“You came!” Phire jumped up as Opal walked into the dress shop. She hugged her sister. “I thought you were going to take a day or two to rest up.”
“And miss the dress reveal, never. You know how much I love clothes.” Opal hugged Phire.
Ruby, Pearl, Diamond, and Jade all waited their turn. “Don’t overdo it, Opal,” Sally cautioned. “Your body is adjusting to your condition.”
“I feel fine. My clothes still fit and everything,” Opal stated. “Other than the doctor telling me I’m pregnant I don’t feel any different.”
Pearl laughed. “That’s what I said at the beginning of both of my pregnancies, however, month five hit and wham suddenly I was as big as a whale.”
“It did not wait until month five for me,” Ruby laughed. “As soon as the doctor called me with the news I ballooned.”
“We are going to claim Pearl’s experience. And hope you can still fit in your dress. We have less than a month to go.” Phire exhaled.
“Hey, hey, we’re here.”
Phire squealed when her college roommates walked in the dress shop together. She ran over and hugged Princess Zsa Zsa Ashro of Emere, Deirdre Davison from Chicago and Angela Landers from California.
“I can’t believe you all are here.”
“Zsa Zsa arranged for us to be picked up from the airport,” Deirdre informed her. “For once I’m not mad at her wealth.”
“Don’t start,” Angela warned Deirdre. “I want a stress free visit.”
“No worries, my friend.” Zsa Zsa smiled. “Deirdre will not steal our joy during this visit.”
“If she does, I’m putting her out of the wedding,” Phire teased.
“May I have everyone’s attention,” Cynthia called out. The women all turned towards her. “Thank you. There are eight of you and only four attendants. We have four dressing rooms. That means two to a room with an attendant in each. We are going to do two shifts. Let’s get this final fitting in. Did everyone bring their shoes and accessories?”
“Yes,” was the overall response.
“Good. Phire, you are going last. Zsa Zsa, Deirdre, Angela and Jade, since you are my travelers, you’re up first.”
Phire sat on the sofa next to Sally and Ruby, while Pearl, Diamond and Opal sat on the sofa next to them.
“I talked to Denise this morning,” Opal spoke. “She is still reeling just like I am over the results. Neither one of us expected this.”
“I’m tickled that my twins are having babies at the same time,” Sally added.
“You are going to have that house full of grandbabies, just like you had a house full of children,” Diamond stated.
“We’re going to drop them all off on the same day,” Ruby warned.
“As soon as we marry off the last one, your father and I will be traveling,” Sally advised. “You get one weekend out of the month to leave your babies with us.”
“I think you and Joe traveling is a wonderful idea,” Diamond said. “Lord knows we have all had opportunities to travel. Now it’s your time. No more drama.”
“Speaking of drama. What happened with the woman who poisoned Opal?” Pearl raised an eyebrow at Phire.
“You know, Dad gave me some good advice. LT and I decided to follow it. We have plans for Ms. Lauren and her brother.”
“Here we are,” Cynthia called out when the ladies walked out in their dresses, heels and accessories. “What do you think?”
“Oh, I’m going to look so good in that,” Opal laughed.
“I so love the back on these dresses,” Diamond added.
“All of you look so good,” Phire beamed.
“Yes, we do.” Angela nodded.
“Thank god you did not put us in shabby dresses so you can look good,” Deidre stated.
“There is no place on this earth where I would not outshine you,” Phire bragged. “Next group, please.”
Cynthia nodded. “Okay, ladies. When you undress place your accessories inside your shoe box and write your name on them. I will label your dresses and store everything at my home until the wedding.”
The second set of women tried on their dresses and were as beautiful as the first group. Now, it was Phire who was in the dressing room. Her bridal party was waiting patiently for her to come out.
“Oh my god,” Ruby said breathlessly.
Everyone looked up. A hush came over the room as Phire walked out. She stepped up onto the platform facing the triple panel mirror. Cynthia put the veil on Phire’s head. The four attendants began spreading the train of her gown out to give the full effect.
The room was so quiet Phire looked at her sisters and friends through the mirror. Not believing what she was seeing she looked directly at them over her shoulder. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Ruby had her hand over her mouth. Diamond had her hand over her heart. Pearl was squeezing Jade’s hand. Opal was fanning herself.
“We taught you so well,” Diamond beamed.
“Elegance, grace and sexiness all wrapped up in one dress,” Pearl declared.
Phire looked at her mother. That was the one that really counted. “Mom?”
Sally looked up. “Stunning. You are simply beautiful, Sapphire Josephine.”
Phire smiled.
“I do not see you being in that dress very long once LT sees you in it,” Angela laughed.
“You look like a princess,” Zsa Zsa exhaled.
Cynthia snapped her fingers. “All right, let’s get you out of this dress.”
“Mom, will you come back with me?”
“Of course.” Sally stood then followed Phire to the dressing room. There was a full-length mirror at the far end of the room. “Cynthia, can you give us a minute?”
“Sure.” Cynthia smiled then left the room.
Phire was watching her mother watch her through the reflection in the mirror. The emotions hit her suddenly in the pit of her stomach. She turned to look directly at her mother with big crocodile tears in her eyes. “Mommy, I’m getting married.”
Sally held her arms open to her baby girl, with tears brimming in her eyes. “Yes, you are, baby girl…yes, you are.” She gathered her daughter in her arms as they both cried tears of joy.