Page 4 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 4

“Good one to have at your side,” I nodded.

“Exactly. Speaking of the devil,” Syd said as Jennifer came in holding a stack of dresses in each hand. She hissed at Syd as she passed, making us both laugh.

“Okay, start with the most extravagant and work your way down. I gotta hit my own quota this week,” she teased and winked.

I put on the most expensive “extravagant” dress first. It was lace at the neck, down the long sleeves and all the way to the floor. It was stunning and very regal but didn’t seem to fit the setting of a backyard wedding. Still, I dutifully walked out and stood on the riser in front of the Taylor women.

“Wow, that dress fits like a latex glove,” Odessa called out.

“It’s mighty fine,” Granny said and sipped on her champagne.

“Don’t you think it’s a little…I don’t know…old?” said fourteen-year-old Cheyenne. Leave it to the youngest of the group to lay down the truth.

“I agree. It’s pretty but not really appropriate for a garden wedding,” I admitted, hoping they weren’t upset.

“Good point. Next!” Robin called out.

“Who do you gotta ask to get some more bubbly around here?” Granny lifted her empty flute.

“Hold your horses, Gran, and I’ll fix you right up!” Jennifer hustled behind a short wall and grabbed a fresh bottle.

“You have my thanks, Jenny,” Gran said.

“Oh, do you prefer to be called Jenny?” I asked as we made our way back to the room.

Sydney snorted through her laugh.

“No, I hate it. But Gran is the matriarch of all matriarchs. You don’t mess with her. If she wants to call me Jenny, she can.”

“But no one else,” I confirmed.

“Right. Try on the poofy princess one.”

I looked at the dress with dread. It was absolutely not my style in any way. Corset on top with mounds and mounds of chiffon falling from the waist in a big bloom. I hated it.

Once again, I walked out to show the crowd. Immediately Cheyenne and Holland started laughing. The rest of the group wasn’t far behind so instead of stepping on the riser, I made an about face and went directly back to the room. Their cackling could be heard echoing throughout the entire store.

“She looked like an upside-down flower!” one of the younger ones blurted, and she wasn’t wrong.

Instead of going through each dress, I filtered through to my favorite. It was a soft eggshell white satin with spaghetti straps and a cowl neckline over the breasts. The fabric was buttery smooth, and the fluid drape hugged my curves all the way to the floor. The back was completely bare all the way to my tailbone. It was sexy, sultry, and beautifully simple.

My heart started to pound, goosebumps rose on my flesh, and I couldn’t help but smile as I stared at my image in the mirror. I’d never felt more beautiful. It broke my heart a little that I was seeing myself as a bride for the first time without my own mother in attendance. But I was a strong, independent woman and I could handle the disappointment of her absence the same way I had my entire life. With grit and grace.

Sydney gasped, her hand over her mouth as she stared in awe. “That’s the one. Show them. They’re gonna die when they see you.”

I walked slowly back out to my audience with my head held high and my heart in my throat. I wanted them to like it more than my next breath.

I needn’t worry. The second I came out and stood up on the riser, Robin started crying. Odessa whooped and high-fived Holland. Cheyenne cried out, “Heck yes!” while Granny smiled and nodded.

Jennifer watched everyone’s faces and then turned to me with big teary doe eyes, her hands clasped in the center of her chest. “Are we saying yes to this dress?”

“Absolutely. This is what I want to wear when Memphis sees me for the first time as his bride.”

Episode 88

To Be Continued

RHODES

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