“I understand. That’s why we’re prepared to offer you another gown at no charge. We’ll refund your money completely, and if you’d like to purchase a gown elsewhere, I’d be happy to offer my services to get the perfect fit.” Lorea ran a section of silk through her fingers as she spoke, struggling to keep her voice soothing and calm.
My own hands were shaking as I listened to Lorea explain over and over again that even if Sylvia’s wedding gown could be found, it might also be ruined. Not to mention the time needed to complete the alterations.
When Lorea hung up the phone, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly, wadding the piece of silk into a ball. Then she cursed. Loudly. I tensed, waiting until she finished.
“It went that well, huh?”
Lorea tried not to smile, but her lips twitched. Then she scowled. “She’s on her way over.”
“Now?”
“I hoped it would be too late, that she’d have other plans. Apparently she’s canceling whatever she had and coming right now to look at our other gowns.”
“And to chew me out.” This day definitely wasn’t going well. Lorea and I scurried around the shop, pulling out the dresses and tidying up the fitting room. Exactly sixteen minutes after Lorea ended the call with Sylvia, the woman arrived at the store, her nostril flaring.
“If my wedding wasn’t a mere three weeks away, I’d find a new planner.” Sylvia lifted a bright red polished nail in my direction and sniffed.
I had been preparing myself for her. “Your wedding will be featured in bridal magazines years from now because of how absolutely stunning you are, Sylvia. I can’t begin to explain how sorry I am that this happened. Lorea and I are crushed and frightened that someone would attack us in this way.” I took a step forward and handed Sylvia the pink rose I’d cut from the antique rosebush next to my shop. “We are determined to be successful, to make your dreams come true.”
Sylvia took the rose and eyed me suspiciously. My offering was dramatic, but I was talking to a former soap opera actress and piling it on any other way wasn’t an option. “Well, show me the other gowns.” She smelled the rose and then followed Lorea to the rack where the six remaining dresses hung.
We both knew they paled in comparison to the countless beads and embroidery that encumbered Sylvia’s missing gown. The dresses were beautiful, but the price tag on Sylvia’s dress had been eighteen thousand dollars, and the most expensive of these gowns was seven thousand.
She stalked along, trailing her fingers over the dresses, and then whirled around to face Lorea, her look somewhere between a glare and a sneer. Her nose gave every look its own interpretation.
“I saw another dress here when I came for my fitting. It had lots of frills. Was that one stolen?”
Oh, no. Just what we needed. Lorea gave me a pleading look, and I cleared my throat. “We sold that gown last week.”
“To whom?”
I ignored her question, speaking rapidly so she couldn’t interrupt. “Lorea has the magic touch when it comes to dresses, and she’s picked out two we’d like you to try. They are both one of a kind, and she has a few ideas to make them even more unique.”
“Yes, this one here.” Lorea held a dress up in front of Sylvia. “It could be worn as is, or I was considering adding a detachable train.” She reached for a swath of fabric and held it up to the dress. “And I’ve ordered a belt studded with three hundred cubic zirconium brilliant cut stones. They’re all the rage in Hollywood this year.”
“I might as well try it on. Could you put this in water for me, darling?” Sylvia handed me the rose, and I obeyed, eager to put some distance between the diva and me.
It was nearly six o’clock when Sylvia left. She had selected a gown but wasn’t “feeling the magic,” she said, and wanted a chance to continue her search. Lorea assured her that as long as she found a gown ten days before the wedding, there would be enough time for alterations and the multiple fitting sessions needed.
The café around the corner delivered croissant sandwiches, which Lorea and I devoured as we discussed the financial ramifications of the robbery.
“I talked to my insurance agent, and almost half the value of the stolen dresses are covered. But I don’t want you to worry about anything. We’ll continue making payments to Walter and go ahead with ordering the next shipment.”
Lorea folded her napkin into something akin to a bird. “Maybe we should wait to order more.”
I shook my head. “Natalie’s dress is worth enough to cover the setback with Sylvia’s gown, and because of insurance, it’s almost as if it were sold anyway. I don’t think you should wait.”
“I’m just worried about how everything will go if Sylvia bad-mouths us too much.”
“Forget Sylvia for now.” I tossed my wrapper in the garbage. “When people see Natalie’s gown, I think you’ll see new customers.”
“I hope so. Speaking of Natalie’s dress . . .” Lorea raised her eyebrows at me.
I hadn’t told Lorea that I was practically finished but that I was scared about moving the gown. What if someone was looking for it and watching the shop? I held up my hand. “I know, I know. I promise I’ll finish with it tonight.”
“Good, because I’ll be working into the wee hours trying to finish Natalie’s bridesmaids’ dresses.” Lorea crossed her fingers. “I hope she likes them.”
“She’ll love them. She picked out the pattern, didn’t she?”
“Yes, but I made a couple of alterations so they fit better and to accentuate the design.”
“Then I’m sure they’ll be perfect.”
Lorea and I cleaned up, and I was able to schedule another meeting with a caterer the following week, as well as a meeting with the local florist who would be doing both Natalie’s and Sylvia’s weddings.
