“Because it buttons down the back, I’ll help you dress,” Maeve says.
“I’ll be right outside,” Jillian says, exiting the room and shutting the door behind her.
With Maeve’s help, I slip into the dress. She keeps my back to the mirror, so I can’t see. Anticipation builds within me as she does the buttons. I truly want to wear this dress, as I feel such strong symbolism in it, so I’m crossing my fingers that it will look beautiful on me.
“Oh, this fit is splendid,” Maeve says as her fingertips reach the final button. “Turn around.”
I slowly turn around and gaze in the mirror. An excited gasp escapes my lips.
“Oh, wow,” I whisper. “This is me?”
Maeve smiles. “This is you.”
I can’t get over how beautiful the dress is on me, how I feel feminine and modern and pretty in it.
“What do you think?” Maeve asks.
“It’s everything I could have dreamt of,” I say, barely able to contain my happiness. I turn around and study the back, and the fit is immaculate. I might need a bit of nipping in at the bust and waist, but overall, it’s perfect.
“Ladies, are either of you ready to come out? We’re dying here,” Amelia says.
Maeve glances at me, putting her hand on the door handle. I nod enthusiastically. She pops open the door, and I step out of the room. As soon as I do, Amelia and Jillian gasp in delight.
“Oh my God, I love it,” Amelia cries excitedly. “It’s stunning on you, Poppy. Absolutely stunning.”
“I think we can take it in a touch on the bustline and waist,” Maeve says, pulling the fabric and clipping it to show what it would look like when altered.
“That is the perfect dress,” Jillian says excitedly. “As long as you feel perfect in it.”
I move towards the three-way mirror and turn around, seeing myself from all angles.
“This is it,” I say. “I don’t want to try on anything else. This is perfect.”
Amelia clasps her hands together. “I love this moment. When you are in the dress, you know. Your face has completely lit up, Poppy.”
I nod excitedly. “I feel so happy.” Then I pause. “How much is this dress?”
“Hmm, I wouldn’t know, I had the tag snipped off,” Jillian says devilishly.
“What?” I ask.
“Xander told me you would check, so he asked that we remove the tags to any dresses you might try on,” Jillian explains. “He doesn’t want you to think about prices today. He wants you to have this experience with nothing but your happiness in mind.”
Love for Xander brims over in my heart.
“Who knew he would turn out to be such a romantic?” Amelia asks, sighing. “I need to find one like that.”
“You will when you aren’t looking,” Jillian confirms.
“Speaking of not looking, Bella, are you going to let us look at you in your dress?” Amelia says in the direction of Bella’s dressing room. “Are you ready for me to come in and zip you up?”
Silence.
I share a concerned look with Amelia and Jillian.
“Bella?” Amelia presses.
Finally, Bella clears her throat. “I don’t know how I can follow what I heard about Poppy’s dress, so keep that in mind when I open the door.”
“I think there’s plenty of space in this dressing room for two beautifully dressed women,” Jillian asserts.
I love Jillian. She seems to know exactly what to say at the moment it’s needed.
The door opens.
We all gasp.
Bella looks like a garden come to life in her vivid green dress.
“Oh, Bella,” Amelia says, her eyes wide. “Beautiful doesn’t do you justice.”
Bella tentatively steps forward. The dress is a dream in green silk, which looks luminous against her pale skin. The style flatters her body magnificently, showing off her feminine curves in a gorgeous way.
Amelia quickly moves around and uses clamps to give it the proper fit, and we all rave over the dress as she does.
“You look so radiant,” I say, seeing how the dress just pops on her.
“But … my chest,” Bella says quietly, cringing at her reflection in the three-way mirror. “Don’t you think it would look better with a cardigan over the top?”
Jillian puts her hands on Bella’s shoulders and steers her towards the big mirror. “Why would you want to hide your shape? This dress is designed to enhance it. Do you know what I see when I look in the mirror right now?”
Bella remains silent.
“What I see is the real you,” Jillian continues, her voice firm. “You have a sexy, curvy, voluptuous body. This is a