Sealed With a Kiss

by Leeanna Morgan

  ***

  Rachel looked around The Bridesmaid Club headquarters. It wasn’t where she thought she’d be on Christmas Eve, but then she couldn’t have predicted anything that had happened over the last few days.

  She passed a bridesmaid a purple organza dress. It had big, puffy sleeves and so many sparkly beads that it could have been used as a lighthouse off the coast of Maine.

  “Cheer up,” Tess whispered as all three bridesmaids walked into the changing room. “It’s supposed to be the happiest day of their sister’s life. You look as though you’re dressing them for a funeral.”

  “I’m sorry. I’ll put on my smiley face.” Rachel plastered a fake smile across her face and turned to Tess. “Is this better?”

  “A little. Now you look as though you’ve had too much Botox.”

  Rachel felt her smile droop at the sides. “It’s no use. It keeps slipping.”

  Tess laughed so loud that she had to slap her hand across her mouth. “This is so not the Christmas Eve that I imagined.”

  “You can’t help it if the dresses the bridesmaids were going to wear never arrived.”

  “But I could have told them we were closed for Christmas. Who gets married on Christmas Eve, anyway?”

  Rachel quite liked the idea. “I think it’s romantic. They couldn’t help the snowstorm.” For the last ten days, the bride had been waiting for her bridesmaids’ dresses to arrive from Italy. With all of the airport closures and diverted flights, the dresses were now somewhere in New York.

  Tess put one of the rejected gowns on a hanger. “No one could have predicted the storm, but they could have ordered their dresses earlier.”

  “When did you become so cynical? You’re usually the first person to donate dresses to brides in distress.”

  “I’m not cynical, just practical,” Tess whispered as the first bridesmaid came back into the living room.

  Tess had called Rachel from the café at two o’clock that afternoon. She’d told her that she had a desperate bride on the phone. She needed three bridesmaids’ dresses in the next two hours.

  Rachel had been inside with Tanner for most of the day, getting more and more bored. Tess’ phone call had given her an excuse to feel like a normal person. So she’d told Tanner that four women were coming over to Tess’ home to find the perfect bridesmaids’ dresses.

  He hadn’t been particularly impressed, but he’d walked her through to the loft, making himself scarce once the bridesmaids arrived.

  An hour later, the only good thing Rachel could say about the last-minute dress fitting was that she wasn’t bored.

  She looked at the bridesmaid who was standing in front of her. “It’s not the one.” The petite red head had chosen a hot pink, crinoline skirted dress. It looked like something Scarlett O’Hara would have worn in Gone with the Wind.

  The bridesmaid twisted left and right in front of a full-length mirror. “Are you sure?”

  Rachel walked across to the dresses in their Cinderella Collection. “Sometimes less is more. Why don’t you try this dress on? It’s still got a full skirt with little bows at the back, but it’s a softer shade of pink. And there aren’t too many sparkles to overshadow you.”

  The bridesmaid didn’t look convinced that the dress Rachel had chosen was a good choice. “I’ll try it on, but we only have half an hour before we need to leave for the beauty salon.”

  “Come and see us after you’ve put it on.”

  Tess stood beside Rachel and watched the bridesmaid disappear into the changing room. “The hot pink dress would look better on her sister.”

  Another bridesmaid came out of the changing room and Tess sighed. “That looks perfect.” The pale yellow dress hugged the bridesmaid’s upper body and fell to the floor in soft pleats. It wasn’t frilly or flouncy, and it didn’t have a sparkly bead in sight.

  The young woman smiled shyly at Tess. “I think so, too. Everyone else liked it, so I guess this is it.”

  “What did your original bridesmaids’ dresses look like?” Rachel asked. Each of the bridesmaids had totally different ideas about what looked good on them and what didn’t. Finding three dresses that not only looked good, but could be made in time for the wedding, must have been difficult.

  “The other dresses were almost the same as this one, except they had lace overskirts and sweetheart necklines. They were made by a designer in Milan.”

  “Are you disappointed that they haven’t arrived in time?”

  The bridesmaid shook her head. “This is the best thing that could have happened. My sister has been acting like bridezilla all week. At least it’s given her something genuine to worry about.” She looked over her shoulder at the changing room door. “I’ll go and see what everyone’s doing.”

  As soon as the door opened, Rachel heard the chatter of the sisters as they discussed the merits of each dress. While they were deciding what they’d do, she sat in one of the sofas and slipped off her shoes.

  “I can’t believe you’re still wearing high-heels,” Tess said with a dramatic sigh. “It’s the middle of winter and Jimmy Choo was not made to be worn in the cold.”

  “I can’t help myself. I bought them at a thrift store last year. We’re not all six-feet tall.” Rachel wiggled her toes against the thick rug under her feet. “I have to admit that I do have a slight fascination with heels that are higher than four inches. But these shoes may be too high, even for me.”

  “Hold that thought,” Rachel whispered as the three bridesmaids and their bridezilla sister emerged from the changing room.

  The bridesmaid who’d originally worn the hot pink dress stepped forward. “You were right. The soft pink dress looks better on me. Carly’s got her dress organized. Do you like Lottie’s dress?”

  A woman with short black hair stepped forward. She was wearing a simple, pale blue satin dress. The only problem with the dress was the width of the skirt over her hips. It was way too wide and would need to be taken in at least three inches.

  Lottie bunched the fabric in her hand. “I’m an awkward shape. I have no idea how I’m going to find a dress in time.”

  Rosalind Smith, the bride-to-be, pulled out her cell phone. “Don’t worry. The dress looks almost perfect on you. I’ve got a dressmaker on standby to do any last minute alterations.” She pushed speed dial and moved away from her sisters.

  Rachel looked at all three bridesmaids. “You couldn’t have chosen better dresses. You all look beautiful.”

  Carly smiled. “We’ll look even better after our hair and makeup are done. Let’s go and get changed before Rosalind finishes her call.”

  All three bridesmaids lifted the skirts of their dresses and hot-footed it back into the changing room.

  “It looks as though bridezilla has got them organized,” Tess whispered.

  Rachel laughed at the twinkle in Tess’ eyes. “Sshh. She might hear you.”

  “It’s Christmas Eve. I’m allowed to be a bit naughty.”

  By the time Rosalind had finished speaking on the phone, all three bridesmaids had their dresses hanging in white plastic bags, ready to take to the dressmaker.

  “Thank you so much,” Rosalind said to Tess as she gave her a hug. “We really appreciate both of you going out of your way to help us.”

  “I hope your wedding is amazing,” Tess said with a smile. “We were happy to help.”

  All four women headed toward the back door. Rachel handed them their coats. “It was nice meeting you. Be careful of the ice on your way out.”

  After they’d gone, Tess turned on the kettle. “I’m going to have a hot chocolate before I start tidying up the mess in here. Do you want one?”

  Rachel looked at the gowns lying over the backs of chairs and the spare shoes abandoned by the clothing racks. “That’s the second best idea anyone’s had all day.”

  “What was the first?”

  Rachel grinned at her friend. “Pancakes for breakfast.”

  “I’m glad I could be of se
rvice,” Tess said with a cheeky smile. “Do you think Tanner wants a hot chocolate?”

  “I wouldn’t say no, ma’am.”

  Tess jumped a foot in the air. “You did it again. For such a big man you don’t make much noise.”

  “Comes with the job. I’ve been admiring your husband’s cars in the garage.”

  Rachel handed Tanner a bridesmaid’s dress. “He’s car crazy. While Tess is making the hot chocolate, you can help me hang up our bridesmaids’ dresses. We’ve got about a dozen gowns that need to be put away.”

  “Why did I know you’d find something for me to do?”

  “Because you’re wise,” Rachel said as she handed Tanner a hanger. “Just think how dull and boring your life will be when you don’t have to look after me.”

  Tanner lips almost made it into a smile. “I’m looking forward to it already.”

  Rachel sighed. So was she.