, since there was no snow on the ground, I chose a pair of black ballerina flats. I was ready for my day out with the girls.

"You look beautiful, Babe." Carlos said as I walked out to the kitchen.

"Thanks." I said as I sat down at the breakfast bar to eat whatever wonder Ella made for me.

We ate our breakfast, then cleaned up. I went and got my lap top and looked at the favors Carlos found.

"Do you see any you like, Babe?" Carlos asked; sitting in the seat next to me.

"I do. Some are a little different and I like that." I said, and then asked, "So while I am out shopping with the girls, what are you going to be doing?"

"I am going to interview photographers, and videographers. Here, I would like you to take this, and put what you and the girls get on it." Carlos said, as he handed me his American Express card.

"I can't take this. It's too much." I tried to give it back to him.

"I want to do this for you and the girls. I know they don't have a lot of money to spend, and no time to save money before the wedding." Carlos said cupping my face.

"You are a very sweet man." I told him, giving him a kiss.

"Don't let it get out. It would ruin my reputation." He said, giving me a dazzling smile. "You better head down to the garage, they will be here soon."

"Okay. I love you Carlos." I said.

He pulled me in for the most tantalizing kiss.

"Love you too, Babe." He said with one more, soft kiss.

I left and went down to wait for the shopping party to begin. Woody was there, just leaning up against the SUV. It was bigger model, having two rows of seating in the back so everyone would be comfortable. I was originally taking it because there would be more space for shopping bags.

"Hey Woody. What are you doing?" I just knew he was going to tell me that he was told to come along.

"I'm your driver today. Boss doesn't want anything to happen to his beautiful bride, and mother of his children." Woody said, flashing me a smile; I'm sure he thought that would win me over.

"Fine. Just so you know, we will be going to DQ, and you get to buy lunch." I said flashing him my own smile.

He chuckled and nodded in agreement.

Just about then, the girls arrived. I reminded Woody to get rid of his coffee, he made sure no one else had any either. We all climbed in the SUV and were on our way.

"I figured we may as well see what David's Bridal shop has and then go from there." I said to everyone.

"Sounds good, they usually have a lot of styles and sizes in stock." Val said.

"But first we are going to DQ! I have to have a twist ice cream cone." I said, mainly to Woody so he knew where to go first.

"Ooo ice cream does sound good." Lula said, "I think I will have one of them cones." She stated.

I smiled. I had a feeling she would say that.

After our short trip to get ice cream, we were on our way to try on dresses. Once we got to David's Bridal, we got out and went in. Instantly, a sales woman materialized in front of us, hoping to sell whatever she could.

"I want you all to feel comfortable in the dress; I just want them to be in our colors." I said. Then we each went our own way, looking through the racks. The girls looking for Bridesmaid's dresses, and I was looking for the perfect wedding dress. There were five dressing rooms, one for each of us. As soon as we had a dress in our hand, the sales lady would come by and take it to our dressing room. I must have had ten dresses in mine and I had no clue how many the others had. After a while, I found the girls and said, "Why don't we try on what we've picked, and see if we like anything."

"Sounds good! We should find something with everything we have here." Mary Lou said.

I sat in one of the chairs they had set up outside the fitting rooms, so I could see the girls modeling the dresses they picked. One by one they stepped out wearing the various dresses. Long, short, and just below the knee, not a one was alike. They found something wrong with each dress, then moved on to the next. It was like that for forty-five minutes. Then, they all walked out with the exact same dress. I giggled, I guess we had found their dress. They looked beautiful in it. It was a tea length dress, square halter neck, with an empire waist, and a band of matte satin that was silver. It gathered at the bodice, and the dress was a shiny black satin. Each smiled as they realized they had picked the same dress.

"They told me what colors were in the wedding, and I have shawls that are silver on one side and blue on the other. It would look lovely with the dress." The sales woman said to me.

"Could you get them so we can see how it will look?" I asked.

She ran off; I assumed, to get the shawls.

She came back and handed one to each of the girls. They played with them to see how they liked them. I told them that I liked the way it looked with the dress, but it was completely up to them. They decided to get them.

Now it was my turn to try on the dresses I'd found. I wasn't holding out much hope, none of them screamed I am the dress, buy me! An hour and a half later, I had tried on all ten dresses, and found I hated them all.

"I guess we will have to look elsewhere for my dress. Come on let's buy yours and if they have to be altered we can get it done." I said, looking for the sales lady helping us.

Once I spotted her, I went up and asked, "If we get them altered, how long would that take?"

"About two weeks." She stated.

"No sooner?" I asked her.

"Sorry no. That's the soonest we could get them all done." She said.

"Okay. Could you please bag what we're taking and put it on this card?" I asked as I handed her the card.

"No problem." She said running off to the checkout counter. I think I just made her day.

"Okay, everyone let's check out and head to lunch, and then more dress shopping for me. Give everything you have picked out to the lady who was helping us." I said.

When we reached the sales counter, the ladies handed over their dresses and shawls. They must have found shoes as well, because there were four shoe boxes in with the mix of all the rest. Connie went to get her credit card from her wallet, but I stopped her.

"No need for that. It's already covered." I told them.

"Steph, you really don't need to do that." Connie exclaimed.

"It's already done! Now who is ready for lunch?" I asked.

Val came over to me with tears in her eyes, "Thank you Steph. You don't know how much this means to me." I just hugged her back, I couldn't say anything.

Poor Woody waited in the SUV while we were in the store. When he saw us walking out of the store, he got out of the vehicle to open the back, and helped get everything loaded. After we piled in, I told Woody it was lunch time. He drove us to a little diner where we all had a good time chatting about the wedding. Once lunch was over, we got back into the SUV.

"So where to now?" Woody asked me.

"Well, another bridal store, I still have to find a dress." I sighed.

"You know we do security for a bridal store, would you like to try there?" Wood asked.

"Sure why not." I replied before turning to the girls and asking, "That's okay with you guys, right?"

I heard a chorus of yeses. I smile and nodded. I started to wonder who could alter the dresses. There was really only woman who I think would be up to the challenge. I pulled out my phone and called.

"Hello?" She answered.

"Hello Ella, it's Stephanie. I have a big favor to ask." I said, with my fingers crossed.

"Anything for you dear. What can I help you with?" Ella asked.

"Is there any possible way you could alter the bridesmaid's dresses?" I asked, biting my lower lip, as I waited for her answer.

"Of course, Stephanie. I can do that with no problem at all. I just need the girls and the dresses." She said.

I let out a breath, unaware I had been holding it as I waited for Ella's answer.

" Okay, I will talk to them and get back to you. Thank you so much." I said as I hung up.

"Ella agreed to do the alterations. She just needs you to come over with the dress and shoes so she can see what needs to be done." I said looking at the girls.

They nodded smiling.

"Any time works for me White Girl." Said Lula.

"As long as I have someone to watch the kids, I'm good." Mary Lou chimed in. Val nodded in agreement.

"Yep, she can have me whenever she wants." Connie said.

I looked up as Woody was parking the SUV, of course right by the door. I just shook my head. We all got out.

"I've had enough with sitting in the car. I would rather see what type of dress you pick." He said as he held the door open for us.

We walked in and were approached by a matronly lady. I guessed her to be in her late fifties. She greeted us very pleasantly, with a warm motherly tone. She walked right up to Woody and gave him a big hug.

"Betty, how nice to see you again." Woody said.

"You too, dear. Now, who are these lovely ladies?" She asked.

"Betty, allow me to introduce you to Stephanie Plum. She is the bride-to-be. She is getting married to Mr. Manoso. She is trying to find that perfect dress." Woody told her.

"Well my dear, congratulations! When is the big day?" She asked, smiling sweetly at me.

"New Year's Eve." I told her.

"As in the one coming up?" She questioned.

"Yes." I simply answered.

"Okay, well, we better get busy then. Tell me, what kind of dress are you looking for?" She asked; she has to be one of the happiest people I've met because she was still smiling.

I told her what I was looking for and she led me to a changing area. A few minutes later she had a couple of dresses in her hand.

"Here dear. Let's try these on and see what you like or don't like about them. It will give me a better idea." She said hanging the dresses on the wall. They were both very pretty.

She helped me get in them, and then I stepped out to show everyone. They said it looked nice, but wasn't that special dress. We did that five more times, I was starting to give up hope of finding a dress.

Betty walked in with three more dresses, my eyes instantly went to one dress. I think I found what I was looking for.

"Betty, let's try that one next." I said pointing to the one I had fallen in love with. She had an all knowing smile on her face.

Once it was on, I walked out where everyone was sitting. At first I didn't think they liked it, no one said anything. They just sat there, mouths hanging open. Woody was doing an impersonation of a fish.

"Oh my God! Steph, you look radiant!" Val said with tears.

"Ranger won't know what hit him." Woody said finding his voice.

"White Girl, this is it!" Lula stated, still looking stunned.

"You are so beautiful!" Mary Lou almost shouted.

"Steph, you look fabulous!" Connie said.

"Well, dear, what do you think?" Betty asked.

"I think it's perfect. Can you do the alterations in time?" I asked.

"My dear, it's like the dress was made for you. You don't need any." Betty said with even a bigger smile.

"Then I'll take it. By chance do you have shoes?" I asked Betty.

"I have a pair that were just made for that dress, let me go get them for you." She said, running off to get the shoes.

I bought the dress and shoes. I would ask Ella if I could keep it in her apartment for safe keeping. Betty hugged us all goodbye, and we were on our way back home. We decided that we would meet Ella now. I called to make sure she wasn't busy, and she assured me to come straight to her apartment. When we returned to Rangeman, Woody helped us carry our bags up to Ella's apartment. I thanked him for his help today.

Woody nodded and left.

Ella started right to work, showing the girls where they could change so she could get started on the alterations.