Page 63 of Operation Annulment
Dakota snaps a photo on her phone and begins tapping away.
“What are you doing over there? You’re not posting that online, are you?”
Dakota shakes her head and continues typing.
“Dakota Mae, do not make me chase you around this store in a wedding gown. Tell me what you’re doing.”
She hands me her phone. She’s been texting Nate.
After what he did for Dakota, he revealed his true character to me, and something changed between us. Our conversations no longer felt like interviews. He’d come home a few nights after the hospital incident and ask over dinner, “Tell me something I don’t know—what do you do when you’re not working?”
I’d thought about it and answered,“Well, I take spinning and yoga classes.”
He’d smiled at the mention of yoga, and I knew exactly where his mind had gone. He tried to recover with, “What about outdoor sports? Have you ever gone skydiving?”
I’d snorted from laughing so hard. “Skydiving? Do I look like someone who would jump out of a perfectly good airplane?”
He’d persisted with, “Snowboarding? Skiing?”
I’d tried to keep a straight face as I answered, “I don’t like the cold, but I’d go with you and drink hot chocolate in the lodge.”
So maybe he thinks I have no hobbies—given the opportunity, I can learn to like what he does.
I glance down at Dakota’s text messages.
Dakota: Doesn’t your bride look gorgeous?
Dakota: Oops, I think she’s on to me.
Dakota: Welp, gotta go. Pray for my soul.
I smile and hand the phone back. “You’re off the hook—only because you were being sweet.”
She rolls her eyes. “Geez, thanks. Alright, it’s crunch time.Operation: Find Cap a Dress. Surely there’s something in here that doesn’t suck.” She looks at the assistant. “No offense.”
I tap my finger against my cheek as I survey the room from my carpeted perch. None of these dresses fit her personality—she needs a dress worthy of a superhero.
That’s it!
“Dakota, I’ve got it. Follow me.” We make our way to the back corner of the store, and there it is—the perfect dress.
The cap-sleeve gown hangs alone in the corner. It’s covered in vintage black lace, with hints of white peeking through from underneath. Its plunging neckline and fitted style make it a dress fit for a superhero.
Dakota’s eyes light up as she reverently runs her hands over the material. “Kate, it’s exactly what I pictured.”
I clap my hands together. “You wanted a unique wedding. What if we do a masquerade ceremony? It ties in with your superhero theme with the masks, but it’s elegant at the same time.”
She nods, not breaking eye contact with the dress.
I turn back to the assistant. “We’ll need that in her size, and would you mind helping me out of this one?”
My work here is done.
twenty-five
COMMANDMENT #26: THOU SHALT NOT USE THE L-WORD
Kate
