Page 96 of Absinthe Minded

My mouth fell open.

“He wants you to pick out a dress for tonight, too,” Dahlia said.

“What’s tonight?” I knew I hadn’t forgotten plans with Gabe. We didn’t date, we played house.

Before they could answer, Clair returned with an armful of dresses.

I must have turned eight shades of red when Clair stayed in the dressing room. While I appreciated the assistance with zippers and such, I wished I hadn’t left home wearing a ratty old bra and Hello Kitty panties.

First, I tried on a sleek, black sheath dress with a deep V-neck. It. Was. Awful. Half my bra hung out and my boobs looked deflated.

“Let me get you something that will help.” Clair stepped out of the room.

I stared in the mirror, imagining what my mother would say about this dress. Nadine wouldnotapprove.

Clair returned with a strapless bra and proceeded to help me into it. It fit perfectly, no binding in the back and no boob spillage over the cups. When I pulled the dress up again, it looked like a different garment altogether.

“Wow.” I leaned closer to the mirror, then turned sideways. My tummy had flattened, waist narrowed, and my breasts…holy moly. The stress diet was working.

“Would you like to show your friends?”

Heck yes!“Sure.” I followed the woman out into the sitting area.

Dahlia clapped and Shanna gasped. “Oh, Maggie, that’s gorgeous.”

“It’s simple, but stunning.” Dahlia motioned for me to turn.

Watching my reflection in the mirror, I spun in a slow circle. “I’ll take this one.”

Another woman rolled a rack of five or six gowns outside her dressing room. I took one look at them and the room tilted. Cocktail dresses were one thing—formal wear made me want to run for the door.

“You look frightened. We’ll do this one at a time, dear.” Clair patted my shoulder.

I tried all six gowns on but none of them fit—too short, too long, too boobish, too matronly. It was a disaster.

Clair hung the last reject on its hanger. “Excuse me a moment. I have some things in back that you may like.”

While the saleswoman hurried to a different part of the store, I popped my head out to talk to my friends. “Where’s Lindsey?”

“She had to go,” Shanna said. “Seriously, Maggie. Hasn’t anyone ever told you not to pick up strays?”

“She’s harmless,” Dahlia said.

“She’s weird,” Shanna replied.

No sense in arguing with the truth. “I agree she’s odd.”

Clair returned, and I went back into the dressing room.

“I think I have the perfect dress for you, but I have some questions first.” Her smile lit her eyes.

“All right.” I stared at the garment bag, praying this one would do the trick.

“We don’t want to put you in something that’s the same shape as your wedding gown. Have you chosen one yet?”

I reached for the wall for support. The mere mention of wedding dresses made my already queasy stomach lurch.

“Would you humor me and agree to wear a mermaid fit for your wedding? With your hourglass figure, it would be breathtaking.”

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