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“Three fifty.”
Three hundred and fifty dollars? Do I have some kind of magnetic pull to dresses that cost that exact amount?
“Okay. Well…I’ll think about the classes.” I take the dress and head into the dressing room.
I disrobe quickly and pull the dress on. Mary was right about the elasticity. It forms itself to my body and accentuates every curve.
Damn.
I was hoping it would look terrible. Seven hundred bucks in a week on dresses? I’d better do a top-notch job on this article. I’m going to need a promotion if I keep spending money like this.
I peel the sheath off, get dressed, and return to Mary. “I’ll take it.”
“Perfect, and I have excellent news for you. I just checked with my boss, and she said you can take the class for free with this purchase.”
“Oh?” I should be happy about this, but I’m a little freaked. “When does the class meet?”
“We’re starting a new one next week. Thursday evening at eight.”
Shivers rack my body. But why? It’s only a class. Just a class.
It’s for work. It’s just for work.
“I’ll see if I can make it.”
Better not to commit. Not just yet.
Chapter Twelve
Frankie
“I think you should wear white,” I say.
Mandy blushes. “Really?”
“Mandy, I’m not trying to ask about your sexual history.”
I’m pretty sure my sister was a virgin before Jackson, but I honestly don’t know.
“White just seems so…”
“It’s what brides wear. It’s what I was going to wear. And God knows I was no virgin.”
Mandy reddens further. “I do like this one.” She pulls a white sheath off the rack.
A sheath isn’t the right design for Mandy. She has a sweet little hourglass figure, but a sheath is more appropriate for someone long and lean, like Isabella, who needs to add the appearance of curves. Mandy already has curves.
But I keep my lips shut.
Mom, however, doesn’t. She pulls another dress from the rack. “How about this one, Mandy? I feel it would flatter you more.”
Mandy widens her eyes. “Wow, Mom. It’s beautiful.”
Indeed it is. It’s satin with a white lace inlay and some subtle beading, fitted around the bodice but flaring out at the hips. It will be perfect on Mandy.
Mom smiles. “This is your size. Why don’t you try it on?”
Mandy takes the dress from her and heads into the fitting room.
Mom turns to me. “You holding up okay, Frankie?”
“Yes, Mom. I’m fine.”
“Dad and I still feel awful about last Saturday night.”
“Don’t. Please. I’m over it.”
Or I’m trying, anyway. I do want to be over it. I’m definitely over talking about it.
“I hope you’re happy for Mandy,” Mom says.
“Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“It hasn’t escaped Dad’s and my notice that you were ahead of her in everything, even though you’re two years younger.”
“I never tried to be.”
“Oh, we know that, Frankie. But in a way, this is amazing for Mandy. She gets to be a bride first.”
I open my mouth, but Mom holds a hand up.
“I don’t mean that in a bad way. Seriously. Dad and I were never thrilled with the match between you and Penn, and you knew that. But we would be just as happy if this were happening for you.”
My mom is a good person—even though she just mentioned Penn. Again. So is my dad. They were great parents, and I imagine they had to soothe Mandy many times when I was getting ahead of her. It couldn’t have been easy for them.
So I make myself a vow here and now.
I’m going to be happy for my sister. She deserves love, and she’s found it with her best friend. With Jackson.
Besides…
I’ve met someone new.
Granted, I’ve never seen his face, and I don’t know his name. But for some reason, I’m more excited about this prospect than I have been for a long time.
I was with Penn for over five years, since I was twenty-two.
I’m not in a huge hurry. I’m twenty-seven, and sure, my biological clock is ticking, but I’ve got time. Women are having children well into their thirties these days, some in their early forties. And who says I have to have children? Sure, I always thought I would, but if I don’t? That will be okay, too. There’s no law that says a woman must have kids to be fulfilled.
Mandy steps out of the dressing room, and I can’t help but smile.
The dress fits my sister beautifully, and she looks radiant. Truly radiant. And happy.
I never looked that way when I was talking about Penn. I never even felt that look on my face.
“You look absolutely beautiful, sis,” I say. “Absolutely beautiful.”
“Really, Frank?”
“Really. You know I’ve always been the first to tell you when something is not flattering.” I walk around her, checking out the fit from every angle. “This is your dress. It was made for you.”
Mandy smiles ear to ear. “Thank you for saying that. I do like how I look in it. It looked great in the mirror, but I wondered if I was just seeing something I wanted to see.”
