They arrived in Farthington and Jessa convinced them to stop first at Anna’s Bridal where she’d found her dress. When they walked in, an attendant, Hollie, showed them to a personal dressing room with a three-way mirror and long cushioned bench on the opposite wall to accommodate any guests with the bride-to-be.
Hollie offered them water and coffee, then began asking questions. “When’s the wedding?”
“One month from today.” Phoebe answered for her.
Rather than being annoyed, Trixie found her sisters’ excitement reassuring. It meant they didn’t harbor a grudge that Trixie had missed Jessa’s wedding, and it signaled a restoration of the relationships they’d shared before she’d run off.
However, when Hollie asked what style of dress she wanted, Trixie cut off her sisters. “I want ivory or off-white.”
Hollie raised a brow. “We do have a selection of non-traditional white, but with your timeframe, the choices are narrowed because I can’t guarantee delivery. Alteration is an option if there is one slightly large.” She ran her eyes the length of Trixie. “I doubt we’ll have a problem with any being too small.”
She supposed it was a compliment on her petite frame, but it aggravated Trixie. “We’ll deal with that issue when we get to it.”
“Let me take your measurements, and then I’ll gather a selection for you based off the information you gave me.”
After Hollie left the room, Alice scooted off the bench and discovered the three-way mirror. She entertained them with her wide-eyed surprised to see three of herself at once. By the time Hollie returned, Alice had progressed to dancing, eliciting laughs from everyone.
Trixie pulled her phone out to record the precious moment and forwarded it to Elijah.
“Are you ready to see the first set of choices?” Hollie rolled a rack further into the room.
The first two choices didn’t entice Trixie enough to try them on. The third had pearl trim which was more embellishment than she cared for, but she loved the halter style. She tried it on, not realizing how low the back was cut.
She returned it on the hanger to Hollie. “Not for me.”
“Not a problem.” Hollie hung it on the rack and pulled down the fourth choice. “This one costs slightly more than your said budget, but it’s stunning.”
Shaking her head, she didn’t plan to look at it. She felt bad enough about her parents paying for everything, and she wouldn’t consider exceeding the set budget.
Mom had different ideas. “Let’s see the dress.”
Hollie unzipped the bag and stretched her arm in the air to display the dress fully.
Before she tried it on, Trixie knew it was the one. Crafted from a sleek satin, the sleeveless gown had a sweetheart neckline and a short, bustled train. She ran her fingers over the cool fabric, falling in love with the dress.
“Try it on,” Mom prompted, then whispered in her ear, “Don’t worry about the price.”
She would though. “By how much does it exceed the budget?”
“Two hundred dollars.” Hollie handed her the gown. “Try it on. We have options for financing, so don’t let the price stop you if it’s the one.”
“Go on. We can eat the extra cost.” Mom encouraged her with a smile.
She stepped behind the curtain and into the dress. It fit her perfectly without need for a single alteration. She didn’t feel restricted or hot, and she loved how the satin caressed her skin.
Coming out from behind the curtain, she heard the gasps before she saw herself in the mirror.
“Gorgeous.” Jessa stood up and came beside her.
Phoebe walked a circle around her. “Perfection.”
Mom’s approval reflected in her smile. “What do you think?”
She twirled in front of the mirrors, lost in a fantasy that melded into reality. “I found my dress.”
Chapter Fifteen
Elijah yawned and covered his mouth. “The next time I plan a wedding back to back with youth camp, stop me.”
