“Can we get in on those mimosas?” Skye asked.
“Coming right up,” Tyler said.
Piper heard the pouring of more drinks. “I want another, too.”
“So why not just tell Gram what you want?” Skye asked.
“Because when I agreed to this, I honestly didn’t think I cared. I was never one of those girls who spent a lot of time fantasizing about my wedding. So what was two weeks of crazy when the end result meant I’d be married to Myles either way?”
Babette zipped her up and made a few adjustments.
She stepped out of the dressing room and in front of the mirrors. “Plus, I honestly didn’t think she could pull together anything so elaborate in so short a time. Clearly, I was wrong.”
This dress was a classic princess style, with a sweetheart neckline and miles of tulle making the skirt flare out like a bell.
“Oh that’s beautiful,” Leah gushed. Apparently she’d decided to let go of her snit for now.
She would like this dress. It strongly resembled the one she’d worn for her wedding.
“Too floofy,” Tyler declared.
“It’s not you,” Norah decided.
Piper retreated back to the dressing room.
“What exactly did you want out of a wedding?” Skye asked.
“I wanted to elope and miss the circus entirely. Just him and me and the minister on the beach. Barefoot. Some kind of unconventional, tropical flowers in a loose bouquet. My hair down. Or maybe a partial up-do to keep it out of my face with the wind.”
“What if you did something more vintage?” Tyler suggested. “Do your hair like you did for the show last fall. Wear something with that kind of forties glam style, like the dress you wore for the scene in The Carousel Club. You were a knockout in that.”
Piper sipped at her mimosa and considered. “That’s a possibility. Myles loved that dress.”
“I remember. He practically drooled all through that scene from dress rehearsal through closing night.”
“Hmmm. Wait right here. I think I have something that might suit.” Babette slipped past the curtain. She came back a few minutes later with another dress in ivory satin. “Let’s try this one.”
Piper shimmied into the dress, waiting patiently as she was laced in and adjusted.
“Okay, nobody say anything this time. I want Piper to see this one with no other feedback first,” Babette ordered.
Piper shuffled out, which was about the best she could manage in the tight skirt.
Babette gave her a hand up on the stage. “Close your eyes.”
She did as ordered, letting the older woman pull her into place. “Okay, now, open.”
“Oh.” It was the only thing Piper could manage.
This dress also had a sweetheart neckline, but whereas the last one had swallowed her, this one hugged her curves from breast to knee before flaring out in a chapel length mermaid style skirt. The entire thing was ruched, from the lace applique bodice down.
This was the dress.
I’m getting married. Despite all the hoopla that’d been going on the last week, all the plans, all the details, nothing had brought home the reality like standing here in this dress that seemed made just for her. She’d walk down the aisle to Myles in this and watch his eyes darken with wanting. And maybe something more.
Piper realized she’d reached out to touch two fingers to her image in the mirror. “I’m getting married in this dress.”
“It’s perfect,” Norah said.