Free One That Came Back by Lexy Timms Page A

insistence.
    “Hey,” said Emily gently, “what’s wrong? Is there something wrong with the dress?”
    “No. It’s beautiful.”
    “Then what’s the problem?”
    Angela snuffled again. “I can’t wear white.”
    “What? Of course—” 
    She stopped talking when she suddenly understood Angela’s meaning.  Her sister stared at her wide-eyed. “Well, that’s no reason not to wear white. It’s the twenty-first century, women do it all the time. All the time. That’s no reason.”
    “But this dress is, or will be, too tight.”
    Emily gave her a quizzical look. “The dress nearly fits. You just get it altered so it’s perfect. Probably ninety percent of brides have to get their dress altered. It’s not worth cry-stressing over.”
    “Oh, Emily!” The distress in her sister’s whispered voice was evident.
    Emily tried to imagine herself in the dress and wondered if she’d be crying because she shouldn’t wear white. It seemed silly.
    Rattling at the door startled both of them. “Hurry up! It’s my turn!”
    “Put a sock in it!” snapped Emily. “We’ll be out in a minute.”
    Angela dissolved into a puddle of tears, and Emily took her into her arms.
    “I think… I’m pregnant,” Angela whispered.
    Emily stared at her younger sister. Angela never confided to Emily about how intimate she and Justin were. She just assumed her and Justin were messing around. They were practically married already. Yet here Angela was, shaking like she’d done something wrong.
    Of course, in the eyes of the church premarital sex was a sin, even if it was with your fiancé. But in this day and age? Emily figured it was nervousness from the wedding, the possible embarrassment, and what their parents would say.
    “Does Justin know?”
    “No!” whispered Angela. “I’m not even sure I am. I’m a few days late and just paranoid.”
    “Come on,” said Emily. “Let’s get you out of this dress and get out of here. Today’s not the day to dress shop. This needs to be special, not nerve wracking.”
    “But, Mom—”
    “She can wait to shop for your wedding dress. She’s not the one getting married. How about during the week when it isn’t so busy? It’s too crowded here to make such an important decision today.” She turned her sister around. “Let’s ditch Mom at home and you and I are hitting the drug store.”
    She helped her sister change and left the dress hanging in the change room.
    “Mom?” Emily took the reins and guided her sister toward the door. “We’re going.”
    “ What?” Amanda Dougherty jumped up and followed the girls. “We really shouldn’t wait. Angela, sweetie, we’re on a tight schedule as it is.”
    “It’ll be fine, Mom.” 
    “I don’t know how she expects to get married in the Fall. Six months is not enough time to plan a wedding.”
    “Mom,” said Emily as she walked her mother to her car and glanced at Angela, looking lost as she headed for the car she and Emily had driven in together to meet their mom at the bridal shop. “A few days won’t make any difference. Ang’s tired. She’s had a busy week, and just needs some rest.”
    “She’s not having second thoughts, is she?”
    “Of course not, Mom. You know she usually sleeps at this time of day.”
    “I suppose.”
    Emily gave her mother a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be home for dinner later.”
    “Okay, Emily.” Her mother drew in a breath that spoke of her long suffering with her daughters.
    Emily resisted the urge to roll her eyes again. “Bye, Mom!” she said cheerily. She turned and walked quickly to Angela’s car, where her sister sat bent over, head in her hands. It was unusual to see her sister looking so distraught. She felt bad for Angela. “Start the car, sis. Go find us a drug store.” She arched her eyebrows mischievously. “Maybe there’s a Vegas wedding in your future.”
    “Vegas! Oh no, I couldn’t.” Angela gripped the steering wheel.
    “I was only kidding.” She