Page 3

CHAPTER THREE

We get back on the road heading out of town. The road Harper wanted to take is under construction, so we have to take a detour to get to the road we need.

“Hey, what’s that place?” I point to a small yellow house with white shutters that has a sign in front that reads, ‘Mitzi’s Bridal Dresses and Accessories.’

Harper pulls off to the side of the street and parks. “It wasn’t on the list, but let’s check it out.”

We walk along the narrow sidewalk that leads to the house and go up a few steps to the porch. It’s covered with colorful pots filled with blue and purple flowers and there’s a white wooden bench sitting off to the side.

I try the door but it’s locked. “It’s after 5. They must be closed. Let’s go.”

Harper knocks on the door several times but nobody answers. Then just as we’re walking away, we hear the door open. We turn around and see an older woman standing there.

“Girls, come on in.” The woman looks to be around 70 and she’s tiny, less than 5 feet tall, with bright white hair that has a streak of purple in it.

“If you’re closed, that’s okay,” I tell her. “We can come back later.”

“My hours are flexible. I just had it locked because I was taking a nap. But I’m up now and ready for customers. Come on in.” She holds the door open for us and we go inside. “Which one of you is the bride?”

“She is,” Harper says, pushing me in front of the lady. “This is Jade. She’s getting married in a month and she needs a dress.”

“Hello, Jade. I’m Mitzi,” She extends her tiny hand and we shake.

“Hi. This is my friend, Harper.”

They shake hands, then Mitzi steps back and looks me up and down while I stand there feeling awkward. I’m not exactly dressed nice, wearing cut-off jean shorts and a black tank top.

“Let me guess. A beach wedding?” she asks.

“Yes. How did you know that?”

She doesn’t answer. “And you’re what? 19? 20?”

“Nineteen. I’ll be 20 in October.”

“I’ll be right back.” She takes off down a hallway toward the back of the house.

Harper and I look at each other.

“That was weird,” I say.

“I like her.” Harper makes herself comfortable on the purple velvet couch sitting in the middle of the small living room. “She seems mystical. All knowing. Like one of the psychics my mom used to go to.”

“Your mom went to a psychic?”

“You. Come here.” The old lady is standing in the hallway, motioning me to follow her.

I look at Harper, a little worried about where the old lady is taking me.

Harper waves her hand at me and mouths the word ‘go.’

The lady walks really fast. I follow her down the hallway. We pass a room that’s full of white dresses but she keeps going and stops at the room next to it. She ushers me inside. It looks like a makeshift dressing room. There’s a curtain hanging from a circular wire suspended from the ceiling.

“Your dress is in there, dear.”

“But I didn’t even see it. Shouldn’t I—”

“Go ahead.” She pushes me past an opening in the curtain into the tiny space. “Try it on.”

The curtain closes and I’m left standing there wondering what just happened. I turn around and see a dress hanging there. It’s a long white dress with a halter-style neckline. It tapers in at the waist, then has a slight A-line shape to the floor. The only detail on it is a stitched and beaded design that forms a band that sits just above the waistline. There are no puffy sleeves, no fish-tail bottom, no bows, no lace. Just a sleek, elegant white dress. Even the fabric is simple. It’s not too shiny or stiff like the other dresses I tried on today, but instead is more soft and flowing.

“Do you have it on yet?” The old lady’s voice startles me and I turn back around.

“Um, no. Not yet.” I quickly take off my shorts and tank top and carefully slip on the dress but I can’t zip it up all the way,

I peek my head outside the curtain and see the old lady standing there with a tape measure around her neck.

“Turn around,” she orders. I do as she says and she zips me up. “Now go look in the mirror.”

She leads me over to a small wooden platform in front of a full length mirror.

As soon as I see myself in the mirror, I know this is it. This is the dress. It’s perfect.

Mitzi appears next to me. “You like it.”

She doesn’t say it like she’s asking me. She says it like she already knows I like it. Like she knew I would. Maybe Harper’s right. Maybe she is a psychic.

“Yeah, I really like it.” I turn a little to see the back of the dress. It’s an open back, which is exactly what I wanted. “The dress is a little long but other than that I wouldn’t change a thing.”

“I’ll fix the length. Now try these on.” She hands me a pair of white sandals. They have just a slight heel and a thin row of sparkly crystals in the center strap.

Mitzi must notice my hesitation when I see the crystals because she catches my eye and says, “Every bride needs a little sparkle on her wedding day.”

I slip the sandals on. I actually like the sparkly accents.

“Can I come back there now?” Harper calls out from the front.

Mitzi nods at me, smiling.

“Yes, you can come back.” I turn to face the door.

Harper slowly walks in. She brings her hands to her mouth and her eyes get all watery. “Oh my God, Jade. That’s so you. It’s perfect.” A few tears run down her cheek.

“Harper, why are you crying?”

“Because you found it. You found the perfect dress and it makes me so happy. And because my best friend is getting married. It didn’t seem real until I saw you in this dress. But it’s real now and it just hit me that you’re getting married and moving away and I won’t see you anymore.”

“Harper.” I go to hug her but she backs away.

“No, my lipstick might get on the dress.” She wipes the tears off her face. “Ignore me. I’m happy for you. I really am. I’ll just miss you.” She sniffles as she approaches me again. “That dress looks so great on you, Jade. You’re getting it, right?”

“Yeah, I think I am.” I turn to the old lady. “How much is it?”

“It’s $800 but I know that’s a lot for someone your age so how about $650?”

I glance around at the tiny dressing room, which could use some fixing up. She doesn’t seem to have much inventory either and given her location, I’m sure she doesn’t get much business.

“You really helped me out here,” I tell her. “This dress is perfect and now I don’t have to keep looking. You saved me a ton of time so $800 is fine.” It’s so strange to hear myself say that. A few months ago I never would’ve even considered spending $800 on a dress. I still find it hard to spend that much, but it is my wedding dress and I have millions in the bank. Millions. I can’t even believe I have that much money.

“Then I’ll throw in the shoes for free,” Mitzi says.

“No, you don’t have to do that,” I insist. “Just add it to the bill.”

“I always like to give the bride a little something. How about this?”

She comes over with a hair clip covered in sparkly crystals just like the shoes.

Harper takes the clip. “Jade, this is exactly what you need for your hair. Remember how I told you I was going to put it up and needed a clip? This is perfect.”

I smile at Mitzi. “Thank you. But I’ll pay you for it.”

“Nonsense. It’s my wedding gift to you and the lucky groom.” She pushes her sleeve up and I notice a bright red pincushion attached to her wrist. “Stand up straight. I’ll mark the alterations and then you’re free to go.”

She tugs at the fabric around the neckline and the waist, placing pins here and there, then kneels down and starts yanking on the bottom of the dress until she figures out where the hem should be. Harper’s giggling off to the side at the odd woman. She’s so tiny and yet I’m kind of scared of her.

“When should I pick it up?” I ask her.

“I’ll have it ready in a week. Come get it anytime after that.” She puts one last pin in the hem, then stands up. “Go change.”

“Can I get a picture quick?” Harper asks.

Mitzi doesn’t answer as she leaves the room.

“I don’t think she heard you,” I whisper.

Harper quickly gets her phone out and takes the photo. She helps me off the wooden platform and unzips my dress and I go back behind the curtain.

I change into my regular clothes and put the dress back on the hanger and look at it one last time. It’s such a great dress. Garret’s going to love it.

Before we leave, I pay Mitzi the deposit for the dress. She wraps up the hair clip in some tissue paper and puts the shoes in a box and hands them to me.

Harper and I tell Mitzi goodbye. Then as soon as we’re outside, Harper hugs me. “You found a dress! A dress you actually like. I think you might even love it!”

I smile. “Yeah. I do love it. It’s perfect.”

Finding that store. Finding the dress. It’s like it was meant to be.