is, if you ever needed.” Tony gave her a small smile.
“And there’s always your cousin….” he smirked, lightening the mood.
Charlie gave him the side-eye. “Now you know damn well….” Charlie trailed off as Korri entered the kitchen.
“What do you know?” Korri asked Tony, overhearing the last bit of his and Charlie’s conversation.
Tony simply shrugged, busying himself with making Korri a mug of coffee.
Korri stretched and peered over at Charlie, who was drinking her coffee and avoiding Korri’s suspicious hazel eyes. “Well?” Korri questioned Charlie.
“Well… what?” Charlie played dumb, avoiding the topic of her problems. It was too early in the morning for such a deep conversation.
Korri sighed. “So what time do you have to go into work today? I was thinking we could go look at some bridal gowns if you have time?” She asked Charlie, dropping the subject of what she had overheard.
“I don’t have to go in until later this afternoon. Where’d you want to go?” Charlie smiled, thankful that her cousin didn’t start with her million and one questions.
“There’s a little boutique in The Shops at Legacy in Plano. I thought we could go there. I collaborated with them in a runway show a couple of years ago, and I love their designs.
“Cool, so you don’t want to make your own dress?” Charlie questioned. She loved Korri’s designs because they were always so innovative and unique. She was one of the most talented people Charlie knew.
“No, I decided that I didn’t need the extra pressure. But I did start working on yours and Lauryn’s dresses though.” Korri beamed, excited to reveal her surprise to her cousin.
Charlie’s face lit up. “That is so awesome, babygirl! I already know our dresses are going to be gorgeous.” Charlie clapped her hands together happily. She wasn’t really big on shopping, but to see her baby cousin so happy and in love made Charlie energized.
***
Later that morning, Korri stood on the pedestal in the small boutique. Lauryn, Charlie, and Brandon had come to help Korri pick out a dress. Korri’s choices so far had been lackluster, but the dress she had on now…. well they all just sat silently, looking anywhere but at her.
“Guys, guys… soooo what do ya’ll think of this one?” The dress was a champagne color, but instead of being a vibrant gold that complimented Korri’s mahogany skin, its color seemed faded and dull, and it washed her out. It had rows of feathers that made up the layered skirt, the waist was accented by a black belt, and the bodice was a sheer bustier with a sweetheart neckline that pushed Korri’s breast up to her chin. There was only one word that could describe it… horrible.
Lauryn was the first to acknowledge Korri. She cleared her throat uncomfortably before speaking. “Uh, what do you think? I mean do you love it?” Lauryn was squinting at the dress as if it had done something to offend her, personally. She was barely able to hide the look of disgust as she sat contemplating what to do if her friend actually did love this monstrosity.
“I’m not sure. I mean, it’s different,” Korri answered, shrugging her delicate shoulders while at the same time adjusting the dress as it rode up. Korri sighed deeply because she was not able to read the faces of her loved ones, mostly because they were actively avoiding making any eye-contact with her.
“It’s definitely different…”
“And there’s always your cousin….” he smirked, lightening the mood.
Charlie gave him the side-eye. “Now you know damn well….” Charlie trailed off as Korri entered the kitchen.
“What do you know?” Korri asked Tony, overhearing the last bit of his and Charlie’s conversation.
Tony simply shrugged, busying himself with making Korri a mug of coffee.
Korri stretched and peered over at Charlie, who was drinking her coffee and avoiding Korri’s suspicious hazel eyes. “Well?” Korri questioned Charlie.
“Well… what?” Charlie played dumb, avoiding the topic of her problems. It was too early in the morning for such a deep conversation.
Korri sighed. “So what time do you have to go into work today? I was thinking we could go look at some bridal gowns if you have time?” She asked Charlie, dropping the subject of what she had overheard.
“I don’t have to go in until later this afternoon. Where’d you want to go?” Charlie smiled, thankful that her cousin didn’t start with her million and one questions.
“There’s a little boutique in The Shops at Legacy in Plano. I thought we could go there. I collaborated with them in a runway show a couple of years ago, and I love their designs.
“Cool, so you don’t want to make your own dress?” Charlie questioned. She loved Korri’s designs because they were always so innovative and unique. She was one of the most talented people Charlie knew.
“No, I decided that I didn’t need the extra pressure. But I did start working on yours and Lauryn’s dresses though.” Korri beamed, excited to reveal her surprise to her cousin.
Charlie’s face lit up. “That is so awesome, babygirl! I already know our dresses are going to be gorgeous.” Charlie clapped her hands together happily. She wasn’t really big on shopping, but to see her baby cousin so happy and in love made Charlie energized.
***
Later that morning, Korri stood on the pedestal in the small boutique. Lauryn, Charlie, and Brandon had come to help Korri pick out a dress. Korri’s choices so far had been lackluster, but the dress she had on now…. well they all just sat silently, looking anywhere but at her.
“Guys, guys… soooo what do ya’ll think of this one?” The dress was a champagne color, but instead of being a vibrant gold that complimented Korri’s mahogany skin, its color seemed faded and dull, and it washed her out. It had rows of feathers that made up the layered skirt, the waist was accented by a black belt, and the bodice was a sheer bustier with a sweetheart neckline that pushed Korri’s breast up to her chin. There was only one word that could describe it… horrible.
Lauryn was the first to acknowledge Korri. She cleared her throat uncomfortably before speaking. “Uh, what do you think? I mean do you love it?” Lauryn was squinting at the dress as if it had done something to offend her, personally. She was barely able to hide the look of disgust as she sat contemplating what to do if her friend actually did love this monstrosity.
“I’m not sure. I mean, it’s different,” Korri answered, shrugging her delicate shoulders while at the same time adjusting the dress as it rode up. Korri sighed deeply because she was not able to read the faces of her loved ones, mostly because they were actively avoiding making any eye-contact with her.
“It’s definitely different…”
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