Page 102 of New Day at the Beach House

“Congratulations,” the clerk replied. “That is fabulous. I’m Lisa, by the way.”

“Nice to meet you,” Trina said. “That’s my mom, Roxie, and my Mimi, who goes by Willie.” She laughed. “And I’m Trina.”

“Nice to meet all of you. Is this your first time into Lady M?”

“It is,” Willie said. “We never had the money to shop here before but now we do.”

Roxie rolled her eyes. “Ma, you don’t have to tell people that.”

Lisa laughed. “It’s okay. I know we’re a little expensive, but we carry unique and special designs for a very discerning woman. What sort of dress do you have in mind for your wedding gown?”

“The ceremony is going to be beachside,” Willie said. “So nothing too fancy. But fancy enough that I look like a bride.”

Lisa nodded. “Would you like to look around the shop? Or would you like me to make some suggestions?”

“Can’t we do both?” Roxie asked.

“By all means,” Lisa said. “Feel free to wander. If you find anything you like, I’ll take it back to the fitting room for you. In the meantime, I already have a couple of dresses in mind that I’d like to show you.”

“Great,” Willie said. “Let’s shop, my girls.”

Roxie stayed with her mom, as did Trina. Roxie was worried that her mom might get tired out, but her energy seemed to be just fine. If Willie needed a boost, Roxie figured she could always send Trina down to Java Jams for a mocha latte. That would pick Willie up for sure.

“There’s a lot to look through,” Trina said.

Roxie nodded. “There is. I never realized how big this place was.” It was no Classic Closet, but then again, what was? She found a floral print dress that looked nice enough. She checked the tag and nearly gasped. Four hundred dollars.

She knew her mother had money now and probably wouldn’t think twice about a price tag like that, but it still made Roxie pause. All the same, she took the dress off the rack and held it out. “What do you think of this one, Ma?”

Willie looked over. “Looks like something Laura Ingalls wore on Little House on the Prairie.”

Roxie rolled her eyes. “So no, then.”

Willie grinned. “It’s my wedding day. The last one I’m ever going to have. I want to look beautiful and sexy, not like I’m capable of plowing the back forty.”

Trina giggled. “Mimi, you’ll look beautiful in anything you wear.”

“That’s sweet of you to say, Trina, but if there was ever a time to be particular, it’s now.”

Trina nodded. “I agree. Let’s keep looking.”

Lisa came over and showed them a dress she’d picked out. It was a long dress with spaghetti straps but had a matching jacket. The whole thing was swirls of pale blue and lavender on a white background and the pattern was accented with iridescent sequins. The fabric was light and flowy. “What do you think of this? I picked it because it matches your hair.”

Willie sucked in a breath. “That is gorgeous. It looks like something a mermaid might get married in. I love that. In fact, it might be perfect. Definitely going to be too long for me, though.”

Lisa shook her head. “We have a seamstress who can take the dress up, so don’t worry about that. Shall I put this in your changing room?”

“You bet,” Willie said. Then she looked at Roxie and Trina. “Find me more like that. I need some bling.”

They went to work, sorting through the shop’s many racks. They ended up with a few more dresses, one skirt-and-top outfit, and a linen suit in a beautiful shade of periwinkle. To go under that, Roxie had found a matching periwinkle shell completely covered in sequins. Lisa had added a few more dresses as well.

Willie went back to find a changing room stuffed with options. “This is going to take me all day.”

“You want a mocha latte, Mimi?” Trina asked. “I’ll run down and get you one.”

Roxie nodded. “I was just going to suggest that.”

“That would be just the ticket,” Willie said. She glanced at Lisa. “Do you mind if I have a drink in the store? I’ll be careful with it. But a little sugar and caffeine might be the only things that get me through trying all of this on.”

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