Rory sighed defeatedly.
“What’s wrong?” Andrea asked her as she zipped up the back of the fifth dress she was trying since they arrived.
“I’m just…frustrated and…disappointed,” Rory breathed out, hanging her head.
Andrea reached up to rub her daughter’s shoulder blades comfortingly. “We’ll find the perfect dress, even if it takes the whole day and visiting every bridal boutique in the continental US,” Andrea promised.
Rory reached up to rest her right hand over her mother’s hand on her left shoulder. “Thanks, Mom.”
Andrea placed a kiss against her daughter’s cheek before turning her around. “Let’s go see what this dress is about,” she instructed. Gathering the train in her hands, she allowed her daughter to walk out with her in tow.
When Rory was situated in front of all three mirrors, Andrea released the train and smoothed it out behind her. Cora and Julia came to stand behind them.
Andrea’s hands went to her mouth as her eyes glistened. Rory stood immobile; her mouth opened in surprise. “This is the one,” she breathed out the moment she recovered from her stupor.
What made the dress most spectacular than the others she’d tried was the delicate floral lace detail that circled her neck before traveling down her arms and over the bodice. It looked as if it was floating along her body before transitioning into a seamlessly contoured skirt with floral motifs along the hem and forming the train of the dress.
“Yes, it is,” Andrea affirmed. “You look so beautiful,” she smiled, catching her daughter’s eyes in the mirror. Rory gave her mother a watery smile.
“You look really beautiful, Rory,” Julia complimented.
“Oh my god! Does she ever,” Cora agreed.
“Have we come to a decision?” the attendant came to ask, her voice full of hope.
Rory turned to the woman, a broad smile on her lips.
“We’re taking this one.”
“Excellent,” the woman clapped.
After final measurements were taken, the owner promised them that the dress would be altered as per the specifications and shipped by the first week of December.
The four women left the boutique all smiles. After stopping by Chick-fil-A for lunch, they headed back to Oak Harbor.
“I want to stop by Kerry’s bakery. I need to make the final decision on the flavor and icing finish,” Rory informed them.
An hour and a half later, they pulled up to‘Heavenly Treats’in bold confetti colors.
“Hi, guys. I wasn’t expecting to see you here. Is everything okay?” Kerry greeted them the moment they walked through the door.
“Everything’s fine,” Cora assured their cousin, hugging her.
“Yeah,” Andrea confirmed, hugging her.
“I wanted to go over the cake samples,” Rory spoke up.
Kerry looked over at her in surprise. “Wow, that’s sudden,” she voiced. “Good thing I’m always prepared,” she smiled. “Hi, Jules. How are you?”
“Hi. I’m okay,” Julia answered with a small wave.
“And how’s the little munchkin?” She averted her attention to her belly.
“Baby’s fine,” Julia replied with a tight smile.
Noting the tension in the room, Andrea spoke up. “So, Kerry, you said you have samples?”
“Yeah. Let me get them. I would have invited you all-around back, but you know health and safety protocols and all.”
