Page 45 of Windward Hearts

“Okay. The first try is a no. But let’s see what we’ve got next.”

“I’ll take out the dresses that come in this particular cool pearl shade,” the assistant said. “Not the best hue to bring out the brightness in your complexion.”

Diana blew out a breath, nodded, and went back into the dressing area.

“Okay, team,” Eleanor said, gesturing for everyone to huddle around. “Today’s theme is Operation: No Discouragement.”

“We’re very into spy analogies today,” Winnie muttered under her breath.

“Hope,” Eleanor went on, speaking like a general directing her troops. “You are the new voice of reason. And the reasoning is, ‘You only get married once, none of us are impatient, we will find the dress.’”

“Aye aye, captain.” Hope saluted.

“Cadence,” Eleanor continued. “You are already crushing it at your role: keeping up morale even when the dress is, uhh…”

“Ugly?” Cadence supplied.

“I was trying to think of a nicer word, but basically, yeah,” Eleanor agreed. “June, Winnie, and I are on general encouragement. We’re the dodgers and weavers. We go where we are needed.”

Winnie nodded solemnly, as though she was committing this to memory.

Just then, Diana came out of the dressing space again, the assistant helping her fluff out the train behind her. Unlike the previous gown, this one was in a more neutral shade of white that flattered Diana enormously. It was not quite princessy in the breadth of the skirts, and there was an antique style lace overlaying the whole thing that lent it an elegant air.

“Okay,” Eleanor said, nodding. “I like that one.”

“Me too,” June agreed. “I feel like it fits your style.”

“It’s really beautiful,” Hope agreed. “What do you think?”

Diana scrunched her nose as she looked at herself in the mirror. “You don’t think the train is a bit… much?” she asked. “I don’t want it to get in the way of dancing.”

“It does pin up,” the assistant supplied helpfully.

It was clear, though, that Diana wasn’t convinced.

“If you don’t love it, don’t commit,” Cadence reminded her.

Diana looked a little discouraged, but she nodded.

The rest of the morning went much like that. Diana would put on a dress, some of which were perfectly lovely, some of which were only adequate. The beautiful ones were heaped with praise by her friends, but it was clear that there weren’t any that Diana truly loved.

“Maybe I’m just impossible to please,” Diana said with a sigh. She was trying to sound cheerful, but some self-directed annoyance leeched through.

“You are a gorgeous, successful boutique owner with high standards,” Winnie corrected. “High standards that you deserve to have. Don’t make me pull out the ‘ice queen’ persona again, Diana. I can do it. I will do it.”

Hope raised her eyebrows in surprise at this. It was hard to imagine sweet, somewhat shy Winnie as anything resembling an “ice queen.” June caught the expression.

“Long story,” she murmured to Hope. “But trust us, nobody else thinks she’s going to break out that attitude either.”

Winnie overheard this part and stuck out her tongue… which didn’t exactly do anything toward making them believe that she could be icy and stern.

But it did the trick in making Diana laugh.

“Okay, okay,” she said, huffing out a breath. “Let’s try another one.”

When Diana disappeared behind the curtain, Winnie gave a little fist pump of victory.

Hope’s grin was irrepressible. She didn’t know how long she would be living in Magnolia Shore. She didn’t know where the next stage in her life would take her. All of it was a mystery… and that was scary.