Designing Abigail Kilton's Dress - #1 The Wedding Dress

Chapter 43 - I Heard Church Bells Ringing

The ooh's and ah's bounced off the walls as Abigail Kilton floated down the aisle. She looked heavenly, but the dress... Oh, the dress! There wasn't a dry eye in the room. 

Abi's friends were glowing with envy. Her cold mother flushed with pride. Greta and Ms Weston burst with relief. And Kayleigh? Kayleigh's tears were tears of shock, heartbreak and self-pity. Her eyes did not reflect everybody's light and joy.

"Magnifique. Très belle," Jean Luc mused sarcastically from behind her.

Kayleigh turned on her desk and narrowed her eyes at him. "Shut up. We all know your dress was better," she grumbled holding down the bile as Abigail turned for the cheering crowd that had gathered in the bridal hall.

Herm had moved his team up to their floor for the morning so that they could work on the alterations for the bridal team while Kayleigh's team started on the bride's dress. He'd done a wonderful job. The girls looked amazing in their minimalistic yet ethereal gowns. They looked like twenty-first-century faeries.

"My dress was better for her because my dress was designed with her in mind," the Frenchman replied slyly. "Your dress is breathing, Cherie."

It really was.

She couldn't believe her favourite piece had come to life so beautifully. The team at KHF was flawless and Kayleigh was beyond humbled to even be considered one of them, let alone to be given the opportunity to lead them. If only the circumstances were different. If only she could find it in her heart to enjoy this moment. This moment should have been the best of her life.

But the ache in her chest was becoming more and more difficult to tolerate. And when Abi turned away from her posse and flashed a dashing smile at her, she had to work hard not to let her emotions show.

"What do you think, Kayleigh Love," Abi asked with her blue eyes large and imploring. "Do you think Mark will like it?"

Kayleigh swallowed hard. 

"I'm sure Marcus will love it," she replied honestly. It was designed with him in mind, after all. When she was only fifteen. But Abigail didn't need to know that.

"I'm sure he'll love ripping it right off you too!" one of the bridesmaid's cackled.

Kayleigh winced. She hated to admit it, but she disliked this one most of all out of the six. She was loud, and tacky and she had no place by Abi's side.

"As if I'll let him harm a stitch on this masterpiece. Don't worry, Kay. I'll protect this dress with my life." Kayleigh gave her a small smile as she helped her onto the large footstool in front of the mirror so that Celine could start working on the hem. "I can't believe you pulled this off in just a month!"

Kay caught Greta's eyes in the mirror. She nodded at her with pride, no more than that. It was respect. And Kayleigh pressed her lips together to stop her chin from quivering.

"It wasn't me. It was the team. And we're not ready yet. We still have the tiara and the veil to work on."

"Ah, oui! Speaking of..." Jean Luc drawled springing into action behind them. He brought forward a dainty, metal frame set on a blue, velvet cushion. "So, the frame is ready. Perhaps you can try it on before we start fitting the gems. They were all cleared, by the way. Each piece was flawless."

Abigail tried on the tiara and ran to the floor-to-ceiling mirror at the other end of the hall, ignoring Celine's protests as she accidentally pricked her finger on the needle in her hand. Her smile faltered and Kay's heart sank. She walked slowly towards her and looked at her questioningly. It was a stunning tiara. Kayleigh had done the frame with her own hands.