Page 9 of With This Ring
Layla handed her the photo, and Skye hurried to the back office.
Trudy turned to Dakota. “Have you found yourself a special fella yet?”
Dakota shifted her weight on her feet. Why were people so interested in her love life all of a sudden? “Not yet, I’m afraid.”
Trudy shook her head. “I’m surprised to hear that.”
For a moment, Dakota considered asking Trudy about Hudson. Had he settled down? Was he married? Did he have a family? Had he bought a large house close to the city and adopted a couple of dogs?
But then again, why should she care? He didn’t care enough to ask about her, let alone start his company in Flowering Grove so they could’ve built a life together.
Dakota was grateful for the distraction when Skye headed back their way.
Her niece gave the photo back to Layla. “Your gown is going to be amazing. My auntie is the best seamstress around.”
“I remember that about her.” Layla gently returned the portrait to her tote bag. “She made Barbie clothes for me one year for Christmas. I had the best-dressed Barbies out of all my friends.”
“Really?” Skye asked, glancing at Dakota. “I didn’t know that.”
Dakota nodded. That was the year she and Hud had started dating.
Stop with the memories already!
“It’s so great to see you again, Dakota.” Trudy waved at Skye. “Thank you both for making Layla’s wedding dream come true.”
Dakota told them goodbye and then started a ticket for the dress, filling in Layla’s name and Trudy’s address, which she still knew by heart.
“How come you didn’t ask for their address or phone numbers?” Skye asked, perching on the stool beside her aunt.
“Because I already know them.” Dakota sighed. “I was engaged to Layla’s older brother.”
“That’s Hud’s sister?”
She lifted an eyebrow. “You remember him?”
“Of course I do. He gave me books from my favorite author for my birthday one year.”
Dakota chuckled. “I actually picked them out butlethim give them to you.”
Skye rolled her eyes. “Cool, so... when was the last time you saw him?”
The day I broke up with him. “It’s been a long time. Last I heard, he’d moved away.”
“And he never comes back home to see his family?”
Dakota hit the button to print the ticket. “If he has, I haven’t run into him.”And thank goodness for that.
They were silent as Dakota attached the ticket to the gown’s wardrobe bag.
“You know, Auntie, if you give everyone the family and friends discount, you won’t have a bridal shop anymore.”
She spun to face her niece. “What does that mean?”
“You’re selling older gowns at a discount already, and then you gave her a discount on top of it.” Skye’s lips formed a thin line.
Dakota sighed. “You’re right. But I’ve known Layla almost as long as you’ve been alive.” She shook her head. “You heard what her aunt said. It’s my job to give people the wedding of their dreams.”
“But dreams won’t pay the lease on this place.”