Out of Time (11 page)

“Can we talk about something else? Something
happy? Money is a tiresome subject.” Mandy said, stifling a fake
yawn.

“Like the wedding?” Sasha asked, cracking a
smile.

“Yea, that’ll work.” Mandy said, smiling
back. She took a sip of her drink.

“Hey, do you want to go dress shopping with
me tomorrow? I know you don’t have much time here and I don’t know
when you’ll be able to come back and visit.” Sasha asked.

“That would be awesome!” Mandy said, nearly
choking on the beverage.

“I already have an idea of who I want to make
the cake. Très Fab. Their cakes are absolutely delicious and always
beautiful. Maybe I can schedule a tasting?” Sasha said, licking her
lips at the thought of such a delicious dessert. It probably wasn’t
a good idea to think about food while hungry and waiting for dinner
to arrive.

“What about the flowers?” Mandy wondered.

“I haven’t decided on that yet. I don’t want
some place that uses an online vendor like FTD.” Sasha said. She
looked over a Simon who was taking his old sweet time on his iced
tea. It was probably too strong for him.

“Why not?” Mandy asked. “Won’t they still
look the same?”

“I’m concerned about the freshness factor.”
Sasha explained. “If they go through a company like that, do they
also bump up the prices?”

“I see your point.” Mandy mentioned with a
nod.

“I’m going to have a money-conscious wedding.
I don’t want to splurge on stuff.” Sasha told her. Relying on one
income for the immediate future put a damper on big wedding plans,
and they had just committed to a larger apartment together.

“Don’t I deserve it though?” Simon snickered
sarcastically, crinkling his nose at the taste of his drink.

“I thought men didn’t care about that.” Sasha
giggled, giving Simon a playful shove.

“Yea, I just wanted to see what you’d say.”
Simon said. “Boy this drink is strong.”

“Tease.” Sasha said. “I kind of figured as
much from the speed you’ve taken to drink it.”

“Probably wasn’t the best idea. I wondered
what it would taste like. Mandy’s mom likes them.” Simon said. He
couldn’t get used to calling her Sasha’s mom either.

“Hey, here’s the food!” Mandy said excitedly.
James came over with a tray laden with steaming food, apart from
Sasha’s salad.

“Spinach salad.” James said as he handed each
plate over one by one. “Roasted chicken with mashed potatoes and
beans. Grilled pork with beans and potato soup.” He put the tray
down to his side and shifted his feet. “Is there anything else I
can get you?”

“I think we’re fine. Thanks.” Simon told the
waiter who dismissed himself. Simon looked down at the plate. There
was some kind of sauce that was covering the pork and spreading
down into the beans which were glistening. The soup smelled lovely
and seemed to be the perfect temperature. “It looks great.”

“Oh my gosh, it tastes great!” Mandy said
through a bite of roasted chicken. “How is yours Sasha?”

Sasha picked through her salad. “I don’t know
about the cheese with the dressing. I should have gone with a
vinaigrette I think.”

“I’m sorry.” Mandy consoled her and offered
her some of her chicken which she refused.

“I can ask for an exchange.” Simon offered.
Sasha dismissed him.

“No, it’s all right. I’ll eat it.” Sasha
said, spearing some greens with her fork.

“I can’t wait for tomorrow now.” Mandy said,
stopping to pull out her cell phone and punch in the details on her
calendar for the next day.

“It’s going to be fun. You should try on
dresses too. You won’t object to being my maid of honor?” Sasha
asked and Mandy shook her head violently.

“Oh hell no!” Mandy exclaimed, putting her
phone away.

“I’ll get your — our parents — fitted for
stuff after you leave.” Sasha said, although the back of her mind
thought,
Even though they adopted me, I don’t think I’ll ever
get used to calling them Mom and Dad. Helen and Bill is so much
more comfortable.

“Do you want Mom to come tomorrow, though?”
Mandy wondered. It
was
customary for the mother of the bride
to join in with the dress shopping.

“I think she should.” Sasha murmured.

“Cool. I can’t wait. Your wedding is going to
be insane. I just know it! Even if you want to be frugal, you’ll
still pull it off.” Mandy said. They resumed eating their dinner,
chatting all the while about their lives and how things had changed
since high school. Sasha had met new friends in college, but the
bonds weren’t there since she didn’t remember them. Mandy was
really all she knew other than Simon and Kendra. Kendra was off in
California for college. She was taking some fashion design classes
while doing modeling work.

Sasha wondered how long she would remain in
this timeline. Would she have the pleasure of meeting Simon at the
end of the aisle? She wanted to experience it so bad.

“Almost ready?” the voice of Helen Kline
soared over the changing room door.

“She just needs to zip it up.” Mandy called
back. Sasha was trying on dresses in the fitting room at the bridal
salon. The staff at this particular shop was limited, so Mandy
volunteered to be the assistant for her.

“It’s not tight enough. Where are those
clips?” Sasha asked. She was in a floor-length gown and was looking
around for clips to fasten her gown. “Over there.” She pointed to a
little basket above their heads.

“Clipping is so much easier.” Mandy said,
stretching up to grab a few. She mushed some fabric from the back
of the dress together and stuck a clip on either side.

“Okay, we’re coming out!” Sasha called again.
They opened the fitting room door and faced Mandy’s mom Helen. She
just stared open mouthed at her two daughters.

“Are you going to say anything Mom?” Mandy
asked nervously.

“I’m just...in awe. You both look absolutely
beautiful.” Helen said, on the verge of tears. Mandy wanted to
laugh because she wasn’t even in a dress yet. Of course, her mom
didn’t want to make her feel less pretty, so she said both. Mandy
would get her turn soon enough.

“Let me see how it looks.” Sasha said,
looking down at her white gown. She wanted to see the back of it
and the train and there wasn’t any way to see the embroidered hem
at present.

“There’s a pedestal over here.” one of the
store employees said.

Sasha walked over to the pedestal and stood
on it while Mandy bent down and smoothed out the train for her.
“Wow. This is a beautiful dress.”

“Isn’t it?” Mandy asked, rhetorically. “I
told you to try it on and you said you didn’t think it would look
good on you.”

“I guess it looks different on the hanger.”
Sasha breathed out. Mandy looked her over. Sasha didn’t seem overly
enthusiastic over it and they’d tried on several so far.

“Do you think it’s the one?” Mandy
wondered.

“Hmm.” Sasha paused in thought. “Do you think
there is too much beading up top? Maybe I should have something
less decorated.”

“I’d like to see something less fitted.”
Helen commented. Of course, that was just motherly
conservativeness.

“I’d be open to that.” Sasha agreed, although
it was to appease Helen. She didn’t want to hurt her feelings by
not trying on something she suggested.

“You should show off your curves!” Mandy
exclaimed and Sasha giggled. Sasha wasn’t really too curvy. She had
been working out with Simon to keep fit. She did have a perfect
body for modeling, but it wasn’t her thing.

“You can with a nice corseted bodice.” Sasha
said. The store assistant offered to provide more samples to them
with both options.

“Sasha, you know how important this day means
to me. I’d be happy with whatever you decide.” Helen smiled as she
spoke, and bent down to grab a tissue out of her purse to blot any
tears that were sure to be incoming.

“I know, and it’s the tenth dress I’ve tried
on. It just seems surreal.” Sasha mentioned, and she wasn’t just
talking about the experience of trying on dresses. She was mentally
a seventeen-year-old. Mandy just explained she hadn’t been engaged
long, so perhaps that was why. “Mandy, do you want to try on
dresses now? You won’t have another chance to.”

“It’s your time now.” Mandy beamed.

“I know.” Sasha said, a little disheartened.
Shopping was fun. She wanted to milk the opportunity for all it was
worth. “I want you to enjoy your own experiences too.”

“Okay.” Mandy relented. “Have you decided on
wedding colors?”

Sasha giggled and gave her “sister” a hug. “I
like blue.”

“Of course you do. Blue is your favorite
color. You should go with that. Simon likes blue too.” Mandy said
playfully. They walked over to the bridesmaid section and Sasha
looked through the racks. Mandy wanted her to ultimately make the
choice.

“I don’t want to be predictable.” Sasha said,
shuffling through the racks and stopping at a couple unconventional
pieces. “Maybe blue and black?”

“Sounds like a winner. But, you know blue
isn’t predictable. It’s pretty. At least, if you get the right
shade.” Mandy said, and Sasha nodded.

Shortly after making a mental note to get
some samples for Mandy, Sasha was greeting by the store assistant
who was laden with a variety of different bridal dresses. “Here are
a few more.” the woman said.

“Thanks. Let me switch into...” Sasha
started, and thumbed through the dresses, seeing if anything stood
out to her. “This one.”

“I’ll help.” Mandy said, following Sasha into
a changing room. At least it was designed to be large enough to fit
two people.

Many of the dresses in the showroom,
especially with trains, were quite heavy. Sasha’s latest obsession
was following
My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding
and Mandy was glad
Sasha wasn’t one, just for the fact they’d have to deal with a
dress that would be well over twenty pounds. Mandy did adore their
moral compass and wished more girls growing up followed the
same.

“I bet Mom would like a dress too.” Mandy
said softly.

“We can do that if you want.” Sasha said as
Mandy began to work with one of the dresses, trying to find the top
and bottom through mounds of tulle.

“Since I’m going to be leaving soon. I’d like
to see her try stuff on.” Mandy replied, lifting the heavy garment
up. “Put this over your head.”

“Man, I didn’t realize how heavy this was.”
Sasha said, surprised. She could feel the weight of it pressing
down on her hips. She couldn’t imagine wearing it for an extended
period of time.

“I think it’s the train.” Mandy said. “It’s
hefty.”

“Okay.” Sasha said, dismissive. “Let’s put
the other one on.”

“Right-o.” Mandy told her, helping her lift
the dress up. The next dress wasn’t as voluminous and Sasha was
able to walk into it once Mandy orientated the material so she
would be touching floor and not fabric.

“Oh this is much more comfortable.” Sasha
breathed out a sigh of relief as she lifted the top of the dress
over her chest. “I like how it feels.” She wanted to twirl around,
but there wasn’t room for it.

“Ooo.” Mandy said gawking. She looked over
the dress Sasha was wearing. It was a beautiful silk gown in a
trumpet shape. It didn’t have anything too terribly blingy, but it
came with a beautiful jeweled belt that set it off. It also donned
a sweetheart-cut neckline that ruched along her waist. “I like it
better than all the others you’ve tried on so far.”

“Really?” Sasha wondered.

“Hell ya.” Mandy stated.

“Well?” Helen called from the other side of
the door. They had taken longer than normal to try on one dress.
Helen wondered what could be hindering them from showing her.

“Coming...” Sasha muttered, just loud enough
for Helen to hear. Mandy took hold of the changing room door and
opened it, standing on the side as Sasha walked out.

“I love this one.” Sasha said, almost
excitedly.

“I do too.” Helen mumbled as her eyes welled
up in happiness. She dabbed at them with the tissue she had
brilliantly on-hand.

“Let me see what it looks like.” Sasha said,
walking over to the pedestal and mirror. She was taken aback by
herself. She had a
waist
and she looked amazing. Memories of
when she looked in the mirror at her older self flooded back. She
thought about having Simon’s baby and the happiness she would have
being with him and enjoying life together. She envisioned his
expression, seeing her walk down the aisle for the first time. Her
eyes started to well up. “Oh wow.” she said, and then in-between
sniffles, “Yea. This is the one. I just wish...my mom was here...”
The latter sentence was barely audible, not loud enough for Helen
to hear. Sasha’s words might have offended her, but Helen knew how
close Sasha had been to her birth mother. The feelings were
normal.