Page 35 of Convincing Him
The pair headed out to the waiting room to find Dotty and Naomi discussing the merits of gold trim or silver for the place settings. Britney rolled her eyes at Tara and smiled. “Either is lovely. There is one more shop we would like to try tonight if you are both up for it?”
“Absolutely,” confirmed Dotty.
“I don’t understand what the issue is,” muttered Naomi as she rose to her feet. Finding her purse, she slung it over a shoulder. “Pick the five most expensive dresses out and choose one.”
“I’m not worried about the price of the dress,” quietly Britney rebuffed Naomi’s thoughts on dress buying. “I’m worried about how I feel in it.”
“We will find the perfect dress,” assured Tara. “The next shop is just a couple of stores down. We can walk to it.”
“Walk?” a horrified Naomi asked. “Why would we walk when the car is just out front?”
“Mom, it’s just a few steps,” protested Britney. “It seems a waste to make the car drive all around the block just to drop us off and try to find parking again.”
“I don’t know about you, but a walk seems like a good idea to me,” inserted Dotty. “I need a bit of exercise after sitting down for so long. Perhaps a young woman like you could humor an old lady, Naomi.”
Mollified, Naomi agreed. “Well, I suppose I may be a little stiff as well.”
As they left the shop, Britney said a quiet ‘thank you’ to Dotty who simply smiled. Passing a couple of stores, Britney gazed through the glass windows as something caught her eye. “There!”
“Pardon?” a confused Naomi asked.
Britney was already going inside the store, leaving them all behind.
“What kind of boutique is this?” wondered Naomi, trying to decipher the sign. “What does the term ‘a commission shop’ under the store’s title mean?”
“I think it is a second hand shop,” frowned Dotty. “Odd they would have one of those on this street.”
“It’s not second hand,” Tara quickly replied. She was certain Naomi Crawford had never been in a store which sold used items in her life. Herding the two older women into the store, Tara looked around several displays trying to find Britney. Finally spotting her talking to a woman at the back, Tara headed towards her while Dotty admired an old-fashioned tea set.
“Brit?” whispered Tara. “I’m not sure your mother’s constitution can handle this.”
“Just don’t tell her,” Britney quickly instructed before turning back to the saleswoman. “Could I try it on, Linda?”
“Absolutely,” replied Linda. She led Britney and Tara to the front window, where she gently pulled a dress off the display mannequin. “It is a tea length, half sleeve with lace and tule, vintage wedding dress from the fifties. The seller’s grandmother was a dressmaker and the bride it was designed for never picked it up. I guess it got put away and the seller found it. She decided it should go to someone who would appreciate it.”
“The seller?” frowned Naomi in uncertainty. “Don’t you mean the designer?”
“This isn’t designer,” explained Linda. “The dress has been hand crafted here in the city. Fortunately, it was stored correctly so the lace and silk didn’t yellow with age.”
Britney fingered the dress in delight. “It is beautiful.”
“This dress is not what we are looking for,” sniffed Naomi. “Classic, with long lines and a fitted bodice. A designer creation is what we are looking for.”
“There is a change room at the back. Try it on,” urged Linda.
Britney nodded, carefully taking the dress, clutching it to her as she made her way to the back of the store. Tara followed her.
“It is not appropriate,” a disapproving Naomi stated.
“The dress is pretty and unique,” mentioned Dotty. “Like Britney is.”
“A bride should be called beautiful on her wedding day, not pretty,” admonished Naomi. “What kind of store is this anyways? It is filled with all sorts of odds and ends.”
“That’s because it is a commission shop,” clarified Linda. “Everything you see here is previously owned by another person. They and the shop split a commission every time a sale happens.”
Naomi gasped in horror. “You mean the items areused?”
“Most things in life end up used,” dryly stated Linda. “Where do you think fully usable items go?”
