Page 150 of Blush
The owner of the shop, Martha, hurries toward us. “I just want to apologize again, Francesca. This hardly ever happens.”
“It could only happen to me,” Frankie says dryly.
“We will find you something just as spectacular. More so, even.”
“All I ask is that we stay in the same price range. I’ve already cleared the price with my other bridesmaids, and I don’t want any issues. My parents will be paying for Mandy’s dress.”
I widen my eyes. “They will?”
“Did I forget to tell you? Sorry about that. Yeah, Mom and Dad are footing the bill for the entire wedding. Including your expenses.”
“They don’t need to do that.”
Though it does help, since I’m a little tight from the last month.
“I’ve got some potential dresses laid out for you,” Martha says. “Come on back to the fitting room.”
The first dress is a light-pink sheath that doesn’t fit well at all. “If you like this design, we can alter it to fit your figure.”
“It’s up to Frankie,” I say, “but honestly, this isn’t really me.”
Frankie bites her lip. “It’s beautiful, but I have to agree. I want Mandy to feel comfortable.”
“It’s your wedding, Frank.”
“You’re my sister. If you’re not comfortable, I won’t be happy.”
Sometimes my little sister surprises me. She really is a good person, and she deserves so much better than Pendleton Berry.
But I keep that little gem to myself.
The next dress is light pink and cocktail length, with a wider skirt, cinched waist, and a beautiful sweetheart neckline. It’s definitely a bridesmaid dress—not one of those dresses, like Frankie’s original choice, that you can wear again, unless you go back in time for your high school prom.
But honestly, this dress flatters me in all the right places.
Frankie sucks in a breath. “Mandy, you look gorgeous!”
“I love it,” I say. “But it’s nothing like what you originally chose.”
“I know. It’s sure not.” She laughs. “Isabella will absolutely hate it. But Gigi will look adorable in it.”
“I do like it,” I say, “but it’s up to you.”
“You know what? Let’s go with it. It’s totally not what I had in mind, but maybe that even makes it better.”
“Perfect,” Martha says. “I actually have these in stock in all of your bridesmaids’ sizes. The tall one will probably require some alterations, but Mandy here and the other bridesmaid should have no problem with their regular size.”
“Perfect. Thank you so much, Martha, for opening for me.”
“Of course. This is totally our fault. Well…the manufacturer’s fault. I don’t normally like to pass the buck, but I will on this one.”
“Snafus happen,” I say. “And this dress…the color, the design. I have to tell you it’s not what I originally had in mind, but I love it.”
“I’m so glad, Mandy,” Frankie says. “Oh…and I need to apologize to you.”
“What for?”
“For Penn and his big mouth. I’m so sorry that he said that stuff to Jackson.”