Page 94 of The Backup Groom
She smiled. “Honestly? Scotty is going to eat you up.”
I giggled. “I hoped you were going to say that. It’s comfy and—”
“Wait a minute! Please!” a young woman yelled out, frantically shuffling her way through the display of dresses like it was an obstacle course. “That’s my dress!”
I glanced down at the dress I was wearing. “Are you sure?” I waved over to Cricket. “She pulled it off the rack for me.”
The woman assumed a bossy pose and glared at Cricket. “My dad had to transfer money to my account before I could pay for it. You said you were going to hold it for me until ten!”
Unsympathetically, Cricket tapped on her watch. “It’s ten after ten.”
“Please . . . tell me you have another one.” She could barely get the words out, her face crestfallen, the tears welling up in her eyes.
Mary chimed in, frowning like she hated to say it. “Nothing in the back, all on the rack.”
“Please don’t do this to me,” the woman implored. “It’s the only dress that fits me to a T. I need that dress. My wedding is next Saturday. Please!”
“There are plenty of other dresses available,” Cricket unhelpfully said.
The woman’s mouth dropped open as a tear traveled down her cheek. “But that was my dream dress.” She glanced at it one more time, slumped her shoulders, then turned to walk away, her pace that of a heartbroken tortoise.
“Wait,” I said, the feeling in my gut telling me it was wrong to let her leave.
There was no way I could allow myself to stand in between this young woman and her dream wedding dress. Yes, I loved it, but I could easily find another one, I was sure of it.
The woman turned around, hope in her eyes. “Yes?”
“You can have the dress,” I said. “Just give me a moment to change back out of it.”
“Really?” She sniffled and wiped her eyes, a smile slowly forming on her face. “Are you serious?”
Cricket shook her head. “We don’t allow that here.”
I turned to her, practically in shock. “You don’t allow what? Kindness?”
“That dress is yours—she can find another one,” Cricket said. “We have rules.”
I just stared at her. “AndIhave a heart. The dress is hers and that is final.” I walked toward the dressing room, then stopped when I sensed Cricket and Mary were following right behind me. “I don’t need your help to change.”
They stood there in shock as I closed the curtain in their faces. After I slid out of the dress and got back into my street clothes, I stepped back out of the fitting room and gestured to the dress I left on the hook.
“I know you’re going to look absolutely gorgeous in that dress,” I said to the woman cheerily. “I hope you have a wonderful wedding day.”
She lunged toward me and crushed me with a hug. “Thank you so much. You don’t know how much this means to me.”
I giggled. “Actually, I have a feeling I do.”
The woman took the dress and rushed toward the cash register.
Cricket tapped her foot on the floor, looking quite perturbed. “Well, we’ll have to start all over again. Wonderful. Follow me.”
I shook my head. “No, thank you. I’m taking my business elsewhere.”
Not saying another word, I headed toward the front door, Stella right behind me.
Once outside, I inhaled the fresh air, knowing I’d done the right thing.
“That was amazing what you did in there. You loved that dress.” Stella pulled me to a stop and threw her arms around me. “I’m so proud to call you my friend.” She squeezed me tighter. “Seriously, the world needs more people like you, Amber.”
