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“Neither of us has,” Annika says. “I’m sorry.”
“Actually, I have twenty dresses arriving here from New York in about an hour. I need help. So, they’re coming to us.”
“God, it’s good to be rich.” I sit back and grin at my friend. “You lucky bitch.”
“It has its perks.” Nadia raises her glass. “Oh, and Carmine’s mom is coming to help. My mom will join us via FaceTime.”
“Well, let’s go get ready, then.”
* * *
“Darling!” Flavia Martinelli bursts into the massive room that’s been converted into a dressing room, her arms outstretched. She engulfs Nadia in a big hug. “You’re as gorgeous as ever. I’m so grateful that you invited me here today to see the dresses.”
The Martinelli matriarch is tall, slender, and shrewd. Carlo married an attractive and clever woman, who raised three boys, is submerged in her community, and keeps an eye on the who’s who of Seattle’s elite.
She’s known for being a force to be reckoned with. She’s always been kind to me, and I have to admit, I admire her for her style, and her sense of humor.
Then again, I suspect one would need to have one to be a boss’s wife.
“Hello, girls,” she says, turning to Annika and me. “I haven’t had a girls’ day in…I can’t even remember. I’m always surrounded by men.”
“Good-looking men at that,” Annika reminds her.
“Well, that doesn’t hurt, now does it?” Flavia winks and accepts a glass of champagne. “Oh, how lovely. I’m so excited. Get your gorgeous body into a dress, Nadia.”
“Okay. First, let me get my mom on the computer.”
“Oh, how wonderful,” Flavia says and claps her hands. “Katya and I spoke just last night about wedding plans. We’re just beside ourselves with excitement.”
I sit back and watch as Nadia gets her mother on screen, and Flavia and Annika share a smile.
And I can’t help but grieve, for just a moment.
I won’t ever have this moment with my mother. Someone stole that from me. And I can’t make the person who took her from me pay for that sin. I can’t help but feel a little envious that Nadia has this with her mom.
Of course, I’m also excited for her. And when Katya sees me, she grins and waves.
“Hello, Ivie, my darling girl. You look just as beautiful as can be.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Tarenkov.”
“I’m here, too,” Annika says, waving to her. “Hello, Aunt Katya.”
“Oh, Annika, you’re as lovely as always. Who else is there?”
“It’s me, Katie dear.” Flavia smiles at the computer. “I wish you were here with us.”
“Well, give me just a minute.”
Suddenly, the door opens, and Katya walks into the room, opens her arms wide, and starts to laugh.
“Did you think I’d watch this on a small, pitiful screen?”
“Mama!” Nadia rushes over and hugs her mother. The room erupts into chaos as we all shriek and laugh and hug each other in delight.
Carmine pokes his head in the doorway, grinning. “Surprise.”
“I love you.” Nadia crushes her mouth to his. “Now, get out of here. You can’t see any of this. It’s for girls only.”
“I’ll have food sent up in about thirty minutes. Have fun, ladies.”
He shuts the door behind him, and we all settle in for the fashion show.
“Oh, this is just the best day,” Flavia says as she clasps Katya’s hands. “How lovely.”
Before long, Nadia walks into the room wearing a long column of white. It hugs her curves, has just a hint of lace, and is absolutely gorgeous.
She steps up onto the pedestal that the fashion house brought with them as a woman named Lydia fluffs the trumpet skirt.
“Now, that is gorgeous,” Annika breathes. “The back is stunning.”
I tilt my head, not convinced that it’s the right one.
“Oh, Flavia,” Katya says. “Can you imagine the pretty grandchildren we’ll get?”
“Mom.” Nadia rolls her eyes. “I’m not having babies.”
“Nonsense.” Katya brushes the comment away with the flip of her hand. “Turn this way, please. What do you think?”
“It’s not me,” Nadia replies. It’s pretty, but I don’t like the lace. No lace.”
“Okay, let’s try again.” Lydia smiles and gestures for Nadia to follow her to the changing room.
Two hours, ten dresses, three glasses of champagne, and six finger sandwiches later, Nadia has tears in her eyes as she stares at herself in the mirror.
“Oh, darling,” Flavia breathes. “Carmine will lose his ever-loving mind.”
“He’ll pass right out,” I agree.
“I met him at a wedding,” Nadia whispers. “When I was twelve. And I thought he was the most handsome man I’d ever seen in my life. And now I’m marrying him.”
Katya rests her hands on her daughter’s shoulders and looks at her in the mirror. The two look so much alike with their fair hair and skin and big, blue eyes.
“You’re a vision,” Katya says. “Your father will blubber like a baby.”
“I’ve never seen Papa cry.”
“Well, you will on your wedding day. Is this the one?”
