“We know that, and we’re sorry for getting so wound up. But this is our day that we’re talking about. And I guess we kind of forgot that all of you that are helping to make it all happen,” Katie told them.
“Well, it’s okay, so what do you say that we go on upstairs, and we’ll see if they fit?” Elizabeth told them as she made their way to the stairs.
The five ladies slowly made their way up the stairs and disappeared behind Katie’s bedroom door.
Paul just looked at Grady. “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve just lost your best friend,” he told him.
“Oh, nothing, I just realized that my little girl is all grown up. It seems like just yesterday that her mom was giving her a bottle. Gee, how time flies,” he answered.
“Yeah, but here’s the question that you have to ask yourself. Excluding the tragic loss of your wife, is there anything that you would change?” he asked him.
“Already thought about it, and there’s not a single thing that I would change. I’m very proud of my little girl. She’s one surprise after another,” he told him.
“Exactly my point,” Paul told him.
Meanwhile upstairs in Katie’s bedroom . . .
“All right now before we begin, I need to explain something to you two. These dresses were designed to be worn just one time. But they were also designed to show off your beauty as well as your body. You’re both very beautiful girls, and these dresses will bring out your beauty. So put the shoes on first, and we need you both stripped down to just your underwear. Nothing on top, it will ruin the image that we’re going to create,” Vi told the two girls.
So Katie and Melissa stripped down to just their underwear and the shoes.
“Now, on Saturday, if you ladies wish to wear stockings, you’ll have to do it with a garter belt. White so it doesn’t show through the dress. Okay?” Vi told them.
They both agreed.
Now came the moment of truth. They would see their dresses for the very first time. And neither of them could have ever dreamed up a dress as stunning and as beautiful as the ones that Vi and Mary pulled from the boxes. Elizabeth just sat on the edge of the bed and watched in total amazement. “My God, they’re beautiful!” she said as Mary and Vi held them up for the girls to see. Both girls soon had tears in their eyes.
“Now if you’re going to start the crying bit, we’ll just put them back in their boxes,” Vi told them.
“I’m sorry, but they’re just unbelievable,” Katie told her as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
“Yeah, maybe, but the true magic will come when you put these on, and we cinch them up,” Vi told them.
“Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s do it,” Melissa said.
Mary followed Vi’s lead as she unzipped the zipper that ran down the back from the top of the collar, all the way down to the waist of the dress.
As Vi walked over to Melissa, she told her to put her hand on her shoulder and slowly slip into the dress. Mary did the same with Katie. And they slowly pulled the dresses up so the girls could slide their arms down into the sleeves of the dress. And then they slowly zipped them up. The girls could feel the material of the dresses being pulled tighter against their bodies as the zipper traveled upward. Then Vi walked around to the front of the dress and started lacing a soft pink ribbon through the hoops on the V shape that ran down the front of the dress. After she was done, she and Mary just stepped back and took a look at the two beautiful ladies standing before them.
The dresses were themselves done in a very fine satin. The arms were done in a very sheer silk with a white lace undersleeve. At the wrist, the pattern was reversed, with the lace being on the outside and the sheer material on the inside. But it was the front of the dresses that caught all of the attention. The open V area of the dress was done in a very fine lace pattern, sewn over a layer of the fine sheer material. The lace did two things. It added a very feminine touch to the dress, but it also only revealed just enough of their breast to make them look both sexy and elegant at the same time. The light pink-colored ribbon that was laced across the opening added a touch of softness to the overall appearance of the dress itself. The collar of the dress was unique in that it could be worn in the lie-down position or in the upright position. In the lie-down position it would simply lay flat, but in the upright position, it stood about two inches high in the front and rising to four inches in the back. It gave the dress the appearance of royalty something like the queen of England was known to have worn. Soft accents of soft pink trim adorned the dress. As the girls walked to the mirror, they were surprised to find that the dresses also had a tail of about seven feet in length. Katie and Melissa just stared at each other.
“Well, what do you think?” Vi asked them.
“I don’t know what to say. I mean, I never once dreamed of anything like this,” Katie told her.
“I agree. I mean, these go well beyond words. What is there to say but thank you?” Melissa added.
“Well, now for the ultimate test. Mary, would you please take Elizabeth downstairs and tell the two gentlemen downstairs to prepare themselves for these two beautiful ladies?” she asked her.
“I’d love to. But if I may say something first?” she asked.
“Sure, go ahead,” Vi told her.
“Let’s put their hair up first and put on the veils,” she answered.
“Oh my! Of course, I forgot all about the veils,” Vi said as she pulled one from each box.
A few minutes later, their hair was pinned up, and the veils were on. The veils were just as stunning as the dresses themselves. They were a very simple design. A metal band surrounded by padded satin, with a sheer material hanging down over the girls’ faces, with another much longer piece hanging down off of the back and darn near touching the floor. The veils would slide on from the front, and then the sheer fabric that made up the tail that was permanently attached to just one side of the satin band could be brought around and snapped into place on the other side. They were the finishing touches to the most elegant wedding dress ever to walk down the aisle. Lace gloves added to the overall package.
“Now you look simply stunning. You two have to be the most gorgeous brides to ever walk down the aisle,” Mary told them.
“Thank you, Mary. Aunt Elizabeth, what do you think?” Katie asked her.
“Well, Mike and Rick are two of the luckiest guys in the world. You two simply steal the show. You make me want to get married again just so I could look as good as you do,” she told them.
“That’s about the nicest compliment that I could ever expect. Thank you. All of you, but, Vi, words will never be able to tell you how I feel,” Katie replied.
“It’s all right. Seeing you dressed as you are is thanks enough. But if you think you look good today, just remember we haven’t done your hair, not properly anyways, and you’re not wearing any makeup yet. I think if you were to wear some off pink—or light lavender-colored lipstick it would just add to the overall effect,” Vi told them. “Now, Mary, if you would please take Elizabeth downstairs, I’ll join you in a second or two,” she told them.
“You know, I have to agree about your choice in the color of their lipstick. It would add to the overall effect just like you said. So come on, Elizabeth, let’s go get the men ready to be stunned,” she said as she took her hand.
“Yes, I’d like to see the look on their faces as they see these two beautiful ladies as they come down the stairs,” she replied.
Katie and Melissa All Grown Up
The two women started downstairs. Vi turned and looked at the two brides. She placed the two of them next to each other and stepped back to the far side of the room. “Perfect! You two look almost the same size. That’s a relief off of my mind. Now when you come down the stairs, this is what I want you to do. Both of you will stand at the top of the stairs, and you join hands like this,” she said as she showed the girls where to place their hands. “And remember, just one step at a time together. Okay?”
“Got it. Hey, I can, or should say, we can never tell you just how we feel. And you made it possible. Thank you so very much,” Katie told her.
“Yeah, what she said,” Melissa added.
“Well, you’re welcome. Now get ready for your grand entrance,” Vi told them just as she turned to leave the room. Give us about five minutes or so to get the guys ready. Okay?”
“Five minutes, you’ve got it,” Melissa told her.
Katie and Melissa were left in the room alone.
“Melissa you look simply fantastic. Thank you so much,” Katie told her.
“Well, if I look half as good as you do, then I’m happy as hell,” Melissa answered.
“Oh, Mike and Rick are going to be shocked beyond words,” Katie added.
“You know it. And add the carriages and our vows and our wedding will set the standard, that’s for sure,” Melissa added.
“Without a doubt,” Katie answered.
Meanwhile downstairs . . .
Grady looked at Mary and Elizabeth. “Well, do they fit?” he asked them.
“You’ll see. Prepare yourself for what’s coming. You’ll be shocked. That’s all I can say right now,” Elizabeth told him. “Where’s Katie?” she asked.
“She just finished breakfast. She’ll be back soon,” Grady told her.
“Well, she needs to see this. Really,” she told him.
“Relax, I think she’s washing her hands. She’ll be here,” Grady reassured her as Vi came down the stairs. The smile that she had on her face was unmistakable. She had done what she had set out to do, and she was more than pleased with the final results. That was obvious to everyone.
Little Katie came into the room and stood by her mom.
“Mom, where’s Katie?” she asked her.
“Relax, she’ll be down shortly,” she said to her.
Paul looked at his sister. “Well, what did you think?” he asked her.
“Look for yourself,” she told him. They all turned their eyes to the top of the stairs where Katie and Melissa stood.
Grady suddenly got a lump in his throat. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. His little girl that had just gone upstairs only about a half hour before had turned into a ravishing beauty. She definitely wasn’t a little girl any longer.
Little Katie summed all of their combined thoughts into one simple word. “Wow!” she said as she stared at her cousin. “Mom, look at Katie. She’s beautiful. She looks like a princess!”
“Yes, I know. They both do,” she replied.
Grady and Paul walked to the bottom of the steps to meet the two women as they slowly made their descent down the stairs.
“Oh my god, you two ladies look simply fantastic. I can’t believe these dresses,” Paul said as he took Melissa’s hand.
“I can. She looks just like her mother did. Of course, Katherine never had a dress quite like these. Simply breathtaking,” Grady said as he took his daughter’s hand in his.
“You really like it, Daddy?” Katie asked.
Grady turned to look at Vi. “I can’t believe that you’ve made these by hand. They’re simply fabulous. You should be very proud of your work,” he told her.
“Oh, I am. Trust me, I am,” she answered.
Little Katie walked up to her cousin. “You look like a princess. You’re beautiful,” she told her.
“Why, thank you, Katie. I feel beautiful,” she replied.
“What about me, Katie? How do I look?” Melissa asked the little girl.
“I think you both look like princesses—no, you look like queens. That’s it! You look like queens,” the little girl told them.
They all stood around for about thirty minutes admiring the dresses and the craftsmanship that went into them.
“All right, you two, time to take them off before anything happens to them,” Vi told them.
“I know that you’re right, but I just can’t get over how it makes me feel,” Katie told her.
“I know what you mean. I feel like a queen. Just like Katie said earlier,” Melissa added.
“Well, you can wear them all day but on Saturday, not today. So let’s go. Mary can I get your help again?” she asked.
“Sure, I’ll be right there,” she replied.
Thirty minutes after the girls had gone back upstairs, they all came back down. Katie and Melissa wore the clothes that they had on earlier.
“I don’t know about you, Mel, but I feel kind of naked in these clothes,” Katie told her.
“I know just what you mean. Those dresses made me feel like someone special. But it’s all gone now,” Melissa replied.
“It’s funny that a dress could change a person’s outlook on themselves just like that,” Katie told her.
“Don’t worry, girls, it will all be back here on Saturday. But then, everyone will get to see you in all of your glory. Now that will be something to see,” Elizabeth told them.
“She’s right you know? You two will be the center of attention come Saturday,” Mary added.
“Well, if that doesn’t make me just a wee bit nervous, then I guess nothing will,” Melissa replied.
“No kidding,” Katie added.
“So can I ask you two ladies just what you have planned for today?” Grady asked.
“Melissa and I are going to go see the judge and try to convince him into performing our wedding. Then I guess we have to go buy some lipstick, but other than that, nothing. Why do you ask?” Katie told her dad.
“Just wonderin’, that’s all. Paul and I are going over to the church and get the tables and chairs. What about you, Elizabeth, what do you have planned?” Grady asked her.
“Katie and I are going to the movies. Just the two of us, ain’t that right, dear?” she answered as she took her daughter’s hand in hers.
“That’s right, just me and my mom. We’re going to have fun together,” the little girl responded.
“Well, we’ll give you a ride,” Paul told her.
“Thanks, but no. I think we’ll just walk. I need to get some sunshine anyways,” she answered.
“Are you sure? I mean, can you handle walking that far?” Grady asked.
“I ain’t in the ground yet. Trust me, we’ll be fine. Ain’t that right, Katie?” she asked her daughter.
“That’s right. We’ll be just fine,” she answered.
“Okay then,” Grady said as he turned to look at Vi. “We do need to settle up for the dresses, so do you have a bill or something for me?” he asked her.
“Why, yes, I do. In fact, it’s right here in my purse,” she answered as she dug out the bill for the dresses. Once she found it, she handed it to him.
Grady took one look at the bill and then looked up at Vi. “This can’t be right. This wouldn’t even cover the cost of the materials,” he told her
“Yes, it does. And, yes, it is right,” she answered.
“Are you sure? You really deserve a lot more than this,” he told her.
“Melissa is and always has been a very dear and loyal friend. I cannot and will not charge such a friend labor fees. And as far as Katie’s dress goes, she’s my new friend,” Vi responded.
“Well, okay, but I’ll throw in a little something extra for your trouble,” he told her.
“You will not. Please don’t insult me that way. My prices are my prices. They are not negotiable, and neither are my standards, sir,” she told him in a very firm voice.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to insult you. So I guess this price will make you happy, and I guess that’s what I’ll pay you then,” Grady told her.
“Thank you, sir, you’re truly a gentleman for sure,” she responded.
“And you, my dear lady, are a blessing from heaven,” Grady told her.
“And that’s a compliment that I can take. Thank you, my kind sir,” Vi told him with a huge smile.
Everyone said thank you and their good-byes to Vi as she was leaving. She promised the girls that she would be back early Saturd
ay morning to help the girls get ready for their big day.
“There goes one hell of a lady,” Grady said as her car headed down the gravel driveway.
“Well, I guess we’ll be going. I want to catch the judge before court starts, or we might have to wait until lunchtime to see him,” Katie told them as she and Melissa walked to her car.
“You two be careful, and we’ll see you both back here for dinner. Maybe we’ll grill up some burgers for dinner,” Grady told the two girls.
“That sounds like a plan. Count us in,” Melissa told him as she started to drive away.
The entire twenty-minute drive to the courthouse was filled with talk about their dresses. As they walked up the steps that led to the courtroom, Katie could still feel how the dress had felt. She was sure that Melissa was still feeling it as well. The two girls walked up to the desk marked “Clerk of the Court.”
“Can I help you, miss?” the lady behind the desk asked.
“Yes, we’d like to see Judge Harlow on a personal matter,” Katie told her.
“Do you have an appointment?” the lady asked
“No, we don’t. But we really need to talk to him,” Katie told the lady.
“I’m sorry, miss, but the judge is a very busy man. You should have made an appointment,” the lady told them.
“Okay fine, Can we get an appointment to see the judge this afternoon then?” Melissa asked her.
“Let me see. No, I’m sorry my next open appointment to see the judge isn’t until Monday at two,” the lady answered.
“But that’s too late. Can’t you squeeze us in today please? It’s really important,” Katie told the lady.
“I’m sorry, miss, there’s not much I can do for you,” the lady answered.
Katie and Melissa were heartbroken. All of the plans, all of their dreams shattered because they didn’t have an appointment. They silently turned to walk away.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite lady, Katie Windslow,” a voice said from somewhere directly in front of her. Katie looked up to see Judge Harlow standing in front of her.
“Your Honor, we really need to see you, but this lady here says that we need an appointment,” Katie told him.
Hearts of Grey Page 43
