We chatted about her work and my latest projects. She promised to speak to her father about a donation and we both agreed that the latest effort to revamp the X-Files met our viewing expectations. Our conversation was regularly interrupted with Bess’ catwalk styling.
"No." We called, squeezed onto the lounge beside Josh.
"You look like a sausage," Candy stated in what I assume was her version of helpful advice.
"But a very pretty sausage!" I yelled, shooting Bess two thumbs up.
As the afternoon dragged on, the clock inching ever closer to the time we both needed to leave, Josh regaled us with stories of the sordid underbelly of Hollywood.
"I don’t want to say who it was but a very well-known actress then decided to do a nude run through-"
A sound that could only be described as a dying squirrel interrupted Josh.
All heads swung toward the dressing room door. I tensed.
The door bumped, shaking on its hinges, the action quickly followed by the sound of a vigorously rutting walrus. Had a wild animal broken into the studio?
I exchanged a glance with Candy.
"Should I-"
The door flew open, bouncing against the wall with a smack as Bess strode out, ballgown spilling out, tears streaming down her face, glow firmly in place.
It was obvious that she had found THE DRESS.
Dun duunnnnn!
"Molly…" She called, looking at me, standing in the dress I’d picked for her, her hands held out like a little girl. All the baggage of the last few hours fell away, in that moment she looked like a girl in love getting ready to marry the boy who loved her – her expression full of hope and love and whimsy.
I stood up and held my arms open as I moved to her. She looked at me, sniffing.
"You were right." She said, as the crowd waited with bated breath. "It’s perfect."
I moved to wrap an arm around her but a hand shot out hitting me square in the chest, halting my progress.
"No!" She shouted. "Now I have to change everything because of you! You bitch!"
And then she burst into tears. Her mother scurried over, wrapping her in a hug, consoling her as the bridesmaids’ crowded her, making all the right noises.
I exchanged a look with Candy. She sighed, heaving herself up off the couch.
"This doesn’t bode well for the rest of the wedding," she muttered, awkwardly patting the distraught bride on the back.
"I. H-had. It. All p-p-planned. Out." Bess hiccupped in her mothers’ arms. "Now we have to s-s-start again."
"I can help," I promised, sending telepathic messages of threat to the bridesmaids around me. "We all can."
The bridesmaids murmured agreement, stroking whatever inch of skin they could reach. It took an extraordinarily long time to calm Bess down.
"Josh, can you try on the dark blue? I think it will pair nicely with this." Bess ordered, now back in Bridezilla mode.
Josh sighed, pulling himself up off the sofa. He changed while the assistants fluttered about Bess, pinning and fluffing the dress.
"How's this?" Josh exited the dressing room. My jaw about dropped to the floor as I stared at him, a little quiver of… was that attraction?
No way. Am… am I attracted to Joshua Greenfeld?
"Oh, Joshua!" Bess clapped her hands together, pressing them to her heart. "It's perfect! Turn around."
