Page 43 of The Wedding Ranch
“All you need is the right jewelry now.” Miss Texas was already fumbling through wooden felt-lined drawers.
“I’d planned to wear pearls. I don’t like big and flashy. This dress is doing plenty of that.”
Miss Texas spun toward her. “Good pearls are always okay. They never go out of style.” She dove back into the giant jewel case. “I have a great strand here you can try on with it to get the look. Oh, and here.” She stepped out of her black pumps. “They’ll be big, but they are the right height. Go on, step into them.”
Lorri stepped into the shoes and lifted her hair for Miss Texas to hook the pearls around her neck.
“Am I right?” She nodded with her bright blue eyes twinkling and too-white teeth flashing a stage-worthy smile.
“You’re so right,” Pam said. “Find me a dress as great as that one,” she begged.
Miss Texas strode off in her stocking feet since Lorri was still standing in front of the mirror in her shoes.
“I love this dress,” Lorri whispered. She’d never have picked out something with such straight lines, afraid it would grab at all the wrong places, but it didn’t. “I can’t believe it, but I really do.”
“You look great.” Pam craned her neck trying to see which racks Miss Texas was perusing in search of the perfect dress for her. “I hope she finds something special for me too.”
“I’m going to get out of this before I wrinkle it.” Lorri kicked off Miss Texas’s pumps next to the mirror. “Here, I don’t know if these are magic slippers, but you’re going to want to try your dress on with them too.”
From her dressing room Lorri heard Pam talking to Miss Texas.
“I don’t know if this is really my style,” Pam said.
“Just try it for me. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. If not, I’ll find the right one. Give it a try-on. Yes?”
“Okay,” Pam said, but she sounded a little disappointed.
Lorri hung her dress in the zippered bag. She couldn’t wait to wear that dress to Cody’s wedding. She walked out of the dressing room and hung the bag on the garment rack next to the love seat in the fitting area.
“I’m so glad you like the dress. I knew it would be perfect on you.” Miss Texas clearly loved her job. “Wait until you see what I picked out for your friend.”
Pam walked out with a smirk on her face. “I’ve never been one for lacy stuff,” she said, but when she looked into the mirror the smirk fell away.
“Pam, you look beautiful in that dress.” Lorri stood there shaking her head. In a million years she’d never have suggested that style, but it was perfect.
Pam turned, the skirt floating across the lower half of her well-toned legs.
“A strappy sandal would be great with that. No jewelry. That dress doesn’t need a thing. Don’t you agree?” Miss Texas stood there nodding.
Pam shook her head.
“You don’t like it?” Lorri was stunned.
“No. I love it,” Pam said. “I just can’t believe it. When she brought this to me I thought she was crazy, but I feel so…” She didn’t even finish the sentence. Instead she twirled in front of the mirror. “I could dance all night.”
“We might,” Lorri said. “Although with Co—”
“Our friend,” Pam interjected with a stare.
“Yeah, we’ll probably be line dancing or two-stepping.”
“Well, ladies, you can do whatever you like in those dresses. You two will own that place.”
“We may overshadow the bride,” Pam said. “But she’ll have to forgive us, because we look amazing.”
“I think we’re done here.” Lorri turned to Miss Texas. “You have been amazing. I don’t think I even caught your name.”
“Jody. I’m so glad you’re happy. Ms. Travis is a hard act to follow.”
