AllFreeNovel
Share Us
today’s about you.”
“We have the whole day,” Clare reminded her.
“Which starts now.” Hope zipped into a parking spot. “That was lucky, and I’m taking it as a good omen. The boutique’s right there.”
“Oh, look at that dress!” Clare stared at the display window and the indulgence of the sparkling pick-up skirt, the shimmer of off-the- shoulder white silk. “It’s stunning, but way too formal and first-wedding. I don’t think this is the place. I don’t want—”
“Trust me.” Hope pulled out the ignition key.
Avery shoved open her door. “And even if you don’t, I’m not missing a chance to play in there.”
Before Clare could protest again, Avery jumped out of the car. She yanked open Clare’s door, pulled her friend out. “It’ll be fun.”
It was.
The shimmer and glow of whites, ivories, creams, yards of tulle, acres of beading. In her jeans and knee boots, Avery plopped a veil on her head, struck a pose.
She looked, she decided, like she had a tulle volcano on her head.
Then she whirled on Clare.
“Get away from those.”
The snap of the order had Clare snatching her fingers back. “But they’re nice, elegant suits.”
“You’re not wearing a suit, elegant or not. Those are entirely mother-of-the-bride and/or groom.”
“But—”
“Too sedate.” Along with Avery, Hope folded her arms. “Not a chance.”
“I’m not going formal or fussy. I want simple.”
“Then simple you shall have.” Avery nodded sagely. “The bride rules.”
“Then—”
“Except with those.”
“I really like the green one.”
“It’s lovely,” Hope agreed. “If you were going to someone else’s wedding, a ladies tea, a political fund-raiser.” With Avery, she flanked Clare, and marched her away.
“We should pick out your dresses first,” Clare suggested. “That’ll give me a springboard.”
“Get serious. Our dresses flow from yours, not the other way.” Still wearing the veil, Avery wandered into another section.
Initial suggestions were deemed too fussy, too white, too club-night.
“Oh, not pink.”
“It’s not pink-pink,” Avery insisted. “It’s soft. It’s more like a blush, and look at the hem.”
“I love it.” Lips pursed, Hope studied it. “The flow of that diagonal hem, should hit above the knee, go to just about midcalf.”
“I don’t know. I—”
“Okay, you’ve got to try some on. I’m making a rule. And this is one of the try-ons,” Avery decreed. “We’ll pick a few more, and snag a dressing room.”
“You’re right. You’re right, and I’m being a pain in the ass. That one, that one.” Clare included the one Hope held. “That one, and the green suit. I get to try on the green suit.”
“Fair. Take these.” Hope handed the dresses to Avery. “I’ll get the suit.”
Obviously noting some initial decisions had been made, a clerk set up a dressing room, hung the dresses, offered sparkling water.
Clare took the green suit first.
“Fine, get it over with.” Avery shrugged, drank some fizzy water with lemon.
“It’s got classic lines,” Clare insisted as she changed. “It’s a good color for me. And the weather’s iffy in April, so a jacket’s smart.”
She turned to study herself in the triple mirrors. “A really pretty green—that brings out the green in my eyes. And with the right shoes . . . It’s not romantic.”
“No, it’s not. It’s a smart suit,” Hope admitted. “And it looks good on you. But it’s not your dress, Clare.”
“I admit defeat. Let me try that blue. It’s a pretty, quiet color, and it has nice lines.”
Avery set down her water, rose from the plush little love seat to circle after Clare made the change. “Miles better. The color’s great with your hair.”
“I love the flirty hem, the little bustle in the back. I could work with this,” Clare considered. “Shoes with a little sparkle maybe.”
“It didn’t make you glow.” Hope shook her head. “I think when you put on the one, it’ll make you glow. But it is wonderful on you. It makes your waist look so tiny, and shows off your legs. How about we put it in Maybe.”
“That works. We’ll have a No and a Maybe.”
She tried on another in a pale, dusty gold that immediately earned three thumbs down.
“Now the pink.” Avery narrowed her eyes at Clare’s expression. “We had a deal.”
“All right, okay, but pink’s going to be too much. Plus, it’s strapless, and I don’t want strapless.”
“Blah, blah, blah,” was Avery’s opinion as she zipped Clare up.
“I’m not trying to be difficult, it’s just not . . . Oh.” She stared at her reflection.
And she glowed.
“Clare.” Studying the bride-to-be, Hope let out a sigh. “You look amazing. The color’s fabulous against your skin. And that hemline—it’s flattering and it’s romantic—and it’s fun.”
“Do the turn,” Avery ordered. “Oh boy, look how it just floats, and the back, the little crisscrossing—quietly sexy. It’s got just a hint of a sheen. Just enough.”
“It’s romantic, and it’s beautiful. And it’s mine. No Maybe on this one. I’m marrying Beckett Montgomery in this dress.”
“You need to see it with shoes—even if they aren’t the perfect shoes.” Hope dashed for the door. “Wait.”
“Do the turn again,” Avery requested.
Clare laughed, and this time did a spin. “It feels wonderful on me. You were right.”
“I love when that happens.”
“I’ll want my hair up, don’t you think?” Experimenting, Clare scooped it up and back with her hands. “No headpiece. Just a clip with some sparkle.”
“You look so happy.”
“I am, so, so happy. I want to do this for you one day, you and Hope. I want to shop for your wedding dresses with you, and know you’re as happy as I am in this moment.”
“I’d like that.”
At moments like this, Avery believed it could happen. She’d know that joy, have that faith, take that leap.
She turned to get her phone. “Let me take a picture of you in it. We can send it to your mom and to Justine.”
“You’re right. They should see.”
“Front and back.” Avery framed in. As she sent the pictures, Hope and the clerk came back with stacks of shoe boxes. And the happy madness began.
* * *
ON THE WAY home after a long day of dresses, shoes, accessories—with some honeymoon wardrobe added in—Avery stretched out in the backseat of the car and texted Owen.
Stopped for a late dinner and a reprise of the day’s haul. Your soon to be SIL is going to be a beautiful bride—and knock Beck’s socks off. Her attendants aren’t going to suck either. Heading home. Sorry it’s later than I figured.
Clare turned at the signal from Avery’s phone. “What’s Owen have to say?”
“That Beck hasn’t been able to keep his socks on since he first saw you—that’s a knock-his-socks-off reference. And he wants to know if I want to head to his place.”
“Do you?” Hope asked. “I can drop you there.”
“I have to head up to Hagerstown first thing in the morning for supplies, then I have a meeting with Beckett at the new space.” She texted Owen back as she spoke. “Plus I know Owen’s been putting in some time trying to find Billy.”
“Elizabeth’s Billy?”
Avery nodded at Clare. “So far, not much luck. But then it’s a tall order. I should just go home, get some sleep. It’s nearly eleven already. He misses me, he said.”
“Aw.”
“I know, right? Flutter, flutter. I work till four tomorrow, but I can pick up some specific ingredients when I’m out in the morning, then fix another sample me
nu if he’s up for it. And he is,” she announced. “I have a date tomorrow night, with my boyfriend.”
“I swear you look like you’ve been hit with the cute stick.”
Avery just grinned at Hope. “That’s how I feel. What a great day. Maybe I’ll call Owen when I get settled down in bed.”
“For phone sex?”
