Beyond Promise (19 page)

I hung up my goose down jacket and stripped
out of my leggings and top, tossing them on the seat.

I decided to start with the zipper suit. I
pulled up the bottoms and glanced in the mirror. I looked like I
was exploding marshmallow out on all sides with my white underwear
gushing out. I didn’t have a good feeling about the rest of the
day. I quickly slid out of my bra and slipped into the top, zipping
it up before shoving my white underwear underneath the black
bottoms so I could somewhat visualize how this should look. Pushing
in the last piece of fabric by my thigh, I looked in the mirror and
turned around.

It wasn’t that bad. In fact, it was kind of
cute. A piece of underwear fell out under my butt, and I tucked it
back in. This wasn’t a definite no, but it wasn’t a definite yes
either.

I unzipped the top and pulled off the
bottoms and put them back on the tiny hanger. I looked between the
pale pink suit and the red one, deciding which one to try on
next.

“How’s it going?” I hollered to Brandy.

“Great.”

“Great,” I mimicked back in a snotty tone,
and she snickered.

I pulled on the pink suit and didn’t even
need to bother with the top. This was a definite no. The triangle
portion of the suit turned into a deformed hexagon as my thighs ate
the fabric and my belly guided the way.

I exhaled dramatically. And reached for the
red suit. Did I really want to call this much attention to
myself?

To be different, I started with the top and
tied the string around my neck and fastened the clasp around my
back.

I glanced in the mirror and chuckled at the
reflection of myself in a sultry red bikini top and a white pair of
granny panties that were beyond loose. I wasn’t quite busting out
of the top. There would be a point in the future that would happen,
but I doubted it would be while we were in Bermuda. I turned to the
side, blocking out my white underwear, and bounced. Somehow, things
were staying in place.

I pulled the red bottoms off the hanger and
slid them up my legs. The bottoms offered so much coverage I barely
had to stuff my underwear underneath the bikini bottoms. It was a
sign.

“Found it,” I exclaimed.

Brandy’s door slammed shut, and her voice
was right outside my door. “Which one?”

“The red one.”

“Can I see?”

I opened the door slowly and peeked around
the hall. Seeing no one but Brandy, I opened the door all the
way.

Brandy’s mouth dropped open. “Wow. You’re a
stunner.”

I twirled around once and then quickly shut
the door on her.

I changed out of the red suit and tugged my
leggings back on and pulled my top over my head. That’s all it took
and a meltdown commenced. It suddenly felt like I’d been thrown in
a sauna. I stared at the goose down jacket and didn’t even want to
touch the thing. The heat was internal. It was rolling out of my
skin. I glanced in the mirror and saw the tiny beads of sweat
dotting my hairline.

“Crap.”

“What’s up?” Brandy asked, as I swung open
the door. “Oooh.”

“Can you hold my jacket? I think if I even
touched the goose down I would literally melt.”

“Totally.”

I handed Brandy my jacket and picked up my
purse and the bag containing the necklace. All I wanted was to get
outside and let the cold air wrap around every crevice. But I had a
cashier and an escalator in my way.

“Mission accomplished,” Brandy said
gleefully, making our way to the cashier.

I paid for my item and glanced at the
receipt. It was almost time to meet up with Aaron and everyone for
dinner. It was our last group dinner before we headed off to
Bermuda. We were going to go out a couple days before everyone
else.

“Who knew bathing suit shopping was such a
time sink? Looks like I’ll be getting my answers before we know
it.”

Brandy stiffened and nodded. She handed the
cashier her debit card and waited to push in her pin.

She looked over at me as she waited for the
receipt to print and let out a big breath. “I just don’t want
anything to take away from your big day.”

“It won’t. Promise.”

Brandy grabbed the receipt and her bag, and
we began our trek to the outside world where I’d hopefully be able
to cool off before we met everyone for dinner.

“You know how sometimes you think you want
to know something and then you find out what that something was and
you almost wished you didn’t know?” She asked.

“Yeah.”

“Well, I only hope that’s not what’s about
to happen here.”

Brandy and I stood in the lobby of the
Italian restaurant in downtown Seattle. The rustic décor and dim
lighting created the perfect place to defrost. The moment we’d hit
the sidewalk outside Nordstrom, I instantly cooled off. It felt
like an Arctic blast was barreling through Seattle, but it was too
early for that.

We walked over to the oversized stone
fireplace and warmed up as the hostess grabbed ten menus for our
large group.

“It’s freezing out there,” the hostess said.
“I almost froze to death walking from the bus stop.”

“It’s brutal outside,” I agreed. The hostess
gestured for us to follow her behind two red velvet curtains that
were pulled back. Two tables had been pushed together to seat all
ten of us.

“And to think you’re ditching me for Bermuda
early,” Brandy pouted, pretending to scowl.

“Bermuda?” the hostess asked. “That sounds
amazing.”

“I’m pretty excited,” I confessed, taking a
seat in the middle of the long table.

“She’s getting married there,” Brandy
informed her.

“Wow. That’s going to be so cool. I’ve never
been anywhere tropical. Maybe after college.” She grinned.

“It does seem like a lot of fun happens once
a person graduates,” I promised her.

“I’m hoping so. Your server will be over in
a moment, and I’ll bring your other guests back. Is there anything
I can start you with?”

“A decaf tea would be great. Thanks.” I
glanced around the room that overlooked the bustling sidewalk.
There were two sections in this restaurant, and I’d hoped we’d get
this one facing the street. The other room was a little more
private, but it felt like a cave sometimes, and after my earlier
meltdown, I didn’t want to feel stuffy or overheat in front of my
potential in-laws.

I placed the bag containing the present by
my feet so I didn’t accidentally blurt out something to Ayden’s
mom. That was a nasty habit of mine. I’d get so excited about the
gift that I’d want to share it immediately, which was why I
procrastinated when it came time to shop for birthdays and
Christmas.

“Doesn’t it smell amazing?” Brandy sniffed
in and shut her eyes.

I wasn’t sure which of us was actually
expecting by the look of ecstasy on her face.

“It does. It’s always good to go to eat
plates of pasta before a beach vacation.”

She opened her eyes. “At least you have an
excuse.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking
about.”

My phone buzzed and I slid it out of my
purse. It was a text from Ayden.

“Ayden’s gonna be late. He’s trying to
finish something up at the office. Having so much time off for his
shenanigans really made things pile up, and now we’re headed out of
town.”

“I hadn’t even thought about that,” Brandy
said, opening up the menu. “Should we do the family style
option?”

“I think so. How about I put you in charge
of that?”

“My kind of project.”

The hostess led Ayden’s mom and dad through
the restaurant, and I hopped out of my chair to give them each a
hug

“You look amazing,” his mom said, taking my
hand in hers. “This wedding thing really suits you.”

“I can’t stop dreaming about it,” I
confessed. “But your daughter pulled me into the swimsuit
department at Nordies today, and that almost blew me out of the
water.”

“I’m sure you looked fabulous. I’m the one
who should be worried being surrounded by you young ladies on a
beach all week.”

She took a seat across from Brandy and
glanced across the table at my drink and smiled.

“Where’s Ayden?” his mom questioned.

“He’s going to be late. He’s trying to
finish up at the office.”

“I’m sure his mishap put him behind.” She
frowned and slipped her napkin in her lap as Jason, Katie, and
Gabby walked to the table.

“It is like Antarctica out there.” Gabby
shivered. “Can we come with you tomorrow?”

“Go for it.” I smiled and noticed Brandy
hadn’t stopped staring at the menu as she tried to pick items to
complete our family dinner.

“Is it that tough?” I asked her, ribbing her
arm.

“It is. I can’t decide between eggplant or
chicken parm.”

“With the men we have at the table, my gut
says chicken.”

She folded her menu up and placed it next to
her plate. “Then chicken it is.”

Gabby folded her arms around Brandy and then
myself before taking a seat next to Brandy’s mom and dad. Jason
plunked Katie in between Gabby and himself. They all ordered their
drinks, and Brandy placed the long order for us all.

Aaron and Mason strode in, and Mason slid a
gentle kiss across Brandy’s cheek, and she grabbed his hand and
squeezed it.

“Where’s Ayden?” Mason asked, taking a seat
next to Jason.

“He’s going to be late. He’s at work.”

“Ahh.”

The server delivered bread and took drink
orders from the latest arrivals as Brandy began detailing our
swimsuit expedition.

“Do you think it’s fair to expect us to step
into a swimsuit in the middle of winter?” Gabby reasoned. “I’m as
pale as a ghost, and I’ve even been indulging in the products I
sell.”

“It would be unfair for some of us, if you
didn’t,” Jason laughed.

Gabby beamed and pulled some crayons and a
coloring book out from her purse and placed them in front of Katie,
who immediately began coloring.

“I was thinking of saving this until we
arrived in Bermuda, but with my luck I wouldn’t be allowed to pack
it on the plane or they’d lose my luggage,” Ayden’s mom said, and
we all turned to see her tugging two small boxes out of her purse.
“I’d wait for my son to arrive, but I think I’d lose it if he were
here so it’s best to do it without him, especially since we’re in
public.”

She slipped the small boxes toward Brandy
and I. Brandy nervously glanced at me and then at her mom as she
took the ivory box from her mother’s hand. I took the lightweight
box, and my pulse accelerated as all eyes were on us.

“My great-grandmother had two daughters, and
she gave each of them a locket necklace. My mother and her sister
wore them until their passing.” Brandy’s mom glanced at the table
and her eyes met mine. “You’re already like a daughter to us, Lily.
I’ve always been so proud of Brandy’s impeccable taste in friends.
And Gabby that goes for you too.”

“Thank you,” Gabby said, wrapping her arm
around Katie.

“But when my son told me he wanted to marry
you, I couldn’t have been happier to know you’d soon officially be
family, and I knew I wanted you to have the other locket. Okay,
enough of my speech. Open it up, both of you. I thought when it
came time to wear the something old, this would qualify.” She
smiled and her eyes went to her daughter as she opened the box
first.

Brandy removed the lid to reveal a beautiful
silver locket with a round stone in the middle of filigree.

“Go ahead,” Brandy’s mom prompted. “Open
yours too.”

“It’s beautiful,” Brandy replied, picking up
the long chain.

My hands were shaking as I lifted the lid
and saw the matching necklace. While the locket itself was around
an inch long, the actual locket was very delicate. I couldn’t
believe Ayden’s mom was willing to give me something of such great
sentimental value. It meant so much to me. I lifted the tiny chain
from the box and examined the locket closely.

“I’m in shock,” I whispered. “This is too
kind of you. I can’t accept this.”

“I’d be heartbroken if you didn’t.” His
mom’s smile was genuine as her eyes stayed on mine. “You’re part of
our family, Lily. You always will be. You took such good care of
our knucklehead son, and for that, we’re forever grateful.”

Brandy unclasped the chain, and Aaron helped
to fasten it around her neck. It looked lovely the way the locket
laid against her chest. Brandy motioned for me to turn, and I
complied as Brandy fastened the necklace around my neck too. My
palm pressed against the locket, and I swore I felt a comforting
energy surround me.

“Thank you so much. I’ll treasure it
forever.” And maybe if I have a daughter she’ll get to wear it
someday.

“Thank you,” I said again. Brandy hugged me
and placed her head on my shoulder.