CHAPTER 22

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The next week had passed quickly. The three ladies had spent their nights arranging flowers, hemming dresses, and making Sue's veil. Sue's parents arrived on Thursday and Carla and Tara worked on the cake.

Jack's parents came in on Friday morning, so Jack and his Dad could go with Myles, Bobby and D to get tuxedos. Even Levi was in on the action, although the girls were pretty sure he would rather have stayed for cake tasting with them rather than tux fittings.

Sue had her gown, Lucy was fixing her hair and doing her makeup. Her mom had brought a few things for her from family members.

"I wish we'd had more time to plan this Sue." Carla said, hoping the show Sue she could wait to get married.

"I know Mother, but we want to be together. We'll have a big wedding next year and we can invite everyone. This is just for me and Jack. We wanted our closest friends and a few family members here to celebrate with us." Sue tried to explain.

"I know Dear. I just don't want you to settle and miss out on what you really want." Carla explained.

"I won't mom, don't worry. I want to marry Jack. It doesn't matter if we have a ceremony or not, as long as it's legal." Sue said.

Carla hugged Sue tightly and Lucy and Tara joined in.

"Now, why don't you girls take a break and go for a walk, get some fresh air. I bet not a one of you have been outside in days just for a walk to distress. Have you?" She asked.

"No." Lucy answered.

"Go then." Carla insisted.

"Mrs. Thomas, we need to finish the cake yet." Tara said.

"I'll finish it up dear, you three go, take a break." Carla insisted.

Sue hugged her mom as the three walked out the door.

Lucy whispered something to Tara, and they began to guide Sue into the car. They drove for a little bit into town, to a lingerie shop. They had, by this point convinced Sue to put a blind fold over her eyes just so they could surprise her. She agreed but insisted they NOT get a sexy male dancer, or they'd be in a ton of trouble.

They guided Sue into the store and made their way to the clerk in the front of the store. Tara took Sue to the back of the store, and sat with Sue waiting for Lucy to come back. Lucy had explained to the woman that Sue would be getting married the next afternoon and they wanted to get her something for her wedding night. The clerk brought them a few very tasteful, sexy outfits for her to look at. She also brought her something to match each one that was perfect for a wife to tease her new husband on their wedding night.

The wedding night specialist, as she called herself, had brought the girls each a glass of wine and finally came in with an assortment of night gowns. Lucy finally took the blindfold off her eyes. After a minute Sue's eyes adjusted to the darker surroundings of the store. Sue tried to be casual as she looked around until she noticed some of the sexy outfits. Her face turned a deep crimson as she took in the thongs and bras that were all around her. The attendant brought Sue a glass of wine as well, which Sue nearly downed in one gulp.

"What is all this?" Sue exclaimed.

"Well, you need something to entice Jack with tomorrow night." Tara offered.

"And… we figured you wouldn't buy anything sexy, so we would help you pick something out." Lucy teased. All three ladies began to blush with the thoughts of the sexy outfits the store held.

"Your friends said you would like something classy and sexy. This is what I thought we could start with." The attendant said. She brought out a few very pretty night garments. Sue took a nervous breath as she looked at the clothes.

"Is all this really necessary?" She asked.

"What do you mean?" Tara asked.

"Well, this seems a bit silly. I'm going to buy something like this, and isn't the whole point of the honeymoon, in particular the wedding night supposed to be able NOT having this much on?" Sue asked as she turned red once more. She put her hands on her face, covering it to hide her blushing. All began to laugh.

"Well, that IS generally the point, but if you do something to hide the goods til you're ready, it'll build the excitement and drive him absolutely nuts." Laura the attendant said as she walked back into the dressing area.

"Exactly!" Lucy agreed.

"And, with Jack, you want to drive him nuts. Make him beg for it." Tara added.

"He's wanted Sue for so long, he probably won't last long enough for this little number to even make it out of the bathroom, never mind, have it fall to the floor…" Lucy added, as she began to giggle like a school girl.
"You guys!" Sue scolded.

"Oh, what? Are you going to deny you two have had the hots for each other for the past 5 years? I'm telling you, you will stop him in his tracks if you wear something like this tomorrow night." Lucy reassured.

"Where are you spending your honeymoon?" Laura asked.

"Umm, we don't know yet. We're going to wait a couple months before we go away." Sue offered, trying not to admit that this was little more than a shot gun wedding. The only thing that was missing was an unplanned pregnancy and an angry father.

"How about tomorrow night?" Tara asked.

"We're just going back to his place." Sue said blushing a bit.

"Umm, no you're not…" Lucy said as she handed Sue an envelope.

"What's this?" She asked.

"Just a little something from Lucy and me." Tara said smiling.

Sue opened the card. It was a bridal shower card and inside was a key room card for a five star hotel downtown for the honeymoon suite for two nights.

"You guys!" Sue hugged both women at the same time. "This is way too generous. You didn't have to do this." Sue said as she began to cry. The three girls sat around for an hour as Sue tried on different outfits. Some she would wear out for the friends to see and judge, others she didn't even want to look in the mirror at herself they were so skimpy. Lucy and Tara had both picked their favorites, and told Laura, no matter what Sue said, she was to get the sexy outfit that went under the tasteful one. Tara and Lucy shared a knowing smile.

"We should get back. We still have a few things left to do." Tara suggested. The ladies all thanked Laura for all her help and the wine and went back to Lucy and Sue's apartment.

Lucy had made coffee and the friends and Carla sat working on the finishing touches. Lucy had a check list, Sue and Carla were making sure they had everything ready for the next day. Tara was working on a computer program.

"Dress?" Lucy asked.

"Check" Sue said.

"Flowers?"

"Check"

"Rings?"

"Got em"

"Shoes, jewelry and veil?"

"All set."

"Cake? Car? Church?"

"Yup, yup, and yup."

"I thought you were getting married at the court house?" Carla asked.

"We were, but Jack knew how much I wanted to be married in a church, so we looked around and found a little church just outside the city." Sue explained.

"Oh my gosh! You don't have the 'something old, new, borrowed or blue." Lucy said horrified.

"That's not good.." Tara pointed out.

"What?" Sue asked.

"It's an old wives tale." Carla reassured.

"But, she can't start her life with Jack with even the slightest hint of question." Lucy said.

"Something new can be my dress!" Sue exclaimed.

"Something borrowed are my earrings." Lucy said.

"Something blue can be your flowers." Tara said.

"You still need something old." Lucy said, frantically looking around the room.

"No, you don't." Carla said. "You can have this to wear." Carla said as she handed Sue a box. Sue opened the box and inside there was an old cross necklace.

"This was your great grandmother's. It's time you have it." Carla said as she took the necklace from its case and put it around Sue's neck. Sue hugged her mother.

"It's perfect."