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Ava’s lips curled into a pleased smile before she tugged Emilie close. She turned to Carly, her face instantly all business. “All right, let’s see if you have the magic touch.”
Carly gave Ava a polite smile and pulled down the dress. For a few minutes, Emilie turned around to give her friend privacy and took care of emails on her phone. The familiar sound of a zipper caught her attention. Emilie peered back and stared in awe at the delicate lacing in back, tied at the nape of Ava’s neck with a silken ribbon.
Ava turned side to side, checking her hips. The bottom of the dress swished as she moved.
“Oh, I love the back,” Emilie said. “It’s so—”
“Elegant?” Ava said. “I love it, too.”
Emilie studied her waistline. Ava wasn’t overweight, but the sides of the dress hugged her too tightly. Just as Emilie was about to point it out, Ava inhaled sharply.
“I’ve got to talk to Carly, and then I’ll be out. Will you wait for us on the couch?”
“Sure.” Emilie gave Carly a sympathetic glance before heading back to the waiting area. Even if brides were notoriously picky, no one deserved to be treated like a doormat. Walking past the couches, she went around to the side of the store where the dresses hung.
She lovingly touched a few, each more beautiful than the last. Such stunning gowns made to fit their potential bride’s dream. A wistful sigh escaped before she checked a price tag. Expensive. More than she’d willingly cough up. People really paid that much for a wedding dress only to wear it for less than a day?
Her gaze stopped on a more traditional style, exactly what she preferred. Simple yet elegant. Emilie liked the full bodice and the three-quarter sleeve. It reminded her of the elegance of a previous era. And to find such a gem in the summer when there weren’t many… However, she wasn’t looking for herself.
After a few minutes, Ava called to her and Emilie scooted to the couch just in time to see her step up to the mirror.
Ava’s sour face smoothed as Emilie came into view. “Thought you abandoned me like everyone else.”
Emilie shifted on the couch, moving so she wasn’t in Ava’s line of view. She was used to Ava’s testiness, but also smart enough to let it roll off her shoulders. Maybe some things never did change. “Nope, just looking around.”
Ava’s eyes lit up. “Oh, yes. We have to make time for you, too.”
Carly stopped spreading out the train long enough to look Emilie in the eye. “You’re getting married, too?”
“Uh, yeah. We haven’t set a date or anything.”
“Sometime this fall right, Emilie? Winter at the latest? So, there’s not a lot of time. As soon as we’re done, I’m sure we’ll have time for you.”
Carly stood, but didn’t meet Emilie’s gaze. Ava was enough client for her at the moment.
“But for now, let’s focus on me,” Ava snapped. “I’m paying gobs of money for this perfect dress.” Emilie watched the skirt flare out when Ava spun in a circle, silently admiring how it moved and settled with ease. Then her friend lifted her arms and shoulders. Huh, the dress clung to her in all the wrong places. It was clearly a size too small.
“Are you sure it’s not too tight?” Even when Emilie chose her words carefully, Ava flinched.
“It wasn’t like this last time I tried it on. Carly, aren’t you supposed to tell me about these things before the final fitting?”
One glance at Carly’s face and it was clear she was equally annoyed. “I’ve told you several times this dress comes in larger sizes.”
With a quick turn on her heels, Ava stared into the mirrors. She gritted her teeth as she smoothed out the wrinkles in the dress. “This one fits me fine. I just ate too much for lunch. Don’t you think, Emilie?”
She had no idea what Ava ate for lunch, but salad was a safe bet. No wonder she was eating light. “It wouldn’t hurt to go up a size so you could be more comfortable.”
The soon-to-be bride stomped her foot like a toddler. Ava took her time stepping down from the platform and glared at Emilie. “I don’t want a bigger size. I can fit in this one just fine.”
Rip.
A tear in the fabric started at her hips and travelled up to her waist. Ava looked down and gaped. “My dress! What did you do?”
Carly shook her head while stepping forward. She leaned closer and squinted, inspecting the damage. “I can fix it. Probably.”
Black streams of tears and mascara streaked down Ava’s face. Emilie ran and grabbed a tissue and shoved it in Ava’s shaky hand.
“Thank you.” Ava’s voice was small as she turned away from the two of them. She whimpered as she studied herself in the mirror. After another moment of composure, she glowered at Carly in the mirror. “Okay, I’ll take the dress in a... different size.”
