Page 21 of The Engagement
Everyone takes a turn offering a comment, and by the time they’re all done, I can barely see through the tears pooling in my eyes.
Haley lays her arm across my shoulders and gives me a hug. “To my future step-mom,” she says as she raises her glass.
Everyone chuckles, including me. It seems a silly thing for her to call me her step-mom when I’m only six years older than she is. We’re more like friends than we are mother and daughter.
“Seriously, I couldn’t imagine a better partner for my dad than Erin,” she continues. “Or a better step-mom for me. Since the moment I met Erin, she’s been my biggest cheerleader.” She lays her head on my shoulder, which isn’t easy as she’s so muchtaller than I am. “I love her dearly, and I can’t wait to welcome her officially into my family.”
After everyone makes a toast, there’s not a dry eye in the limo, including Sam’s.
By the time we get to the bridal shop, I’ve gone through three tissues and have finished two glasses of the delicious strawberry fake-champagne.
Joe pulls up to the entrance of an exclusive bridal shop in Lincoln Park. Sam opens the door, and we all climb out of the limo and head inside, where we’re greeted by a tall African-American woman in a black pencil skirt and white silk blouse.
“You must be the Erin O’Connor party,” she says as she checks her clipboard. “I’m Audrey. I’ll be helping you today. Please, follow me.”
The girls and I follow the sales lady through the store to the bridal dress department. Sam and Jason follow at a discreet distance. I think they’re trying not to crash our bridal party.
We have a daunting task ahead of us. I’m hoping to find a wedding dress off the rack that I can wear, with minimal alterations, if any. There’s not a lot of time before the wedding. And, we need to pick dresses for the bridesmaids and Haley and Beth. Good grief, I haven’t even decided on a color scheme for the wedding.
“First, your wedding gown,” Beth says as she pulls me to a rack of gorgeous white gowns. “Do you have a particular style in mind?”
“No, not really. Something pretty, but not too fancy. Just… something nice. Something that feels likeme. And nothing too expensive,” I add as an afterthought. Mack told me I could spend as much as I wanted, but of course I won’t do anything extravagant.
The dressing area is nicely appointed, if a bit on the fancy side. There’s a row of plush burgundy velvet chairs arrangedin a semi-circle and facing a platform, behind which is a semi-circle of tall, gilded mirrors. The girls each take a seat and get comfortable as Beth helps me carry a few white gowns to the bride’s dressing room.
I pick out three to start with. They’re all off the rack, petite, and in my size, so hopefully one will fit and I can take it as-is.
Beth hangs the three gowns on hooks in the dressing room. “Which one would you like to try on first?”
I study them. They’re all white, sleeveless, with gently scooped necklines. They’re all floor-length, and since they’re petite, hopefully they’ll be the right length for me. One has a bit more lace overlaying it than the others. One is a bit more on the plain side. One has an overlay of a subtle nubby material. I think I might like that one the best.
“This is so overwhelming,” I admit.
Beth gives me a sympathetic smile. “I remember when I was in your shoes. Yes, it’s a lot to take in.” She turns and faces the three dresses on display. “One at a time, right? Let’s start with this one.”
As I undress down to my underwear and bra, I shiver. I’m not used to being so scantily dressed outside the privacy of my own home. I wish Mack were here.
I try the lacy dress on first, and then Beth makes me walk out of the dressing room and step up on the large, round dais.
“Now turn, Erin, slowly,” she says.
All the girlsoohandahhas I turn in a circle, tossing out compliments.
“Gorgeous!”
“Perfect!”
“Stunning!”
“What do you think?” Beth asks me.
I frown. “I don’t know. It’s kind of fussy, don’t you think?”
She holds out her hand and helps me down the steps. “Let’s go try on dress number two.”
Dress number two is the rather plain one, mostly a solid white satin gown with very little in the way of decoration. I put this gown on and return to the platform.
“You look beautiful, Erin!”
