You’re livin’ your dream and I’ve got one shot with Sarah tonight.”
“Dude, really? You might as well put a ring on her hand and call it done.”
Beau starts to reply, but I have no clue what he is saying because my world has completely stopped. The most beautiful girl in the world walks into the room. She’s standing there in a dress that stops mid-thigh and is the perfect color blue for her. It’s not over-the-top fancy; it’s tight yet flowy and covered in lace. Looking at her, she smiles, but when I look to her feet, I smile because that’s the Bella Blu I know. She doesn’t go a day without boots, and if she does she’s barefoot.
“Wow, you look beautiful, Bella Blu.” Shrugging her shoulders, she shakes it off. Her long hair is curled in long tendrils, and there is a trace of lip gloss and just enough makeup on her face. “Here, these are for you.”
Handing the flowers to her, she takes a big sniff of them and smiles before turning over her shoulder to her mom, Sharon. “Mama, will you take these, please?”
“Absolutely, but first we’ve got to get a few pictures.”
“Mama, you promised!” Bella Blu whines and Beau and I both look at each other.
“I’ve gotta run and get Sarah. I’ll meet you there.”
“Wait a second, Beau Bear, you’re not missing this photo shoot,” Belle says with a smile and her mom agrees.
“Tell ya what, I’ll get these in water as soon as you leave. Let’s get these photos taken. I know y’all are bustin’ at the seams to get goin’. Heck, everyone in town has been waiting on this dance all summer.”
Walking outside, I stand to the side of the porch as I wait for Sharon’s direction. “Beau and Belle, hop on up there.” They stand on the porch and take a few pictures for her. Beau is so over it, but for me, I’m loving it. Those two are thick as thieves except when Beau’s wanting to hang out with his older friends at the trestle. Within a few moments, those two are doing what they do best—acting a fool. They’ve gone from serious to goofy poses in a matter of seconds.
“All right, Chase, hop up there, too. I need one of the three amigos.” Stepping toward them, I go to the left of Bella Blu. She puts her arms behind each of us, we do the same, and the three of us smile for the camera.
Belle
If Mama doesn’t hurry up with that camera! She takes one last picture with the three of us and then Beau excuses himself. Standing there on the porch, I look up to Chase. “Come on, Chase, smile pretty for the camera,” I tease him, sliding my arm back behind him and he takes a deep breath.
“That’s easy, all I’ve got to do is look at you,” he says, low enough for only us to hear. Mom acts as if she’s a professional snapping a picture as I look up to him.
“Y’all two. Let’s take a couple next to the barn.”
“Mama, really?”
“Yes, it’s not often I see Chase this cleaned up,” she says with a slight laugh, but in all honesty she’s got high hopes for the two of us. In fact, that’s all I’ve heard since we were kids. I’m pretty sure our moms have had us married off since we became friends, but it’s not happening.
Approaching the barn, we step to the old wooden boards and pose for a few pictures, but I’m over it. “Hey, Mama, can we do something fun?”
“Sure.”
I look up to Chase, “Wanna go push me?”
He looks at me with a smile and replies, “I guess.”
Taking a spot on the tire swing, I gracefully try to slide in the swing without showing all my goods, which is more difficult than I had thought in this dress. Chase stands behind me and pushes me as Mom snaps away. Chase and I talk about random stuff like we always do, and when I start to ask Mama something I realize she is no longer there. “When did she leave?”
“Bella Blu, she was gone after a few seconds.”
“Oh,” how did I miss that? Suddenly I realize this was what she’s been waiting on. The two of us decked out and doing things our way. “You ‘bout ready?”
“Of course,” he slows the swing and as I come to a stop, I get dust on my boots. Crap. “No worries, we can clean them up in the