Brea
Iplucked the puppy out of Mark’s arms when he walked into the Weddings in the City office.
“I haven’t run the idea by Ivy yet,” I admitted. “She has a cat, and we aren’t sure if he’s going to like the pupper. I’m still looking for other homes.”
“I’ll keep him for now,” Mark said smoothly.
I was immediately suspicious. “Why?”
“Just trying to keep this wedding ticking along,” he said, leveling his gaze at me.
“Hm. Well, I made a collar and a vest for him,” I said, stuffing the puppy into his new outfit.
“You can’t put him in a frilly vest,” Mark protested. “He’s going to be a big, tough dog. All the other dogs are going to make fun of him for wearing that getup.”
“This isn’t a frilly vest,” I retorted.
Mark pointed to one single, solitary ruffle on the pocket square.
“A little flair never hurt anyone.”
I set the puppy on the floor, and he started eyeing my fabric swatches with a look that said,I’m going to shred this.
“Now you need to watch that puppy,” I ordered Mark. “This is the most important wedding event of all—the dress fitting.”
“Oh my God, I thought Carter was joking when he said you had a dog,” Carter’s girlfriend, Allie, exclaimed as she and Liz’s entourage trooped in. The group consisted of the rest of her bridesmaids, including Kate, her friend Anastasia, Dana, Liz’s mom, and her sister, Cora.
Mark and the puppy were the only boys at the wedding dress fitting. “Are you going to survive?” I asked him.
“I’m taking it as a challenge.”
Liz’s entourage cooed over the dog and admired the website as I did a once-over, making sure we had everything for a fun, productive fitting. I was hyped to see Liz try on the wedding dresses!
I had three mock-ups of various dresses along with a fake pregnancy belly to mimic what Liz would look like in the coming months. She was getting bigger and bigger whenever I saw her.
I ordered Mark to sit on the couch with Liz’s other bridesmaids while Ivy and I went to another room to help Liz into her dress. But unlike my other brides, Liz didn’t seem happy about the dress.
“I know this is just a basic white muslin currently,” I told her as we helped her into the first mock-up, “but try to envision it in gauzy lace and chiffon.”
Liz nodded as Ivy helped me strap the fake belly around her waist.
“Oh gosh, I’m going to be that big?” she said, eyes wide. “I wish I had realized I was pregnant earlier.”
“Brea is going to make you look amazing,” Ivy assured her.
“This first option is a Regency-inspired gown,” I told her as I tied the Empire waist under her boobs. I made a mental note that they had grown a lot bigger. “You’ll look very regal, like a young, blond Queen Victoria.”
Ivy took the train, and we walked out into the room to the applause of the entourage.
“Wow!” Liz’s sister exclaimed. “You look huge.”
I cringed.
“Let’s try to be positive and helpful to the bride!” Ivy sang.
“You’re going to look great in whatever Brea designs for you, Liz,” Kate assured her.
Ivy helped her onto the low podium in front of the three-sided mirror. Liz studied her reflection nervously.
