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Keeping her face straight, she looked over at me, giving me a crooked smirk. She inhaled and looked down at Ophelia and Carter.
“I don’t think I like having my photo taken,” Madeline whispered to me while Ophelia and Carter were down by her feet. “It’s nerve wracking. What if Milo sees it?”
“He won’t,” I whispered back. “He doesn’t even know I’m here today. He thinks I went to a job-” I stopped myself and looked down at Ophelia. I almost said interview. “A meeting,” I added quickly.
Madeline nodded. “Do you really think he’ll like it?”
“Maddy, I almost fainted, so yeah. . . I think it’s safe to say he will like it.” I looked at my friend. The way she blushed just thinking about Milo made me wonder if Ophelia blushed thinking about me. “He would faint if you walked down the aisle in a garbage bag,” I added, stepping away from Madeline.
“There is no way on God’s green earth that she is walking down the aisle in a garbage bag with me as her best friend.” Ophelia stood and shot me a glare, pulling another pin from the cushion with force.
Both Madeline and I raised our eyebrows at her. I pressed my lips to a tight line and simply nodded. “No, ma’am, never,” I agreed.
Lowering herself down, she placed the pin and then stood with a jolt. “Okay, I think that will do it.”
“Miss Madeline,” Carter said, pulling Madeline away from the mirror. “Could I get a few shots of just you, please, and a pose for your entrance?”
Madeline heaved a sigh and looked at me. I gave her a reassuring nod, and she turned back to Carter. “If we must.”
Ophelia rubbed her neck and sighed. “I’ll leave you to pose the bride. I need to make some notes.” She gave Madeline a gentle pat on her shoulder and carefully walked to her desk. Grabbing both our coffees, I followed her.
“Now what?” I asked as she sat down in Carter's chair, rubbing her finger on the mouse pad on her laptop, bringing it to life.
“Now I fix those little pins, and we try the dress on again.” She grabbed her drink and took a long pull. “Hmm. . . seriously? What Starbucks have you been going to?”
I chuckled and leaned my palms on the desk. “Any word from JoAnn yet?”
“I haven’t checked. I’m too nervous.”
“Check right now.” I jerked my head toward the computer, wiggling my eyebrows.
She narrowed her eyes and breathed in. “Alright, but you stay right there.” She gave me a stern glare before turning to her computer. Moving her fingers gracefully on the pad, she clicked a few times before pausing to, hopefully, read an email. Her eyes darted from side to side holding me at suspense the entire time.
“Well?” I trailed, wanting to know the answer more than she did at this point.
She rubbed her lips together and closed the laptop down. I used to be a pro at reading her expressions. I could tell you exactly what was going through her mind with one glance, but she had gotten better at her poker face, and it was killing me. She placed her palms on the table and pushed herself up. Making eye contact with me, she finally broke.
She let out a long, shaky sigh and covered her smile with her hands, her shoulders hunching in.
“What!?”
“She loves the idea.” Ophelia dropped her hands and smiled. “She loves the idea!” she called again. “She wants to see some of the designs pinned on the mannequin, told me to send over some that her team can get to work on soon. She’s absolutely in love with Madeline’s dress, and she can't wait until she can see the photos from today. And Clay! She basically said yes!” Ophelia screamed.
It took all my strength not to jump over the table and scoop her up in my arms and share this excitement with her. It didn't even matter to me that Madeline and Carter were in the room. I had to fight the urge all the same. I desperately wanted her in my arms again.
“Said yes to what?” Madeline came bustling over, trying to walk gently but as fast as possible to us. I turned to watch her and glanced at Carter, who looked like he had just been defeated as she left him alone by the screen.
“JoAnn likes the idea of only gowns being sold at my boutique.” Ophelia clapped her hands together, trying to contain her excitement in her small body. I had a feeling one way or the other she was going to let it all out somehow.
I smiled. I wanted to be there when she released that energy, out in the open. I imagined her dancing at a club—no. . . that was college Ophelia. This Ophelia would go to a classy restaurant with her friends, have a glass of wine and celebrate in a more adult way. I wanted her to scream at the top of her lungs, enjoying the moment and letting the world know what she accomplished.
Madeline squealed. “Phe!” She stopped herself from jumping to give Ophelia a hug. “Okay, Okay. What’s his name?” she whispered.
“Carter,” I answered.
“Carter.” Madeline spun quickly. “Are we done? Please tell me we’re done because I need to get out of this dress so I can give my friend a hug.”
Carter looked down at his camera and back to Madeline. “Yes, I suppose. Miss Fuller, I’ll need a caption.”
