“Come and have a seat and tell me what you’re looking for.”
Barbara had to pull Katie away from a rack of dresses.She looked as though she was ready to dive headfirst into the beautiful gowns.
After looking through a catalog of the dresses, they decided to focus on the gowns that were in the Grace Kelly collection.The simple, elegant designs would look perfect with the dress Penny had chosen.
Tess found the first three dresses they liked.“We’ll start with these.While you’re trying them on, I’ll go through our catalog with your mom and find something for her to wear.”
Barbara hurried into the fitting room with her sisters.The pale gold gown she slipped over her head felt like silk against her skin.With its square-cut bodice and simple design, it would look perfect with Penny’s dress.
Studying her reflection in the enormous mirror, she twisted left, then right.It felt strange to be wearing a dress, especially one as glamorous as this gown.
“Wow,” Katie said from behind her.“You should wear a dress more often.”
Diana sighed.“It’s gorgeous.I like the shape and the color, but it’s sleeveless.You’ll have to wear a shawl or a little jacket to keep warm.”
Katie wiggled into the dress she’d chosen.“We’re all going to have the same problem.If we wear capes, the pictures will look beautiful.What does everyone think of this gown?”
Barbara tilted her head to the side.“The powder blue color is lovely, and you’re right.If we all wear capes, it doesn’t matter that it’s strapless.”
Katie twirled in front of the mirror.“I love the floaty chiffon skirt and the way it drapes over my curves.”
“It looks good with the dress Barbara’s wearing, too,” Diana added.“What about mine?”
Barbara smiled.The strapless, ruby-red gown was amazing.“It’s perfect.I don’t know how you both feel, but the dresses look great to me.”
Penny came into the fitting room with three white, fluffy shawls.“Tess said to try these on.She thought they might look good with the dresses.”
“She must have read our minds,” Katie said as she wrapped one around her shoulders.“It’s so warm.”
“It’s made from faux fur.What do you think of the gowns?”
Barbara stood beside her sisters and studied their reflection.“We look awesome.”
Katie grinned.“I think so, too.We won’t find anything better than these dresses.What do you think, Penny?”
“Even though the styles and colors are different, they look great together.If you’re happy, I’m happy.”
Diana sent everyone a relieved smile.“In that case, it looks as though we’re going home with three bridesmaids’ dresses!”
Their mom stepped inside the fitting room.“Oh, my goodness.You girls look beautiful.”
Barbara’s smile widened when she saw how many dresses her mom was carrying.“It looks as though you’ve found some lovely dresses, too.”
“I had a lot of help from Tess.Have a look at these dresses and tell me which one you like the best.”
And with a flurry of silks and satins swishing around the room, Barbara and her sisters helped their mom choose a dress.
For a day that had started with only a little optimism, Barbara was incredibly grateful to the women who had donated their dresses.Without their help, they’d still be searching the Internet, trying to find bridesmaids’ dresses for Penny and Wyatt’s wedding.
CHAPTER 12
Theo read the text on his cell phone and hurried to the front door.As soon as he saw Barbara standing on his front porch, his heart pounded.With her hair caught in a ponytail and a San Diego Padres T-shirt tucked into her jeans, she looked young and carefree, the exact opposite of how he was feeling.
“Welcome home.How was the shopping expedition?”
Barbara wrapped her arms around his shoulders.“It was fantastic.Penny bought a bridal gown, we found three bridesmaids’ dresses, and mom chose a beautiful dress to wear.Apart from your funding application being approved, how was your day?”
“My lawyer called.The defamation case against me has been dropped.”
