The Dream Dress Page 23

  Before I could answer, Nicolette chimed in. “Ashley, Gabi is a whiz. She can do anything you ask. You should see her sketchbook—it’s loaded with the most creative dresses you ever saw. But get her quick, honey, before someone steals her time. She’s getting busier every day now that her designs are featured at Club Wed.”

  “Okay.” Ashley nodded. “Well, I’ll call you Monday then.” She lowered her voice. “Before that Kandy Jamison finds out about you. She just got engaged too. Oh, and Meredith O’Henry. They’re going to beat me to the punch if I’m not fast on my feet, and we can’t let that happen.”

  “I guess it’s the season for engagements,” I said.

  “I guess.” Ashley grinned. “I just know that Bella has recommended you, and she says that any bride would be lucky to have you.”

  “Oh, well, Bella’s awfully sweet.” Embarrassment flooded over me.

  “No, she’s just awfully honest.” Bella’s voice sounded from behind me. “But we can talk about that later. Nicolette, it’s time to make that once-in-a-lifetime walk down the aisle. Are you ready?”

  All of the girls in the room let out collective squeals, and I backed away from them into the safety of the hallway. Minutes later I watched as Nicolette walked down the aisle. She looked like a million bucks, and judging from the smile on her daddy’s face, he felt like she was worth it.

  Afterward I looked on with the other guests as Nicolette entered the beautifully decorated reception hall wearing Demetri’s gown. She looked lovely, and I took pride in the fact that I’d revamped the top of it to accommodate her . . . well, her changes.

  The following morning I woke up early to head to wedding number two. As lovely as Nicolette’s had been, I knew it wouldn’t compare to this one, because the bride happened to be a dear friend.

  As I contemplated our relationship, I realized that God had done something extra special between the two of us over the past few weeks. We’d bonded, and not just over a dress. Our hours at church had been life changing. My current bridesmaid status answered any lingering questions about that.

  I decided to wait until I arrived at Scarlet’s church to get dressed. I met up with my friends in the tiny office—aka the bride’s room—and we dove in, ready to get this party started. Donning my new dress, I stared at my reflection in the mirror.

  “You look beautiful,” Bella said as she stepped into place alongside me. “And in case I haven’t mentioned it a thousand times before, you did a great job on these bridesmaid dresses.”

  “Yeah, I usually hate bridesmaid dresses,” Hannah said as she joined us. “But these are amazing.”

  “It’s the fall colors. I think they work.” Indeed, as I stared at our reflections—Bella in a deep purple, Hannah in wine, and me in a shimmering golden-brown—I thought we looked pretty spiffy.

  Not as spiffy as the bride, though. When Scarlet finished with her makeup and hair, she donned the princess gown, and we all gasped in unison.

  “Oh, Gabi.” Scarlet fanned her face, no doubt to keep the tears from coming. “It’s exactly what I’ve dreamed of from the time I was a little girl. It’s like you saw inside my head to the picture I’d painted there. How do you do that?”

  I couldn’t answer the question, really. Mostly I just listened to my brides as they shared their hearts and then leaned on God to do the rest.

  God.

  Interesting how much I found myself thinking about—and talking to—him these days. In fact, I could hardly remember my life before that awesome day when Bella sat with me on the veranda to talk about the real Prince Charming asking me to dance.

  This, of course, made me think of Jordan. I could hardly wait to see him.

  But I must wait. I had a wedding to attend. No, not just to attend—to participate in.

  Less than an hour later I walked down the aisle carrying a bouquet of fall flowers prepared by Bella’s sister-in-law and joined the other ladies at the front of the church. Out in the crowd I caught a glimpse of the Rossi family. Bella’s mother was awash in tears. No doubt. This was her son’s big day, after all.

  My gaze traveled to Mimi Carmen and Mama, who were seated next to Daniel. In the row behind them, the Splendora Sisters squirmed and fussed, trying to get a better look. I couldn’t help but notice the buxom trio was fully decked out in glitter and sequins.

  Finally the moment arrived. The back doors of the sanctuary opened, and the bride entered on her father’s arm. A gasp went up as Scarlet made her way down the aisle in that glorious dress. She looked like a picture in a magazine, a princess ready to meet her prince at the altar.

  Glancing over at Armando, I noticed the tears in his eyes. He wasn’t the only one. As Scarlet’s father reached the front of the church, he switched to his pastoral role, and I noticed he sounded a little choked up. Thank goodness this improved as the ceremony carried on, and he managed to get control of himself in time to ask the couple to share their vows. As they spoke their rehearsed lines, Scarlet and Armando gazed into one another’s eyes, pure joy radiating.

  I knew that kind of joy. I’d discovered it myself.

  As much as I hated to look away from the bride and groom, I had to find Jordan. Ah, there he was, right behind Sister Twila’s large hat. He leaned to his right to meet my gaze, and we both smiled. In that moment, unspoken words traveled between us—a thousand “I love yous” followed by promises to go on loving for years to come. I read all of this and more in his eyes.

  The ceremony ended with a longer-than-usual kiss from the bride and groom, which got a laugh out of the audience. After the ceremony, Hannah’s hubby, Drew, snagged several photos of the wedding party, and then we headed off to Club Wed for the reception. At one point Hannah had to leave the room in a hurry. I had a sneaking suspicion she still didn’t feel well.

  When I arrived at the wedding facility, I buzzed through the reception hall, amazed at how quickly Bella’s team had transformed the room. Whereas last night’s high-society theme took my breath away, today’s table linens and centerpieces transported me right off to a fairy-tale wonderland. Magical, really, and perfect for light-and-breezy Scarlet, who deserved the very best.

  I stopped at the cake table and gasped as I laid eyes on the Gabriella cake design for the first time. Now, I’d seen a lot of cakes in my day, being in the wedding biz and all, but nothing had ever come close to this wonder. Five beautifully balanced tiers showed off every single aspect of the wedding gown I’d created, only in cake form.

  Wilhelmina stood behind the table, giving instructions to a team of girls from her bakery who had come to cut and serve the beautiful cake. It seemed like a travesty to cut into it, though!

  “How did you do that?” I asked. “It’s remarkable.”

  “Oh, I didn’t do anything,” she said with a wave of her hand. “It’s all you, Gabi. It’s your design in sugar.”

  “Wow.”

  It felt a little strange, honestly, standing there looking at something that I had created, made over again in another form. Flattering. Off in the distance I heard D.J. Neeley’s voice ring out, welcoming the bride and groom as Mr. and Mrs. Armando and Scarlet Rossi.

  Scarlet Rossi.

  The very words made my heart sing.

  Apparently the Rossis were pretty excited about this announcement too. They released a collective shout, and cheers rang out in Italian all across the room. The bride and groom had their first dance, and then they traded partners—Armando danced with his mother while Scarlet danced with her dad.

  I tried not to let my emotions get control of me as I watched Scarlet move across the dance floor in her daddy’s arms. Still, I had to look away. Thank goodness when I turned around I found Jordan standing behind me. He slipped his arms around my waist and drew me close, whispering, “You look beautiful” in my ear.

  I managed a quiet “Thank you” and nuzzled close.

  When the dances ended, Scarlet came rushing my way. “Oh, Gabi, you saw it? The cake? It’s perfect, just like my dr
ess. I couldn’t have asked for anything more glorious.”

  “So you don’t mind that your old auntie made the cake instead of you?” Wilhelmina asked. “For a while I thought you might be upset that I offered.”

  “Of course not!” Scarlet laughed. “What bride wants to make her own wedding cake? Are you kidding me? I’ve been like a chicken with my head cut off. I could barely function these past two days. If not for Mama running the shop for me, I don’t know what I would have done.”

  She carried on until D.J. made the announcement, “Dinner is served.” From that moment until the time the reception ended, I enjoyed what Bella called “bridesmaid bliss”—the pure joy that comes with celebrating a friend’s special day.

  During the meal I kept a watchful eye on Hannah, who still didn’t look well. I noticed that Bella kept looking her way too. And Drew—still in photographer mode—appeared to be hovering. Very, very suspicious.

  The reception ended on a high note, with the happy couple pulling away in his overly decorated car. I stuck around to help clean the reception hall, but my aching feet finally convinced me I should go home. I said my goodbyes to all of my friends and gave Jordan a kiss to tide us over until our next meeting.

  When I left Club Wed, I made the drive down Broadway, taking note of the setting sun in the distance. I turned onto a side street and ended up driving past the old Marquee Theater.

  I slowed the car as I passed by. Poor old building. It had certainly seen better days. Felt a lot like the relationship with my dad—alive and thriving one minute, withered the next. My car sputtered and threatened to stall, so I quickly pressed my foot on the accelerator and made up my mind to get past my feelings regarding him.

  As I drove, however, another feeling came over me, one I couldn’t explain. I thought about the sermon Scarlet’s dad had preached on forgiveness. It simply wouldn’t leave me alone.

  Something made me turn the car around, and before long I found myself in the parking lot of the theater. I turned the car off and clutched the keys in my hand as I stared at the ticket booth. Faded posters of several old movies lined the front wall, and I gazed at them, trying to read the print.

  My eyes drifted closed, and I could see myself again, just like I’d seen Scarlet today, floating around the dance floor in her father’s arms. My daddy held me tight and twirled me around and around in the front of the theater long after the other moviegoers had gone.

  In that moment, with the memories flooding over me, tears flowed. Tears for a little girl whose daddy decided to end the dance too soon, and tears for a father who missed out on his daughter’s life.

  What happened next could only be explained as a God moment. The tears dried up, and with the twilight skies hovering over me, new hope set in—hope that tomorrow could be different from yesterday, not just with my business, not just with my love life, but with the one secret chamber of my heart that I’d kept locked up all these years. I alone held the key to unlock this prison door, and today was the day to set not only myself free but someone else as well.

  I scrambled around inside my purse until I came out with my cell phone. Finding the right number in my address book was tricky, seeing as how I rarely, if ever, used it. And punching the number took courage never before required. Still, with the phone now pressed to my ear, I anticipated what God would do with my courageous act.

  When my father answered, it took me a moment to speak. The word “Dad?” came out a little squeaky.

  “Gabriella.” He spoke my name with fluid motion, the l’s rolling off his tongue. “Long time, no see.”

  I could’ve said the same thing but didn’t.

  “How’s my girl?”

  Ugh. The temptation to end the call right there grabbed hold of me, but I worked through it. “I’m doing okay. Are you busy?”

  “No, just watching an old movie on TV.”

  Ironic.

  “I, well, I just wanted to . . . to talk.”

  A moment’s pause on his end almost proved to be my undoing. Until he responded with, “I’d like that, Gabriella. I really would.”

  In that moment, I looked down at the car keys in my hand and made a decision. I would unlock the prison door . . . and I wouldn’t look back.

  Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

  I’m just a hoofer with a spare set of tails.

  Fred Astaire

  The Monday after the wedding weekend ended, I received a call from Bella, who asked me to come to Club Wed for a vendors meeting. When I arrived at three o’clock, I found that Hannah had already arrived and was helping Bella work on the area. Minutes later I joined them, ready to add another dress to my collection.

  I hung the gown on the dress form and stepped back, thrilled with the result. The whole room shimmered, a vast sea of Austrian crystals and intricate beadwork. Several feet away Hannah worked on her area, putting up photos of Nicolette’s wedding. She paused and a panicked look crossed her face, then she bolted from the room.

  “Is she okay?”

  “I hope so.” Bella followed after her.

  They returned a few minutes later. Hannah still looked pale but seemed more composed. She drew a couple of deep breaths and then went back to work on her photographs. Seconds later, she turned back to face us and blurted out, “We’re having a baby!”

  I’d known this moment was coming. Had imagined how she might convey the news. Still, the way she delivered it caught me off guard.

  Delivered. Ha!

  Hannah’s announcement prompted a squeal from Bella. The squeal caused Guido, the parrot, to let out a shriek from the foyer, where he sat in his cage.

  Laughter bubbled up as I realized how many times I’d suspected as much. “I knew it, Hannah!” I said.

  “We found out on Saturday morning, just before the wedding. I mean, I’d suspected for a few days but didn’t want to take the test. We’ve only been married a few months, and, well . . .” Her face turned a lovely shade of pink. “I was worried about what people would say. And we wanted to tell our families first.”

  “Pooh on what people would say.” With a wave of her hand Bella dismissed any concerns on that matter. “It’s none of their business. I’ve known girls who got pregnant on their wedding night.”

  “True, but there’s a lot to think about when you start adding babies to the mix. I mean, it’ll change everything at our studio. Thank goodness Drew and I work together. I can pretty much set my hours. So I suppose we can go back and forth, doing photo shoots and taking care of the baby.”

  “Of course you can,” Bella said. “It’s going to work out seamlessly. Okay, maybe not seamlessly, but it’ll all be fine in the end. Ask me how I know.”

  I started to say, “How do you know?” just to tease her, but decided against it.

  “Did you tell Scarlet?” Bella asked. “She’s gonna flip.”

  “Yes.” Hannah giggled. “I couldn’t help myself. I told her right after the ceremony. She cried. In a good way, I mean.”

  “So when you ran out during the photo session after the ceremony—”

  “Morning sickness. I was terrified I might lose my cookies during the ceremony. Thank God I didn’t.”

  “Thank God is right.” Bella’s eyes welled with tears. “I’m thanking him for a lot of things today. For your little blessing. For Scarlet’s new life with Armando. For Armando’s turnaround over the past year. For all of the wonderful people God has brought into my family’s life. Mostly, though, I’m thankful that he gives me the strength to do the things he’s called me to do, even when I’m worn out.”

  This led to a discussion about the marathon wedding weekend she had just lived through, and that led us back to a discussion about the vendors. Moments later, Hannah started looking a little green around the gills. She put her hand to her mouth and shot out of the room without so much as a word.

  “Don’t worry, she’ll be okay.” Bella shook her head. “I remember that nauseous-all-the-time stage. It’s awful. But she’ll be over
it soon.”

  “Sure hope so,” I said.

  At that very moment someone hollered out a cheery “Yoo-hoo!”

  I turned to see the Splendora Sisters entering the room, talking a mile a minute. Then I realized they weren’t alone.

  “Mama?”

  “Hi, Gabi.” My mother took a seat and opened a notepad.

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  “Oh, I asked your mama to join us,” Bella said. “Her travel agency has been booking lots of honeymoons for my brides, so it only makes sense. We’ll start promoting the company along with the other vendors. And remember how I told you that I was giving thought to offering destination weddings?”

  “Right.”

  “You’re the one who suggested I contact your mother to help with that.”

  My heart swelled with pride that she had carried through and chosen Mama. What a blessing! “Bella, that’s great,” I managed. “Totally great.”

  “Maybe not so great.” Mama’s nose wrinkled, and I could see the concern etched in her brow. “I have something I need to tell all of you that might change Bella’s plan a little.” She turned to face me. “Gabi, you know I’ve always longed to travel.”

  “Right.”

  “Well, what if I told you that I’ve been given an opportunity to do that . . . and it’s not going to cost me a penny?”

  “What do you mean? How? Where?”

  “It’s our fault!” Sister Jolene said. A ripple of laughter followed.

  “Yes, blame it on us,” Sister Twila added.

  “We called your mama for help with our tour, you see,” Sister Bonnie Sue chimed in. “Bella’s family in Italy wants us to come over there the week after Thanksgiving to sing. They’ve arranged several events from one end of the country to the other. But the travel arrangements were giving us grief, so we asked for your mother’s help.”

  “Italy?” My thoughts tumbled madly. “Mama, are you saying that you’re—”