Ever

Chapter 15

“Yes! I’m on my way.” I hung up the phone and continued driving to the dress shop with Libby in the back seat. She babbled happily in the back seat as she watched the passing scenery. The fog was incredibly thick but nothing could kill the mood of the day. 

We pulled up to the dress shop and walked inside with Libby’s hand wrapped in mine. I walked up to the reception desk of the quaint shop. “Hi I’m Kelly Ritters, I was just on the phone with you,” I said in a questioning tone hoping not to sound off-putting.  

The woman with her short blonde bobbed hair and makeup-plastered face extended her hand to me, “Hello Kelly, I’m Amanda and your dress consultant will be Harley,” she walked out from around the desk in her open toed high heels, “If you’ll just follow me…. Take a seat and she’ll be right with you,” referring to Harley.

The shop wasn’t busy with a few people roaming the crowded floor filled with rows of racks of dresses. All in plastic covers a majority of the dresses were white or ivory. So were very simple while others were nearly covered top to bottom in every shiny thing you could possible imagine. A hand suddenly popped into my view, “Hi I’m Harley nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too. I’m Kelly and this is my daughter Elizabeth.” Libby pushed herself up on the chair and smiled a baby tooth filled smile. I pulled her off the chair and sat her in my lap and shot Harley and apologetic look. She gave a dismissive wave and pulled a chair across from me. She wasn’t much older than me, maybe 22 or so, with curly hair thrown in a ponytail.  “So what are you looking for in a dress?”

***

We left with ideas of the dress I wanted, nothing crazy but it was definitely a head start considering we had plenty of time until the wedding.

“Mama?”

“Yeah Lib.” I said looking in the rear view mirror at my girl.

“Sippy mama?”

“Do we have manners today?” I teased while rummaging through her diaper bag.

“Please mama. Sippy?” I handed her the plastic cup filled half way with juice.

It was 6 o’clock and we were headed to meet Amy, who was back in town, at some address she gave me. I knew she was up to something just not sure what. We had about fifteen minutes until we got there. We took our time getting there, driving cautiously through the thick fog. Through a few lights we found the address. I pulled a half asleep Libby out of her car seat and walked through the single door of a brick building. It let in to a very small room where a man and woman stood skimpily dressed.  I held to Lib a bit tighter. “Hi. I’m looking for Amy Schulls.” The man nodded at me and gestured for me to follow him through one of the three doors.

Following skeptically I lulled Libby back to sleep on my sweater clad shoulder.   At first upon entering, everything was dark, and slightly musty. Two hands covered my eyes and whispered “Surprise” in a low voice. Club lights flipped on and 30 of my friends yelled “Congratulations!” at me. I turned back to see who was behind me and a tall man stood shirtless and muscular. I shuffled over to Amy as fast as I could without jarring Libby and as my heels would permit.

“What is this?” my tone some in between version of shock and confusion.

She smiled proud of herself, “Your Congratulations-You’re- Getting-Married party! Now here, give me her and go change.” She took Libby from me and hanged me a hanger. A strapless red dress that looked like it would be short on Libby hung by the clear plastic straps.

“Why am I putting this on?”

“Because you look like your ancient in that sweater. It’s your party; you’re not getting another, go put it on.” I was about to protest some more but another large muscular man guided me by the hip to a private room to change in. The dress barely grazed mid-thigh. It was pretty and definitely fun but not my style. I slipped back on my heels I had worn to the dress consultation and headed out looking for Libby.  I panicked a bit when I couldn’t find her. I snagged the next person who pasted me who happen to be Amy.