Past Forward- A Serial Novel: Episode 11 (6 page)

BOOK: Past Forward- A Serial Novel: Episode 11
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Definitely
.”

The second dress everyone liked.
It was pretty, feminine, and well suited to Willow

s personality and features
,
but she shook her head after a few turns at the trio of mirrors.

I love it.
It is beautiful.
It

s just not right.
If I don

t find anything else, it

ll work
,
though
.”

She tried on dress after dress
, twirled around the shop
in them
, and
rejected each one
.
Most were beautiful, several Willow liked, but she sensed that Marianne was waiting for her to find the one dress that said,

b
uy me
,”
so
she
kept changing dresses.

I could get used to walking around in yards of fabric.
Now I see why Alexa likes her clothes.
They make you feel beautiful
simply
because you

re wearing them
.”

Marianne pulled a gown from the rack that she

d replaced several times.
The ice blue accent sash would clash with the wedding colors
,
but after a dozen or more dresses, she knew it

d be exquisite.

Try this on.
I know the color is wrong
,
but it

s so beautiful
.”


I could easily replace that with white silk or satin.
I like it
.”

Before Kari could comment, Willow disappeared into the dressing room.

That comes
in
ivory, white, and blue.
She can just order it a different color
.”

Willow

s voice called for Marianne

s help from the dressing room.

It

s another one of those lace
up
the back things
.”

They all agreed the gown was Willow.
It wasn

t just

a good choice

for Willow; it
was
Willow.

It feels a little formal
,
but then they all do
.”


I love the dress, the way it fits you, it hardly needs adjustment
.”

Kari shook her head.

No, look,

she insisted and pulled the sides in for a more fitted look along the sides to the waist.

It needs to be altered but



How long does it take for them to come in once they

re ordered?

Willow

s head whipped back and forth between Marianne and Kari.
She hadn

t thought of ordering.

Order?


These are samples, Willow.
They don

t sell the samples,

Marianne explained.


Well, with alterations, it

d be twelve weeks minimum
.”


What about without?

Willow asked nervously.
If the dress wasn

t available, she

d make one a lot like it.


Eight to ten weeks
.”


Buy it
.”
Marianne

s voice cut through the boutique.


Do you think?


You don

t have time to think, Willow.
To get it here in time for you to alter, you need to buy it now
.”


What about Cheri
?

Willow hedged.


We

ll get to go shopping all kinds of things.
She

d feel terrible if your dress didn

t make it because you waited for her to go shopping
.”

Hesitation
choked her
.
Willow wanted to purchase the dress
and
didn

t want to look for another one, but she didn

t feel comfortable leaving Cheri out of the process.
She knew instinctively that Cheri would want to share this time.


Can you call Cheri?
Ask her to come here?


She

ll know about your engagement
.”

Nodding, Willow started for the dressing room to retrieve her phone.

It was her idea

she should know.
I

ll call Chad
.”

The phone rang several times before Chad answered.

Your mom and I went to look for dresses after we found the paper
—”


Dresses!
Really
?


I found the dress.
I have to order it now if it

ll be here in time
.”

She could hear the grin in his voice as he said,

Order it
.”


Cheri.
She should be here.
She should give her opinion
.”


Call her
.”

Relief flooded Willow

s voice.

I

m really glad you said that because your mother is calling her as we speak
.”


Y
ou know me too well already.
I should be afraid
.”


I just got a thumbs
-
up from your mom.
I think that means Cheri

s coming
.”


I wish I could be there
.”


I

ll bring a picture home,

she promised.


I

ll be waiting for it
.”

Silence hung between them for a few minutes.

Hey
,
Willow?


Yes?


Are you in your dressing room?

She thought she knew what was coming next.

Yep
.”


Can you take a picture of your reflection in the mirror and send it?


I can do better than that.
I

ll get your mom to take one
.”


Don

t,

he protested.

She won

t understand
.”

For several minutes, Willow tried to get a picture of the dress but failed to get a good one.

Well, that

s the best I can do.
Your mom

s calling.
I need to go
.”


Bye
.”
Chad clicked open the picture and smiled.

I can

t wait to see it in person,

he murmured to himself.

 

BOOK: Past Forward- A Serial Novel: Episode 11
2.39Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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