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The woman near the double doors to the bedroom threw them open as the blonde asked, “Is she staying with us as well?”
It would have been nice to have Hope there. I missed my friends, but they would understand. Then I gazed around the room. No bed in sight. I gasped. The bedroom was now a bridal store with white dresses on display everywhere.
I said, “No, they’re back in New York.”
The dark-haired woman near the door said, “So, we have assembled some dresses in your size for you to try, though if you have a favorite designer, we can get their dress here pronto.”
I would look like a bride. Adrenaline rushed through me. “Can I try these on?”
The clothing woman said, “Yes, of course. Try them all. Then we can match the makeup to your preferred style.”
“Sounds perfect.” I picked up a frothy gown made of lace that reminded me of Kate Middleton’s dress, which I’d seen on TV. Its long lacy sleeves, demure plunge, white dress underneath, simple veil, and longer train made the dress a statement.
I tugged it on, and she helped me button the back. My breath caught in my throat. This was the perfect dress. My waist seemed smaller than it really was.
The dark-haired woman added the matching veil to my hair, and I nodded. “I love it.”
“Want to try on anything else?”
“No, this is it.”
She had me hold my hands straight and pinned the waist and the hem. Once she was done, she helped me out and then held the dress.
The blonde waved for me to come back to the main living area. “Your phone, ma’am.”
I sat. The hairdresser quietly asked whether I wanted an updo or to wear my hair down. I said up and then asked my sister, “Abby, how’s Switzerland?”
“I heard you broke up with Kir. Is that true?”
I moved my phone to let the hair stylist work. “For about two hours, but we’re good now.”
“Thank goodness. I was thinking a lot as I lay in this bed.”
I laughed. She had no idea how much I missed her, and her voice grounded me. “About the hot doc?”
“That too, but what I said… look, if you love Kir, and he loves you, then don’t let work get in the way.”
I ached to tell her about the elopement, but it would be better to give her that news in person, so I said, “Good advice. I’m taking the job working with him, as it’s a good fit for my skills.”
“You read my mind. I’d heard they stupidly fired you.”
Clearly, someone had filled in her but hadn’t told her everything. “I’m more than okay.”
“Well, I can’t wait to see you again, out of this bed.”
The stylist gently tugged my hair higher on my head.
“Did you get good news?” I asked.
“The treatments seem to be working this time, so hopefully, I’ll be able to have my own life again.”
Everything was perfect. Soon I’d hug her, and she’d see how happy I was. “I love you, sis.”
“Me too.”
I ended the call and turned my phone off. The more I talked, the more likely I would tell someone the big news. I let the makeup artists work on my face. Once they’d finished, the dark-haired woman returned with my dress, which now had no pins.
She helped me into the dress, and then I gazed at myself in the mirror. “This is perfect.”
