I'm Not Going Anywhere (Book 4 of "Light For You" Series) COMPLETED!

Chapter Six (Dress Hopping Part 2)

Lynn's POV

We are all spaced out on those long, rounded, white couches like you see on Say Yes To The Dress. Just playing the waiting game. A trembling and shaking Susanna is now trying on wedding dresses. All the other girls are chattering among themselves, but right now I feel like I'm a lifetime away.

I think back to when I first moved to Smith Falls, Kentucky, the place where Susanna was born and raised. It was the summer before sixth grade and at first there were no kids around, although I soon found out school was still in session there. Then sixth grade came and I made lots of friends. That was when Susanna and I had first met and our friendship had first started with our first blossom. The crazy, hilarious adventure called best friendship had only begun.

The years had come and gone, some rocky and silent between the two of us, while others where much better. Whether it was a valley or a mountain we had to cross, it always made us stronger. No matter what happened though, it was like God wouldn't let our friendship stray too far or shatter like glass. He had a purpose. Always has and always will. We've been there for each other in times when no one else was, but God of course. Our faith journeys were made side by side as well, growing and faltering and learning along the way together. We are simply best friends, sisters in Christ, sisters at heart, and before too long we will be sisters-in-law.

Susanna takes a few wobbly steps out of the nearest dressing room. I can see through the smile on her face that this dress isn't at all her. She just tried it on because one of the others asked her too. She wouldn't hurt their feelings for anything in the world, but I can see the truth. She steps up on the pedestal and looks in the three mirrors lined up next to each other. Susanna eyes the strapless number wearily. "Uh uh." She shakes her head and retreats into the dressing room, the attendant tripping to keep up with her.

"I thought it looked nice." Brycie says, politely.

"She wasn't comfortable in it." I hear the words, and only realize they are mine when the others give me a questioning glance. I shrug, murmuring, "I just know her. Strapless never has been her thing."

Kelsey Grimm and Fallon Graham stand and push through different dresses on hangers, sighing and smiling as they do. Brycie Powell's eyes grow wide as she spots bridesmaid dresses and rushes over, ideas gleaming in her eyes.

So all that leaves here on the couch is Kelsey Kupecky and I. To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure when her and Susanna became friends. But I have discovered the two are fairly close friends now. I do know however, that she has been Susanna's role model for years. She must have left her baby with either her husband, Kyle or her mom, the famous Christian author, Karen Kingsbury.

Kelsey breaks the silence, with her quiet and gentle tone. "Your awfully quiet, Lynn. Everything okay?"

I seem to come back to earth again with a jolt. "Yes. Sorry, I just drifted away for a little bit."

"It's okay. It's an emotional time. And a very amazing thing that you and your best friend are engaged at the same time. And to brothers no less." She laughs, and I feel my jaw slack.

"How did you...." I'm shocked. We had kind of been keeping it a secret or at least on the down low. After all it had just been the four of us there. Obviously, Donald and I, and Susanna and Joey were filming and video taping it.

"I saw you staring at your ring a couple of times." Kelsey K. grins at me. "And Susanna was singing something about 'we are marrying brothers', when we were at the coffee shop together the other day."

"Speaking of." Kelsey and I both jump in our seats. Apparently neither of us, or the others for that matter, noticed that Susanna was back out in another dress again. She's giving me that look. Oh boy.... She rest a hand on her bead covered hip and says, "Why don't you get your tush in here and try on some too. I'm not going to go through this torture alone if I don't have too." Even though her tone may sound tough and serious, the smile on her face and the twinkle in her eyes betrays it.

"Go!" Kelsey K. nods reassuringly, pumping her arms up and down and laughing. Susanna sort of waddle-/wades through the room to the dress rack, fighting the very large and very poofy dress she is now in the whole way.

"I'll pick up something you don't like. At least for my maid of honor dress." Susanna threatens eyeing the pink dresses, a determined look in her eye. And she probably would. We both know how much I dislike that color.

Jumping to my feet, I protest laughing, "Not if I can help it." Before I know it I'm covered in wedding dresses too, and Susanna is slipping back into her dressing room, snickering the whole way. Hope your happy now, sis.

I now have my own dressing room and an attendant to help me with the resisting dresses. She's a short woman with olive skin and a pixie cut to her black as night hair. I notice her name tag says, "Beverley". "Thanks for your help." I murmur nervously as she asks me questions about what I have in mind. Beverly sneaks out and comes back with several options exactly fitting my thoughts and imaginings. I can't help but smile. This must be what Susanna is feeling. Nervous because of the unknown. Excited to be marrying her love. And so many other emotions that I can't even find the words to describe that are bumping around inside me like a pin ball machine.

"You look beautiful." Beverly says, in a clipped accent that I can't quite put my finger on. I smile, blushing as I step into the showing room where everyone is waiting. Susanna is sitting in the middle of the couch, wearing her jeans, cowgirl boots, and a leopard print dress shirt that reminds me of an adult sized version of her kindergarten yearbook photo. She must have found her dress.

I don't really see any of them as I step up on the pedestal, I barely even see anything but my reflection. The thought hits me. Finding "the dress" isn't anywhere near as important as finding the man that God planned for me to spend the rest of my life with. After all the dress is just this piece of fabric that I will wear for part of one day, and then boom it's done. I'll be with the man I exchange "I do" with till death do us part. I picture Donald's face, and smile. That doesn't sound too bad.

I turn. Susanna is smiling with a thumbs up and a cheery smile on her face. Only I notice the teary look in her eyes. In that way we always have someone been able to do, we are practically reading each other's minds. She gives a nod. Well we always day dreamed and talked about marrying brothers one day. I don't know if either of us actually ever pictured it really happening.

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Author's Note:

Yay! I finally was able to get another chapter out. That felt like a long time coming. I had been having some serious writer's block and just wasn't feeling it.

Let me know your thoughts on this chapter and the story so far. Very soon y'all are going to have an attempt to vote and help out with the wedding! How awesome does that sound?