Page 55 of The Reverse Cinderella

Chapter 9

Piaget spread cream cheese over a toasted bagel and bit into it with relish. She was one of the few people who had risen in time to enjoy the breakfast spread that had been set out for the guests who had stayed overnight. Brunch would be much better attended. Right now, everyone was scattered across the terrace, in small groups enjoying the cool morning air.

She had left Max sleeping upstairs. For a few minutes, she’d simply stared at him, enjoying the luxury of trying to memorize his face. He was a handsome man and she wondered what he would look like when he was older. She looked forward to finding out.

“I’d lay off the bagel’s and cream cheese,” Tiffany remarked as she sat down at Piaget’s table. “You’ve gained weight.”

The creamy goodness turned to sawdust in Piaget’s mouth. She dropped the rest of the bagel on her plate. “Good morning Tiffany. How are things going? Looking forward to today?”

“Why would I look forward to Tricia’s wedding? She’s my youngest. Now everyone will remark how good I look for my age,” Tiffany sipped her green tea. No sugar, of course. “I’m going to need another face lift.”

Piaget didn’t answer Tiffany’s comment. Her sister looked perfect as always. She stirred her own strawberry tea and took a sip.

“I hope you’re going to wear something nicer than the dress you wore last night,” Tiffany remarked.

“Excuse me?” Piaget looked at her sister in surprise.

“Tell me you didn’t find it in some discount store,” Tiffany shuddered. “It looked awfully cheap.”

That dress had put a dent of twelve hundred dollars in Piaget’s credit card. She bit her lip. “I can’t afford the best anymore Tiffany.”

“Well, the way that dress looked, you might as well have showed up in a paper sack,” Tiffany sipped her tea and wrinkled her nose. “Please tell me you have something better for the wedding.”

Piaget had two dresses upstairs. One was paid for, a chance find at a second hand store that she had paid a fraction of the retail price for. However, if Tiffany had pulled her nose up at last night’s dress then there was no doubt that she would abhor this choice.

The other dress was on discount from a shop that Piaget used to frequent. It was still expensive and Piaget had crossed her fingers when she slid her credit card through the reader. It was too much and Piaget knew she should just return it. Otherwise, she was going to be in rougher financial shape than what she already was.

“I do… I’m just not sure if I should wear it,” Piaget murmured.

“Well, if you come in something worse than last night, you might as well just go home. It would be better than having everyone pity me because my sister can’t be bothered to dress appropriately,” Tiffany dumped the rest of her tea into a potted plant and stood. “Really Piaget, you still represent this family. Now is not the time to go all free style and hippy.”

Piaget’s mouth dropped open as she watched her sister leave. She and Tiffany had never been especially close, but her sister didn’t normally make a habit of openly insulting her.

A cellphone rang and Piaget realized it was hers. She didn’t recognize the number but chose to answer it anyways.

“Mrs. Williams, this is Helen from First National Credit. Am I speaking to Piage... Piaget Williems?”

“Speaking,” Piaget wondered why her credit card company would be calling her.

“Mrs. Williams, as a courtesy, we’d like to inform you that you are overdrawn on your credit card by two thousand, eight hundred, seventy-three dollars and twelve cents. Your current balance is fourteen thousand, six hundred, eighty-three dollars and eight cents. You have missed your last two payments. We require payment of two thousand, seven hundred and six dollars by the seventeenth of this month, otherwise we will have to pursue collections. We will not be extending you any further credit until payments have been made. Do you have any questions, Mrs. Williems?”

Piaget wondered how the numbers had gotten so big. She didn’t have twenty-seven hundred dollars for a payment. She could feel panic unfolding in her chest. She knew she has spent extravagantly for the wedding considering her budget. Piaget swallowed thickly and replied, trying to breath normally. “No. No questions.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Williems. We look forward to your payment. Have a nice day,” Helen ended the call.

Piaget put her cellphone down and stared at it. She needed to return the expensive dress. It was the only solution to her credit card problem.

However, Tiffany said she might as well go home if she wore anything inferior to the wedding. Piaget knew Tiffany would never lend her a dress. She wouldn’t fit in them anyways. Tiffany was a size one. Piaget had bloomed from a size three to a size six since Gary’s death.

Could she wear the dress and then return it? If she was careful and ate nothing at dinner, drank nothing but water, kept it clean as possible and removed it immediately after the reception, could she do it?

Did she dare?

Piaget dropped her head in her hands and Tiffany’s scathing words rang in her ears.

What choice did she have?

The wedding was a complete social success. Piaget saw reporters from People magazine and a couple of other magazines taking photos and asking questions. Tiffany would be pleased to see her daughter make a splash. Tricia was stunningly beautiful and Jordan looked very handsome. They made a gorgeous couple. The doves went up into the sky without a hitch despite Aunt Lucielle worrying that they might poop on someone during their flight. Speeches were given and everyone toasted the bride and groom happily.