DAWN PAIGE GREY Young Adult Romance

Chapter 5 - More questions than answers

One by one the rest of the family had left the barn and continued on their daily routine, leaving the girls to chat wedding plans.  Luke gave Dawn a hug, kissed the top of her head and winked at Annie saying how lucky Dawn was to have such a pretty lady for her Matron of Honour.

Dawn and Annie sat cross legged on the hay bales inside the barn watching the new calf feeding from its mother. Amidst ooo’s and aaaa’s  from Annie watching her first ever new born calf they chatted about the wedding rehearsal dinner, which was scheduled for two nights before the wedding.

“What is the rehearsal dinner actually for?” Annie asked.

“It’s so we can have a trial run of the meal that will be served for the wedding,” replied Dawn.

“Do all your guests come?”

“No,” Dawn said, “I think there will only be my family and Luke’s family, bridesmaids and groomsmen.”

“Well, I’ve never been to such a fancy wedding or ever been a Matron of Honour, so it’s all exciting and new to me.”

“I’m thrilled you agreed to be my Matron of Honour at such late notice Annie.”

“Ohh, Dawn I’m just thrilled you asked me and especially for letting me stay here with you till the wedding.”

An unexpected silence settled between them for a few minutes when Dawn surprised Annie with her next question. “Annie, what do you think of Luke?”

Annie could feel the blush creeping up her neck and heating up her cheeks.

“He’s nice Dawn and you can see he loves you.”

“Annie, you’re blushing! Hey I know he is heart stopping gorgeous and every girl does a double take when she sees him for the first time, so the fact that you stopped in your tracks when you saw him, is no surprise either. But that’s part of my worry lately especially as he seems to catch every girl’s eye.  The older he gets the more good looking and buff he gets, while I just stay the same ol’ me.”

“Dawn I’m sorry …. I umm.”

“No need to apologise Annie, we’re best friends and I know you would never do anything to hurt me.  I trust you Annie.”

“But Dawn,  how can you be so trusting when you don’t even know me that well, we’ve only been best friends for a second or two?”

"I’m a very good judge of character Annie and when you helped me cut up my wedding dress, knowing full well, your boss might fire you, I knew in my heart I could trust you to always have my back.”

“Thank you Dawn. I promise I’ll really try and be your best trustworthy BFF.”

Somewhere in a remotely hidden dark corner of Annie’s sub-conscious her fingers were crossing.

Dawn sealed their friendship with a big bear hug that toppled Annie off her hay bale, with Dawn tumbling down on top of her and they burst out laughing.

Luke heard the commotion and ran inside thinking someone had got hurt. With his legs astride and hands on hips, he waited for Dawn and Annie to stop laughing before asking, “what on earth are you two up to? Is anyone hurt?  I guess not by your laughter.”

Luke offered a hand to both Dawn and Annie and pulled them back up onto their feet.  Not realising how light Annie was he pulled a little too hard and she bounced right up into his chest.  He caught her and held her steady against him and a panic alarm went off in his head when he looked into her eyes. ‘Oh shit!’ were the only words he could put to his thoughts at that moment.

“Sorry Annie, I didn’t mean to pull you up so hard. Are you okay now?” He said quickly letting her go and pulling Dawn into his arms, needing her to shield him from these disturbing feelings.

“I’m fine …. Thanks … Luke.” Annie stuttered, feeling her annoying blush creeping up all over her again.

“Oh Annie,” Dawn said, “You do blush for the silliest things. Maybe you should be wearing a red dress for the wedding so no one will notice you blushing.” She said pulling Annie into a group hug with her and Luke.

Annie didn’t let the hug last for more than a moment before she squirmed her way out from under Dawn’s arm and when she looked up, Luke caught her eye and smiled. She didn’t smile back and instinctively shook her head and turned on her heal to walk out the barn.

“Where are you off to Annie?” Dawn asked while wrapping her arm around Luke’s waist.

“I thought it best to leave you two love birds alone for some quality time.”

“Annie you don’t have to go.”

“I have to anyway, I need the bathroom.” Annie said, walking away quickly without it seeming too noticeable.

Dawn looked up at Luke, yes he was a gorgeous hot guy and she was very lucky he had proposed to her, but why was there a tiny niggle at the back of her mind?

“Well, here we are, all alone in the barn …..” Dawn stated looking directly into Luke’s eyes.

He gave her a squeeze and said “Dawn, don’t even think about it, you naughty minx. We said we would wait till our wedding night.”

Dawn tried to protest but Luke held up his hand, “No Dawn, I won’t spoil things for you. You know in your heart you still want to be a virgin on your wedding night. So stop teasing.” He smiled at her and kissed the top of her head.

Dawn relented and slipping her hand into his they walked back up to the house.  Did she really want to wait? Why was she having all these strange twinges of doubt about everything lately?