Chapter 51

True to his word, Liam was gone before Maggie woke up. She really hoped that the second trimester would be better, as others promised. She was tired of being nauseous and her boobs hurting.

She already had large breasts, so she wasn’t thrilled that her bras were not fitting. She had gone to the store yesterday and purchased some new ones to accommodate her growing chest.

She went to the pool to swim some laps before lunch. She was meeting her girls, as she liked to think of them now, for their training.

They had so much fun together, and she pushed the girls to get better and work harder. The girls liked Maggie and loved working hard for her. She could already see the improvement in them.

As they were weightlifting today at the school, they kept asking questions about the wedding. Maggie promised that they were all invited and they couldn’t wait.

She dismissed them all with some exercises and the promise of details on her wedding dress hunting.

Maggie arrived home to Rupert and Gus. She took them both outside with her, where they sat in the shade and took a nap on the chaise lounge. That’s where Liam found them when he arrived home.

His day had been filled with meetings with the DA and making plans for Olivia and Jason. The DA was worried about Olivia’s health and the baby’s.

Liam called Brett and discussed the options, and Brett contacted her parents. They had it all worked out, except for whether to let Makayla and Maggie know what was happening.

Liam took Maggie to dinner and came home to watch a movie before bed.

“Darling, I got a limo for you ladies tomorrow. It will take you to the shop and then to lunch after…”

“Liam, that is so sweet! Thank you!” she squealed as she straddled him, kissing him deeply. She jumped up and texted her friends to tell them the exciting news. The women were ready to shop!

Liam and Maggie had breakfast together before he left, and then she jumped in the shower.

She dried her hair, left it down, and kept her makeup natural. A T-shirt dress and flip-flops completed the look.

Joan was waiting in the kitchen for her, and they talked about the day’s plans.

“So, Beth, Bethany, and Liza are all together, waiting for me to FaceTime them when you have selected a few dresses to try on. That way they can give their opinion from England. Is that okay?”

“Perfect! I can’t wait!” Maggie gushed.

Joan agreed and answered the door as all the other ladies arrived. The party of five giggled as they shuffled into the shiny black car.

They opened the sparkling cider, clinked glasses, and toasted Maggie and Liam. The giggling and laughter were constant, and the driver smiled to himself as he drove to the upscale boutique.

As he opened the door for them to come out, Maggie saw Erica waiting for them with a huge smile on her face.

“Let’s find you the perfect dress, Maggie!” she exclaimed, and the ladies followed in the shop with a loud whoop.

They were seated on the supple sofa and chairs and handed books of material and color samples to peruse. The designer and Erica asked Maggie what she thought she might like.

“I’m not sure, I just want the dress to hide my baby bump if I start showing...and I guess I want to look good…” Maggie shrugged.

“Look good or stunning?” Erica asked.

“Okay, fine, I want Liam’s jaw to drop when he sees me!”

“Now that’s what I wanted to hear!” Makayla yelled.

The ladies seconded Makayla’s sentiment as Erica and the designer went to fetch some dresses to start with. Maggie tried on six dresses, but nothing felt right.

They were all beautiful, just not her. She tried on halter top designs, mermaid styles, sleeveless, and sleeved. Some were all lace, some all satin or silk, and other combinations.

After two hours, Maggie was getting discouraged as they looked through gown after gown, trying to find something that caught her eye.

Joan could tell that Maggie was getting frustrated and the hormones were starting to ramp up. So when Hannah and Sheila found a gown hiding in the back, Maggie didn’t have much hope for it.

“Please, just try it on! You never know how it will look once you get it on. Come on, Mags!” Sheila begged as Hannah gave her a pleading look.

“Fine! I am not holding my breath, though! I am destined to wear sweats when I get married!”

Erica felt bad for her as she snagged the dress from her two friends’ hands and huffed off to the dressing room with the assistant. The ladies waited a few minutes for their friend to come out.

“Move your ginger butt, Mags!” Makayla barked as she sat and rubbed her stomach to try and calm the kicking baby inside her belly.

The assistant came out with a huge smile on her face. “I think you are going to be very happy! Get ready!”

Intrigued by her words, all the friends came over and waited for the door to open. And it was worth the wait!

Maggie stepped out in a bright white designer gown and a grin from ear to ear. They all looked her up and down and sighed collectively.

“Oh, Maggie! You look perfect! What do you think?” Hannah asked, drinking her in.

Maggie stood on the raised platform and looked at herself in the angled mirrors.

The dress had a sweetheart neckline, covered in intricate lace and beading that stopped just below her belly button, joining into a very full ball gown type skirt.

The skirt was layers and layers of tulle that swayed as she walked. The tulle fell into a train in the back, following her for about five feet.

There were little bands that were attached to the bodice that went over her biceps and matched the lace of the bodice. She turned and looked at herself, turning to see the dress at every angle.

She loved the way it fell around her, creating a sexy silhouette.

“Maggie, what do you think?” Joan asked as she watched the young woman radiate beauty.

“I am in love!” she gushed, “What do you think?”

“You are exceptionally beautiful, Maggie!” Joan smiled.

The ladies all agreed and talked excitedly about what they were seeing.

“I think it’s safe to say that Liam will be picking up his jaw from the floor when he sees you!” Erica exclaimed.

“How would you do your hair?” Hannah inquired.

Makayla walked over and played with different updos as the store assistant brought over the most beautiful lacy and beaded high-heeled peep-toe shoes.

She slipped them on and saw how they made the bottom of the skirt flare out and the train lay just right.

The store’s seamstress came out and talked to Maggie about taking it in and how they would do it with a growing baby bump. They could take it in at the waist closer to the ceremony.

“We have to wait to see if your bosom will get any bigger! I feel like you have enough for all your friends! I bet your young man likes them, yes?” the seamstress said in her deep Russian accent.

Maggie blushed as her friends all laughed.

“Shall I call Beth, then?” Joan asked.

Maggie was excited and nodded her head as she pushed some buttons and a few seconds later, they heard the English members of their little group yelling hi to them.

Joan gave them the lowdown and told them that all the dresses had been a bust.

“But I am going to turn the phone around and show you what Hannah and Sheila found! You are going to love it!”

Joan turned the phone around and aimed the device at Maggie and the ladies all gasped.

“Oh, Maggie!” Liza yelled as Bethany clapped her hands and jumped up and down excitedly.

“You are absolutely perfect!” Elizabeth said, wiping a stray tear from her face. “You look extraordinary! I can’t wait to see it in person.”

Maggie blushed with all the compliments and thanked everyone. Erica had the assistant pack up the dress and shoes. Maggie chose a very simple fingertip-length veil that would lie nicely in the back.

They were keeping the dress for fittings. Thirty minutes later, the ladies piled back in the limo and went out to eat at a fancy restaurant, courtesy of Liam.

The limo pulled up to their house at about 4:30 a.m., with every woman exhausted. With a round of hugs and promises to see each other later, they went off in various directions.

Maggie dragged herself to the couch, switching on the TV before she fell asleep.

Liam arrived home an hour later with two pizzas and a salad. Joan told him that Maggie was knackered from the day. He felt bad knowing the next day would be stressful as well.

Maggie woke to the smell of pizza and smiled. They spent a quiet night swimming and talking about the future, eating pizza and her cake.

It was a lovely evening that Liam hated to have to ruin the next day.