I didn't know how to tell her that the last thing in the world I cared about was anyone stealing my spotlight. She shifted again and rhinestone-studded layers on the flapper dress went with her. "It's gorgeous," I said. She really was radiant. The style was perfect for her. "It feels like you."
"The new boobs help." She palmed her breasts and gave them a jiggle. "It's pretty but I don't want to commit to anything until you finalize your plans. Who knows? You might end up doing this at a fancy yacht club back east and I'd look like a nut."
"I can promise there will be no yacht clubs," I said.
Janet turned from the mirrors to face me. I knew what was coming next. She didn't bring me to a bridal boutique only to show off the mother of the groom dresses she'd scoped out. No, she wanted me trying on gowns for the next hour, and unless I jumped up and ran right through the shop's front window, I didn't see any way out of it.
Motioning to a mannequin dressed in a lovely lace gown, Janet asked, "Isn't that spectacular?"
I pushed up from the cream velvet sofa to get a better look. Itwasbeautiful and since I was playing the role of Audrey, Jude's fiancée, and not Audrey, the real person, it didn't matter whether it was far too elaborate for my tastes. Audrey, Jude's fiancée, couldn't wait to try on dresses. She loved huge ballgowns and fussy lace sleeves, and she definitely didn't have any lingering PTSD over the last time she'd been shoehorned into a dress and shoved down the aisle. She wouldn't hyperventilate at the sight of herself.
"It's spectacular," I said, tracing a finger down the tiny line of buttons on the back.
Janet clapped her hands together. "You should try it on! Just for fun! Since we're here."
I grinned at her. This would be fine. I probably wouldn't break out in hives. "Since we're here."
chapter twenty-nine
Audrey
Today's vocabulary word: transcendent
"This is a nice fit for you,"Sharese, the shop owner, said as she clipped the lace dress closed in the back. "Not everyone can pull off the basque waist but you have a good torso."
A good torso. I'd heard a lot of judgments on my body over my years in dance but I couldn't remembergood torsohitting the list.
"Thanks, I think," I said with a laugh. I realized then that I could still taste the garlic from my lunch—which meant Sharese could smell it. Maybe it was the everyday urge to apologize for existing but having bad breath made me want to find a vat of acid and disappear into it.
"It's a compliment," Sharese said as she pulled back the dressing room curtain. She gathered up the dress's long train and nudged me down the hallway. "You're going to be a beautiful bride."
"You probably say that to all the girls."
Her chuckle told me I was right. "I've been doing this for twenty-seven years and I'll tell you right now that everything isgoing to look good on you." As we rounded the corner to where Janet sat on the velvet sofa, Sharese announced, "This is from the Hattie Zhou collection. Ivory hand-sewn lace over an ivory sheath, elegant high neckline, and basque waist."
She positioned me on the platform and fluffed out the skirt around me. Janet clasped her hands under her chin, her eyes wide and smiling. "It's amazing," she breathed.
"Are we thinking veil or headpiece?" Sharese asked.
"Bring both," Janet said.
I told myself Audrey the fiancée would try on both. The fiancée wouldn't panic over a veil.
While Sharese went searching, I stepped off the platform and motioned Janet closer. "Do you have any gum? Or mints? I feel like the guacamole is lingering on me."
"Of course, honey. Just give me a sec." She dug in her purse, coming up with a small tin. As she held it open for me, she asked, "Do you just love it?"
I popped two mints and forced a grin. I had to pull off some serious praise sandwiches here. Wedge the deflection between the good news. "It's so special. I love the sleeves. I'm all about the sleeves right now. The neckline might be a little high for me. It feels a little serious, you know? But the lace is incredible. It has such an antique feel."
She pointed at me. "You're right. That neck is too much. We don't want the dress to eat you alive."
"That would be nice," I teased.
"My son would never speak to me again if I tried to wrap you up like a mummy." She winked and all I could do was laugh. Maybe I'd put her doubts to rest.
"A veil with matching lace," Sharese trilled as she returned, "and a delicate ribbon headband."
"Let's start with the headband," I said.
