Page 70 of Under A Sicilian Sky
She went dashing off and Ruby heard a clattering noise coming from the landing. She dashed out to see what was going on, closely followed by Jules.
Caitlin was pulling down a loft ladder from a hatch in the ceiling. ‘Someone hold the ladder. Maybe not Jules though, eh?’ She giggled and Ruby turned to Jules for an explanation.
Jules rolled her eyes and her cheeks turned pink. ‘Long story.’
Caitlin disappeared into the loft and rummaged around. ‘Shit! Ouch!’ could be heard, and then moments later, ‘Found it!’
She crawled towards the hatch and handed down a white rectangular box, which Jules and Ruby grabbed and placed on the floor.
Once Caitlin had climbed down and closed the hatch, she clapped her hands together. ‘It’s so good that you’re the same size as me! This dress is absolutely perfect.’
Jules held up a hand. ‘Hang on, Cait, if this dress is so amazing, why the heck is it in the loft?’
Caitlin huffed. ‘It was an impulse buy. I absolutely fell in love with it in a fancy boutique, but I’ve never had the chance to wear it. I put it up in the loft because it was depressing me every time I looked at it hanging there in my wardrobe.’
Ruby reached out and gripped her hand. ‘Caitlin, I can’t wear your special dress. It wouldn’t be right. You should be the first to wear it.’
Caitlin placed a hand over Ruby’s. ‘Look, it’s a dress that needs to be worn. And this occasion would be perfect. Please, you’d be doing me a favour, letting it fulfil its purpose. Otherwise, it’s like a Christmas tree that’s never been decorated, or a bottle of delicious wine that stays on the rack. Sopleeeeasewear it.’ She held up her hands. ‘So long as you like it, of course. And I won’t be offended if you don’t! Tartan isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.’
Ruby’s eyes widened and she reached out. ‘Ooh, Ilovetartan! Gimme!’
The three friends laughed, and Caitlin carefully removed the lid and unwrapped the tissue paper. She pulled out the dress and held it aloft. Ruby and Jules gasped.
‘That’s gorgeous!’
‘Wow, stunning!’
The dress was a fitted dark green velvet shift dress with panels of tartan on either side in lilac and green.
Jules cried out, ‘I have some green velvet shoes that would go perfectly! This is definitely meant to be.’
Caitlin cringed. ‘Oh god, I hope you like it on you. Come on, get it tried on!’
Ruby grabbed the dress and took it to the bathroom, where she stripped down to her underwear and stepped into it. It was even more beautiful on and fit her like a glove. It was figure-hugging and so flattering. She stared at herself in the full-length mirror on the back of the bathroom door. Of all the dresses she’d worn to the events she had attended over her years in the movie business, she couldn’t remember feeling so good as she did right then.
There was a knock at the door. ‘Is it okay? Do you hate it? Can we see?’
Ruby opened the door and the other women squealed. She grinned and her stomach flipped at their positive reactions.
‘Oh, my goodness! It was literally made for you! It’s perfect! It’s such a shame that your hair colour hasn’t faded much yet. Imagine it with your gorgeous red!’ Caitlin enthused as Jules stood there with her hands over her mouth.
Jules interjected, ‘Ooh, I’ve seen a hack online that shows you how to fade hair dye naturally. We have a couple of days until the opening. We could give it a try. They’re all-natural ingredients that you tend to have at home, and if it doesn’t work, you’ve not lost anything.’
Ruby’s excitement ramped up. ‘Would you both help me? I want to look like me again.’
Caitlin reached out and took her hand. ‘Of course we will. I didn’t tell you the best thing about the dress yet.’
Ruby’s interest was piqued. ‘Oh? Go on.’
Caitlin placed her hands over her heart. ‘It’s Isle of Skye tartan.’
Ruby felt a rush of emotion and her two new friends enveloped her in a hug. Ruby closed her eyes and wished that life could feel this positive and happy all the time.
Ruby pulled away. ‘I’d better take this off before I get it all crumpled. I honestly can’t thank you enough. Both of you. You’ve been amazing.’
Caitlin headed for the stairs. ‘Come on, I’m off to open another bottle of fizz. We need to celebrate my lovely dress!’
27
