Poppy turned and beckoned them forward, and Johanna put a hand to Aurelia’s arm as they caught up to her. Poppy sat Johanna down on a small sofa and took Aurelia behind yet another curtain to help her into the pinned and not-quite finished dress. She then left Aurelia and told her to take her time. Aurelia looked up as Poppy stepped out, about to ask what she meant, but then Aurelia caught sight of herself in the panel of mirrors.
The dress was made from an off-white fabric that had a delicate floral pattern outlined in a slightly different shade of not-white. The three-quarter length sleeves belled at the ends and led up her arms to a scooped neckline bordered in a simple yet delicate trim. The waist cut in, then flared slightly into a flowing A-line that ended at her knees. Aurelia shifted on her bare feet as she looked at herself in triplicate in the mirrors, turning to catch each angle of the dress. Her eyes were able to see past the pins and loose threads to what it would become, her mind filling in the gaps of what would be.
She smiled at her reflection, then widened that smile as she saw Johanna coming through to stand a few feet at her side.
“Oh, Aurelia,” she said in a near-whisper. “It just suits you, doesn’t it? Suits you to a T.”
“It does, doesn’t it?” Aurelia asked just as quietly.
Johanna had the photograph in her hand, and she held it so that Aurelia could see it in the mirror, side-by-side with her own reflection.
“It’s hers, but also yours… Just as it should be,” Johanna said with a firm nod of her head. She paused, then added, “I didn’t think to save my dress for Lottie, either. Not even… before…”
Aurelia flexed her hand as though to reach for Johanna’s arm but waited a moment longer to let her finish. Naturally, seeing Aurelia in her dress would bring memories of her daughter, just as having Johanna there brought memories of Aurelia’s mother, who should have been standing beside Johanna, rather than held up in a photograph. Aurelia had guessed she might be teary today, but somehow—with Johanna next to her—it seemed every emotion possible was welling up inside of her.
“My dress wasn’t nearly as stylish as your mum’s or yours,” Johanna went on, her tone attempting levity. “It’s just as well I didn’t keep it.”
Aurelia stepped closer and hugged her gingerly, careful to avoid sticking her with any rogue pins.
“Thank you for coming with me today, Johanna. I know it wasn’t easy, but I’m so glad you’re here,” she said with a sniffle.
“I am, too. And thank you for wanting me here.” Johanna gave her a squeeze for emphasis, then pulled back and laughed as she wiped away her tears. “They’ll think we’ve let the champagne get to our heads!”
“Oh, it happens every time,” came a voice from behind them, making them both turn. It was Poppy, coming back to check on them. “It’s a special moment, isn’t it? Let’s have a look, then.”
She circled Aurelia, tugging here and there at the dress as she considered what was left to be done.
“We’re almost there!” she announced. “Why don’t you change and we’ll meet up front to schedule your final fitting.”
“Final fitting—that sounds ominous,” Aurelia said.
“Not at all,” Poppy reassured her. “Just a chance for more champagne. You can make an event out of it, if you like. Lots of people do.”
“That’s a nice idea, Aurelia,” Johanna said thoughtfully. “Maybe your sister and Julia can come see it?”
“Sure. Invite your girlfriends too and let them have a look before the big day. Though you’d best tell them to like what they see. We won’t have much time to change anything by then,” Poppy said with a laugh.
“I’ll give them firm orders,” Aurelia promised.
Johanna followed Poppy to the front of the shop, leaving Aurelia alone behind the curtain. She looked in the mirror for a final peek and smiled again—a happy, secret smile—as she imagined standing next to Oliver in just a few weeks’ time.
6
AnhourlaterandAurelia was wandering the sizzling station, waiting for Julia’s train from Paris to arrive while passing slowly in front of every fan she could find. When the train’s arrival was finally announced, Aurelia stood on the other side of the barrier, her eyes scanning the crowd of passengers who spilled out. She spotted a girl who looked like Julia, but who was wearing makeup, a cropped t-shirt, and tight jeans. That wasn’t her little niece, was it? Aurelia’s eyes widened as the girl waved at her—apparently it was.
“Julia! You made it!”
“I did. Hi, Aunt Aurelia!”
Julia’s big, exuberant hug settled Aurelia’s nerves since it showed that she wasn’t too grown up to hug her favorite (only) aunt.
“How was the train?”
“Fine. I slept for most of it.”
Aurelia looked around and asked, “Is this everything—all your traveling articles?”
“My what?”
