Cherished

Ari and Ellie started laughing.

“So all the kids have room to run around, but it still leaves space for the adults to dance. I just want to do a little bit of two-steppin’, damn it,” Ari said with a sigh.

I laughed and walked up to the tables. “Oh, Mom, Je

The round tables had white linen draped down to the ground, and a dark silver satin cloth was draped over and pi

Each table had a pumpkin that Ari, Ellie, and I had carved out, soaked in bleach, and then sprayed down with some preservative that Je

“I thought we were going with plastic dishware?” I asked as I went to pick up one of the silver plates. As soon as I picked it up, I realized it was plastic. “Holy hell. They look like real plates!”

Je

Melody picked up the pumpkin-shaped cookies. “These are to die for. Wait until you taste them! A girl in Fredericksburg made them.”

I looked around at each table setting, and there were cookies in every shape, including pumpkins, ghosts, bats, and witches. Each cookie was in a darling clear bag tied with black and silver ribbons.

“The tables are perfect,” I said with a smile.

“Want to see the cakes?” Melody asked as she clapped her hands.

I nodded my head as I looked at Je

We walked up to the dessert table, and I had to stop.

Oh. My. God. They went crazy!

In the middle of the table was a beautiful three-tiered white cake with black and silver scrolls on it. It was the exact cake I’d had in my mind brought to life. On either side of the cake were two huge five-layered plates of cupcakes. The various decorations—ghosts, witches, bats, gravestones, black cats, and little spiders—were all so cute.

“The kids are going to go crazy over these,” Ellie said with a giggle.

“Good god, look at the candied apples,” Ari said before licking her lips. “Cake pops? Jesus H. Christ, there are cake pops. Luke and Jeff are go

I tried not to laugh, so I didn’t wake up Lauren, but I almost busted out laughing at how excited Ari was.

“Melody, I think there are more desserts than there is food!” I said.

“Speaking of food…” Je

We all followed her.

Ellie leaned into me and whispered, “Holy hell…you have cake, cupcakes, cake pops, brownies, cookies, candied and caramel apples, and I’m pretty sure I saw chocolate-covered strawberries.”

“Melody kind of thinks Scott has a sweet tooth,” I whispered back.

Ellie pulled her head back and looked at me. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him eat a single sweet thing,” she said with a confused look on her face.

I held back a laugh. “He hates sweets. His mother had them in the house all the time. He got so sick of eating them, so he won’t eat them anymore.”

“Shit, I wish I felt that way about sweets,” Ellie said.

We walked up to the table, and I couldn’t help it. I let out a squeal. They had written each food item on small tan pumpkins.

“Mac and cheese,” I said. I laughed out loud and then began rocking Lauren who had woken up during my moment of insanity. “That is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Melody smiled and pointed at Je

“I love it. I love it all. Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Je

Melody took Lauren from me and gently kissed her as she turned and started walking away with my crying baby. “I’m going to go feed her. It’s almost showtime, and you need to get dressed,” she called over her shoulder.

I looked at Ellie and Ari. “I’m so nervous.”

They each linked their arms in mine, and we made our way back to the house, following Je

“What? Oh god. Do I have the wrong dress on or something? Shit, it’s the baby weight, isn’t it?” Amanda said as she began jumping up and down, vigorously shaking her hands.

“Don’t be silly, Amanda. You have the right dress on, and, bitch, you don’t even look like you just had a baby. Jessie is just happy to see it on you,” Ari said as she just began getting undressed in front of all of us.

I dropped my mouth open as I looked at her and instantly stopped crying. “Fuck me. How do you look like that after two kids?” I looked her up and down.

The smile that spread across her face was priceless. “Lots and lots of sex.” She raised her eyebrows.

“Ugh…really? Gag me,” Ellie said as she took off the sweatpants and T-shirt I had made for each of them.

They were both wearing black corsets with matching lace panties.

Azurdee came walking out of the bathroom, cursing. “Shit…how in the hell do you get these bastards on?”

Ari whistled and looked at Azurdee. “Damn, girl. You might give Heather a run for her money in the boob area.”

Heather laughed as she looked up from where she was sitting and putting on makeup. “You look beautiful, Azurdee. Here, turn around and let me help.”

Ellie giggled.

“Will you zip me up, please?” Ari asked me.

I zipped her up, and then she turned around.

“Well? You still like them?” Ari asked.

I glanced up at Heather, who was now helping Azurdee into her dress. I shook my head, looking around at each of them. They each had on black chiffon ruched dresses that were strapless and knee-length. They were all so damn beautiful and doing nothing but bickering with each other.

They all came and stood next to one another. I made my way down the line, looking at each one. Azurdee was my best friend and maid of honor. Lark was going to shit his pants when he saw her. Heather was the sweetest one of the bunch but the first to admit that she liked to play in the bedroom. Ellie had her i

I felt the tears building as I looked at each of them. They had started off being my friends, but over the last few years, they had become my sisters.

“Oh no, honey…don’t cry. You’re go

Ellie let out an, “Eeeep,” as she quickly got my dress that was hanging up. She brought it over and laid it down on the bed.

I slowly started taking my sweatpants and T-shirt off.

“Holy hell,” Ari said.

I stood there in my white corset, lace thong panties, and garter belt that Ellie had helped put on before we had gone outside.

“And you just had a baby a few months ago. What are you doing?” Ari said with a wicked grin.

“Sex…lots and lots of sex. I actually think the sex is better now after the baby than before. God…I swear he just has to whisper my name, and it seems like I’ll orgasm,” I said with my own wicked smile as I raised my eyebrows up and down.