They were all beautiful and totally different to the fairy-tale gown Cat had just tried on, and to the plain fishtail halter-neck before that, and to the one before that Brenda had insisted on which had long sleeves and looked like it should come with a wimple. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t suit Cat’s petite frame in the least and she looked like she was off to play Maid Marian. But it hadn’t been as bad as the other one Brenda had made her try on which was wider than the three of them put together and made Cat look like one of those old-fashioned fairy toilet roll covers.
‘That one,’ said Cat, pointing to the 1950s tea dress, gravitating towards it. ‘It’s gorgeous.’ The soft, lacy fabric slid through her fingers. She was captivated and Nell felt her chest burn with excitement.
Nell shuffled out of the room to give Cat some privacy but couldn’t help hearing Brenda whispering, ‘I told you to wear matching underwear, Catherine. Surely you have some?’
Cat mouthed the words ‘I told you so’ at Nell as Brenda stepped out of the assistant’s way and the curtain was closed in front of them. Nell had to bite her lip to stop the laughter escaping.
Moments later, Cat appeared in the dress and high heels the assistant had provided her with earlier. She skipped onto the platform and her face was aglow with joy. Just from the way she held herself, shoulders back and head held high, Nell could see this was the dress for her. She waited for Cat to speak.
‘This is it. This is the one. I love it.’ Her eyes were misting. ‘It’s perfect. Absolutely perfect!’
Nell felt tears sting her eyes and she and Cat looked at each other. ‘You look so beautiful, Cat. And I love it with your pink hair. You look amazing. Oh, come here.’ Nell ran forwards and Cat hopped off the pedestal to hug her best friend, both of them laughing and crying and fluttering their eyelashes to try and stop the tears from ruining their mascara.
‘She does look beautiful, doesn’t she?’ said the assistant enjoying the moment as much as the two best friends. Nell backed away from Cat and retook her position in the centre of the room to look at the dress again, while Cat’s gaze shifted to her mum.
Brenda’s fingers were pressed to her lips, but it was impossible to decipher what her expression meant. ‘It’s very nice, Cat, but don’t you think it’s more the type of thing someone would wear to a registry office wedding?’
‘So? What’s wrong with a registry office wedding?’ asked Cat. ‘If that’s what someone wants for their day, then they should have it and get hitched wearing whatever dress they want.’
‘Yes, but it’s not quite as …’ She searched for the right word. ‘Glamorous. Can’t you try on that ruffled one again?’
‘The last one?’ Cat asked, her voice tightening a little.
‘Yes. I mean if you insist on that 1950s one, we can just get you something like that from a normal shop. Those sorts of dresses are everywhere. But that beautiful gown you just tried on made you look so much taller—’
Nell saw her chance to step in. ‘I think the massive heels were doing that more than the dress, Brenda.’
‘Thank you, Nell. Have you told the assistant here that Holly Lodge is hosting weddings? They might be able to stock some business cards for you or something.’
‘Oh yes, Nell’s already been touch,’ the assistant replied.
Nell resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at Brenda. ‘The Love Heart Boutique are coming to the wedding fair I’m hosting, aren’t you?’
The sales assistant nodded.
Somehow, Brenda managed to speak through her gritted teeth. ‘Well, why don’t you go and talk to them about it?’
‘We can chat later, can’t we?’ Nell replied, eager to stay by Cat’s side. As much as she wanted to promote her business, she could do that after she’d dealt with this. Right now, she was too worried about where this conversation was heading. She wanted to be there for Cat for moral support. While she didn’t particularly love the idea of being on Brenda’s bad side – no one wanted to be, but a lot of people ended up there without doing very much at all – Cat was her best friend and the most important thing was that she came away from today with the dress she adored for that all-important moment when she pledged her life and love to another human being.
‘The thing is, Catherine,’ Brenda continued. ‘This is your wedding day, not just a party. You’ll only get this opportunity once—’
‘I know what you mean, Brenda, but isn’t that exactly why Cat should wear the dress she wants?’ Brenda’s jaw tightened as if she was biting back her next sentence. Her evil eyes bored into Nell, but Nell stayed firm. ‘I think Cat wants to be comfortable as well as look nice and this dress ticks all the boxes for Cat. Plus, she looks so elegant and drop-dead gorgeous, but still herself.’
Brenda ignored Nell again. ‘As I was saying, Catherine, you’ll only get this opportunity once. This is the one and only chance you’ll get to look so beautiful.’
Nell’s jaw nearly fell open and she could see the effect this thoughtless comment had on Cat. Her head suddenly dropped to study the hem of the skirt that she touched gently with her fingertips, caressing the fabric. Nell was just opening her mouth to defend Cat when Brenda continued. ‘And as your father and I are paying for the dress, I’d just really like you to try it on one more time and give it a second chance. Please?’
There was a slight wheedling tone to Brenda’s voice that grated, and Nell was just about to risk Brenda’s absolute displeasure by speaking up again, when to her horror, Cat slumped and, with a quiet sigh,
