Page 109 of Merrily Ever After
Emily beamed. ‘That’s right. The Santa hats that the choir wore to the Christmas Fair.’
‘You were there when I found my dress. So I did have a member of my family there after all.’ Merry’s gaze softened. ‘How many other times have our worlds collided?’
‘You know, girls,’ said Nell, her eyes glinting, ‘you should tell your story to a newspaper, it would make a great feature.’
Emily faltered. ‘Um, I’m not sure how my mum would feel about that.’
Merry gave her a hug. ‘Let’s not think about that now. Can someone say my dress looks amazing please? Nervous bride here?’
‘Oh, mate,’ said Nell in a low voice.
Emily swallowed, not sure whether to tell the truth. Merry looked beautiful, but the dress hung off her, it would look a hundred times better if it was taken in down the sides and the darts which ran from the waist across her ribs to her bust.
‘The style is perfect for you,’ said Emily. ‘It really shows off your figure. You’re so slim.’
‘Shit.’ The smile on Merry’s face slipped as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. ‘It’s too big, isn’t it?’
Emily bit her lip and nodded. Honesty, she decided, was the best policy. It’s what she would want if the boot were on the other foot. ‘It might look better if it was taken in.’
‘It fit you when you bought it,’ Nell said, frowning, ‘I was there.’
She pinched the fabric at the back of Merry’s dress to make it fit. ‘At least you’ll be able to stuff your face on your wedding day and it won’t get too tight.’
Merry flattened her hands against her chest and groaned. ‘Who stole my boobs?’
‘Not just your boobs,’ said Nell, poking her in the ribs. ‘I can’t even pinch an inch.’
‘Maybe it’s a nervous energy thing,’ Emily suggested, wondering if she was partly to blame. ‘You’ve been working really hard, and you’ve just found out about me and Dad.’
Merry nodded. ‘I have. Which has been the absolute best thing. But it’s all been such a lot to cope with, trying to do stuff for the wedding and work out how to keep the business going without putting too much pressure on Fred. With one thing and another, I haven’t had much appetite.’
Poor Merry, Emily thought, she’d gone from top of the world to rock bottom in two minutes flat.
‘Why does this never happen to me?’ said Emily, trying to raise the mood. ‘When I’m tense, I can hoover up an entire bar of milk chocolate without even noticing.’
Nell snorted. ‘That’s me with a jar of peanut butter.’
‘Guys,’ said Merry, a hint of panic in her voice as she plucked at the loose fabric. ‘Seriously. What am I going to do?’
‘Stick a pair of socks in your bra?’ Nell suggested.
‘You need to get the dress altered,’ said Emily.
She felt a stirring inside her. Could she do it? She was a fairly confident seamstress, but she’d never tackled anything as important as a wedding dress before. To make a good job of it, she’d have to unpick the bodice panels and the lining and realign them perfectly. What if she messed it up, or pricked her finger and bled on it?
Merry dropped her head, her chin starting to wobble. ‘There isn’t time, I get married in five days and I’m going to look like I’m wearing a sack.’
‘I’ll do it,’ said Emily, feeling a bit sweaty as soon as the words had left her mouth. ‘I can sew.’
Merry’s jaw dropped. ‘Do you mean it?’
Emily nodded. ‘I’d need to start tomorrow though, to give myself enough time.’
Merry fired herself across the room and threw her arms around her sister. ‘Thank you! Oh my Lord, the relief.’
‘Well played, Emily,’ said Nell, grinning at her. ‘Have you made a wedding dress?’
Emily’s stomach swirled with doubt mixed with pride and she laughed nervously. ‘Not exactly.’ She pulled a face. ‘The last thing I made was a bear costume – in fact, make that ten bear costumes for the school panto.’
