JENNIE
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Peeking at my phone again, I read the text from Lisa's sister, Minnie. It was sent to all the women in the bridal party.
Let's meet at 1 p.m. at Monique's Bridal! There will be champagne.
With a deep breath in I stare out my car window and take in the view, namely Monique's Bridal Shop. It doesn't take long before I see a gaggle of girls come around the corner, and spot Minnie in the middle of them.
A mix of emotions are running through me, but I shove them down and get out of the car, crossing the street toward them with my keys jingling in my hands.
Minnie spots me nearly instantly and I keep the smile plastered on my face. "Oh, it's Jennie!" She calls out, "I'm so glad you came!"
She hugs me, and it only eases the anxiousness of meeting new people and being in her bridal party —which still makes me feel like I'm crazy for agreeing to do it. I pull away and wave to the other women who are obviously her friends and far closer to her than I will probably ever be.
"Hi guys," I swallow thickly, trying to shake off every nerve and just enjoy get to know Minnie and have a good time.
I feel guilty for being on this shopping trip, seeing as how I'm not really dating Lisa. But they don't know that.
"I can't tell you how happy I am that you made it!"
"No problem." I say, trying to make my voice sound upbeat.
"Let me make introductions before we go inside," Minnie announces with an excited flare and a quick clap of her hands. "This is Lindsay, Sam, and Ellie."
She gestures to three women. Two of them are petite and blonde like Minnie herself, and they're dressed as preppy as J. Crew models. Ellie seems to be the odd one out, tall and thin, dark-haired and wearing an artsy, hot pink dress.
Altogether, they seem really nice and they're warm to me. So, it's off to a good start!
"Hi," I say. "It's nice to meet y'all."
"Ladies, this is Jennie. She's dating Lisa."
I note the looks of total surprise on their faces, followed by a look on Lindsay's face like she smelled something rotten. I assume that look isn't directed at me, but I still saw it.
I guess Irene isn't the only one to have the hots for Lisa.
RIP that good start. At least it lasted a second.
Sam and Ellie say hello, but Lindsay just gives me a tight smile. Luckily, Minnie is too caught up in starting the dress shopping to notice. My heart races and the nerves build up even more as she ushers everyone toward the store.
"Come on, let's go in!" Minnie leads the pack, which now I'm a part of.
The window display sports a lady mannequin dressed in what I assume is the height of bridal couture. The dress is white satin, tightly fitted and turned to the side to showcase the low-cut back.
It makes me wonder what kind of dress Minnie is looking for, exactly. I don't know a darn thing about her really or about the wedding.
The second we're inside, I pause, waiting for someone to tell us where to go, but we're ushered back and then father back; Minnie knows just where to go and doesn't wait for anyone. There's a single podium along the back wall, empty at the moment, and a curved wall that blocks the rest of the store from sight. All the decor is colored in shades of white, cream and pastel pink.
"Hello, hello," a woman appears from a side door right on cue. She speaks clearly, but with a Parisian accent. "You're here for Minnie Manoban?" Her elegant demeanor, graying hair and thin frame fit in with the store. This woman looks like she owns the place.
"That's me," Minnie raises her hand while practically shaking with excitement. She's freaking adorable. It warms my heart to see her happiness on such obvious display.
"Bien. I'm Monique, the owner. Let me get you ladies set up." There's a large round pink ottoman to sit on, two stuffed chairs, and a throne. Like an actual throne. I take it that's going to be for the bride-to-be.
To our left, there's a floor to ceiling three-way mirror with a low pedestal in the middle. Minnie looks at the pedestal nervously.
"Come sit here," Monique says to Minnie, gesturing to the throne. "And the rest of you can sit where you like."
Minnie glances at us, her perfect smile never dimming, then goes to sit on the gilded throne. After a minute of being left to our own devices as Monique runs to the back room she came from to grab a client form, Minnie grins even wider, I don't know how that's possible. Lindsay and Sam take the two chairs, leaving Ellie and me to sit on the ottoman.
"All right," Monique announces as she enters again with a clipboard and pen. Her English is perfect, though her accent is heavy and honestly adds to the romanticism. "What are we looking for, Miss Minnie?"
Minnie turns a pretty shade of pink. "Okay, I already have the reception dress." Her confidence growing as she talks. "My wedding is in a week, and I need a second dress for the ceremony. I wasn't going to do two dresses, but my ma wants something more traditional even though it's a smaller, more casual wedding." I almost laugh at Minnie's answer. Lisa told me how her mom has been very opinionated with Minnie's dress. I guess she finally gave in one full week before the deadline. She's cutting it close.
"Okay. Tell me what this ideal dress looks like."
"Umm, I brought some pictures…" Minnie answers, digging through her purse all the while. The entire place is quiet as we wait. "Here. I made an album of the dresses that I like from the bridal magazines… and the ones my mother liked too."
"Ah!" Monique nods, reaching out. "Let's see."
She takes the stack of photos from Minnie and sifts through them. She's quiet for a long time, taking the measure of each picture fully. I wish it wasn't so quiet, it makes me pick at a non-existent piece of lint as my insecurities rise. I don't want to ruin this for Minnie. I don't want her to look back on this day and wish I hadn't been there.
"Do you think you'll be able to help us?" Sam asks, fidgety. "She waited until the last minute," she adds, giving Minnie a face which only makes Minnie give her a face back.
"Of course," Monique responds, very seriously. "I have dresses on hand that will need to be altered, but I promise you, love," she turns her attention from the photos to Minnie, "you will fall in love with one of them and so will your mother." The beam of a smile Minnie returns and glistening of her eyes forces a wide smile from me too.
A door opens on the far side of the room, and an older man comes in with a tray of glasses and a bottle of champagne. Oh, thank goodness. He doesn't say much other than polite necessities. He simply pours the champagne into flutes and passes them out.
"Thank you," I tell him, accepting the champagne gratefully. It's sweet, and the bubbles tickle my tongue.
"Mmmm," Ellie says. "Thank God for alcohol."
"Yes, I was looking forward to this," I say with a shrug to make my words seem casual. "So how do you know Minnie?"
"Minnie was my roommate during our first couple of years of college," Ellie says.
"Ahh. I was wondering how you knew each other."
Ellie smiles and sips her champagne. Before I'm forced to think of something else to say, Minnie makes her first appearance.
She's stunning, wearing a silky number that has a strappy back, a simple front, and clings to her hips. Oh my goodness. She's a sight to see.
"Oooh, champagne." she says, rushing to pick up her glass from where Marcus left the tray.
Her sip of champagne comes first and then she makes her way to the mirror, the dress gliding flawlessly. Without even standing on the pedestal, she pans the dress.
"Mm, no," she says. "Monique is bringing more options. I just can't see meeting at the altar in this... the straps remind me of like… bondage."
I laugh, a soft feminine laugh. "If you say so. I think you look beautiful."
"It's beautiful," Lindsay says. "Bondage or not."
Minnie sweeps over to the ottoman, perching beside me.
"I know all about these bitches," she says, leaning closer to me. "But nothing about you, Jennie. So tell me about yourself."
"What do you want to know?" The small bit of tension that left with Minnie's joke comes back full force.
"I don't know. Where did you grow up?"
"Here. I'm an Atlanta baby."
"And your family?" She asks another easy question.
"It's small family. Just myself and my younger sister, besides my mom."
"Did you go to college?" Ellie asks.
"I did. I went to Brenau University for one year, then I finished my degree at Rhode Island School of Design. I'm a graphic designer now."
"You went to RISD?" Lindsay questions from across the room, disbelieving.
"Yeah?" I answer, uncertain. "I studied watercolor and oil painting along with graphic design."
"I went to Savannah College of Art and Design," she says. "I'm an interior designer."
"Oh! That's really cool," I say. Small world.
"She's also Lisa's ex-girlfriend," Sam announces, crossing her arms and one perfectly penciled eyebrow lifting.
Minnie laughs in a way that shuts down Sam's comment. "No, she wanted to be Lisa's girlfriend. There's a huge difference."
I bite my lip, I am really not into this ex-girlfriend, current girlfriend animosity. Minnie doesn't seem to catch on to it. Which is good, since this is her day. Marcus was my hero before, this time it's Monique. She pokes her head in to call Minnie back.
"I'll be back," Minnie says, winking to me. "Try not to get into any catfights." The last comment is directed at Lindsay. Maybe Minnie did catch on to it.
When Minnie arrives again for the third time, she makes an entrance. The way she looks in the third dress knocks the breath right out of me. The dress is pure white, with delicate lace straps, lacy cups, and a full skirt. She turns, and the back has a row of tiny white buttons.
There's a collective gasp in the room. She climbs up on the pedestal, straightening her skirts and looks at us in the mirror.
"Y'all," she takes a minute to sway and then says, "I think I found my dress."
"Yay!" Ellie and I clap in unison.
"That is definitely the one," Lindsay affirms, her expression finally resembling happiness for her friend.
"No kidding," Sam says, getting misty-eyed. "You're a gorgeous bride."
"And look!" Minnie says, pulling up her skirts to reveal a pair of cowboy boots. "We're all going to wear these under our dresses." I can't help but smile. "Cute, don't you think?" she asks.
"Definitely," Sam nods in agreement.
"You and Lisa can knock boots. Literally," Minnie says devilishly.
"Yeah… maybe." I laugh, and the other girls smile. Marcus appears to refill our champagne glasses, and I absently empty my glass before he gets to mine, wondering what Lisa would say to that.
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