6
Jessica arrived at her store bright and early the next day, ready for the onslaught of brides searching for their perfect wedding dress.
She spent most of last summer designing a series of new gowns for just this moment. Brides wanted something unique, something no one else had. Something that would wow their soon-to-be husbands.
Every dress was created with at least one option to enhance or change it in some way. If a bride loved a dress but wanted it sleeveless, Jessica made sure to accommodate them. If creating a sleeveless version wasn’t possible, there were always hundreds of other designs to choose from.
The store opened promptly at 10 am, which was a little less than two hours away. She didn’t have a lot to do, but Jessica was a perfectionist, and everything required a second check. Were the dressing rooms ready? Coffee ready to be brewed? Refreshing cucumber water standing by? The mirrors spotless, the dais’s ready? Her store manager was due to arrive by 9 am, but still Jessica insisted on double-checking everything.
She was ticking through her list when she heard someone knock. Her friend Maggie was waving at her through the glass door.
Jessica walked over, unlatched, and opened the door, and before she could even say good morning, her friend breezed past her.
“I know you’re busy and all, but I’m dying to hear the details!” Maggie bubbled while removing her shawl and unzipping her heavy coat. She flung both over one of the display cases and leaned against them.
“So?” She cocked her head, and crossed her arms.
Jessica knew the stance well. Maggie wasn’t about to get talked out of her position.
Jessica walked over to one of the three dresses displayed in the front window and fluffed the gown.
“We had a nice time,” she said, knowing full well it wouldn’t satisfy Maggie’s curiosity. But sometimes it was just fun to tease her.
“And what else? I mean, come on, Jessica, the guy is so hot. How the hell did none of us notice that before? I mean he was always good-looking, but now, he’s just…wow.” She threw up her hands, eyes wide.
“Nothing happened. We’re just friends.”
Maggie pointed a finger at her. “See, that’s what’s wrong with you. You fail to see the potential in a lot of things, Jessica, and believe me when I say Matt’s got a heapin’ load of potential.”
Something tingled up Jessica’s spine. “I’m not interested in him that way.”
“Jessica, you’re not interested in anyone that way. You’ve had…what? Four dates in five years? That’s almost criminal.”
“I’ve been busy.” Jessica moved onto the next dress, smoothing and adjusting the satin skirt. “This business takes a lot of my time, and besides, it’s not really a good use of my time.”
Maggie threw a hand up. “Wait, what did you say? Not a good use of your time? You mean dating?”
Jessica just shrugged. “No one seems interesting.”
“That’s because you never give anyone a chance, Jessica. Ever since that dick left you at the altar, you’ve shut yourself down. The only man who’s ever gotten close to you is Matt, and that’s saying something.”
“He got married,” Jessica said quietly.
Maggie frowned, “Who got married? Matt?”
“No, William. On New Year’s Eve.”
“Oh, God, Jessica, I’m so sorry.”
Jessica flipped her hand. “Actually, I was surprised that I was quite ok with it. I stopped pining for him a long time ago…” She let a long pause sit between them before she continued. “Matt made a special trip home so he could tell me about it himself.”
Maggie walked over to her and gripped her arm, “Wait, Matt came back from Afghanistan just to tell you William got married on New Year’s Eve?”
Jessica nodded. “I’m assuming he went to his brother’s wedding, too. Honestly, I didn’t even ask. But he was so worried about how I’d feel.” Her mouth curved. “He seemed pretty surprised when I laughed my head off instead of being upset.”
She looked Maggie in the eye. “And I’m not upset. I promise you.”
“Matt’s such a good guy,” Maggie said.
“He is.” Jessica hesitated before she continued. “I invited him to go to New York with me this weekend.”
Maggie blinked, “Excuse me? You guys are already doing on a weekend away?”
“No, no, no, Maggie.” She shook her head insistently. “I just thought it would be fun for him, and I enjoy spending time with him and—”
“You don’t have to justify this to me, Jess,” Maggie interrupted. “But listen, it’s time you got back in the game.”
“I’m not jumping back in the game with Matt.” Jessica walked past her friend to one of three glass display cases, opened it, and began adjusting the wedding accesories.
“Well, whatever, but you need to get back in the game with someone.” Maggie threw her hands up in the air again. “It’s just not right that someone so jaded owns one of the most exclusive wedding shops in New York state. I mean here you are, at the center of all this love and happiness, and you’re all anti-weddings and stuff.” Maggie twisted her hands. “It’s just completely ironic.”
“I’m not jaded or anti-weddings,” Jessica said. “I just don’t have time to date.”
“Make time.” Maggie said, grabbing her coat and throwing it on. “Or you’ll wind up being the only single, jaded bridal shop owner in the country.” She walked over and gave Jessica a peck on the cheek. “It’s just not becoming.”
She winked as she breezed out the door and left Jessica to her work.