Standing in the mirror of the elaborate resort dressing room, Izzy slipped into her bridesmaid's dress. She ran a hand along the low, jeweled neck, trying not to think of Francine, or the fact that Rita was marrying a man who openly had sex with other women.

She swallowed hard, tracing a finger over her puffy eyes. After Gloria told her about Francine's death, guilt had all but consumed her. She kept thinking if she would've been more of a friend, maybe she wouldn't have had to resort to that horrible act of desperation. She could have done more—but she'd crawled into herself and ignored Francine at her greatest time of need. No matter how many times Rita and Gloria told her it wasn't her fault, she couldn't push it out of her head.

Rita's wedding day had finally come. For the past few days she'd been overcome with a longing for home. She missed her mother's cooking. The sound of her father's rumbling voice when he commented on the paper over coffee in the morning. She wanted to see Maria's freckled face and Sammy's little feet jumping on her bed. Then there was baby Jane, her precious little sister who'd never met her.

She planned to board the train the day after the wedding. It seemed an opportune time to go. Rita and Warren would be leaving for their honeymoon in Hawaii.

She knew she had to leave, yet part of her couldn't help but feel that she was abandoning a dream that hadn't quite come to be.

"Can you button me up?" asked Gloria, strolling into the room in an identical dress. Gifted with far more curves and a talent for carrying herself, the identical gown seemed to shine on her.

"Of course." Izzy buttoned her from behind.

A couple of days before, Gloria met with Warren. Nothing came of it. Although Gloria didn't say, Izzy wondered if it was because she hadn't been willing to offer anything in exchange. The thought sickened her.

"Next time I'll be wearing the white dress," said Gloria, adjusting her curls.

"Perhaps Rita and I can wear these dresses a second time then," said Izzy with a laugh.

Gloria rolled her eyes, then gave her a sideways glance. "I heard that Wes and his stuck up fiancé were invited."

"Patsy's father is a friend of Warren's," said Izzy, trying to seem nonchalant. "Anyhow, they were invited long before I came."

"I can't believe he chose that witch over his band," said Gloria. "She really has a hold on him."

"I guess so," said Izzy, trying not to think about it.

She knew Wes had been angry at Gene over his attempt to set them up, but she'd never thought he'd leave the group completely. How could he do a thing like that?

Still, her stomach dropped a little at the thought of seeing him again. The feelings he stirred inside her were frightening. She'd need to do her best to avoid him during the wedding.

Rita's older sister, Claire, her maid of honor, swung in the door. "Are you ladies ready?"

She didn't resemble Rita at all, although there had to be ten years between the two of them. She was tall and purposeful in the way she walked and talked. Her features were pretty, yet sharp. She was quite abrupt, the kind of person one didn't question.

"How's Rita?" asked Gloria.

"She has the jitters, that's for sure," said Claire. "Rita's never enjoyed being the center of attention. She's asking for the two of you."

Rita's family had arrived at the house two days ago and extra help staff came in tow. Rita and Warren's home was suddenly bustling with extravagant meals in the massive dining room and lush parties at the pool.

Izzy felt out of place with it all, constantly reminded that she was living in a world that wasn't hers. She sat silently at dinner, feeling ignorant as they discussed topics she knew nothing about. All she could do was nod and smile, feeling like a dense puppet. The second night they had crab and caviar.

Warren chuckled as Rita reached over to help her break the shell to eat the delicacy she'd been struggling with.

"Where are you from again?" Rita's father asked, echoing Warren's laughter.

"Michigan," Izzy's answered cryptically, avoiding his eyes. "My family never had these types of things."

Rita's father eyed his daughter and she straightened a little beside Izzy. Izzy didn't mention the island and prayed no one else would. Rita parents knew why she'd stayed there, and would surely disapprove of the two of them being friends. It was becoming more and more difficult to keep all their little lies straight.

Izzy and Gloria followed Claire across the marble floors of the resort to Rita's dressing room. The resort was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. It was situated on hundreds of acres of gardens and groves with peaked mountains in the distance. It was a fairytale place to have a wedding.

The inside of the resort looked like something out of a movie. Dramatic gleaming floors that seemed to go on forever and arching staircases with polished banisters, held her in awe. The ceiling was so far above them it made her breathless and dizzy all at the same time.

Rita stood at the window, her back bare in her white lace dress. She turned when they opened the door, and Izzy noticed the gleam of recent tears in her eyes.

Rita smiled. "You all look incredible."

"Are you alright?" Izzy tilted her head.

Rita let out a jittery breath. "Just thinking about all those people, watching me," she said, but Izzy instinctively felt there was more.

"Pull yourself together sis," said Claire, patting her on the shoulder. "You don't want Warren thinking you've got cold feet. We all go through this. I felt like I'd vomit before I walked down the aisle with Dennis. But, it all resolved itself when we kissed."

Rita put her hands on her cheeks. "You're right. I just need a little something for the nerves, that's all."

"I think the bar's open," said Gloria with a wink.

"Oh no you don't," said Claire, shooting Gloria a disapproving look. She opened her purse. "I won't have my sister walking down the aisle blitzed.That's no way to start a marriage." She handed Rita a small pill. "This will calm your nerves. Now hurry and get your veil. Mother will be here in a minute and the guests are lining up outside."

She left the room and Izzy and Gloria helped Rita put on her veil.

Rita frowned, popping the pill in her mouth. "I feel like a phonee wearing this white dress."

Gloria scoffed. "If men couldn't wear a suit without being a virgin, there'd be a lot of naked ones walking down the aisle."

"Gloria!" Izzy guffawed.

"Well, it's true. Warren's no saint. He's had his share of women—."

"Gloria! Stop!" Izzy shot her an irritated look.

Rita's face fell and she turned away to stare out the window again. Izzy suspected she was trying to hide the tears.

She wanted to say that everything would be alright. That Warren loved her and that she was doing the right thing. But, she couldn't bring herself to do it.

What kind of woman would say "I do" to a man who openly cheated on them, even before their marriage? Even as her mind formed the question, she knew. A woman tainted by her past. A woman desperate for love and approval. She found tears in her own eyes as she realized that any one of them could find themselves in the same place as Rita.

"I don't know if I can do this," Rita whispered.

Izzy sucked in a breath, stepping forward.

"What? Are you crazy?" Gloria said. "Of course you're going to do this. Everyone's waiting outside."

"I know why you came running out of the pool-house." Rita turned to look at Izzy, fighting back tears. "I was so embarrassed that you saw him—and that you had to hide it from me."

"Rita, I—." Izzy felt sick to her stomach.

"I'm not angry with you. I would have done the same thing."

"So, he's a playboy," said Gloria, shrugging. She straightened Rita's veil. "He's also incredibly rich. Marry him. If you can't handle it, get a divorce. You'll take most of his money with you. Walk away right now and you get nothing."

"I signed a prenuptial," said Rita, wringing her hands. "That was before I knew—who he was. If I leave him he'll take everything." She placed a hand on her stomach. "He'll take the baby." She drew in a ragged breath. "I can't lose another baby."

Izzy stood with her mouth open, trying to find something meaningful to say, but there was nothing.

"I'm so sorry," she said finally. Weddings were supposed to be joyous occasions. The moment every little girl dreamed of. She set her jaw, taking Rita's hands. "You look beautiful," she said. "More beautiful than any girl out there. Regardless, this is your wedding—your special day—and no matter what, we're here for you."

Rita cast a teary smile, kissing her cheek, then grasped the two of them together. "I love you both."

Rita's mother hurried through the door, shooing them apart. "Come on, step to it, Rita. You're late." The graying woman with sharp features like her eldest daughter stepped back to look at her briefly. "What a beautiful bride you are. Nothing makes me more happy than to see my youngest daughter wed and taken care of. I've been waiting for this day"

It was a perfect outside. The sky was a marvelous blue with big, puffy white clouds adorning it. Vibrant flowers of purple and blue grew on vines that wrapped around the trellises surrounding the seating area which overlooked the mountains.

Warren didn't want to have the wedding at a church, but settled for a priest to marry them after Rita insisted. Warren stood with him front and center looking chiseled in his suit and tie.

Most of the guests were already seated on the carved wooden benches as they walked up behind them. A few reporters stood off to the side with their cameras set up, taking pictures of the crowd, most of which were Hollywood stars.

Even though it was just the back of his head, Izzy immediately pinpointed Wes, sitting with Patsy in the corner near the back. Her heart instinctively leapt.

"I believe I'm with you." Billy, Warren's friend that she'd met on the boat, snagged her arm. His eyes travelled immediately to her chest. "My, you look gorgeous."

Normally she would have looked for a escape, but his gestures were a welcome distraction under the circumstances. "Thank you." She smiled at him, triggering heat to grow in his expression.

Next to her, Orson googled over Gloria until the Orchestra began to play. As Izzy walked down the aisle arm in arm with Billy, she swore she could feel Wes' eyes on her. It took all she had not to cast a glance in his direction.

She stood next to Gloria at the front, feeling as if she would explode with all the eyes on her as the orchestra geared up for the wedding march. The reluctant bride came slowly down the aisle with her father. Izzy focused her eyes to on her, avoiding her left where she knew Wes was watching.

A reporter snapped a picture close to her face, leaving a flash in her eyes. Why were they taking pictures of her? Her cheeks turned crimson red as she tried to hold herself together.

Rita walked to the front with her father, a nervous smile on her face. The crowd oohed and ahhed as the couple recited their vows and kissed. Izzy was sure that a few envious women in the audience wished they were in Rita's shoes. If nothing else, Rita would be his wife, and no woman could take that from her.

The priest pronounced them man and wife and Warren scooped Rita into his arms, kissing her, as the reporters feverishly snapped their pictures. The crowd stood and cheered. Rose petals fell from the ceiling and scattered to the floor as Warren walked back down the aisle, carrying her in his arms. Women swooned as he passed, their hands to their chests. The rest of the wedding procession followed behind them.

Everyone loved a fairy-tale wedding, regardless of the dark little details behind it. She sighed, happy it was finished. Beside her, Billy grabbed her arm again, jolting her out of her thoughts. "Shall we grab a drink, my beauty?"

Clearly he was emboldened by her acceptance of his advances earlier. She wavered, but her desperation to keep herself occupied won over.

"Of course," she said with a smile.

They walked over to a large open gazebo and Billy flagged a waiter who brought them two glasses of champagne in delicate crystal glasses. Izzy saw Orson fawning over Gloria out of the corner of her eye. Couples were lined up to congratulate the bride and groom. Rita seemed more relaxed, Izzy guess she was relieved it was over.

In the crowd, Wes' eyes met hers and she couldn't hide the small gasp that escaped her mouth.

She turned to Billy, a hint of desperation in her voice. "I'm feeling a little light headed from all of this," she said, sounding like a weak little girl. "Do you mind if we take a little walk through the grove?"

Billy's eyes lit up. The corners of his mouth curved along with his mustache. "Well, no, not at all." He made a sweeping gesture with his hand. "You lead the way, my lovely little sunflower."

A big thank you to all of you who hung in there while my update took so long. Hopefully I'll get the next one out next week!