Page 34 of Convincing Him
Chapter Seven
Eight days before the wedding.
Britney eyed herself critically in the mirrors.
“It is all the rage,” the saleswoman assured her.
“If it is not the best of your collection, we don’t want it,” a dismissive Naomi declared as she sipped a fluted glass of champagne from the white sofa. “A Crawford cannot be seen in anything but the best.”
“Dear, it makes you look beautiful,” sniffed Dotty, holding a crumpled tissue to her eye. Gabe’s mom had been nothing but supportive through the entire afternoon they had been searching for a wedding dress for Britney. Britney was more than glad she had invited her soon to be mother-in-law to the bonding experience. “The dress is very lovely.”
Now in the third shop of the day, Britney was starting to doubt she would find her dress.
“It’s not the dress,” declared Tara as she noted her friend’s reaction.
“I thought dress shopping would be easier,” murmured Britney as she tugged on the silky bodice of the dress. “Try on a dress, it fits and buy it. There are so many choices and none of them feel right.”
“You’ll know it when you see it,” assured Dotty. “I remember going dress shopping for my wedding. I went to Italy to one of the best designers. We talked patterns and materials. Then a month later I returned and my dress was finished. It was exactly what I wanted.”
“What about a veil?” the saleswoman suggested. “Sometimes all you need is the final touch to make you see the whole picture.”
“I’m not wearing a veil,” decided Britney. She didn’t like these cookie cutter dresses which were made for thin and tall models. “Tara, could you please help me out of this?”
“Not wearing a veil,” sputtered Naomi. “You need to wear a veil. It is tradition.”
Britney left her mother to expound on the traditions of weddings while she and Tara went to the change room.
“There is another store just a couple of doors down,” noted Tara as she untied the corset backing. “Unless you are getting tired of this. Then we can try again another day.”
“I was hoping to get this done today,” sighed Britney with regret. “We’ve got the house inspection tomorrow, the bachelor party is this weekend and I promised to dedicate the time to all the little details I have changed about the wedding. Dotty and I are ordering flowers. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to find blue flowers in the right shade at this time of year? Then I have still got to look over the new account for work…”
“You don’t have to look over the new account. I can take care of it,” replied Tara firmly. “You are getting married in a little over a week. The wedding should be your priority.”
Slipping off the dress, Britney breathed a sigh of relief. “Why are these dresses so uncomfortable?”
“Maybe we need to select simpler dresses,” mentioned Tara. “Which is hard to do with your mother.”
Britney pulled a face. “She just wants the best. Which means bigger and flashier.”
“It is your wedding, not hers,” advised Tara as she set the dress aside on a waiting chair. “She’s not the one who has to wear it.”
“True,” nodded Britney as she pulled on her clothes. “I guess we will look at the last shop. I’m not holding out much hope though.”
“We will find your dress,” said Tara soothingly. “Even if we have to hire an Italian designer like Dotty did.”
“I don’t have a month,” Britney smiled as she grabbed her purse. “I doubt even the best designers could get it done in time no matter how much money I throw at them. It’s just not realistic. I need a readymade dress which doesn’t require extensive alterations.”
“Are you sure about this?” suddenly asked a serious Tara. “It is all happening very quickly. I know you’ve been in love with Gabe forever but he’s not exactly in love with you.”
“I have five years and a baby to change his mind,” replied Britney. “I know you don’t like him, but there is no one else who has ever made me feel the way he does.”
“I’m just worried on your five year anniversary, he’s going to serve you with divorce papers,” a worried Tara said. “He’s hurt you so much over the years. I just want you to be happy.”
“I will be happy,” Britney assured her. She came forward to give Tara a hug. “I know you are concerned about me. Maybe you will have to help pick me up after the five years if I can’t convince Gabe to stay in the marriage, but I’m convinced I’m going to be happy for the next five years at least. If nothing else, I’ll still have the baby as well and that is more than worth the experience. I want this, Tara.”
Tara hugged her friend back. “Okay. I’m here to support you.”
“Thank you,” whispered Britney. She gave Tara an extra squeeze. “Let’s go to the last shop. Maybe fourth time is the charm.”
