The Same Wedding Dress, Two Different Brides novel · Chapter 9 of 32

Chapter 9: First Fitting

"She can't have you," Shauna said. "You're on doctor's orders. I'll do it."

"She asked for me."

"She asked for you so she can make you kneel."

"Then I won't kneel," I said.

On Thursday at ten I was ready.

I had a low wooden stool beside the pedestal, a cushion for my back and a bottle of water, all of it on doctor's orders.

I had my pins and my chalk and my good shears.

The dress was steamed and hanging in fitting room one, with its thirty buttons undone.

At ten past ten Madeline came in with Evan's mother.

The other fitting rooms were busy.

In room two, a bride from Jamaica Plain was trying on veils with her mother and two sisters.

In room three, Gran was letting out a mother-of-the-bride dress for a woman from Roslindale who talked the entire time.

Madeline smiled at everyone.

"Lauren," she said, "I'm so glad you could fit me in. Shauna said you'd been unwell."

"I'm fine."

"You look tired."

"I'm five months pregnant. I'm allowed to look tired."

I buttoned her in.

Thirty buttons, one at a time.

She stood on the pedestal under the chandelier and looked at herself in the three mirrors for a long time.

I had to admit it was beautiful on her.

My great-grandmother's lace lay along her arms like frost.

"The waist is loose," she said.

"I know. I'm taking it in today."

"Somebody let it out, didn't they? I can see the old stitching." She ran a finger down the side seam. "Twice."

"Yes."

"Isn't that funny? A dress that was let out twice. Like somebody was planning to be pregnant at her wedding." She smiled at me in the mirror. "Or hoping."

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