“Really?” Crys looked so hopeful and appreciative that Nell worried she might not be able to deliver.
I haven’t done anything yet, she thought, but got her phone out and texted Johnny: I know this is random and we barely know each other, but can I ask a giant favor?
Almost immediately, he texted back: You can ask, sure. Can’t promise I’ll do it ’til I know what you want. Is everything okay, though?
Better than okay, she replied. But here’s the thing — Smidge’s guitarist Blade is engaged, his fiancée Crys is almost nine months pregnant, and they’ve decided to get married here at Time Rock. Which means she needs a maternity wedding dress for Sunday evening. Any chance you’d want to get involved?
He replied with a heart emoji, then added, You’re not messing with me?
I know it’s probably not enough time, she typed. But you said you sew your own costumes, this poor kid wants to get married before she pops, and I don’t know who else to ask.
Johnny sent her an emoji of a laughing face. You haven’t watched Drag Dolls, have you? It’s more than enough time. You’re literally offering me the chance to make a wedding dress for what could be the bride of the fucking year, and she’s my buddy Rhys’s friend on top of that — of course I’m interested. Is she there with you? Can we voice chat, or better yet, video?
Nell showed Crys the message. “Are you okay with me putting Johnny on video so we can talk?”
Crys blinked. “How do you know Johnny? I’ve only met him once — it was at a Smidge concert, the same night I met Blade. He can make a wedding dress for me?”
“Let’s talk to him,” Nell said, and connected the call.
“Well, look at you, mama-to-be!” Johnny said, as soon as he saw Crys. “Congratulations!”
“Hi, Johnny! Thanks!” she replied, then, “Can you really make me a wedding dress in time for Sunday?”
“Of course I can. But we need to talk about budget.” Johnny gave them a rueful grimace through the screen. “I wish I could wave the money side of it away for you, lovey, but I’ve got to be practical.”
“Absolutely!” Crys pursed her lips, thinking. “Blade told me to spend however much I wanted on a dress, and I can’t haggle with one of Rhys’s best friends, so… just tell me whatever you think is right.”
“Well, it’s going to take probably twelve work hours for me — that’ll add up to about nine hundred — and then depending on the style of dress and the kind of fabric, we’re looking at a couple hundred there if you want nice stuff, plus any lace or beading or sequins… Oh, and I’m going to need to buy a duplicate of your current most comfortable bra if I can find it here, ’cause I can build a bodice around it and know that it’ll support everything in a good way. How about twelve hundred?”
Crys agreed, without hesitation but with a touch of concern. “That’s an awfully good deal. I’ve been looking at a lot of wedding dresses lately, and they’re mostly more than that, even with a wait time of several months for delivery. Are you sure it’s enough?”
He assured her it was, and launched into a series of questions about what sort of dress she imagined for herself, sleeves or no sleeves, lace or no lace, hotfix Swarovski crystals, and a discussion of silk chiffon.
It’s practically a crime to spend that kind of money on a dress for a single day’s use, Nell thought. I could never do it. But people often balked at the cost of martial arts training too, she reminded herself, and Johnny should be paid for his professional skill. The money will at least do some good, going to him.
Nell wondered if Eamonn was the sort of man who wanted a wedding, or if being legally wed would matter to him. I hope not. All this fuss struck her as a burden and a jinx — and maybe there could be such a thing as a forever partner, but did it have to be at that price?
“I’ll need a bunch of other measurements too,” Johnny was saying. “That’ll get me started, and then I’m going to need to get down there to fit it to you and make some adjustments.”
Crys nodded happily. “Yes! We’ll arrange plane tickets for you. Bring Tab, if he wants to come — you might as well have a vacation, and Napa’s beautiful. I know Rhys will be glad to see you, and so will I.”
At that, Nell felt a tiny bit of unexpected envy. Maybe there was something to be said for gathering friends together to celebrate happiness. Or maybe it was just that she’d had a taste of that happiness herself and wanted more — so badly, she hardly dared let herself think about it.
As Nell and Eamonn got back to their room, sated with fine dining
