Free Just to See You Smile by Sally John Page B

with a row of tiny red pearlescent buttons.
    â€œGina, is this your first or last choice?”
    â€œIt’s my favorite. Simple, no frills, no fancy-schmantzy.”
    Britte closed her eyes. “Thank you.”
    Gina laughed. “Oh, Britte, you know I’d rather be in a sweatshirt and jeans myself! This is as frilly as I can get.”
    Barb, peering over her daughter’s shoulder, sighed. “It’s gorgeous, isn’t it? And no skin showing!” She nudged Britte. “You’ll look beautiful.”
    Britte handed back the magazine. “Well, I know the seamstress can make that dress look at least as beautiful as it is in the picture.”
    â€œThanks, honey.”
    â€œGina, when do we get to see yours? I cannot imagine choosing a wedding gown. Do they make wedding warm-up suits? Not that I have any reason whatsoever to be concerned about such things.”
    Her mother tapped her shoulder. “Hold still.”
    Gina sat again on the bed. “I found one in Rockville, but now Mother’s back in Los Angeles and having second thoughts about my choice.”
    Barb said, “Since she’s in the business of women’s apparel, I imagine she has quite a number of resources.”
    â€œWay too many.” Gina grinned. “But she has her own dress to choose, and she can be as frilly as she wants on that one. She’ll tire of trying to find a simple, uncreative one for me. Barb, who was it we wanted to ask Britte about?”
    â€œOh, Ethan Parkhurst. Brady wonders if you’d like to invite him to the wedding.”
    â€œSure.” The English teacher was often included in family gatherings. Brady sometimes lectured in his classes. “Is there space?”
    Barb and Gina chuckled. Her mother said, “Between Brady and Cal, the list is growing. They seem to be getting into the spirit of a celebration. And how about your principal?”
    â€œMr. Kingsley? Why on earth—”
    â€œBasketball and Bible study. Hold still.”
    â€œWell, then, he’s Brady’s friend. He doesn’t need to ask me.”
    â€œAll done.” She rolled up the tape measure. “Why don’t you stay a bit and help address wedding invitations?”
    Groaning, Britte pulled on her sweatshirt. “Oh, man! I thought I only had to do this dress stuff!”
    Gina said, “You don’t have to—”
    â€œI’m just kidding. Sort of.” She really did have other things to do, other things she’d like to do.
    â€œWe can watch the game.”
    Britte returned her smile. “Now that makes it more palatable.”
    Her mother said, “You two are so much alike, it’s funny. And your interests don’t even resemble your mothers’.” Shejoined Gina on the bed. “You know, I was always jealous of your mom in high school.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œMom, I didn’t know that!”
    Britte and Gina laughed at Barb’s teen confessions. The afternoon was another good memory to store in the bedroom. Her mom’s stories. Gina, her soon-to-be sister-in-law, participating like a family member. Herself, at the beginning of a winning season. And the feared dress, not too fancyschmantzy after all. The wedding—well, that felt uncomfortable. It was supposed to have been a small, close-knit affair. Ethan fit, but Mr. Kingsley? Next thing she knew, her brother would be inviting the General for Christmas dinner.

    â€œClose one, Miss O.”
    Britte looked up from her seat on the bottom row of the bleachers. Mr. Kingsley stood not far away, just inside the open gym doors. “You’re telling me,” she said.
    The game had ended some time ago. She had struggled through her postgame talk with the girls in the locker room... Accepted the undeserving kudos from parents with all the grace she could muster… Noted from a distance Brady’s assessment, a subtle rocking motion of his hand rather