Kate hid a smile. She’d always liked Vicki, who never hesitated to speak her mind.
Jessica rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I was talking with the people at Rosalind’s, and they said they could scrap the original design and make everyone brand-new dresses from scratch.”
“For a small fortune,” Vicki added. “A fortune that could be better used to fund a hospital wing or something like that. But since I no longer have to look like a sausage about to burst its skin, I’m all for it. Although I am making a large donation to cancer research out of guilt.”
Maria, a childhood friend of Jessica’s, shook her head slowly. “I can’t believe you’re changing the bridesmaid dresses this close to the wedding. Are you sure they’ll be done on time?”
Vicki snorted. “Considering the size of the check our father gave them, they could afford to construct a time machine to give them any extra cushion they might need.”
That was actually a pretty cool idea.
“A time machine for a dressmaker,” Kate mused. “I love it. You could do a modern retelling of the Cinderella story with the fairy godmother as a—”
“Please don’t do that thing right now,” Jessica interrupted.
“What thing?”
“That turning-everything-into-a-story thing. This is real life, remember?”
Right, real life. Which, as always, was sadly inferior to Kate’s imagination.
“There is one thing I need you all to do,” Jessica went on. “Rosalind’s scheduled us for a fitting tomorrow night, so—”
“No can do,” Simone put in. “I have to be at the theater to meet the new director.”
“I have plans, too,” Kate said. “I’m babysitting.”
“Babysitting?” Jessica looked flummoxed for a moment, then perked up almost immediately. “That’s no problem. You can bring her along.”
“It’s a him, and I can’t drag an eleven-year-old boy to a dress fitting.”
Jessica waved her objection away. “If he’s got a Nintendo or whatever, and if he’s anything like Heather’s kids, he won’t even notice where he is.”
Heather herself spoke up. “Speaking of my kids—and believe me, they’re the only reason I know this—there’s a comic book store right next to Rosalind’s. That might tempt him.”
Kate thought about it. She knew the store Heather was talking about—it was a geek paradise.
“Well . . . I’m supposed to pick up Jacob after school tomorrow. I’ll check with him, and if he’s okay with it, I’ll let you know. That’s the best I can do.”
Jessica looked at Simone. “What about you? When are you meeting your director?”
“Eight o’clock.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem. The fitting is at six. My driver can take you to the theater afterwards.”
Simone shook her head. “There’s a kind of insouciant greatness to your noblesse oblige.”
Jessica made a face. “As usual, I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about. Is that a yes, or what?”
“Oh, I suppose so. Might as well get it over with.”
“Great.” Jessica wore the satisfied expression of a bride who’s just gotten her way. “We’ll meet at Rosalind’s at six. It’ll be fabulous.”
Fabulous.
The next afternoon was as perfect as only a few days in May ever are. When Kate met Jacob in front of his school, which turned out to be ten blocks south of her apartment, she asked how he wanted to get home.
“We can take a cab if you like, but it will only take twenty minutes to walk across the park. Of course, it’ll be a little longer if we stop to get pretzels on the way.”
“Let’s walk!” he said immediately, and Kate couldn’t have agreed more.
A little while later, when they were sitting on a bench eating their pretzels, Kate told Jacob about the fitting.
“I promised my friend I’d ask you about it, but if you don’t want to go, that’s okay.” She popped the last bit of pretzel into her mouth. “I was told to mention, though, that Ezra’s Entertainment is right next door to the boutique. Have you ever been there?”
Jacob shook his head, his cheeks bulging with the enormous bite he’d just taken.
“It’s one of the best comic stores in the city. They have posters and tee shirts and games, too. We can hang out there until it’s my turn to try something on.”
Jacob had to finish chewing before he could answer. “Sure, that sounds great. I’d go even if it wasn’t next to a comic store. I can always bring a book or my tablet or whatever.”