Every Bride Needs a Groom by Janice Thompson Page B

designs in my life—everything from frilly to simple to over the top. Many were Nadia’s, but the shop featured designs by a host of well-known designers, including one of my favorites from the Galveston area, Gabi Delgado.
    After touring the gowns, Madge took us to the studio in the back where Nadia designed her line of wedding dresses. Long tables stretched the expanse of the room, with sewing machines and fabrics in abundance. I’d never seen so many bolts of satin and tulle in my life. And the trims! I could’ve spent hours just looking through the shimmery bolts of loveliness. They took my breath away. I wanted to finger each one and dream of the possibilities for where they might end up. Brides from all over the globe would likely find these lovely bits attached to their gowns.
    â€œWant to see the fitting rooms?” Madge’s words interrupted my ponderings.
    â€œHmm?” I couldn’t imagine why fitting rooms deserved a stop on the tour, but why not?
    She led the way to a row of closed doors and opened the first one to reveal a spacious changing area unlike any I’d ever seen before.
    â€œW-wow.” I’d been in a few fitting rooms in my life, of course. Department stores at the mall in Dallas, for instance. And Fanny’s Fine Fashions in Fairfield. The one and only fitting room at Fanny’s was spacious—well, spacious enough for Fanny, who’d been aptly named, to fit inside. The curtain in front of it offered a wee bit of privacy. Stress wee bit .
    This room, however, outdid anything I’d ever seen. I stared in awe and muttered “Wow!” once again. It was octagon shaped, mirrors covering every side but one. A cushioned round bench sat in the center of the room. All in all, this room was the ideal place to don a wedding gown. And speaking of gowns, a beautiful ruffled one hung on the hook near the door. Brilliant. Shimmering. Luscious. I could almost see myself walking the aisle in something like that.
    Only, I wouldn’t be walking the aisle anytime soon, and I needed to let these fine people know right away. I had to speak my mind, no matter how difficult. This seemed like as good a place as any. I swallowed hard, ready to dive in.
    Lori-Lou must’ve figured out my plan to spill the beans—probably my wrinkled brow and strained silence. At any rate, she headed off to the ladies’ room. Coward.
    Alone in the changing room with Madge, I finally worked up the courage to share my story. “Ms. . . . Madge, I need to let you know something. I didn’t come today to start the fitting, or even to talk to Nadia about the dress.”
    Madge fussed with the ruffled gown, straightening the hem. “Oh, but you must talk to her today. She’s leaving town soon.”
    â€œWell, I came to tell you that . . .” Suck it up, Katie. Say the words. “I cannot, under any circumstances . . .” Deep breath! Forge ahead! “Go through with this.”
    The woman’s broad smile faded in an instant as she turned her attention away from the dress and to me. “I-I’m sorry. What did you say? You can’t go through with the initial consult today , you mean? Or not at all?”
    â€œNot at all. But more than that—I can’t go through with any of it. Not just the consult, but the whole thing. No dress. No . . . wedding.” I shook my head and glanced in the mirror, noticing the dress on the hook in the background had created an optical illusion. Almost looked like I was wearing it. Weird.
    Okay, what was I supposed to be saying again? Oh yes. I faced Madge head-on and tried to calm my shaky voice. “I’ve just gone through a, well, a . . . a breakup.”
    â€œA breakup?” Madge’s eyes widened. “With your fiancé?”
    â€œWell, sort of. I mean, I . . . we . . .”
    At this point Lori-Lou pressed her way back inside the