Never Is A Long Time - BSB Fanfiction

Chapter 3

After letting the horses out in the pasture, Kerynn hung the saddles in the tack barn. She walked up the hill to her house while humming to herself. She removed her boots and entered the kitchen. As she sat at the counter with a fresh cup of tea, she ran her hands through her hair and closed her eyes. As soon as she did so, a pair of chocolate brown eyes flashed before her. She thought about the butterflies that had fluttered about in her stomach when she touched Howie on the arm earlier. The surfacing of these emotions confused Kerynn. The only other person that had made her feel that way was Bart. If Bart was the love of her life, then why was she finding herself thinking about Howie? Nothing she told herself could make her feel any better about the situation. She was attracted to Howie. It was plain and simple and oh-so-complicated all at once. Kerynn stood from her chair and dumped her tea down the sink.

The phone rang, making her jump in surprise. "Hello?" She answered.

"Hey girl! How are you? I haven't heard from you in a while."

Kerynn smiled. "Hey Liz. I'm good. How are the wedding plans coming? Are we still on for dress shopping this afternoon?"

"Yes...are you sure you're okay? You sound a little...distracted."

Kerynn laughed. Leave it to her best friend to know her too well. "No, I'm fine. I just got back from lunch with Daddy. Give me an hour to shower and change and I'll pick you up at your place."

"Okay. I'll be ready when you get here." Liz said good bye and hung up, not completely convinced that Kerynn was telling the truth.

Kerynn rang Liz's doorbell an hour later, as promised.

~*~

"You seem a little preoccupied today." Liz observed from the passenger seat of Kerynn's truck. A pair of deep brown eyes flashed into Kerynn's mind and she quickly pushed the thought away. She shook her head. "Yes, today is Mom's birthday." She replied.

"Oh Kerynn, I'm sorry, I should have known. We can go shopping another day if you want to." Liz said putting her hand on Kerynn's arm. Liz had been Kerynn's best friend since high school. She knew how hard Kathryn's death had been on her. Even though she had been dead for six years, the events of the past year had seemed to make Kerynn miss her mother more.

"Nonsense." Kerynn smiled sadly. "We are going to find you a wedding dress today." She pulled her truck up to the bridal centre and shut it off. "Let's go find a dress that will have that man of yours fainting at the altar!" Liz laughed as they walked across the parking lot. "I don't think I want him fainting at the church!" Kerynn put her arm around Liz's waist and sighed. "Okay, how about some lingerie that will have him fainting in the bedroom?"

"Kerynn, the last thing I want him to do in the bedroom is faint, especially on our wedding night!" Kerynn giggled. "Alright then, next stop - Frederick's of Hollywood!"

**

Liz has been trying on dresses all afternoon with no luck. Kerynn was beginning to become quite bored and started to slouch in the uncomfortable chair she was seated in. Liz was becoming a little discouraged. "Oh Kerynn, I'll never find the right dress." Kerynn straightened in her chair and tried to pep talk Liz a little. "Don't say that. You'll find a dress. All it takes is one and you'll know because as soon as you put it on, you'll feel like a princess."

Liz looked a little skeptical. "Are you sure?"

Kerynn nodded. "I promise." Liz sighed and looked at her reflection again. "How many dresses do you have left in there to try on?" Kerynn asked.

"Just one." Liz replied. "The one that you picked out for me."

Kerynn shifted in her chair again. "Go give that one a try and then we'll get out of here."

"Sounds good to me.", she replied as she drew the curtain to the change room. "So how is your dad doing?" She asked, her voice slightly muffled as she pulled the dress over her head.

"Oh you know Daddy." Kerynn waved her hand. "He's as busy as ever. He started a feature length music video last week that will have him busy for at least a month or two."

"Oh really? Anyone I've heard of?"

"Yeah probably. Have you heard of he Backstreet Boys?" Kerynn asked as she picked the lint off her sweater.

Liz ripped the curtain open just enough to stick her head out of the dressing room. "Are you serious? Have you met any of them?"

Kerynn laughed. "Yes, I met one - Howie." She pushed Liz's head back into the change room. "Now get that dress tried on so we can get out of here." The butterflies returned as soon as she said his name.

Liz grumbled behind the curtain. She emerged a moment later, wearing the dress and a smile. "I think I like this one." Kerynn immediately stood up and walked towards Liz. She motioned for her to run around, which she did. "Well, what do you think?" She asked, waiting for Kerynn's opinion. Liz looked at her through the mirror. Kerynn was standing behind her with her hand on her mouth and tears in her eyes. "Oh Liz, you're stunning." Liz smiled wider. "I think I've found the one." Kerynn nodded in agreement and wiped her eyes. Liz's expression changed to one of concern. "Are you okay?" Kerynn nodded again as more tears ran down her cheeks. Liz put her arms around Kerynn and pulled her into a hug.

"I'm sorry Kerynn. I know how hard this is on you. To think that less than two years ago we were doing this for your wedding. And Bart was, well.... That seems so long ago now." Kerynn sniffed. "A lifetime ago." She whispered. Liz hugged Kerynn again and then stepped back. "I appreciate you coming with me today so much. You're the best friend a person could have."

Kerynn offered a weak smile. "You look like a princess. Do you feel like a princess?"

Liz twirled in front of the mirror, grinning widely and nodded. "See I told you that you would."

The next half-hour was spent discussing hairstyles and veils that would work with the dress followed by another hour of sizing and scheduling dress fittings. By the time Kerynn dropped Liz off and her place and returned home, she was exhausted - both physically and mentally.