Beauty's Kiss(27)

Taylor couldn’t wait for work to end Wednesday. She was looking forward to meeting up with McKenna and going dress shopping at Married in Marietta, because now Taylor needed a dress, too.

It’d been a long time since Taylor did something like this. Even longer since she’d needed to dress up for something. For the last couple of years she’d been focused on work, and getting Doug the help he needed. There hadn’t been time for dates or dances... she’d given up being young, and romantic. There was no time for romance, or fun.

But maybe for one night she could just forget about her responsibilities. Maybe for one night she could just cut loose... have fun.

Maybe.

Taylor must have looked at her watch a dozen times between three and five, and the minute hand never seemed to move. She felt as if she’d gotten a case of Spring Fever, but finally it was five, and Louise, aware that Taylor was going to the Ball with Troy, shooed her out the door, promising Taylor she’d lock up since Margaret had gone home with a toothache earlier in the day.

Taylor headed home to change from her trousers and knit sweater set to jeans and a peach cotton sweater, that was cut boxy and loose in a boyfriend style, before combing her hair and leaving it loose.

Hoping she was dressed appropriately for a girl’s night out with McKenna, Taylor drove to Married in Marietta on Front Ave and snagged a parking spot just a block from the store.

Taylor had never been inside the little boutique before, but passing through the front door was like entering another world, an overtly feminine world with blush pink carpet, glittering chandeliers and delicate French inspired furniture.

A sales associate came forward to greet Taylor and offer assistance. “I’m looking for a dress for Friday night,” Taylor said.

The sales clerk gestured to the long wall filled with fluffy and shimmering white gowns at the back. “That is our bridal area,” she said, before pointing to four rolling racks of gowns in pink, coral and red, “and over there are the formal gowns we’ve ordered in for the Valentine Ball. We have a little bit of everything here, and I do have more sizes in the back.”

Taylor thanked her and headed for the rolling racks of rose and ruby gowns, some filmy and chiffon, others short and fitted, while others sparkled with sequins and embroidery. They seemed to have something for every taste, and hopefully every budget since Taylor didn’t have much money.

“Hope you haven’t been waiting long,” McKenna said, a little breathless as she appeared at Taylor’s side, her cheeks red from the cold. She quickly began peeling off her heavy outer layers. “TJ gave me fits tonight. He decided he didn’t want me to go out and made quite a scene.”

Taylor turned to McKenna, worried. “Will he be okay?”

“Yes. He just likes throwing his weight around.” McKenna grimaced as she placed her coat and scarf and gloves on a fragile white chair. “He’s only four but he’s already all Sheenan. Not sure why I thought he’d end up with any of my DNA.”

“I didn’t realize his dad was... Trey.”

“Not a planned pregnancy. But then, my life doesn’t seem to follow any logical plans.” McKenna shrugged and turned her focus to the racks of dresses. She rifled through the nearest rack before pausing at a strapless, fitted peach gown covered in sequins that gave way to a silk skirt at the thigh. “How pretty. So romantic.”

“I’ve never worn gowns like these,” Taylor said, “at least, not since the Hopeville High prom, and even then, I chose a simple off white dress that seemed classic and elegant. At least, I thought I looked pretty and elegant until I got to the gym and realized the dress looked like a sheet off my parents’ bed.”

McKenna laughed and pulled out a short, miniscule pink sequin cocktail dress. “I think I wore something like this to my prom.”

“Very sexy,” Taylor said.

“Mmm. Short, tight, sexy with the highest heels I could find. I wanted to drive Trey crazy.”

“Did he love it?”

“No.” McKenna hung the shimmering pink number back on the rack. “He was livid.” She looked at Taylor, and scrunched her nose. “He wasn’t my date. We’d broken up the week before but I refused to sit home crying. So my brother, Quinn, the baseball star, found a date for me, and I went to my prom looking like a million bucks with one of his friends. It made Trey nuts.”

“Did you and Trey get back together after the Prom?”

“We did, towards the end of summer. But broke up again by Christmas. Didn’t date again for a year since Trey was competing on the circuit.” McKenna’s smile faded. “We were impossible. Our relationship was impossible. We shouldn’t have ever let it go on as long as we did.”