AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Miller seemed to sense her need for a subject change. He simply barked, “Can’t wait.”
The next morning, Liza woke to her 7 am alarm and noticed that Miller wasn’t there. She pulled her hair back, brushed her teeth and gathered her things. She felt oddly sad about ending her stay.
When she walked out of the bedroom, she saw Miller filling dog bowls. She set her purse down and walked over to him.
“Here let me help," she offered.
“I got it. Don’t you have to go finish Maggie’s dress?”
“Yeah, but I have a few minutes. Besides, I gotta say goodbye to my babies. They’ll probably miss me today.”
Miller stopped scooping and looked at her. “How are you feeling?”
“Good. I think I’m healed.”
Liza helped pass out the pups’ breakfast while getting a faceful of kisses at each kennel. Miller let her do the honors when it was Randall’s turn.
After giving Randall some snuggles, Liza looked down at her watch. “Shoot, I gotta run. I have to make sure Maggie’s dress is perfect. But I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon right?”
Miller gave her his signature no-words nod.
Liza grabbed her purse and headed toward the door. She stopped when her hand was on the handle. Looking back, she saw Miller holding Randall. With one hand cupped over her mouth, she lifted her phone and snapped a photo. Joy erupted from somewhere deep inside her.
Both guys were learning to trust again.
After agonizing over every detail of Maggie’s dress all day Saturday, it was finally time for Maggie to try on the finished product. She would be arriving any minute. Grabbing her steamer, Liza gave the dress another once over to get rid of any wrinkles she may have missed the other nine times she’d steamed it.
The full maxi-length skirt, scalloped V-neckline, and long lace sleeves gave the dress a more modest style. Liza was nervous about what Maggie's reaction would be to the thigh-high slit and open back.
Just then, she heard a knock.
“Come in,” she yelled while tucking the dress back in her closet.
Maggie appeared with her hair in an elegant bun updo and flawless makeup.
“Whoa! Look at you!”
Waving her comment away, Maggie slipped off her black flats. “Janelle fit me in this morning so we could try a few hairstyles and makeup looks. What do you think? I like it more natural. Do you think it’s too much?”
“No way! You look stunning. The real question is, are you ready to try on your dress?”
“Yes! I’m so excited!” Maggie clasped her hands near her heart. Liza couldn’t remember a time when Maggie looked so genuinely joy-filled—like a kid anticipating their birthday party.
“Okay, let’s hope you love it.” Liza led Maggie to her room. The last time Maggie had tried it on, only the skirt was complete. This was the first time Maggie would be seeing the final design.
“Okay, I’m gonna help you get it on so that you can keep your eyes closed.”
“Oh boy… okay.”
Maggie undressed and then squeezed her lids closed. Liza directed her to step into the skirt gently. Then she shimmied the dress upward. Once the sleeves were over her arms, Liza carefully slid the zipper up.
“I feel like some fabric is missing from the back,” Maggie quipped.
“Just… wait and see what you think.” After giving the bodice one last adjustment, she turned Maggie toward the full length mirror. "Okay, open your eyes."
Maggie took a breath and slowly peered at her reflection. Stepping back, she covered her mouth with her hands. Liza did the same.
“Liza… it’s… gorgeous. Oh my goodness!” Maggie twirled slightly to peek at the back. “Oh… wow… the open back. I was nervous it’d be too revealing, but I love it! Everything about it is perfect!”
