Page 7 of Undefeated Love
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll get you some breakfast and bring it in.” Nate was so sweet. Katlin reached inside her bag for some money.
He held up his hand and shook his head. “No need. I have a corporate credit card. I’m sure you’ll approve the expenditure if Griffin doesn’t.”
“Thank you so much.” Katlin strode to the front door and opened it just as Grace was being greeted by the store owner.
“Now that I have some ideas of what you’re looking for, let’s get you all into the bridal room. We have comfortable couches and champagne waiting for you.” The woman in her late fifties led the entourage into the next room where white overpowered any other color. The walls were lined with white dresses that led to a white carpet. In the middle was a raised platform surrounded by mirrors stretching ten feet tall at every angle. Groupings of white French provincial loveseats were positioned every few feet with a matching coffee table in front.
After showing Grace to a changing room, the owner walked over to Katlin and introduced herself. “I’m Angeline. Welcome to my store.” She signaled for the other Ladies to join them. “Will you be selecting bridesmaids’ dresses today as well?”
“Possibly.” Lei Lu swept her gaze around the white room. “Do you have any?”
Angeline giggled. “Hundreds of possibilities.” She walked across the room and through an archway that turned before they stepped into a palette of color. “There are so many variations of white, we don’t want anything to detract from our bride’s selection, so we keep color away from that room. I’ll be selecting several dresses for Ms. Hall to try on. Perhaps while you’re waiting, you might choose to explore our offerings.” She swept her hand around the room then disappeared through the same archway.
Tori immediately started rifling through the dresses. “Does anybody know what colors she’s chosen?” She stopped and looked at each one of them. “Colors that look good on me are going to suck on you, Katlin. And I’m so tall compared to the shrimp over here.” She threw her arm around Lei Lu.
Their Asian teammate looked up at the tallest one of them. “I can still kick your fucking ass. But you’re right.” She shrugged. “I’ll wear anything Grace wants me to wear. This is her wedding. I only have to wear it once.”
“Same.” Although Katlin was truly hoping she wouldn’t have to wear something hideous. “Let’s go help Grace pick a wedding dress first.”
They returned to the white room and as soon as they sat in the middle two loveseats, an assistant appeared with a tray of champagne flutes and a chilled bottle. “Good morning. I’m Celeste. Angeline has selected several beautiful dresses for Ms. Hall. She’s trying on a strapless one first.”
Katlin waved off the glass of champagne and held up her can of ginger ale. She wondered if Nate had been successful in procuring something for her to eat. Her prayers were answered when he texted her a few minutes later. She rose just as Celeste appeared with a bag.
“Your driver asked me to give this to you.”
“Thank you.” Katlin opened the bag and smiled, letting out a long breath. “I’m sorry, Ladies, but I missed breakfast.” She glanced over at her four friends.
In unison, they exclaimed, “Eat.”
Grace walked out in what Katlin thought was lingerie for their wedding night. All four Black Swans slid each other glances. They’d worked together for several years and could practically read each other’s minds. Finally, they looked to Grace.
“Isn’t she…sexy?” Angeline gushed. “As she walks down the aisle there is a hint of nakedness underneath. Her husband to be will not be able to look away.”
“Her father, the minister, will run down the aisle and throw his long robes around her right after her mother faints,” Nita sat shaking her head.
Tori giggled. “Can you imagine what the governor of Georgia will say?”
Katlin laughed out loud. “I’d love to see the look on her new mother-in-law’s face, Ms. prim and proper. She would absolutely die right there on the spot.”
Angeline looked aghast. “Your father is the minister? Are you serious that the governor will be there? Who are you marrying?”
“Parker Griffin Mitchell the fifth,” all five said in unison.
Tori stood and walked to Angeline, throwing her arm around the shorter woman and looking down at her. “I think perhaps you misunderstood. Our Grace wants something slightly demure yet a little sexy. Keep in mind that the wedding is outdoors in Georgia so don’t bury her under miles of satin.” She glanced toward the so-called dress Grace was wearing. “But she needs to wear more than that.”
Four hours later, the limousine pulled into the seventh bridal shop in a strip mall. It had only been seven if you counted number four. That shop had one dress. Yes, that’s right. One dress and it wasn’t for sale. The seamstress designed each dress for the woman then showed up the day before the wedding for the final fitting. No designs were ever shown to the bride, but she was expected to pay five figures in advance. Then, each dress took one year to make. The Ladies of Black Swan left laughing so hard tears were running down their cheeks.
Katlin seriously considered begging off number seven and stretching out in the limousine to take a nap. Her teammates were a little tipsy, even though they’d stopped and eaten lunch. Grace was no closer to finding her perfect wedding dress than she’d been that morning.
Once again, all five women filed out of the limousine and marched into the store. They were greeted by two women in their late twenties, basically their age.
“Hello ladies,” the brunette greeted. “Bridal gown or bridesmaids’ dresses?”
“Bridal gown.” Everyone pointed at Grace.
“How soon do you need it?” The blonde in a ponytail asked.
Katlin already liked this place. There was no pretentiousness.
