Page 7 of Fake It For Love (Faux Love)
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CLAIRE
Iwalked into the bridal shop and was quickly greeted by one of the eager sales ladies. “I’m here for the Quill appointment,” I told her.
“She’s in room two,” she said.
“Thank you.”
I walked through a sea of white and sparkles, toward the dressing rooms. Dressing room was kind of a misnomer. The upscale wedding boutique had rooms the size of my living room, complete with comfortable couches and chairs. This was our third trip to the boutique and hopefully our last.
I knocked on the door. “It’s me.”
“Come in,” Norah called out.
I stepped into the room to find she was behind the curtain which was the actual dressing room. “How’s it going?” I asked.
“One minute,” a woman called out.
I sat down on one of the couches. My maid-of-honor dress was hanging on one of the hooks thinly concealed in the opaque bag. I cringed as I looked at it. I was not looking forward to wearing the strappy, silk dress. It clung in all the wrong places. I wasn’t trying to hide my figure, but I did believe there was a right cut for every body style.
The dress was typical of any bridal party attire—ugly and uncomfortable. It wasn’t that the dress showed a lot of flesh. It was just uncomfortable. I wanted to be comfortable without worrying a nipple was going to pop out. The alterations lady promised me I wouldn’t recognize the dress when she was finished with it. She vowed I would look gorgeous. I wasn’t convinced, but it didn’t matter. I was going to wear the dress because that was what Norah wanted.
“Ready?” Norah called out.
“Let’s see!”
She stepped out and my first reaction was to suck in a breath and slap a hand over my mouth. She slowly turned. “What do you think?”
“It’s beautiful. You’re beautiful.” I had tears in my eyes as I took in the sight of her. “I love it. It is perfect on you. Just absolutely stunning.”
“Thank you,” she said and ran her hands over the poof of chiffon that blossomed at her tiny waist wrapped in a bejeweled belt. Her perfect figure in the strapless dress was straight out of a classic movie. “Your turn,” she said eagerly.
The older woman who was in charge of alterations grabbed the dress and gestured for me to go in the dressing room. I pasted on a smile. I didn’t want Norah to know how nervous I was about the dress.
Once inside the dressing room, the woman ordered me to strip. I had on my strapless bra for the occasion.
“No bra,” she scolded. “I reinforced the cups in the dress. You will have plenty of support.”
I was certain she was underestimating the size of my boobs. I turned around and took off my bra. Stripping to my underwear in front of a stranger was more than just a little embarrassing. I quickly took the gown and was happy to see the spaghetti straps had been replaced with wider, sturdier straps in the same pale blue fabric with silver lace wrapped around them. The more substantial straps looked far more durable and would allow me to actually breathe and move without fear of popping a strap.
I stepped into the dress and refused to look at myself in the mirror. “The corset-style bodice will make it more comfortable,” she said while she tugged at the strings and tightened it.
Corsetand comfortable were not two words I imagined went together very often. But remarkably, it wasn’t so bad. I was relieved to feel the support the corset provided. And I could breathe without worrying about splitting a zipper or popping buttons. The girls were riding high without sagging against my belly.
“Let me see!” Norah called out.
I opened my eyes and found myself pleasantly surprised. “Oh my gosh!” I gasped. “You made so many changes!”
The woman smiled in the mirror from beside me. “I told you to trust me.”
“Let me see!” Norah shrieked again.
I pulled back the curtain and stepped out. The A-line skirt made me look like I had an actual waistline. The seamstress had added long rows of sparkling lace down the front and the sides of the tulle skirt to add even more definition. The shimmering lace over the bodice with just a slice of sheer down the center gave the illusion it was sheer, but it was actually hiding my cleavage.
“I love it,” I told her. “I have to admit I wasn’t sure, but this? This is beautiful.”
“And you look amazing!” Norah exclaimed. “I told you it was going to be perfect.”
