“Will do, but we know your daughter would go home whining to Papa dearest like a little bitch about how I was being mean.So thanks.No thanks.”I faked a smile.“Besides, you wouldn’t want me to lie to your daughter about how she doesn’t look fat in the dresses she has been trying on,” I said with a straight face.
Sofia gasped.“Mama!”
Lillian narrowed her eyes at me, then slowly smiled.“I haven’t seen your fiancé around recently.Why?Trouble in paradise?”
My jaw clenched.
“Yeah, he finally realized that you belong in the trash.”Sofia grinned.
“We found one that has more volume, ma’am.”The attendant walked into the room, grinning from ear to ear.“Do you want to try it?”
Sofia rolled her eyes, stalking into the changing room.
“You are a bitter, vile thing.”Lillian eyed me and stormed into the dressing room after her daughter.
I snorted, returning my attention to my magazine, but I wasn’t feeling it anymore.I exhaled, longing for his presence.The way he’d grin at me while he teased me, the way he’d be so quick to reach for me in any room he set foot in.I longed for how attractive he smelled—and the way he comforted me with his presence.
I stood, heading for the dresses on the rack.One of them stood out to me.It was a delicate silk ivory dress with no detailing.The soft material was its own detailing.
The curtains to the dressing room swung open, and Sofia trailed out in a luxurious, lacy wedding ball gown with intricate detailing and an exaggerated train.She looked like a fairy-tale princess.
“Oh, honey, you look like a dream!”Lillian exclaimed.
Sofia twirled, a little unsatisfied, then she groaned.“It’s notthe dress.”
Lillian nudged the attendants to comment.
“It’s perfect, ma’am.”
“You look like royalty.”
“You look like a queen.”
“What do you think, Andrea?”Sofia turned to me.
I shrugged.
“See?At least, she’s not lying to me.”She snorted.Lillian glared at me.“Mama, we’ll go look at another store.”
“Oh, please, ma’am, how about you try on some more?”the attendant suggested, maintaining a smile, so that she wouldn’t come off as desperate.But Sofia saw right through her.
She rolled her eyes, gathered her ball dress, and approached the dressing room to get changed.She was out in no time, grabbing all her things.
“Have fun wearing my hand-me-downs because you’ll never find the perfect dress in this wretched store.”She smirked, sashaying out of the room while Lillian trailed her.
The room went silent, devoid of their toxic energy once they left.I was able to think, to breathe, unconsciously running my fingers over the dress.
“Do you want to try it on?”It took me a moment to realize that someone else was in the room and was speaking to me.
I looked over my shoulder to see the scared lady from earlier.She was smiling at me.
“I asked if you want to try it on,” she repeated.
“Will that be okay?”I asked softly.
“Of course.”She smiled.
She walked toward me, taking the dress off the rack before leading me into the dressing room.I changed out of my dress and slipped into the soft, breathable material.
