🍏 Twenty Eight

The grey, rainy day after her and Dawson's tryst to the movie theater, Layla was back in Red View, this time with Annie and Kenzie. It was early still, just an hour after the workout session, and the three of them were headed to Lillie Mae's Bridal Shop for Kenzie's wedding dress fitting.

There were still months before the wedding, so this was far from the final adjustment. Rather than fixing the size of the dress, this was about the final decision on her veil and the finishing touches to the fabric of her train.

"So, Annie," Kenzie looked up at the much taller girl with an arched eyebrow. "Layla and I are both already spoken for, which begs the questionβ€”when can we expect to see you in a wedding dress?"

Annie laughed, pale skin flushing with color. Adjusting the collar of her thin turtleneck, she shrugged. "Well, at this rate, never."

"We're young," Layla said firmly, hinting that there was no rush, especially since Annie was two years younger than her. "You most of all. I wouldn't worry just because you haven't found the one yet."

"What if I haven't even just found one?" she asked, deadpan.

Kenzie's head tilted. "Meaning what, exactly?"

"Meaning I haven't even so much as been on a date before." Somehow, her face got even redder. "And at this point, I'm beginning to think I never will."

With a brush of her hand, Kenzie waved away the embarrassment that was on their friends face. "I doubt that. I mean, Marshall and I didn't start dating until I was around your age. I used to say the same kind of stuff to Gabriela," Kenzie spoke of her Maid of Honor as Annie opened the door for her and Layla. "Who I wish would just come home already. I can't wait for you guys to meet her."

"There she is!" Lillie Mae's voice called out before either of the girls could respond. She came around the counter with open arms and a smile filled with admiration as she looked at Kenzie. "The beautiful bride-to-be."

Kenzie greeted her mother with a hugβ€”and then Lillie Mae gave Layla and Annie hugs of their own to say hello. Even on a cloudy day, Layla noted, the bridal shop was still alive with its fresh dΓ©cor and warm colors.

"Come in, come in. I've already got Kenzie's gown in the dressing room. You two can sit over there while I help her into it, if you'd like." She gestured to the sitting area in front of the large mirror.

They sat while Lillie Mae took an even chattier-than-usual Kenzie back to the fitting room.

"Do you know when Gabriela is supposed to get back to Red View?" Annie asked as they sat on the long couch.

"I'm not sure exactly, but Kenzie mentioned the other day at dinner that it should be soon. And Cliff is supposed to get here closer to the wedding." She had a vague picture in her head of the eldest McAden sibling, thanks to the photos in the hallways of their home. His coloring and features were more like Kenzie's, lighter and softer than Dawson's and Jack's. "But she did admit she's worried he won't show. I get the feeling it's happened more than once before."

"Hopefully he'll be thereβ€”You can tell how happy she is about seeing him. How long has it been? Four years?"

"That's what I heard. Honestly, I wonder how anyone could keep themselves away from here for that long."Β 

Not just because of the lush countryside or the peaceful town, but because of the people. One of which, Layla knew, she owed an apology to. And despite being around her quite a bit the past week, she still didn't know how to say it.Β 

"Um, Annie?"

Her eyebrows raised at the shift in Layla's tone. "Yeah?"

"Well... you know... the other day, when you caught me on that run and I sort of dumped all my issues on you before running off again?" Layla laughed in spite of herself, feeling slightly pathetic at the memory. "I'm sorry about that. It meant a lot that you offered to talk to me, even if I did a crappy job at making it seem that way. And it also means a lot that you didn't tell anyone what I said about Colin."

"Oh," Annie shook her head, offering a smile, "You don't have to apologize for that. I'm just glad you're okay. You've seemed a lot happier lately. And I wouldn't tell anyone about Colinβ€”but I just hope you're... you know. Thinking about it. If you really don't..." Her voice lowered to a hushed whisper, "Love him. Then I would hate to think of you going through with a marriage just for the sake of the business."

Layla smiled back, grateful for the concern and the honesty. The only other person she'd been able to talk about this with was Dawson, who didn't exactly have an unbiased view of the situation. "Trust me, I've been thinking a lot. Kenzie and Marshall assume that if I open a business here, Colin would be coming with me. But if I do that... well, the marriage would be off for sure."

"Maybe it would be the best thing for both of you," Annie said, biting her bottom lip with a cringe as soon as the words escaped her. "But I shouldn't talk about something I don't know about."

Before Layla could say anything else, there was the sound of chatter coming from the hallway Kenzie and her mother had disappeared down. They turned the corner a second later, Kenzie in front wearing a voluminous, shimmering gown. The skirt was layered with thin ruffles, flowing around her with every step, and the grin on her face was too wide not to be contagious.

"What do you think?" Kenzie asked as Lillie Mae helped her onto the pedestal.

"Beautiful," Annie breathed as Layla let out an, "It's perfect."

She meant it, too. The gown suited Kenzie to a T. Just as fun, bubbly, and gorgeous as the woman who was wearing it.

Kenzie looked at herself in the mirror with that joyful smile and a shake of her head. "I can't believe it. Every time I try it on I just like it more and more. I'm getting married."

"Marshall's gonna cry when he sees you in this," Lillie Mae said, standing on her tip-toes to kiss her daughters cheek. "I'll go grab some veils for you to try."

"Okay," Kenzie squeezed her mother's hand before she walked away, then turned to where Annie and Layla were sitting. "You really like it?"

"It's like it was made for you." Annie gestured to the dress. "I mean, everything about it."

"Exactly." Layla nodded. "I couldn't picture you in anything more fitting."

"Mom helped me pick it out. She knows her stuff, clearly." She giggled and took another look in the mirror before swirling back to them. "I actually, um... I asked her to step away for a minute. There's something I wanted to ask the two of you."

Layla blinked, shifting in her seat at the change of mood. Kenzie looked between them, laughing.Β 

"Okay, now you guys look scared. It's goodβ€”at least, I think it is. How do I start this..." Her voice shifted to a mumble, as she took a second to pause. "Well... you know Gabby is my best friend, but I didn't meet her until she started working at the bakery with my dad. I have a few friends other than her, but... no one I've ever been that close with, you know? Just colleagues, or people I know from growing up in the same town. But having the two of you here, at the orchard and everything... I love it." Kenzie shook her head, sighing with a smile. "And I'm rambling. What I'm trying to say is that I've been so happy this past month, and I was wondering if you'd do me the honor of being a part of my wedding. I was hoping the two of you would be my bridesmaids."

Layla felt herself melt into a smile, and nodded without a second thought. "Of course, yes!"

Annie laughed, face lit with joy. "Yes!"

Kenzie squealed, stepping down and rushing the two of them with a clumsy hug, even as they were still sitting. "God, I'm so happy! I was so nervous."

"Nervous?" Annie questioned as Kenzie stepped back, standing up and smoothing out her dress. "You thought we'd say no?"

"We haven't known each other very long." She shrugged, still smiling. "I thought maybe it was too soon."

"It's not," Layla assured, feeling like the room was alive with joy.

"I never thought I'd get to be a bridesmaid for anyone," Annie confessed. Kenzie awkwardly maneuvered herself to sit down on the raised platform, still looking giddy. "I mean, I've always been so shy. I've had trouble making friends so... It means a lot, Kenzie. Thank you."

"I had trouble making friends," Kenzie exclaimed, hands over her heart. "I was always the fat girl, or the loud girl, or the weird girl. Or worse, the girl with three brothers to come over after school and stare at."

Layla laughed as the sense of being home surrounded her. "I never made friends, either. Everyone was only interested in who my parents were training, or if I could get them into this party or that club. God." She shook her head, overflowing with the feeling of belonging.

Kenzie's shoulders shook. "We are three peas in a very, very pathetic pod, aren't we?"

Laughter had them all flushing red.

"My brothers will be gladβ€”especially Cliff. Every time I get him on the phone, he complains about having to walk down the aisle alone. Something about feeling like he's on display. I keep reminding him that he's not the brideβ€”I'm the one who should be nervous."

Layla knew Dawson would get it so the two of them were paired up. She pictured it in her head for a second, heart skipping at the image of him in a suit. She'd be lucky if she made it to the altar without passing out.

"They're Marshall's groomsmen?" Annie gathered.

Kenzie nodded. "His best friend Davidβ€”his business partnerβ€”is his best man, and he's walking with Gabby. I'll pair one of you with Cliff for sure, but I'll have to talk to Dawson and Jack about who has to go solo."

Layla found herself sending out a wish that it would be Dawson's arm she'd be holding onto next monthβ€”then, found herself wishing she didn't have to wish. If she could only be honest, there would be no question as to who would be walking with him.

She had friends. Ones who clearly appreciated her just as much as she did them, and yet she was lying to them every day. In spite of all the joy, the realization was a sour sting in her chest.

The picture of her life back in New York was dreary and friendless. How could she expect herself to go back to that now that she knew this feeling? The truth was, she didn't think she could. And more importantly, she didn't want to.

No, what she wanted was to tell the truth. To open up to Annie, Kenzie, and everyone else about everything.

Soon, she thought to herself, trying to push it aside for the day. She would talk with Dawson later, tell him that maybe she was finally ready to stop all the lies. But for now, she'd enjoy this moment. She'd pretend that there was nothing that could ruin it.Β 

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