Chapter Twenty-Seven (1/2)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Dresses? Done.

Flowers? Finally fucking figured out.

Tuxes? Done.

Rings? Picked out and ready

Music? Done

Cake? Will be finished.

Food? All in order

Drinks? Yes.

Sweets? All ready.

And the list goes on and on to linens, venue, set up, shoes and jewelry, table settings, vows, speeches and, oh god there’s so much more to a wedding than I could have ever imagined, we almost forgot favors for our guests and a special gift for our wedding party.

I bought pearl necklaces for all the girls, including Lina and Mia though Monica would be taking care of theirs until they were old enough to have them either when they were sixteen or eighteen, I went with pearls because mine was and because I thought they were more classy than a diamond necklace which all the girls already had from valentine’s day or Christmas or an anniversary.

I’m not saying they’re not great gifts but I wanted something different, that none of them already had.

Everything was taken care of and the girls and I were going away for the weekend before the wedding on Tuesday and we would spend two nights here and then a night at the hotel near the venue.

Rochelle, Monica, Trista, Lina, Mia, Linda and I were about to have a great weekend and Monica’s parents agreed to take Miguel and Monica’s mom had baby Michael. Monica was alright being away from the kids but Rochelle; well she was a first time mom and missed her baby.

We got a suite with three rooms, the twins would share, Linda would get her own room and us four girls were going to be sharing in the room away from the other two because we knew kids needed sleep and Linda loved her sleep almost as much as she loved her kids and husband.

First thing Rochelle and Monica wanted to do was go into the hot tub and sauna since they could now so we all got into swim suits and went to the pool though Linda opted out for a book and a nap insisting we went so she could enjoy the quiet.

Monica and Rochelle were a little skeptical though, Trista was a model and Monica was okay with her new body but Rochelle was uncomfortable with her breasts being larger and her stomach still loose and stretched from being pregnant.

“I don’t know.” Rochelle covered her stomach and she eyes Trista in her bikini.

“You look great; don’t let stupid people and their stupid ideas on what you should look like get to you.” Monica told her and Trista turned to look at her.

“You look awesome Rochelle and you’re a mom and you have to accept that your body is never going to be the same and get used to your new one because you’re too beautiful to be self-conscious and cover yourself up.”

Rochelle groaned then turned to the mirror and poked her stomach.

“Hey, I got this and I’m not pregnant, I don’t have an excuse.” I pinched the fat in my stomach, it wasn’t a huge amount but I wasn’t going to starve myself to make it go away, I was comfortable in my skin. I had fat to my legs and I had a large chest and I was okay with that.

I think people just need to be happy with what they have and stop judging. Trista was so damn thin and she was willing to put in the hours at the gym to look that way where the three of us weren’t. Monica was a small girl though and as soon as she lost this baby weight she would be tiny with huge boobs and she was happy with that.

Rochelle’s hips are wider now and her breasts are larger and her stomach right now has more fat to it then she’s used to but that’s okay as long as she can be happy with it, no shame in being a new mom and new mom’s don’t need society’s added pressure after making a baby and going through labor.

“Alright, let’s go.” She said and her spirits seemed a little higher now thankfully.

We took the girls down and they knew how to swim but Monica made a strict rule that they were to stay in the shallow end and even though she was engaging in conversation with us in the hot tub she watched them like a hawk out of the corner of her eye, it was kind of scary.

“So you ready?” Monica asked me and I nodded

“Both to be his wife and for this shit to be done, planning a wedding sucks.” I groaned and Monica smiled and nodded

“It does but I’m jealous, I want another one.” She sighed

“Thinking about a divorce?” Rochelle joked and Monica splashed her with water.

“Of course not but renewing our vows for our ten year wouldn’t be a bad thing.” Monica shrugged with a smile, saw that one coming and there was nothing wrong with it though it was weird to think that Lina and Mia were nearing ten and they were thinking about their ten year anniversary when Rochelle and I were just not getting married and starting a family.

“No it wouldn’t.” I agreed

“I don’t know if Riley would go for it though.” She said sadly

“Why not?” Trista asked

“Miguel and Maria were there and I don’t think he wants to mess with those memories.” She said and the familiar pain in my chest appeared when anyone mentioned my parents but I pushed it away.

“I’m getting married without them and we have to accept that they’re not coming back and we can’t stop living our lives because they were taken from us too soon.” I told her “I’ll talk to him about it once we get through all this stuff first.” I think Monica deserves to have this.

They were young before and they deserve a wedding with real friends and after everything Riley’s put her through these years, especially with his drinking problem, renewing their vows wouldn’t be a bad idea, letting her know that he loves her and appreciates what she put up with. She’s a fantastic wife and went through enough in the last ten years to break a marriage but theirs was still strong.

“Well right now it’s Brylee’s turn and we’re going to focus on the bride.” Trista said and I smiled at her.

“It’s alright.”

“No she’s right, I’ll have my turn and Monica will get hers but right now this is all about you Brylee, after all you’ve done for us you deserve all the attention on you even more.” Rochelle leaned her head on my shoulder and Monica did the same on my other side.

“We love you.” they said in unison and I laughed at them before Trista splashed us all with water making us cough and shoot her a dirty look to which she smiled sweetly.

“Cause baby I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream.” She sang off key and we all couldn’t help but laugh, why do her songs have to be so catchy?

“Lina.” Monica yelled and then turned to face her and she stepped away from the deep end and went back to the shallow, scary.

After the pool we all showered and later that night when the kids were tucked in bed Monica and Rochelle asked to steal me away and Trista went to go spend time with Linda. I didn’t like where this was headed.

“Yes?” I asked as soon as we got outside and they looked at each other and then at me.

“We just want to make sure that you’re okay.” Monica said and I frowned at them in confusion

“I’m at a spa with my best friends and I’m getting married in two days, I’m great.” I told them and Rochelle sighed

“We haven’t got to spend much time with you since the babies have been here and we feel awful for not asking sooner but are you okay with that, you know, since they’re physically here now.” She said and I clutched my jaw in irritation.