In any case, he had certainly chosen somethinglovely for her, something perfect for a special bride on her wedding day.
The sight brought Jenny back to her own wedding to Jason, what felt like a lifetime ago. She’d worn a simple cotton dress since they had both been desperately trying to pay off their student loans and keep a little food in the fridge. But Jenny had never felt more beautiful and beloved.
This dress was so different and yet somehow the same. The material was a beautiful snowy satin, so soft it slid like water when she moved. She was sure it must have cost a fortune. Yet the lines were simple and modest enough that she could happily greet her grandmother or dance all night without a second thought, just like that dress she wore all those years ago.
It was exactly what she would have wanted for herself, but nicer because Erik had chosen it.
He didn’t choose it for me,she tried to remind herself.I need to remember that this is just a fantasy.
“You look incredible,” Ana, the owner of the little shop, said softly. “I don’t think you even need alterations.”
“It does fit well,” Jenny said, shaking her head in wonder.
In the mirror, she could see Gael talking with Ana’s mother, Mariangel, over by the counter. Mariangel was the co-owner and she created most of the clothing, butright now she was fully focused on Gael, smiling with shining eyes as he spoke with her excitedly in Spanish.
“He’s a wonderful boy,” Ana said. “Erik Anderson is a lucky man.”
“He’s agoodman,” Jenny said. “We’re the lucky ones.”
She felt an awful pang of guilt for deceiving the sweet lady who was standing beside her.
“Shall I pack it up for you?” Ana asked. “Or I can just hold onto it and bring it to the venue early if you’d prefer.”
“I’ll take it with me,” Jenny told her. “But do you have shoes and accessories here? I lost a bag on my way.”
More lies, but what else was she supposed to do?
“Of course,” Ana said. “Hang on.”
“Mrs. Gutierrez speaks SpanishandEnglish,” Gael sang out as he ran over to Jenny. “Just like my abuela, and just likeme.”
He was so delighted that Jenny could only smile. She had been learning words and phrases slowly ever since he came to live with her, but that was nothing compared to being able to have a whole conversation with a native speaker.
“She said she doesn’t get too many chances to speak Spanish at the shop,” Gael said. “So today was special.”
Jenny glanced over to see that Mariangel washelping a customer now. And that customer had a little boy about Gael’s age who was gazing curiously at him.
When Gael smiled in his direction, the boy smiled back and marched right over.
“Hi,” he said. “I’m Ben. Ben Webb.”
“Hi, Ben,” Gael said. “I’m Gael.”
“Would you boys like to play a little game while your mothers do their shopping?” Mariangel called to them, pointing to a little table in the corner with two chairs and a box of checkers.
“Can we?” Gael asked eagerly.
“Of course,” Jenny told him with a smile.
The boys rushed over and opened up the box right away, and the other mom gave Jenny a wave. But Ana was back with a stack of shoeboxes before Jenny could do more than wave back.
“Feel free to use the dressing room,” Ana said. “The bench in there is great for sitting down to try on shoes. My mom and I will keep an eye on Gael.”
“Thanks so much,” Jenny told her.
She headed for the dressing room, but before she got inside, her phone was ringing.
She slid it out of her pocket and saw that it was her mom calling.
