Chapter 4
It was so good to be out. My dad and Sin had both agreed that I should really take a driver. I didn’t put up much of a fuss. Having someone else drive the crawler meant I could sit in the back with JJ and give him all of my attention.
The driver was a lovely man named Joshua who looked younger than he was. He was very smiley and told me stories about his kids and what a blessing they were. He had two sons and was eagerly awaiting grandchildren.
He parked in front of LeRoy Bonfitte’s shop, then quickly hopped out and opened the door for us.
I got out, then reached back in for JJ’s carrier.
Joshua shut the crawler door and went ahead of us to open the shop door. “I’ll be in the crawler, your highness, when you’re ready, so no need to rush.”
“Thank you, Joshua.” It was so weird to be referred to as “your highness.” Traveling with Sin was like being incognito. No one had a clue I was a princess. “I’ll be at least twenty minutes if you want to go get coffee or something.”
“Very kind of you, but I have a thermos with me.” He gave me a nod. “Take your time.”
“All right.” JJ and I went in. LeRoy was there to greet us. “Princess Jayne, it is so good to see you.”
We exchanged air kisses, then he glanced down at JJ, put his hand to his heart, and let out the deepest sigh. “He is absolute perfection.”
“Thank you.” I agreed with him, of course.
LeRoy bowed. “Welcome to my shop, Prince Jack. It is a true honor to make your acquaintance.” He looked at me again. “I’m going to turn the sign around and lock the door, if that’s all right with you. I don’t want someone walking in and disturbing either of you.”
I hesitated, then nodded. “Thank you. That’s very kind. I won’t be long.”
“Princess, you can take as long as you need.” He stepped to the door, turned the lock, then reversed the sign hanging in the window to show the Closed side. “Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea? An ice-cold Dr Pepper?”
I smiled. “Can’t really say no to a Dr Pepper, can I?”
“Come right through and let’s get you settled in the salon, then I’ll fetch your drink. I have some amazing gowns to show you.”
I followed him through the rogues’ gallery, a hallway that featured photographs of all the famous folks he’d dressed. Plenty of pictures of my family members there. Once we arrived in the grand salon, the largest of the fitting room areas, I settled in, putting JJ’s carrier on the couch next to me.
LeRoy lifted a finger. “I’ll be right back with dresses.”
“Great.” The dressing room was against the wall, but there was a raised platform half-surrounded by mirrors that allowed you to get a good look at yourself in whatever you were trying on. I’d stood there in my wedding dress. I smiled. I had a lot of happy memories in this place.
Charlotte, LeRoy’s assistant, came in with a glass of Dr Pepper and put it on the small table next to the couch. “Nice to see you again, your highness.”
“You, too, Charlotte.”
“Is there anything else I can get you, your highness?”
“No, I’m fine, thanks.”
She disappeared, returning with LeRoy as the two of them wheeled a rack of gowns out.
I blinked. Maybe I would be here more than twenty minutes. “That’s a lot of gowns.”
LeRoy nodded as the rack came to a stop.
“It is, but I thought a good variety would help you to get ideas about what you like and don’t like.
” He clasped his hands in front of him. “If you find something that really speaks to you, we don’t have to do a bespoke design, but …
” He fluttered his hands through the air. “I remember your wedding dress.”
“So do I, and the only reason that was so complicated was because of my mom and my aunt.”
He smiled. “Which is why you came in by yourself today.”
“Yes.” I sipped the Dr Pepper. It was icy cold and very refreshing. “I want something pretty, appropriately royal, and flattering.” I sighed and set the drink down again. “There is the matter of some baby weight.”
There was no point in pretending otherwise. No one, elf or human, could shed all of their pregnancy pounds in a matter of weeks. I didn’t care what lies social media tried to sell women. It just wasn’t possible for your body to return to its pre-pregnancy shape quickly. Or maybe ever.
LeRoy just smiled. “Your curves are an asset to be valued. You’ve given birth. That’s nothing to belittle or pretend away. I say embrace your curves and your womanliness. You’re more beautiful now than the day you got married, and it is my honor to dress you for this very special day.”
“Thank you.” I sniffed, moved by his kind words. “I appreciate that.”
“Shall I show you my favorites? Then, if you see one you like, we’ll set it aside for you to try on. That way we can see what really suits you.”
“That sounds good.” I sat back, checked on JJ, who was sleeping, and watched carefully as LeRoy started pulling dresses.
The first was black and very pretty with black beading accents, but I shook my head. “I don’t want black. This is a daytime event and a joyous occasion. That feels too somber.”
“No black, got it.” He moved on to the next dress, which was light ice blue and ruched at the waist and sleeves.
Again, I shook my head. “I feel like that’s such a light blue it’ll get washed out and look white, which could look bridal.”
“All right, nothing that could read white.” He pulled a third dress. It was a column of medium blue with beading and crystals on the sleeves and at the hem. “What do you think about this color?”
“That’s nice.” I wrinkled my nose as I thought of my still very rounded tummy and considered how body-conscious the dress looked. “Might be a bit too form-fitting.”
“This fabric is very forgiving. Would you consider trying it on?”
“Yes.”
He set it aside and took out another dress.
I inhaled. “Oh, that is very pretty.”
Again, it was blue, but it started out as a light blue near the top, then darkened as the color traveled down the gown to finish with a deep ultramarine blue at the hem of the flowy skirt.
Random crystals were scattered over the fabric, catching the light with each small movement, and a cape of translucent organza cascaded from the shoulders.
LeRoy smiled. “Would you like to try this one on?”
I looked at JJ, who was still sleeping like he was the best baby in the world, which he was, then gave LeRoy a nod.
I stood up. “Can I do that right now? It’s been a while since I’ve been in a gown like that.
I really need to see what it looks like on.
Get a sense of what I can and cannot pull off with my current figure. ”
“Wonderful idea.” He took both dresses and whirled around to the dressing room behind him.
The same one I’d been in when I’d been here for my wedding gown.
He hung the dresses up and stepped out of the way.
I picked up JJ’s carrier and went in. “Thanks.”
“We’ll be right here if you need anything.”
I closed the door and put JJ on the bench.
Truthfully, I wasn’t that interested in trying dresses on, but it had to be done.
I was kind of dreading what they were going to look like on.
I didn’t care that pregnancy had changed my body.
There was no sacrifice too great for my son, and what did my appearance matter in the grand scheme of things?
But I knew the dresses weren’t going to look the way I wanted them to. At least, that was what I was anticipating.
I tried on the medium blue first. It wasn’t as bad as I’d thought it would be, but it hugged everything, highlighting how much more of me there was these days. I shook my head at my reflection and took the dress off.
I reached for the second dress, already sure it was going to do the same. I winked at JJ, who was awake now and looking up at me, then I turned around and pulled it on without facing the mirror.
Once I had it on, I took a look. It was beautiful and far more flattering than the first dress. I was all right with it. Except for the one minor problem.
“Princess?” LeRoy called out. “I just wanted to check on you.”
I took a breath and opened the door. “I like this one but …”
LeRoy’s eyes bulged slightly, and he quickly looked away. “That is … um, well …”
I laughed. “It’s okay to say it. That is way too much cleavage.”