Keeley's bridesmaid dress for Lydia's wedding arrived, and she stared at it in abject horror. Lydia's wedding colors were lavender and mint green, and the bridesmaid dresses had been custom-made to incorporate both. It was a silk nightmare.

Most of the dress was lavender—the spaghetti straps and wraparound skirt, for instance. But the awkwardly large mint-green band across the upper chest and the gigantic bow with its faux jewel were jarring.

"Lydia… how could you do this to your friends…," she groaned to herself. This was getting thrown away the moment the wedding was over.

Keeley texted Lydia that the dress had arrived and, when asked her opinion, lied that it looked great. Dealing with Jennica's antics had taught her that brides-to-be were not to be trifled with.

Speaking of Jennica, Keeley was supposed to go dress shopping with her later. Hopefully, her bridesmaid dresses wouldn't be nearly so horrible, but Keeley wasn't optimistic. The worst part was that Jennica's mother had flown in to help choose the wedding dress, meaning Keeley would have to mediate in person—a prospect she dreaded.

Midterms had exhausted her; she had neither the time nor the energy. At least there was no chance of running into Aaron at the bridal salon; not even Cameron was allowed in that hallowed ground.

The one good thing was Valentina's presence. She loved girly things like shopping and would likely be far more helpful with fashion than Keeley.

The group set out on a crisp, sunny Saturday morning, heading to an exclusive bridal salon in Keeley's old stomping grounds. Cameron insisted Jennica should feel like a princess on her wedding day and, since he was paying, she happily accepted the extravagance.

Keeley felt distinctly uncomfortable. She'd never been in this particular store, but she'd been in others on the same street, bringing back memories she'd rather forget—shopping trips with people barely concealing their disdain. She'd spent far too much time dealing with such snobs.

A salon attendant ushered them in professionally, despite noticing their cheap, casual attire, which clearly didn't match the usual clientele. "Which of you is the bride?"

"That would be me!" Jennica beamed. "These lovely ladies are my mother and two bridesmaids."

The attendant led them to a private sitting area outside a dressing room with a raised platform surrounded by mirrors.

"Can you tell me what kind of dress you're looking for?"

"Something huge and frilly," Anna Stevens interjected, without consulting her daughter.

Jennica scowled. "Mom, that's not what I want."

"You only get married once! Why not look like a princess?"

"You can look like a princess without drowning in fabric," Jennica said stubbornly. "What about mermaid gowns? I like those."

"We have a wide selection," the attendant said smoothly.

It was clear where Jennica got her stubbornness. Her mother wouldn't budge. "That style is so tacky; you couldn't pull it off."

"Alison wore one when she and Brian got married!"

"Yes, and it was tacky!"

Their squabbling alarmed Valentina, who whispered to Keeley, "Have they been like this the whole time?"

"Yeah. They might actually be the death of me."

To appease them, the attendant expertly suggested showing both styles, plus a few in between, and then asked for color preferences.

Keeley had no idea of the sheer variety of whites: stark white, ivory, alabaster, light gold, diamond white, champagne… Based on Jennica's skin tone, the attendant recommended alabaster or light gold. Her mother, ever the traditionalist, wanted stark white.

This was Keeley's cue. With her sweetest smile, she gestured for the attendant to fetch the shades she deemed best, then tackled her foe.

"Mrs. Stevens, the attendant is a professional and knows how to make your daughter look her best. You wouldn't want her to seem washed out in the wedding pictures, would you?"

Anna was horrified. "Oh no, the pictures are the most important part!"

She stopped fussing about the shade of white, and Jennica gave Keeley a grateful look. Keeley smiled smugly. She almost had this down to a science.

The attendant returned with six dresses. The first was the largest ball gown Keeley had ever seen—even bigger than her own had been. It didn't suit Jennica at all, but her mother's eyes lit up. Someone was clearly reliving their own fantasies.

Jennica was reluctantly pushed into the dressing room and needed help with the hooks.

"I've never felt so ridiculous," she said flatly, emerging.

The top half was a beaded corset, but the bottom… she was literally drowning in ruffles. The skirt had a three-foot radius, and the train was even worse.

Anna cooed and clapped. "You look gorgeous!"

"How would you even sit down?" Valentina wondered, frowning.

"Jen… can you walk?" Keeley asked.

It looked terribly uncomfortable. Keeley imagined herself tripping and falling to her death.

She attempted a few steps, but kept stepping on the hem. She blew out a frustrated breath.

"No. Absolutely not. I can't even get off the pedestal."

"But—"

"I'm not wearing it, Mom!"

Jennica stomped back into the dressing room and demanded the next dress. The attendant wisely handed her a mermaid gown.

She emerged much happier in a lace mermaid dress with a sweetheart neckline. Valentina liked it, but Anna immediately argued. Keeley sighed. They still had four more dresses to go.

(The final paragraph is removed as it is simply a repeated advertisement.)