"Wow," Lovey breathed. "She's gorgeous."
Katelyn smiled and gestured at the white armchairs. "You ladies have a seat while Lovey and I check out the dresses and see which she wants to try on first."
"This place is gorgeous." Lovey touched a dress of heavy lace.
"They have very exclusive designs, and Malvina has a knack for knowing what's flattering. She'll help us choose."
They soon all had a glass of champagne in hand while Malvina described dresses and sized up Lovey. "Gorgeous hair," she said. "I agree ivory, not white, with your coloring. Pretty shoulders. Perfect breasts. Not too big, not too small."
Lovey widened her eyes at Katelyn. Katelyn grinned at her.
"This one. You must try this one." Malvina lifted one hanger from the rod. "And … this one." They chose one more to start with.
She led Lovey into the dressing room and Katelyn took a seat also, sipping the crisp bubbly while Malvina worked her magic. She'd been through this before. It would be the third dress Lovey tried.
Lovey emerged in a full-skirted dress with shimmery floral embroidery on the sheer fabric, a scalloped V-neck, and narrow straps.
"Beautiful," Mrs. Armstrong murmured.
"I love it," Randi agreed.
Lovey looked to Katelyn. She smiled. "It's gorgeous on you."
Lovey inspected her reflection in the mirrors. "It is nice. It's one of the nicest I've tried. I think the skirt's a little too big, though." She patted her hips.
Katelyn nodded.
The second dress also met with approval, a strapless dress with a sweetheart-shaped bodice. Lovey cupped her boobs and bit her lip. "I love how it looks. Is it too revealing?"
"You have perfect body to reveal," Malvina said. She used a big clip to tighten the dress more and hoist it a little higher. "Better?"
"Yes." Lovey spent some time admiring the dress.
"You do not love," Malvina said. "Come."
Katelyn smiled and awaited the next reveal.
Lovey walked out in a swirl of layers of pale chiffon. The beaded lace bodice molded her breasts perfectly, dipping low at the sides and back, held up with delicate spaghetti straps. Mrs. Armstrong and Randi simultaneously said "Oh … " on a long exhale.
Mrs. Armstrong covered her mouth with her hands and blinked as Lovey turned to the mirrors. She went very still, then slowly smiled.
She turned back, her smile luminous. "This is it," she said softly.
"Oh my gosh," Randi said. "You are so beautiful, Lovey."
Mrs. Armstrong wiped tears. "Yes. That's the one."
Malvina clapped her hands. "I concur."
One of Malvina's associates appeared to help with measurements and ordering details while the mother of the bride and matron of honor drank more champagne.
"That was so fast, we have time to look at bridesmaid dresses," Lovey said.
"Shouldn't we do that with all the girls?" Randi asked.
"We won't make any decisions. But it's hard to get everyone together when you and Kendra are so far away."
"True."
They looked through racks of dresses and Lovey pounced on a dress. "This. It's the exact color."
"Lovey wants all the bridesmaids to wear the style they're comfortable in," Katelyn told Randi and Malvina.
Malvina plucked several more dresses, all in the same apricot color, but different styles and fabrics: one chiffon, one a jacquard satin, one brocade, and the fourth lace. "This is a stylish look."
"I love it." Lovey nodded. She looked at her friend Randi. "What do you think?"
"Stunning." She fingered the lace dress. "I like this one because it has sleeves. I hate my arms." She wrinkled her nose.
"Your arms are fine," Lovey said. "But I want you to be comfortable."
"Aaaand my work is done," Katelyn said. "Those are absolutely perfect."
"There are other styles we can order if other bridesmaids prefer," Malvina said. "You bring them in, and we try on."
"Randi, try this on while we're here."
Katelyn was envisioning the entire wedding party-the creamy chiffon of Lovey's dress with the shimmery apricot bridesmaids, the flowers in shades of orange, peach, and cream, and Lovey's bright hair … she sucked in a breath. This was going to be amazing.