Page 51 of Silver Hills' Christmas Miracle

It took a few long minutes to get me into the dress, but as soon as it was on and Hilda busied herself at my back lacing up the corset, I couldn’t take my eyes off myself.

The corset was a deep crimson with a swooping neckline and a cinched waist that made it look like I was sucking in every loose bit of tummy. But with this design, I didn’t have to do anything. The red bodice was studded with white and silver gemstones that ran from the breast to the abdomen. They glittered like a thousand stars with each breath. White fluff clung to the top of the corset and around the waist, where the red corset was attached to a white skirt that puffed out around my thighs and draped down my legs like silk. The skirt was scattered with red glitter, and silver strands nested in the white fluff and through the sheer straps and lightly caressed just below my shoulders.

I felt like a Christmas princess and tears stung in my eyes.

“What do you think?” Hilda asked as she worked behind me. “I hope I captured your vision.”

“It’s beautiful,” I said thickly as emotion clogged my voice. “It’s beyond anything I imagined when I scribbled out my design for you. You’ve made a masterpiece, Hilda.”

She snorted behind me, then pulled tightly on the corset. I winced as the bodice pressed against my breasts, and while I didn’t say a word, somehow, Hilda knew.

“Too tight?” she asked.

“A little,” I replied, pressing my hand to my chest. “Just around here.”

Hilda darted around me with her tape, whistling through her teeth as she did so. “Hmm. Your bust is larger than what I wrote down. Did I measure you wrong?” Hilda moved away andconferred with her notes while I continued to admire myself in the mirror.

I turned this way and that, soaking up every sparkle and flash of glitter that caught my eye. The colors were festive, the sparkle was enough to make me compete with even the largest crystal chandeliers in the manor, and the fabric was light enough that the warmth at the ball should be no issue.

“Your boobs are bigger,” Hilda stated, tapping her notes. “I checked. Are you due your period?”

“Maybe?” I tried to think back. “Will that affect my dress?”

“Not at all,” Hilda said. “I will just make some adjustments to how the corset is laced up and you will be good to go.”

“Amazing.” I beamed at her, then pointed toward the curtain. “Can I show Mom?”

“Of course.” Hilda held out her wrinkled hand for me to take and helped me down from the platform.

I walked forward and Hilda drew back the curtain. It was impossible to keep the smile from my face, and my cheeks flushed hot as Mom and Rook came into view.

“Well?” I said softly, awkwardly twisting my fingers as I suddenly became painfully aware of my arms. “What do you guys think?”

“Oh, my God!” Mom was on her feet immediately, and she darted forward to clasp my hands. “You look beautiful! So stunning. So elegant! Oh, my God! The gemstones. The glitter. The softness. It’s beautiful, absolutely beautiful!”

Mom danced around me, taking me in while my attention was on Rook.

Rook, who watched me silently from the chair with a cup of tea in one hand. He didn’t drink. He didn’t even blink. In fact, he barely even looked like he was breathing. He just stared at me, and I couldn’t decipher if it was a good look or a bad look in his eyes.

I so hoped it was a good look.

He stared at me for so long that none of us heard the phone ringing until Hilda stomped past me.

“Whose phone is that?” she demanded.

Her words knocked Rook out of his trance. He shook his head and picked up my bag. “Kitty’s, I think?”

“Oh, let me…” I edged forward and took my bag, then quickly hunted out my phone from where it vibrated and sang at the bottom next to my purse.

My mom quickly fell into conversation with Hilda about her own dress as I answered the call.

“Hello?”

“Hi, there,” drawled a sharp voice. “This is Sasha calling from Silver Hills Memorial. Am I speaking to Kitty Morgan?”

“This is she.”

“Excellent, excellent. I’m calling to let you know that we finally received all your test results,” Sasha said.

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