Page 111 of Her Dom's Secret Past

“You mean that?”

“Yes. Pretend I’m the client.” Then I laughed. “Ha, Iamthe client!”

Stacy’s voice was hesitant as she asked, “Do you like the color? I hand-dyed it.”

“It’s stunning!”

I held the swatch she’d given me in my hand and turned it back and forth.

“I thought of the inside of a shell, you know that opalescent sheen. I thought the bottom layers could beombréin this soft apricot and pinks with hints of purple and blue.”

“It’s gorgeous. I truly love it, Stacy.”

The gown had long sleeves of fine tulle with floral beading and lace. The embroidered lace and draped bodice were a sweetheart corset with a low scooped back and beautiful crystal accents. Then there was the bottom. It was unbelievable—a cascading skirt with three white tiered layers with horsehair trim and three full layers, all ending in a cathedral train.

The two bottom full layers had theombrécolors—apricot-pinks on the top one and the purple-blues on the bottom.

I reassured her that I loved the gown and she set to work taking down my measurements.

“Stacy, this truly is an amazing gown. Once it’s finished, I think we should feature it. Theombrécolors are something very different. We’ve done colored gowns before but never this. You are very clever.”

“You mean that? You want to feature it?”

“Stacy, if it is even half as good as this design, it will be spectacular. Of course we’ll feature it, and it will have your name—Brides by Bella, designed by Stacy.”

“Oh.” She was lost for words and I grinned at her.

“Get used to it. Mind you, I’ll expect more stunning one-off designs like this amazing one from now on.”

****

We booked a reception place and a church for the wedding. The reception venue was on the waterfront atBerowraand it looked amazing while the church was in Hornsby—a lovely Uniting Church with a delightful clergy. As the date for the wedding got closer, I wasn’t sure who was the most nervous—John or me. Then again, maybe it was Charlie. He seemed to be continually in a panic about everything from the invitations to the seating, even the serviettes had him in a dither. I had to laugh when Justin said he’d never seen him acting this “gay”.

The dress fittings were going well and a week before the wedding, I tried on the gown for the final time. I’d seen countless brides burst into tears when they tried on gowns and never thought I’d get that emotional. But boy, let me tell you, when I saw myself in the mirrors I couldn’t help myself. I burst into tears.

Stacy, Charlie, Carrie, and the rest of the staff choked back a tear or two as I stared at the woman starting back at me.

Charlie stammered, “Belle … you. Shit, Belle, you are stunning! Breathtakingly beautiful!”

I raised some of the skirt and did a little twirl. Theombrécolors shone exactly as the mother-of-pearl inside a shell as I moved back and forth. I hugged him and Stacy. John would be knocked off his feet.

I spent the night before the wedding at Becky’s. Charlie, Justin, and Cass were taking care of John. I hoped among the four of them they’d get to the church on time.

The day dawned full of sunshine and Becky and I went off to the hairdresser’s for the full treatment. Somehow, she managed to tame my wild mane. In keeping with theombrétheme, the bottom layers of my hair were dyed in pastel colors with the white layer over the top. I had a wreath of flowers rather than a veil. They matched my bouquet of orchids—white and pastel colors. We had the same orchids on each table to carry through theombrétheme.

At last, it was time!