Finding my mum

19- wedding dress shopping

I woke up and remembered falling asleep with Chloe on the sofa. Chloe was still asleep so I quietly and carefully got up off the sofa, went upstairs to get changed then came back downstairs. Ashley was in the kitchen so I went to talk to him leaving a fast asleep Chloe still on the sofa.

Ashley: "see things are better with you two now?"
Me: "yeah, we had a good talk before dinner last night and I think we're going out today when she wakes up"
Ashley: "did she say much?"
Me: "a bit. She'll be alright. We just need to give her time"
Ashley: "as long as she knows where we are and that we'll always be there for her then of course she will be"
Chloe: "all I need is my two favourite people"

Chloe walked over to Ashley and I to give us a hug.

Me: "morning. Remember what I said last night you'll always have your girl. You feeling any better?"
Chloe: "best girls team ever! I am thanks, our chat last night helped"
Me: "I'm glad. What have you got planned for today?"
Chloe: "nothing. What about you two?"
Ashley: "I was going to go see my friend"
Me: "absolutely nothing"
Chloe: "want a girls day?"
Me: "of course. What shall we do?"
Chloe: "let me go jump in the shower and get dressed then we'll decide"

Ashley said goodbye and went to spend the day with his friend, Chloe went to get dressed while I tidied up. When Chloe came back she was the happiest I'd seen her in ages.

Me: "what do you wanna do?"
Chloe: "I know that Ashley and I haven't set a date yet but I have no idea what kinda dress I want so I was thinking we could go and see what's available"
Me: "you're going to look like a princess"
Chloe: "awwwww, I hope so."
Me: "trust me you will. Neither of you have told me how he asked you"
Chloe: "let's go and I'll tell you on the way"

Usually when Chloe and I were in the car without Ashley, we'd blast and sing along with all the songs that Ashley doesn't like but today we were talking about his proposal to Chloe. I sat there pretending that I hadn't been involved in Ashley's planning or that I was hiding in a cupboard.

When we got to the first wedding dress shop we were met by a woman called Leanna who wasn't helpful at all. In the end we made our excuses and left. The second and third shops were exactly the same. By the time we got to the last one we didn't have much hope. We were met by a woman called Lauren who was super lovely and helpful. She didn't mind that Chloe didn't have any ideas, she showed us around and suggested dresses on the answers Chloe had given her to her questions. Chloe tried on several different styles of dresses with different shoes and veils but none had the wow factor or said this is the one. That was until the last one she tried on. As soon as I saw her in it, I got emotional. That was the one that made her look like the princess that she is.

Lauren: "I believe this is the one"

Chloe and I nodded"

Lauren: "have you set a date?"
Chloe: "my fiancé only asked me yesterday. We were only meant to be getting ideas not falling in love with a dress"
Me: "you look so beautiful Chloe. Ashley is going to fall even more in love with you when you walk down the aisle."
Chloe: "thanks sweetie. I really love the dress"
Me: "but"
Chloe: "if I get it now where will we hide it?"
Lauren: "I might be able to help you with that problem"
Chloe: "go on"
Lauren: "if you at least put a deposit on it today, then I can mark it up as sold, then you can pay whenever."
Chloe: "we'll do it"

Chloe carefully got out of the dress and bagged it back up, paid the deposit and we left with a huge smile on our faces.

Chloe: "what do you wanna do now?"
Me: "can we get something to eat I'm absolutely starving"
Chloe: "same. Let's go"

After we'd eaten, we went for a look around the shops before heading back to the house. Ashley wasn't back yet which caused Chloe to make the look I instantly recognised. I didn't want her to go back into the bad mood that she'd been in so I decided to ask her what was wrong.

Me: "I know that look. What's up?"
Chloe: "I'm alright really"
Me: "I know you better than you think and I know that there is definitely something on your mind"
Chloe: "I'm alright I promise"
Me: "I don't want you to go back into the bad place that you were in. I hated seeing you like that"

Chloe didn't know what to say. She hadn't realised that I'd noticed more than she thought I had.

Chloe: "I wanted to talk to Ashley about something"
Me: "you can talk to me. Only if you wanna"
Chloe: "are you with Janette tomorrow?"
Me: "I am. I can change it if you need me"
Chloe: "it's ok honestly. I'll be here when you get back then we can have a girls night in plus Ashley if he's here"
Me: "I'll text you throughout the day and if you need me then message me and I'll be back earlier"
Chloe: "enjoy your day with Janette and we can catch up when you get home"
Me: "I'm still going to text you though"