“All I need to do is stab another magic wand in each of those hideous things. Don’t worry.”
I shook my head. Lorea hated themed weddings, and the Rockfort-Porter event was all about the magic of true love—celebrity style. Even though the clients were hard to please, I enjoyed the change of pace that went into the details of the wedding plans for a unique celebration.
Taking advantage of the unplanned meeting with Natalie, I arranged the three swatches of fabric we were contemplating for the accent color in the centerpieces. The major decisions had all been made, but Natalie had struggled with selecting the perfect shade of ivory to complete the burgundy and forest green that would highlight the wedding decor.
“A wedding I went to last year had strands of paper roses hanging from the ceiling,” Lorea said as she fitted her dress mannequin with a swath of cream-colored silk. She looked over at me. “Fishing line makes them look as if they are floating in the air. It might be the perfect thing for Natalie’s reception.”
An image of blood-spattered emerald roses filled my mind. Delicate silk roses threaded with silver string. I swallowed hard.
“Adri, are you okay?” Lorea hurried over to my desk. “You look pale.”
“Those were—I made hundreds of them.” I looked at my hands. My purple glitter polish sparkled in the overhead light, another reminder of her. “Stayed up until three in the morning watching movies and sewing with Briette so we could finish.”
Lorea sucked in a breath. “Oh, I had no idea. Let me get you some water.”
I grasped Lorea’s hand. “I’m sorry—it shouldn’t matter. Natalie would love it.”
“No way, Adri.” She shook her head and her dark hair brushed the nape of her neck. “There are lots of other ideas. In fact, I thought of one for the bridal shower invitations. Is there any way you could use a button on the card?” She released my hand and gave me a water bottle.
I knew Lorea was changing the subject, but I was happy to push those memories back and focus on another aspect of the business that I loved—the bridal shower. I took a sip of the water Lorea offered me and forced a smile. “Can we use buttons on the card?” I winked. “Do you know who you’re talking to?”
Lorea laughed and held up her pincushion. “Good. I think it’ll give them some personality.”
“And everyone will know that Natalie’s best friend is throwing the party before they even open the invitation.”
“Hey, girls.” Natalie walked through the door. It had only been forty minutes since Lorea phoned her. She carried an oversized purse that I knew contained several bridal magazines and notebooks. Hefting the purse, she waved one of the magazines at me. “Can you believe this farm girl is getting nervous about what those movie stars think?”
“Whatever. You look like a movie star. Just worry about what Brock thinks,” I said.
“She’s right. You’re gorgeous.” Lorea motioned for Natalie to follow her to the back of the shop. Brock had admitted he was initially drawn to Natalie for her tall and slender model-type build and clear blue eyes, but he fell in love with her kind and generous nature.
Natalie swept back a loose curl of soft, brown hair, tucking it behind her ear. “My stomach is doing backflips, I’m so excited to see this dress.”
“Right this way,” Lorea said. She led Natalie into the makeshift gown-fitting area we had set up in the back. The dress hung a few feet off the ground, trailing with layer upon layer of gorgeous frills.
Natalie gasped and covered her mouth. I noted how her eyes sparkled as she stared at the dress. She dropped her purse and approached the gown with tentative steps. “Lorea, this is beautiful. Help me try it on.”
Lorea and I laughed. I waited as Lorea helped Natalie into the dress and tugged on the invisible zipper sewn artfully into the snug bodice. I straightened the mirror and caught Natalie’s smile as she looked at herself.
The dress was a size six and a bit on the short side for the bride’s long legs. Lorea could let out the hem and take in the bodice, but otherwise, it appeared to have been created for Natalie.
“Oh, I love it.” She turned slowly, craning her neck to see each side of the gown.
“I can do some alterations,” Lorea said. “And then it’ll be perfect for you.”
“I know Brock will love it,” Natalie responded.
“It does fit right in with the choices you two have made for the wedding.” I grabbed a clipboard and jotted down a few notes about how the materials in this dress would flow with the backdrop of the reception.
“How much is it?” Natalie glanced at me and then at Lorea, who paused a moment before answering.
“We were going to mark it for eleven thousand, but you can have it for nine.” The price hung in the air between us, and I remembered the discussions we’d had with Brock and his bride-to-be. He continually assured her that he wanted to pay for the wedding, and she kept reminding him that it was the bride’s responsibility. She selected simple, elegant designs to keep prices low and Brock didn’t mind, as long as he could foot the bill—and he had won that argument.
“I don’t want you to give me a discount.” Natalie bit her lip. “I don’t know. It’s just so expensive.”
“You’re right. It is,” Lorea said. “But you have to wear something you love on your wedding day. I know you don’t want Brock to help you pay for things—and I know it’s because people have accused you of being a gold digger, but honey, sometimes you just have to swallow your pride.”
Natalie shook her head. “Good thing you’re my best friend, or I might think you were just trying to make a sale.”
I suppressed a laugh as Lorea’s eyebrows shot up. “I’m trying to make a sale and help my friend have the most beautiful wedding possible.”
