Page 4 of My Destiny

As I’m crossing the street, I notice a red gown hanging in the storefront of a tiny boutique. While it may not be the colour I was hoping for, my hopes start to rise. The dress is even more exquisite up close, and I place my hands on the window as my eyes take it in. I can see the huge smile that’s illuminating my face in the reflection of the glass. Hope bubbles inside me. I think this is it.

Crossing my fingers, I push open the door and enter.Please let them have my size, and please let it look as lovely on me as it does on the storefront mannequin.

“Hi,” the sales assistant greets me as I manoeuvre between the racks of clothes, heading towards the counter at the back of the store.

“Hi,” I reply with a smile. “I’d like to try on the red dress in the window please.” Turning my body slightly, I point over my shoulder in that direction.

Her face lights up at my request. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Yes!”

“It’s a new arrival. It only came in yesterday.” Stepping around the counter, she eyes me up and down. “I think it would look magnificent on you.”

“Oh, I hope so.” I want to knock Jake’s socks off.

“Size eight?”

“No, a ten if you have it,” I reply. “I need something to house these.” She laughs when I cup my boobs in my hands. My body is lean from all the dancing and running I do, but I’m well-endowed in the chest area. Jake says I have curves in all the right places.

My heartbeat quickens as I strip down to my underwear and slide the dress off the hanger. My wedding dress wasn’t even this pretty. We didn’t have a lot of money back then, so like my dress, our wedding was very simple. It was still one of the best days of my life.

After unfastening the zip, I step into it as I silently pray,please let this be the one.

“Would you like some help with the zipper?” the sales assistant asks from the other side of the curtain.

“Please,” I reply, stepping outside.

“Wow,” I hear her say as she steps back. “It looks amazing on you… like really, really amazing.”

I inhale a sharp breath as I turn and stare into the mirror before me. This dress is everything I hoped it would be and so much more, and fits so well, like it was made especially for me. It’s long and tight-fitting around my torso, which shows off all my curves. The smooth red silk glistens under the bright shop lights. The vertical pleats on the strapless bodice and the tapered waist accentuate my hourglass figure. I feel my smile grow as I turn my body to gaze at the back of the dress in the mirror.

“It’s perfect,” I whisper. Jake is going to flip when he sees it; well, I hope he does. I still have the silver strappy heels and matching clutch at home that I wore on my wedding day. They’ll pair perfectly with this dress.

I’m still grinning to myself as I drape the garment bag over my arm and look down at my watch. I can’t wait to see Jake’s face tonight. The hair salon is two blocks away, but I’ll definitely make my appointment in time. Things are starting to look up.

Pierre has been doing my hair since I moved here. “I appreciate you squeezing me in like this,” I say, as he air kisses both my cheeks before I take a seat at his workstation.

“Anything for you, Chérie,” he replies. “You’re one of my favourite clients. I’d kill for your hair.”

He always pays me the loveliest compliments, but it doesn’t make me feel uneasy in the slightest. “How are things going with… umm?”

“Buffy,” he says, finishing my sentence. “Wonderful, although I still have to let that swine have her every other weekend,” he scoffs, rolling his eyes, and I have to suppress my smile. Part of their breakup included a custody battle over their dog. She’s a Maltipoo, I believe, a designer crossbreed of a Maltese Terrier and miniature Poodle. It’s very cute.

“At least she’s with you the majority of the time.”

“I know. He swindled enough from me—he wasn’t getting my baby too.” His eyes move towards the back of the store where his precious puppy is sleeping soundly in her oversized pink bed. When he places his hand over his heart, I find myself smiling. “She’s my little princess. The light of my life.” I think it’s sweet that he loves his dog so much. I’ve never had a pet; my mum couldn’t afford one when I was younger. I would’ve loved the company back then, since my childhood was pretty lonely at times with my mother working so many jobs. I wonder if Jake would consider letting me get a pet.

Pierre turns his attention back to me as he drapes the black cloak across my front and fastens it around my neck. “What can I do for you today?” he asks. “You said it was a special occasion, right?”

“Yes, a black tie event.” Reaching over, I grab the garment bag that’s swung over the back of the chair beside me. “I just bought this strapless red dress,” I say, pulling down the zip and showing him the bodice.

“That colour will look lovely on you with your dark hair and exquisite brown eyes.”

“Thank you.” I always seem to get a lot of compliments when I’m wearing red. “I hope my husband likes it.”

“How could he not? I think you’d look beautiful in a paper bag, no?” His comment makes me laugh.

“Were you thinking up or down?” He twirls my long hair is his hand before resting it on the top of my head.