Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 89553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 448(@200wpm)___ 358(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
“She said that you wanted everyone to go to New York.”
“I just said they have the best spas in case that’s what she wanted. It was only because we were having such a difficult time finding a house rental for the weekend.”
Mom rolls her eyes like I’m exaggerating how difficult it was to find something. “It’s the beginning of June.”
“Right, and things are booked up months in advance,” I say.
“You’re not going to take that cardigan, are you?”
“I don’t know,” I say. “Why?”
She gives me a look that says, Do I really have to tell you?
“It’s a really pretty color,” I say.
“But it’s seen better days. While you’re up here, you should go and see Felicity. She’s got some beautiful lavender knitwear in for spring/summer.”
Felicity is one of Mom’s friends. She owns an eponymous clothing boutique local to our childhood home. As much as I like Felicity and admire the way she’s had her own business for as long as she has, I wouldn’t be caught dead in anything from Felicity’s.
Mom must catch the skepticism in my expression. “You ask your sister. She bought a beautiful short-sleeved sweater from there this week.”
My stomach lurches at the possibility that my beautiful, perfect sister is shopping at Felicity’s. The clothes there are aimed at women over fifty. Katherine might be about to get married, but she doesn’t have to completely give up on being young, does she?
Luckily, our conversation about Felicity’s is cut short when Katherine emerges from the dressing room.
She’s sent me pictures before, but nothing could have prepared me to see her dressed up in her slightly off-white gown and veil. She looks like the fairy princesses we’d dress up as when we were little. Except more beautiful and a thousand times more sophisticated. I jump to my feet, unable to keep my eyes from welling up.
“You look incredible,” I gasp. “Perfect.”
She grins at me. “I love it.” She should love it. It’s completely perfect. “I hope Ed likes it.”
“Ed would think you look like a goddess in fishing galoshes,” I say. “He’s going to lose his mind when he sees you in this.”
Katherine smiles, her whole face glowing. “Do you think the neckline is too low, Mom?” There’s not even a hint of cleavage. Why would she think it was too low?
Mom shakes her head. “Not now they’ve brought it up a touch. You look beautiful.”
The bodice is strapless flat satin with a gathered skirt falling from the waist.
“Do you have the shoes on?” I ask.
Katherine pokes out her toe. “Yes, they always do the fittings with the exact shoes on.”
“You’ll be able to dance in those,” I say. They’re not too strappy and the heel isn’t too high. Just as well, because Ed is five ten.
“I hope so.”
“You haven’t practiced?” I ask. “You should wear them around the house.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Mom says. “She doesn’t want them ruined before the big day.”
“She’s got a point, Mom. I should break them in. They’re not the most uncomfortable shoes, but if I just wear them around the house, it might help me spend the day on my feet.”
Mom tuts, but she doesn’t argue.
“And what do you think about the veil?” Katherine asks, looking at me. “Do you think I should go longer?”
“Absolutely not,” Mom interrupts. “Fingertip is the only acceptable length.”
“You’re right,” Katherine says.
“I like your hair up like that. With the veil on top.”
Katherine breaks into a grin. “Me too. It’s a bit different for me. But I like it.” Her gaze slides to Mom. “Mom’s not so keen.”
“Katherine has such beautiful hair. I think she should show it off.”
“You’ll have plenty of time to show it off. There’s all the celebrations leading up to the wedding. Not everyone will be at every event, but you’ll get to wear your hair down plenty on the other days.”
Katherine nods. “Yes. That’s a good point.”
Mom exhales more loudly than she needs to. “You can’t help pushing your opinions on everyone, Lucy. You should let Katherine make her own decisions.”
Katherine and I give each other a knowing look. My mother is nothing if not a hypocrite.
“I agree with Lucy,” Katherine says. “I want my hair up on the day.”
Mom lets out a little huff. “Of course you do.”
One of the shop assistants comes through and starts to ask Katherine lots of questions about the fit.
“And have you come up with something to wear for the days leading up to the wedding?” Mom asks me. “You can’t just leave it to the last minute and expect to find something.”
“Mom, I don’t leave things until the last minute,” I say. Truth is, I haven’t made my mind up about what to wear. I have options, but I haven’t bought anything yet. Not that I’ll be admitting that to my mom. She’ll just take it as proof that I’m as unreliable and flighty as I’ve always been.