Leila patted Aisling on the back. ‘Well done you.’
Aisling mustered up a smile and began to sift through the heavy dresses on the rack. They were beautiful, all of them, but some were too fussy, some too simple. The perfect dress had yet to put in an appearance.
‘Ash, what do you think of this one?’ Leila asked, breaking her price tag first rule.
Aisling’s breath caught at the sight of the dress her friend was holding up with some difficulty for her to see. ‘It’s like something from a fairy tale.’
‘Fabulous isn’t it? It makes me wish I was getting married so I could wear it. Look at the way it ties at the back here. Oh, I can so see you in this, Aisling.’ The note of excitement in Leila’s voice was catching and Aisling reached out to touch the neckline above the bodice gently.
‘Are those crystals do you think?’ she asked, admiring the way the light was catching them.
‘They’re Swarovski crystals, all hand sewn on. A divine gown. I can see you’re both women of exquisite taste.’ Madame Mullan had floated over to catch the tail end of their conversation. ‘Shall I put it in the dressing room for you to try.’
Yes, she was a definite fecky brown noser, Aisling thought, looking at Leila who was nodding emphatically.
‘You definitely want to try.’
Aisling didn’t want to ruin the moment by asking how much it cost so she trailed behind Madame Mullan, nearly bumping into Moira who was dressed in her civvies once more as she exited the fitting room. ‘I’ve several dresses for you to look at, as soon as I’ve hung this in the dressing room for our bride-to-be, here,’ Madam Mullan directed at her and Moira nodded, more interested in the gown she had over her arm. ‘Wow! That’s gorgeous. What colour do you call that?’
‘It’s champagne,’ Madame Mullan said. ‘The perfect choice for madam’s delicate colouring.’
‘Can’t wait to see you in it, Aisling.’
Aisling felt a spark of excitement at her younger sister’s unusually generous words. It was a gorgeous, fabulous fairy tale dress and she couldn’t wait to step into it. A little voice spoke up. She suspected it belonged to her conscience because it was telling her if she were going to be buying a house in the foreseeable future then she should check out the price before going any further. There was no point falling in love with the gown and then not being able to justify the price. She hesitated but only briefly before telling her conscience to feck off away with itself as she traipsed on into the fitting room.
A moment later Aisling found herself alone with the dress which Madame Mullan had hung up telling her she’d be back to assist her with the grand reveal in ten minutes. She fluffed off to show Moira, Roisin and Leila her suggestions in the bridesmaid department. Aisling gazed around the spacious fitting room, breathing in the subtle fragrance of flowers clinging to the air thanks to the aromatherapy diffuser on the occasional table. A pile of wedding magazines and a box of tissues were artfully arranged next to it and in the corner was a white Queen Anne styled chair with a plush red velvet seat. She clambered out of her trousers and was pleased the lighting was subtle. Otherwise she’d have been gasping at the sight of her flesh in all its bare, fluorescent glory reflected back at her, thanks to the floor to ceiling mirrors. Her sweater was halfway over her head when Mammy’s voice echoed around the room.
‘Holy God above tonight, Aisling, could you not have put underwear on!’
Aisling pulled the sweater off feeling her hair frizz out from the static. ‘Mammy, don’t shout and what are you on about? I have a bra and knickers on. Sensible, suitable ones too.’
Maureen’s hand rested on her chest and her expression was one of relief as she got nearer. ‘Jesus, Mary and Joseph thank God you do. It’s the colour. I couldn’t see it when I walked in. You gave me a terrible fright, so you did. You girls don’t normally wear beige undergarments.’
‘They’re not beige thank you very much, Mammy, the colour is nude.’ Jaysus, Mammy could be an ignoramus; as if she’d ever wear beige anything, Aisling was outraged at the very thought. ‘And I chose it so my bra straps wouldn’t be glaringly obvious when I tried the dresses on.’
‘Yes, well nude is exactly what I thought you were.’
Aisling shook her head and mumbled, ‘Give me strength,’ before moving toward the dress.
‘I’ve come to help you get into that. Moira’s got your Madame one running around like a headless chicken.’ She looked to where the dress was shimmering under the lights and her gasp was audible.
‘Aisling, oh my word.’ The hand went to the chest once more. ‘It’s beautiful, so it is.’
‘It is, isn’t it? Leila spotted it.’
‘I can’t wait to see you in it,’ She echoed Moira’s sentiment. ‘Come on.’ Maureen was pleased to feel useful as she carefully removed the dress from the hanger and helped her daughter into it. ‘Alright now then, let’s zip you up. Raise your arms.’
‘Go slowly, don’t pinch me.’ Aisling said as her mammy began to inch the zipper up.
‘That only happened the once, Aisling.’
Once was more than enough, Aisling thought wincing at the memory of the formal dress she’d insisted on squeezing into for her high school leavers dance.
‘Alright so. We’re a quarter of the way there, on the count of three it’s time to breathe in. Alright?’
Aisling nodded assent.
‘One, two, three.’
She sucked everything in with all her might but still Maureen could only get the zip halfway up. ‘I don’t want to force it, Aisling, and breathe out or you’ll be after fainting. I’m sure it can be let out a little.’
‘It won’t need to be. I’m on track to have lost five pounds by D-Day.’
Maureen stepped away from her daughter in order to
