“The clerk will come back and get all of Francine’s measurements. We should probably get yours, too.”
“Mine?”
“For your maid of honor dress.”
“We still have to consult with my mother about that.”
“Well, you have to have a dress either way, right?”
True. Lucy wondered at her capacity for sucking up her current feelings. She had to take several even breaths to keep calm.
She decided to let Valene take care of the details for this particular event. Meanwhile, she’d try to stop wishing for things that weren’t going to happen so she could relax and enjoy the day. She’d hold in her misery until she was alone.
The clerk brought three long-stemmed glasses and a bottle of something tucked into a tall bucket filled with ice. The first glass of fizzy liquid tickled her nose, as did the second. The clerk helped a dark-haired seamstress measure both Lucy and Francine, writing down various numbers in a small book. She commented that the sisters’ measurements were nearly identical.
The two employees left the room.
Lucy poured herself a third glass of champagne. It went down as easily as the first two, dancing around in her belly with glee. Valene gave her a savory little snack called a finger sandwich, telling her she needed something in her stomach besides champagne. It was delicious. It didn’t look like a finger, but it tasted really good and so did the next two she ate.
She eyed a stack of little round white cakes. The sign in front of the plate said they were sugar cookies with white frosting, and also quite delicious.
Soon, the clerk was back with a large wheeled rack of wedding dresses, which she positioned beside the mirrored pedestal. Francine went into a smaller room to try on the first dress the clerk recommended for her frame.
Valene went in to assist Francine as Lucy helped herself to another glass of champagne. The bottle was nearly empty, but her mood had definitely improved.
Francine came out wearing a very flattering, sleek, off the shoulder, lacy dress. It didn’t have a train and the skirt wasn’t wide like a fairy princess dress, but it was very pretty.
“What do you think, Lucy?” her sister asked.
Lucy tensed, realizing once more what this day was about to entail: Her sister dressing up in gorgeous dresses designed to please the man Lucy loved. How was she going to make it through the day when the very first dress made her want to burst into tears?
“I like it,” she managed. “What do you think?”
“I like it okay.”
“You will look beautiful no matter what you wear, Fancy,” she said.
Francine laughed. “You haven’t called me that in ages. How much champagne have you had?”
“Not nearly enough,” she said under her breath.
“Why don’t you try on a maid of honor dress?”
“Okay.” Lucy would select one that looked like a wedding dress and pretend she was marrying Axel. Maybe it would cheer her up. She’d overestimated her capacity for this chore today. She was supremely grateful Valene had stepped in to do the up-close work with her sister.
In the dressing room, Lucy selected a maid of honor dress with a small train. The label said, “A-Line/Princess Scoop Neck Floor-Length Chiffon Lace Bridesmaid Dress, Color: Ivory.”
It fit her like it had been made for her. She walked into the viewing area. Francine sucked in an audible breath. “Wow. You look great! I love that dress. Is there a wedding dress to match it?”
The seamstress nodded and motioned for Francine to follow her into the dressing room, just as the tinkling of the entrance bell rang. The clerk went to answer it.
Lucy looked at herself in the mirror, seeing both side views and the front of the dress. She truly loved it.
Behind her, Valene said, “If Francine can find a wedding dress to match this awesome creation, it may be our best choice.”
“Maybe.” Lucy tuned her out to picture Axel and her own special fantasy wedding day with him. The champagne was having an impact on her ability to stay still. She swayed a bit.
“Are you okay? Do you need another finger sandwich?”
