Page 53 of Decoding Emma

I nodded and stood.“Thanks, Cassie.”I left her office, hoping I could find something modest that worked with my body type.

***

After trying on the fifth dress, I was beginning to lose hope.The dresses were all nice, but nothing worked.My mother’s disparaging comments ran through my head on repeat.

Celeste knew couture inside and out.All of the dresses she had picked out were beautiful and definitely flattering, but I couldn’t stop Mother’s voice in my head.

“Let’s try this one.”

“Sure.”Black was slimming, they said.I took the dress into the changing room and stepped into it.Strapless.The bodice, embroidered with silver thread and accented with silver beading, fit like a half-corset, laced in the back.The floor length skirt was four layers of black chiffon that flowed over my legs and swirled around my ankles as I turned to see the back.

“Cassie, I need some help.”

“Come on out.”

I blew out a breath and exited the changing room.

“Let me tighten the bodice,” Celeste said and stepped behind me.She pulled the laces tight.

After Celeste finished pulling the laces and tied them, I adjusted the bodice and assessed the reflection in the full-length mirror with a critical eye.

“Emma, that’s perfect on you.”Cassie gushed.Celeste smiled her approval.

I frowned.“Is it?”I stood on tip toe and watched the dress move as I turned to the full-length mirror and blinked several times.That was me?The half-corset showed off my breasts.The chiffon flowed from the bodice to the ground like a waterfall.

“I knew I’d have something,” Celeste said.“Twirl, dear.”

I did as she said.The dress moved with me and didn’t hinder my movements at all.

“This is the one,” Cassie said.“You’ll knock everyone dead in this.”

Tears filled my eyes, and I blinked them away.I felt beautiful for the first time in my life.That was sad, but in another way, very liberating.

“Black peau de soie one-inch heels and a lace shawl will compete the outfit.”Celeste flittered around me.“What size shoe?”

“Seven.”

“Let me go look, I think I have a pair that will work.I know I have the shawl.”Celeste walked away.

I couldn’t stop staring at myself.

“What time is this shindig tomorrow?”Cassie asked.

“Seven.Asher is picking me up at six-fifteen.”I froze.

“Okay, what do you say I come by at five?I can do your hair and makeup for you and help you with the dress.”

I let out a breath.Cassie didn’t say anything about Asher going with me.“I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You didn’t; I offered.”Celeste bustled back in with shoes in one hand and a shawl in the other.Both worked perfectly.I quickly changed out of the dress and back into my normal clothes.

Celeste was putting the dress into a garment bag along with the shoes in the bottom and the shawl over the hanger.I braced myself for the cost.

“Okay it’s going to be three hundred for everything,” Celeste said.

“That’s it?”I couldn’t believe it.

“Yes.I’m giving you the friends and family discount.”