Free Wedding Bell Blues by Jill Santopolo Page B

another Isaac’s tie was neon blue.
    â€œThese are so cool,” Brooke said.
    Aly thought so too. She especially liked the photo where Joan and Isaac were feeding ducks, and all of the ducks were bright yellow.
    But Isaac wasn’t paying attention to what the girls were saying. He was digging around in his camera bag. When he brought his hand out this time, he was holding a skein of ribbon and some clear tape.
    â€œOkay,” he said, “I was hoping you could cut the ribbon and attach it to the pictures, then hang the ribbons all over the salon. I’m going to run out and pick up the rose petals for the floor. Sound like a plan?”
    â€œAye, aye, Isaac,” Brooke said, saluting him.
    â€œNo problem at all,” Aly said, glad so many friends were helping them. This seemed like a pretty big project, actually. Isaac really should have asked them sooner. Aly could have at least precut the ribbon!

    While Isaac was gone, the girls cut, taped, and hung fifty-five pictures. Lily, Aly’s other best friend and the salon’s chief financial officer, had counted each one and made sure they were placed perfectly around the room.
    Charlotte was admiring a shot of Joan and Isaac standing on a mountaintop, a bright green backpack on Joan’s back. “This is so romantic,” she said with a sigh.
    Aly agreed.
    Isaac burst through the salon’s back door, holdingup bags of rose petals. “I’ve got them, girls.” He stopped in his tracks. “Wow,” he said. “This looks even better than I’d imagined it would. Joan’s going to flip!”
    He handed the petals to Aly, Sophie, and Brooke, and the three of them carefully spread handfuls on the floor. When they were finished, the girls couldn’t believe how magical the back room looked. Even Sparkly barked his approval.
    â€œOkay,” Charlotte said, “I think our work here is done. Everyone except Aly and Brooke should probably leave. But make sure to come back for your new appointments.”
    â€œAgain, we’re sorry again for canceling,” Aly added.
    â€œNo problem at all,” Annie said. “This was so much cooler than having my toes polished.”
    â€œAre you ready?” Brooke asked Isaac wheneveryone was gone. “Because I don’t think I can wait a minute more.”
    Aly felt the same way. She had never seen anyone proposed to in real life, only on TV.
    Once again, Isaac rubbed his chin. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. Let’s do this!” he said. “Can one of you ask Joan to come back here?”
    â€œI’ll do it!” both girls said at once.
    â€œWe’ll both go,” Aly said. She was trying not to feel nervous, but so much excitement bubbled up inside her.
    The sisters walked into True Colors, not paying any attention to the customers or even to their mom, who was at manicure station number one, giving Mrs. Franklin a French manicure.
    â€œJoanie!” Brooke said, running over to Joan’s regular station, number seven. “We need you in the Sparkle Spa.”
    Joan looked up from Mrs. Howard’s As Red as It Gets manicure. “Is everything okay?” she asked.
    Aly nodded. She felt like she needed to come up with an excuse so Joan wouldn’t get alarmed. “We just . . . we just . . .”
    â€œWe made a really cool design on the nail polish wall that we want to show you,” Brooke said.
    â€œWhen you’re done with Mrs. Howard,” Aly added.
    Joan smiled. “Well then, you’re in luck,” she said, “because all I have to do is three more fingers of top coat and Mrs. Howard will be ready to dry.”
    Aly watched Brooke tug her braid; it made her wish she had one to tug. She couldn’t wait to see Joan’s reaction.
    A minute or so later—which seemed like ­forever—Joan got up and walked with the girls to the Sparkle Spa. When they got to