Chapter 42

In the first weekend of June, Mercedes finally had the time to go look at wedding dresses. Pam, Becky, and Ashley as bride's maids went with her. Plus, there was Angela, Vicky, and Emily as well. Mercedes had wanted all her bride's maids there and she was getting that. But her mom and baby girl would be there too.

Mercedes flew out to Boston with Evie on Friday, June 1. That was where she had decided to look for wedding dresses, bride's maids' dresses, and flower girl dresses. Pam, Ashley, and Becky all flew out to Boston as well. The three all stayed with Mercedes and Evie at Judith's house. Judith was happy to have the three of them with that of her daughter and granddaughter.

On Saturday morning, Mercedes with all six of her bride's maids—Pam, Becky, Ashley, Angela, Vicky, and Emily, her mom and daughter went to find dresses. The group was excited for it. Evie, almost eleven months old, was excited to be with everyone. She loved all her aunties.

"If there are any flower girl dresses that match these wedding dresses, please let me know," Mercedes said to the sales associate as the two were finding dresses for her to try on.

"Oh, yes, we have a few. But if not, we can come up with something that will match for your daughter."

"Thank you so much."

Mercedes had a wonderful time with her mom and her six best friends as they all tried on dresses. Mercedes tried on a few different styles dresses of a ballgown, A-line, trumpet, mermaid and sheath. She really liked the A-line styles. And she ended up finding one she liked. It was spaghetti strap and backless.

"Yay," Mercedes said. "This is the one!"

"Oh, you look absolutely gorgeous in it, sweetheart!" Judith commented as she was in awe of her little girl.

"Thank you, Mom."

Mercedes smiled. She looked in the mirror. She started playing around with her hair. There were so many ways she could go with doing her hair for the wedding. She let her hair drop and looked in the mirror again. She could not stop smiling and she looked down at her wedding dress. She couldn't wait to wear it in October.

Pam, Becky, Ashley, Angela, Vicky, and Emily each tried on one bride's maids' dress. She asked what they thought of each one. Everyone agreed to one. It was a cold shoulder, knee length dress and it was dark purple. Since the wedding was taking place in October, Mercedes and Colby chose fall colors for their wedding: dark red, burnt orange, and dark purple.

Mercedes choice a burnt orange dress for Evie. It was a spaghetti strap dress too.

Everyone took a lot of pictures. Of course, everyone would have to be careful about the pictures of Mercedes in her dress getting to Colby.

"Evie looks as beautiful as her mama does," Colby said as he was on the phone with his fiancée later that night.

"She does," Mercedes replied.

"I can't wait until October so I can see what dress you chose for yourself."

"Oh, you'll love it. I know you will. I can tell you the different hairstyles I will consider for it, though."

"That works."

Mercedes laughed.

"So how much time until we are married?"

"About four and half months?" Mercedes questioned. "Maybe a little less. Doesn't really matter to me right now. I am just glad everything is on track with wedding plans thus far. Every lady and girl of the wedding party each have their dress. My mom also picked out her dress."

"Get everyone taking care. That's a smart idea."

"Next is your mom."

"Yeah, she wants you to go with her for that," Colby replied.

"Done and done."

"Great. What's next, though?"

"Picking out suits for you and the groom's men and getting fitted for them too," Mercedes replied.

"Okay, we'll set that one up," Colby said.

"Yes, we will. I'll go Bridezilla on you if I have to," She laughed.

"If not now then somewhere down the line you will," Colby laughed himself.

Mercedes continued to laugh. "Well, I'm going to go, because I'm tired."

"All right, baby, I'll talk to you tomorrow then."

"Yes. I love you."

"Love you too, gorgeous. Sweet dreams.

"You too."

Mercedes ended the call on her phone. She then headed up-stairs to the room she and Pam were staying in. Pam was sound asleep. Mercedes took a quick look on Evie as she was asleep in a crib in the room as well. Mercedes smiled. She plugged her cell phone into the phone charger. She then crawled into bed and went to sleep.

One month later…

Mercedes groaned as her cell phone made noise. It was six o'clock in the morning. She reached for her cell phone and saw it was Angela calling. Mercedes knew it wasn't an emergency of any sort. There was only an hour time different between Davenport and Boston.

"Hey," Mercedes answered with a yawn.

"I'm so sorry to wake you," Angela replied. "I know it's your day off and everything but I have to tell you something.

"What?"

"Glenn Parsons was charged for raping two women!"

"What?! Are you serious?!"

"Yes, I'm reading it in the paper right now. He was convicted for it. The attacks happened last year."

"Oh, my God!" Mercedes exclaimed.

"What is going on?" Colby asked.

Mercedes looked over at her fiancé. He did not look happen as he had been woken up. "Angela, I'm putting you on speaker phone."

"Sure," Angela said.

"Okay, tell Colby what you just told me!"

Colby gave his fiancée an annoyed look.

"Glenn Parsons is going to jail for raping two women!" Angela exclaimed.

"Are you serious?!" Colby said.

"Yes, I'm reading it in the newspaper right now," Angela said.

"What happened?"

"The attacks happened within a few days of each other last year. Both women reported it. They did the medical examinations and everything. His DNA matched with both their rape kits or whatever. No one could pinpoint him at a time of the rapes. Oh, my God!"

"What?" Mercedes asked.

"The women met him at Forgione's. He was walking them home. He did take one woman all the way to her apartment and rape her. The other one was in an alleyway."

"Jesus Christ," Colby said.

"Yes, the same motive," Angela commented. "He also has a few prior charges for sexual assault, but they were dropped."

"I guess these women had the courage to go through everything."

"Yes," Mercedes replied. "Does it say his sentence?"

"20 years."

"Not enough! But it is something! Justice for those women!"

"Most definitely," Angela replied.

"Okay, I'm going to go," Mercedes said. "I'll talk to you later, okay?"

"Yes. Go back to sleep or whatever."

"Thanks. And thanks for telling us."

"You're welcome. Talk to you soon. Bye."

"Bye," Mercedes said. She ended the call on her phone. She looked at Colby.

Colby smiled at her.

"It's done," Mercedes said as she slowly began to cry. Colby wrapped his arms around her. "He's in jail for 20 years! I didn't put him there, but just knowing he'll be there is so much better."

"I know," Colby replied.

Mercedes smiled. She pulled back and looked at her fiancé. Colby smiled back. "I love you!"

"I love you too," Colby replied.