Bonnie Solavita was seated behind an executive desk and holding a mimosa. “I’m ready!”
Lina slunk out in an ivory ballgown so wide she had to turn sideways to squeeze between two mannequins. The spaghetti straps glittered with rhinestones. The corset was tied with a pink satin ribbon. There were so many layers of tulle I had to press my lips together in order not to make a Scarlett O’Hara joke.
The bride didn’t look like she was in the mood for jokes. She looked downright miserable.
“Oh my gosh! That dress was made for you,” Naomi crooned.
“You look…amazing.” I managed to choke the words out.
“I’m…speechless,” Stef said before turning to me and mouthing “What the fuck?”
“Wow! That is some dress, sweetie,” Bonnie piped up on-screen.
Ahmad rested his chin on his knuckles and studied her while his assistants fluttered around Lina, fluffing the skirt until it seemed to double in size. “Do you love it?” he demanded.
“There aren’t words that properly describe how much I hate this dress,” Lina said through clenched teeth.
Ahmad clapped his hands. “To the dressing room.”
Lina practically ran.
“That dress was…something, wasn’t it?” Bonnie asked nervously.
I flipped the phone around so I could see her. “Naomi says she has a plan,” I explained.
“What kind of plan?”
“I don’t know. She won’t tell me.”
Naomi leaned over Stef to see Lina’s mom. “Don’t worry, Bonnie. We’re going to make sure Lina goes home with the perfect dress. I promise you.”
“Well, that definitely wasn’t it,” Bonnie said, taking a gulp of mimosa. “It looked like a white haystack.”
“Here she comes again,” Stef said, shoving Naomi back into position.
We repeated the process four more times with each dress outdoing the awfulness of the one before it.
“You’re looking a little flushed, sweetheart. Maybe you should take a break and do some deep breathing,” Bonnie suggested from the screen.
“I’m fine, Mom,” Lina said, sounding anything but fine. “My heart is fine. I’m just breaking out from neck-to-toe lace.”
“That’s very common for brides,” Ahmad spoke up. “We suggest slathering yourself in antihistamine cream if you’re going to wear something that irritates the skin.”
“You look beautiful,” Naomi assured her.
“Itchy but beautiful,” I agreed.
“You know what? I think I’ve had enough trying on dresses for one day,” Lina said, already unbuckling the crystal belt one of the assistants had lassoed around her waist. “Someone get me out of this thing before my skin peels off.”
“Oh boy. She’s gonna blow,” Stef predicted under his breath.
As Lina danced in place while an assistant began to work on the first of seventy thousand buttons running down her back, Naomi gave Ahmad a nod. He turned toward the back of the store and made a series of elaborate swooping gestures.
Two employees appeared, lugging a mannequin between them. The mannequin was already dressed in a strapless gown with black floral appliqués that began at the fitted bodice and spilled down over the full skirt.
“That goes in the window display, ladies,” Ahmad said to the women.
Lina glanced up in the mirror and froze.
“What’s she looking at?” Bonnie demanded from the phone.
I angled the screen so she could see the dress.
“That one,” Lina said, pointing at the gown.
“This? It just arrived this morning. No one’s even tried it on yet,” Ahmad said coyly.
“It’s a beautiful gown,” Bonnie prompted.
“I don’t know,” Stef mused. “How many brides could get away with wearing black on their wedding day?”
“I’ll try that one on, but after that, we’re leaving,” Lina announced, shoving herself out of the dress. She flounced away from the three-way mirror in a strapless bra and underwear.
Ahmad snapped his fingers at the women, who made quick work of disrobing the mannequin.
“Oh my God. That’s the dress,” I said.
“I know,” Naomi agreed.
“It’s freaking fabulous,” Stef said.
“I know,” Naomi said again with a smug smile.
“And so is Lina,” Bonnie agreed.
“Exactly,” Naomi said, perching on the edge of the cushion, eagerly watching the dressing rooms.