Free Three Weddings and a Dress by Mary Martinez Page A

eyes it was a habit, one that she’d had for as long as Cecelia remembered.
    “Don’t blame me if it’s not the big deal Fanny thinks it is.”
    Skye glared at her over the rim of her pink drink. “Stalling again.”
    “Let me introduce myself.”
    “Okay, ladies, who had the walnut-pear salad…” Startled at the chorus of groans, the waitress glanced around the table. “…I’m sorry, did I interrupt?”
    “No, that’s fine. I had the walnut-pear.” Cecelia moved her drink out of the way so she could place the bowl in front of her.
    “The coast is clear. Spit it out before we’re interrupted again,” Skye demanded. Her voice came out sharp as razor blades.
    It was so hard for Cecelia not to laugh at her friend. She almost felt bad imparting the name. She knew it was going to be anticlimactic after all the stalling and interruptions.
    “Cecelia F…”
    “Your middle name is Frugal,” Joy squealed.
    Rae rolled her eyes. “Joy, Cecie’s middle name is Faith. Duh!”
    Joy’s face turned a beautiful shade of scarlet as she mumbled, “I forgot.”
    “Well?” Skye prompted.
    “Cecelia Faith Chandler.”
    Silence settled over the group. Cecelia had known they wouldn’t think it was as terrible as Fanny thought.
    “Oh…my…God…” Skye grabbed her Cosmo and chugged the rest down. “Chandler is going to shit-a-brick.”
    “Oh, Cecie, are you sure you should have done that? After all it’s like rubbing salt in his wounds.” Joy was, as always, the softhearted one.
    Shame washed over her. Maybe it had been a mean thing to do. Unfortunately, it was a done deal now. No, they didn’t understand.
    Fanny raised her brows over the rim of her drink as she sipped.
    A very ‘I told you so’ look if you asked Cecelia.
    “I admit it when you put it that way it doesn’t sound very nice. I’m beginning anew and Chandler had a big part of that. Cecelia Chandler has a nice professional ring to it. It’s a reminder I have to be true to myself. I don’t want to walk all over others to do it, but I want to always remember how I almost let myself be railroaded into an unwanted marriage because of money and the good of the firm.”
    “I doubt Chandler will appreciate the reminder,” Fanny commented with an even dryer tone if possible.
    “You’ve known for years you’d have to marry Chandler to keep your inheritance, why the change now? It’s not because of Chandler. I know you told us about your father and how he’ll never be the way you dreamed of when you were young. Again, you’ve known that for awhile, or maybe didn’t admit to yourself. What was the catalyst that brought you to your senses?” Rae shrugged as if to convey her bewilderment.
    “Bella.” Each of her friends gave her a startled look. “Yes, I’m referring to my wedding dress. The beautiful gown I’ll never wear.”
    “It’s a dress for God’s sake, how can it be the reason you’re making a major life change?” Skye asked.
    “If I told you all the reason’s you’d cart me off to the loony bin. However, I think you’ll all understand this reason. When I stood in front of the mirror at Heidi’s, I’ve never been so angry in my life.”
    “What?” Rae exclaimed.
    Cecelia could understand. It took her a few days to come to the answer herself.
    “What’s the happiest moment supposed to be in every girl’s life?” She took a sip of her drink, then without waiting for their answer continued. “Her wedding. There I stood with Bella hugging me as if Heidi had made her for me. And all I could think of was that the dress symbolized the worst day of my life. She’s—yes I feel as if Bella has a personality all her own—has been with me ever since. I knew in that minute my dream wouldn’t come true of my father ever looking at me with love and approval. I swear the dress hanging in my room was a constant reminder of the huge mistake I was about to make, it’s what finally brought me to my senses. I couldn’t marry