Page 24 of One More Time
‘Well,’ came Chloe’s sing-songy voice, dripping in triumph. ‘Here they are!’
The four bridesmaids turned away from their mirrors to face Lucy and Kim.
Lucy couldn’t help but smile. Even with pins and tailor’s basting dotting their garments, the ladies were magnificent. So happy and fresh and pretty in their different gowns all in the same shade of rich, dusty lavender.
‘You are all drop-dead gorgeous,’ Lucy announced.
‘Amazing,’ Kim added, holding her champagne flute up as if toasting.
Chloe clapped her hands together in glee, her bright blueeyes – just exactly like Lucy’s own – glistened with happy tears. Her fair skin was tinged with a splash of pink that made her look so much like little middle-school Chloe that it took Lucy’s breath away. She got up and hugged her daughter fiercely.
‘It’s going to be a beautiful wedding, Clo,’ Lucy mumbled into her daughter’s hair.
‘I can’t wait,’ Chloe replied.
With a deep, cleansing sigh, Chloe pulled back and fixed her gaze on Lucy.
‘Okay, Mom. Your turn.’
Lucy groaned. Well, it had to be done, whether she was ready or not. ‘All right, let’s do it.’
There were pins in very inconvenient places along the back seams and underarms of the mother-of-the-bride dress that Chloe had helped Lucy pick out. It was a simple silhouette, a sleeveless column dress with surplice detail at the bodice that dipped into a deep V. Lots of cleavage.Probably too much cleavage. The slit on the left thigh was maybe, possibly, too high to be appropriate for a wedding – even one in Vegas.
The real stunning bit, though, was the beading. Every inch of the thing was covered in tiny sequins and baubles. Shades of rose gold and pale pink glimmered over every curve. The gown was beyond beautiful, heavy and, thanks to her ex-husband’s explicit directions to ‘put everything onthe AmEx, Chloe,’ completely free. For Lucy, that is. Chloe refused to tell Lucy how much of a dent it was putting in Brandon’s millions, rightfully guessing that Lucy’s brain would explode at the number.
Lucy stepped into the gallery room flanked by two of the seamstresses with their measuring tapes and jangling pins. She took her place on one of the pedestals and faced the assembled crowd – Kim, the bridesmaids now back in street clothes, and of course, Chloe.
The first words were from Kim – a sharp: ‘Holy. Shit.’
Lucy freaked. ‘Oh, God! It’s too much, right? There’s too much boob? The slit is too high. Is it too sparkly?’
A multi-part chorus of ‘no’ rang out.
‘It’s fucking gorgeous,’ Kim declared. ‘You are stunning in that.’
‘Thank you, but that’s not the point. Is it?’ Lucy tried. ‘I mean, it’s Chloe’s day. I don’t want to look like I’m trying to outshine her. I should be a Rose or a Dorothy, not a Blanche.’
The young women in the room looked at her like she was speaking a foreign language.
Lucy tried again. ‘I need to be a Charlotte or a Miranda, not a Samantha.’
Only Chloe seemed to understand.
Good Lord.Lucy searched her mind.
‘Oh!’ she chirped. ‘I need to be more of a Vanessa or Blair than a Serena or Jenny.’
The bridesmaid crew all nodded in understanding. Kim only looked confused.
‘You should not!’ called Chloe. ‘You should be a Carrie.’
‘You’re the Carrie in this situation, Clo,’ Lucy tried.
‘There will be no missing me in the big white dress. There’s no reason you shouldn’t shine, Mom. You’re amazing.’ Chloe turned to her squad. ‘Ladies, am I right?’
Alexis chimed in, ‘It’s perfect, Lucy.’
‘Beautiful,’ said Gabby.
