“We can always add sleeves to this dress too,” I say to Nancy, a bride Lainey has been working with the past couple hours, who loves the dress she has on but mentioned wanting something with sleeves.
“Oh, my goodness, you can?” she squeals.
“Of course,” I say with a smile. “Customs are always an option. That way you have exactly what you want for your wedding day.”
I walk over to the bay that’s holding our dresses and grab a few that have sleeves and bring them back over to the platform Nancy’s standing on.
“I have a few sleeve options here, and if you don’t like any of these, I can always draw up something else you had in mind.”
Nancy’s eyes light up when they run over the simple lace cap sleeve I’m holding. Taking the hint, I hang the other two dresses on the hanger behind me and turn back to her.
Taking the sleeve of the dress, I let it hang over her shoulder so she gets an idea of how it would look with the A-line silhouette she has on.
“We can always add some sheer fabric and drape it under the lace too. That will really give this dress the whimsical look you’re going for.”
Nancy’s smile broadens at that. “Oh, my goodness, yes! That sounds perfect! It’s exactly what was missing!”
Tears swell in her eyes as she takes in her appearance in the mirror. She runs her hands down the dress, and I know without asking she’s finally found the dress of her dreams.
I nod to Lainey, who’s holding the matching veil. Coming up on the other side of Nancy, she says, “Are you ready to see what it looks like with a veil?”
Nancy nods in excitement, not able to get any words out.
Lainey swiftly puts the veil in her hair, and her smile widens.
“Why don’t we get you turned around so you can show your family and friends?”
Lainey helps Nancy spin around on the platform while I rearrange the train on her dress.
“Well, what do you all think?” Lainey says, excitedly.
Everyone gushes and Nancy’s face brightens. I know it’s finally time to ask the question.
“Alright, Nancy,” I say, getting her attention. “Are you ready for the question of the day?”
She nods. “Yes, I’m ready.” The giddiness in her voice brings a smile to my face.Thisis why I love bridal. I’ll never get sick of bringing a bride’s dream dress to life.
I nod to Lainey to do the honors. “Okay, Nancy,” she says, with a beaming smile on her face. “Are you saying yes to the dress?”
Nancy glances around at the group of people she brought with her on one of the most special days of her life. They’re eagerly smiling, waiting for her answer. “Yes!” she finally squeals. “I’m saying yes to the dress!”
Quickly backing out of the space to let her and her family and friends celebrate the exciting moment, I let Lainey finish up the custom order, and head back to my office.
A gasp escapes my lips when I walk in and see the back of a man sitting at my desk.
My hand flies up to my erratically beating heart. “Holy shit, Massimo,” I say, shutting the door and walking over to my desk.
As I stand across from him, I take in his perfectly styled dark hair and his brow with the cut running through that’s cocked at me. “Surprised to see me,mia moglie?”
It annoys me that the emphasis he puts on that sends a thrill through me, but that exciting feeling is extinguished when I glance down at his hands and see he’s holding a picture frame—my picture frame. It’s one of the last family pictures I took with my parents.
“Please stop calling me that,” I snap, reaching over to snatch the frame out of his hands, then set it back in its place on my desk. I take a seat across from him.
“Beautiful picture you have there,” he says, nodding to the frame. “You look a lot like your mom.”
I ignore him, which does nothing except make him chuckle.
“Why don’t you want me to call youmia moglie? We’re getting married this weekend, so you should probably get used to it.”
