Page 120 of Peaks and Promises

There was no way the dress would fit.

Sighing, I ran my hands over my hips as I gazed at my reflection in the fitting room mirror. The black fabric bunched at my hips and rode up my legs, all while gapping at the waist. And don’t even get me started on the bust. It was not a dress designed for a woman with curves—at least not curves like mine.

I was spilling out of it, and I hadn’t even tried to raise the zipper yet.

“Sorry, Penelope,” I said through the door. “I can’t even fit my imagination in this dress.”

“Do you need help zipping it up?” she asked.

“It won’t zip.” I turned and glanced at the back of the dress in the mirror. “Not even close.”

“I knew there was no way that dress could contain those incredible boobs of yours,” Melanie said.

I laughed a little. “It can’t contain any of me.”

With Theo and Penelope’s wedding so close, I needed to get my dress situated as soon as possible. Fortunately, I had the day off. Being a teacher, Penelope was off for the summer, and Melanie set her own schedule, so they were able to meet me at the boutique.

“That’s okay,” Penelope said. “We’ll go to the backup plan.”

“At least you were smart and chose black,” Melanie said. “We don’t have to worry too much about matching the color.”

I wriggled out of the dress and put it on the hanger, then donned my bright pink tank top and denim capris.

“How are you ladies doing?” the clerk asked as I opened the fitting room door and stepped out. She had a cute brown pixie cut and wore a stylish blouse and skirt.

“We’re going to look for another option,” Penelope said. “Something you have in stock, obviously.”

“Would you like me to bring some selections for you?”

“Sure, that would be great,” Penelope said.

“And we need something that works with that banging pin-up body she has.” Melanie gestured to her chest. “I have a nice rack, but Summer has a set of girls that dreams are made of.”

I rolled my eyes. “They’re high maintenance, is what they are. No cute little bralettes for me.”

“Don’t worry, we have plenty of options,” the clerk said. “Give me a few minutes.”

She left the three of us to get comfortable in the armchairs outside the fitting rooms while she went searching for dresses.

“Speaking of weddings,” Melanie said. “Do you have a wedding story?”

“What do you mean?”

“In case anyone asks about when you and Reese got married. It would be good to have something to tell them. Although maybe no one will ask.”

“Aunt Louise might,” Penelope said.

“Good point. She’s nosy enough to insist on pictures.”

“No, we didn’t come up with a wedding story,” I said. “I guess I could say it was small and simple. At a courthouse or something.”

“Well that’s no fun,” Melanie said.

“But that’s probably what we would have done.”

“And if she says they had an elaborate wedding, where are the pictures?” Penelope asked.

“That’s fair,” Melanie said. “But what would you do if you were really getting married?”