Page 5 of Two Hearts' Subterfuge

Aylin laughed. “Kind of. Now that you and Gray are an item, you’re bound to fill out a little more.”

Emilie snorted but smiled, glancing at the drawing. “Okay. I see what you have in mind. You’ll pull the waistline up below the bust and replace the zipper along the side instead of messing with the hem, so we won’t lose any of that pretty detail that was added at the bottom.”

“That seemed most practical,” Aylin replied. “So, I’ve chosen the three gowns that should be the easiest to alter.”

Camille frowned. “Three? What about yours, Aylin?”

Aylin blinked. “Mine?”

“Of course.” Camille huffed out a breath. “Don’t tell me that you thought you wouldn’t be a bridesmaid?”

“I didn’t…” Aylin’s voice faded out.

“Oh, no,” Camille said, whacking herself lightly on the forehead. “Did I forget to ask you? I’m so sorry. I must have just assumed that you’d know you were included.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve already considered the fact that Aylin probably wasn’t thinking straight,” Rene admitted dryly, rolling in a clothes rack with the bridesmaids’ gowns. “Luckily, there were six bridesmaids in the other wedding party, although a couple of these will require more alterations. We’d better have you ladies start trying these on so that Aylin and I can get started. Since Aylin will be working on the wedding gown, I’ll be doing the alterations on these.”

Sure enough, Rene had included a fourth gown for Aylin.

“I’ll try mine on later, since I’ll be returning this afternoon,” Aylin said to Rene. “Let’s get Emilie and Desiree measured first, so you can get started as soon as you’d like. Hopefully, by the time they’re fitted, Celine will arrive.” Celine was Aylin’s oldest brother’s wife and resided here in Crystal Rock.

Rene nodded her agreement, handing one gown to Emilie while Aylin handed another to Desiree. As they headed into the dressing rooms, Aylin turned to Mom.

“I’ve got something selected for you too, Mom. I hope you don’t mind?”

Mom blinked. “Of course not.”

“Follow me. I’ll explain why I thought you should wear something more Americanized than usual,” Aylin said, leading her into the workroom.

As Desiree walked out from the dressing room, she must have overheard Aylin.

“Aylin? Is there something you haven’t been telling us?” Desiree asked, looking worried. “Have you been having trouble again with some of the kids at school?”

Aylin shrugged, trying not to appear anxious. “People can be hateful. Even though Dad’s tried to avoid the spotlight, a certain amount of publicity has been getting out there. Kind of like when that warehouse blew up a few years ago. They link anyone who doesn’t look like they fit in to being into terrorism, and I think that when they see Mom dressed in her native clothing, they assume the worst.”

Mom nodded decisively, reaching out to Aylin. “We’ve been getting some threats. We had no idea that you were so aware of the undertones, Aylin, but of course we weren’t thinking about you, and how you might be treated at school, even though you were born and raised in New Orleans. Yes, I need a new wardrobe. This country has provided me with a wonderful life with your father—much better than the life I had in Turkey. We need to talk about that sometime, I think. But not now.”

Mom pulled her into her arms, and they smiled a moment later as they broke apart.

Aylin reached for a creamy velvet suit dress, patterned with a deep maroon motif.

Mom’s eyes went wide. “It’s beautiful, Aylin. Did you design this?”

“I did,” she admitted. “There’s still a little of you in the pattern, since I know how much you love color.”

“It’s very elegant. I can’t wait to try it on,” Mom admitted, with tears in her eyes.

Handing over the gown, Aylin watched Mom head into the dressing room.

Reaching over, Rene squeezed her hand. “She’s so proud of you. Shall we get back to work?”

Aylin smiled widely. “I’m ready if you are. It’s going to be a long couple of days.”

Rene snorted. “Tell me about it.”

Chapter Three

Something struck Ben as odd when he came jogging around the corner on the sidewalk once he returned to the Inn another hour later. Someone wearing a ski mask stood near a dark sedan with heavily tinted windows.

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