Past Forward- A Serial Novel: Episode 11 (6 page)

“
Definitely
.”

The second dress everyone liked.
It was pretty, feminine, and well suited to Willow
’
s personality and features
,
but she shook her head after a few turns at the trio of mirrors.
“
I love it.
It is beautiful.
It
’
s just not right.
If I don
’
t find anything else, it
’
ll work
,
though
.”

She tried on dress after dress
, twirled around the shop
in them
, and
rejected each one
.
Most were beautiful, several Willow liked, but she sensed that Marianne was waiting for her to find the one dress that said,
“
b
uy me
,”
so
she
kept changing dresses.
“
I could get used to walking around in yards of fabric.
Now I see why Alexa likes her clothes.
They make you feel beautiful
simply
because you
’
re wearing them
.”

Marianne pulled a gown from the rack that she
’
d replaced several times.
The ice blue accent sash would clash with the wedding colors
,
but after a dozen or more dresses, she knew it
’
d be exquisite.
“
Try this on.
I know the color is wrong
,
but it
’
s so beautiful
.”

“
I could easily replace that with white silk or satin.
I like it
.”

Before Kari could comment, Willow disappeared into the dressing room.
“
That comes
in
ivory, white, and blue.
She can just order it a different color
.”

Willow
’
s voice called for Marianne
’
s help from the dressing room.
“
It
’
s another one of those lace
up
the back things
.”

They all agreed the gown was Willow.
It wasn
’
t just
“
a good choice
”
for Willow; it
was
Willow.
“
It feels a little formal
,
but then they all do
.”

“
I love the dress, the way it fits you, it hardly needs adjustment
.”

Kari shook her head.
“
No, look,
”
she insisted and pulled the sides in for a more fitted look along the sides to the waist.
“
It needs to be altered but
—
”

“
How long does it take for them to come in once they
’
re ordered?
”

Willow
’
s head whipped back and forth between Marianne and Kari.
She hadn
’
t thought of ordering.
“
Order?
”

“
These are samples, Willow.
They don
’
t sell the samples,
”
Marianne explained.

“
Well, with alterations, it
’
d be twelve weeks minimum
.”

“
What about without?
”
Willow asked nervously.
If the dress wasn
’
t available, she
’
d make one a lot like it.

“
Eight to ten weeks
.”

“
Buy it
.”
Marianne
’
s voice cut through the boutique.

“
Do you think?
”

“
You don
’
t have time to think, Willow.
To get it here in time for you to alter, you need to buy it now
.”

“
What about Cheri
?
”
Willow hedged.

“
We
’
ll get to go shopping all kinds of things.
She
’
d feel terrible if your dress didn
’
t make it because you waited for her to go shopping
.”

Hesitation
choked her
.
Willow wanted to purchase the dress
and
didn
’
t want to look for another one, but she didn
’
t feel comfortable leaving Cheri out of the process.
She knew instinctively that Cheri would want to share this time.

“
Can you call Cheri?
Ask her to come here?
”

“
She
’
ll know about your engagement
.”

Nodding, Willow started for the dressing room to retrieve her phone.
“
It was her idea
—
she should know.
I
’
ll call Chad
.”

The phone rang several times before Chad answered.
“
Your mom and I went to look for dresses after we found the paper
—”

“
Dresses!
Really
?
”

“
I found the dress.
I have to order it now if it
’
ll be here in time
.”

She could hear the grin in his voice as he said,
“
Order it
.”

“
Cheri.
She should be here.
She should give her opinion
.”

“
Call her
.”

Relief flooded Willow
’
s voice.
“
I
’
m really glad you said that because your mother is calling her as we speak
.”

“
Y
ou know me too well already.
I should be afraid
.”

“
I just got a thumbs
-
up from your mom.
I think that means Cheri
’
s coming
.”

“
I wish I could be there
.”

“
I
’
ll bring a picture home,
”
she promised.

“
I
’
ll be waiting for it
.”

Silence hung between them for a few minutes.
“
Hey
,
Willow?
”

“
Yes?
”

“
Are you in your dressing room?
”

She thought she knew what was coming next.
“
Yep
.”

“
Can you take a picture of your reflection in the mirror and send it?
”

“
I can do better than that.
I
’
ll get your mom to take one
.”

“
Don
’
t,
”
he protested.
“
She won
’
t understand
.”

For several minutes, Willow tried to get a picture of the dress but failed to get a good one.
“
Well, that
’
s the best I can do.
Your mom
’
s calling.
I need to go
.”

“
Bye
.”
Chad clicked open the picture and smiled.
“
I can
’
t wait to see it in person,
”
he murmured to himself.