Chapter 7 Kamryn #2
After piling into Kamryn’s car, they drove off. Sure enough, they ran into a few pockets of traffic and Kamryn gripped the
steering wheel tighter, praying she didn’t miss her appointment time. Fortunately, it eased, and they made it to the shop
with five minutes to spare.
She’s not coming next time.
“Oh, good. You’re here. I was getting worried,” the consultant said, coming toward them.
Kamryn shot a look at Giselle, then turned back to the young woman and smiled. “We got held up, but I’m ready to look at some
dresses.”
“Follow me. Do you have a particular style in mind?”
“Not really,” Kamryn said as she stared at the rows and rows of dresses. She’d done a little looking online but hadn’t found
anything she liked.
The consultant escorted Kamryn into a dressing room, then took some measurements before leaving and returning with several
styles of dresses—ball gown, trumpet, sheath, mermaid. “Here are a few to try on so you can get an idea of which style you
like best.”
The woman helped her into the first one, a strapless ball gown. As she walked out to model it, Kamryn already knew it wouldn’t
be her choice. Sure, it gave off fairy-tale princess vibes, but there was way too much material for her liking.
“Oooh, don’t you look pretty,” Mama Yvonne said.
“Taylor, Giselle, what do you think?” Kamryn turned one way, then another.
Taylor angled her head. “The dress is beautiful and looks gorgeous on you, but I don’t feel like it expresses your personality,
if that makes sense.”
“It makes perfect sense.”
“I’d think you’d want to look like a princess on your wedding day like I did,” Giselle said. “That’s the perfect dress, but
since you mentioned getting married outside near the beach, maybe you want something less formal and a little more basic.”
Kamryn ignored the slight dig. “I’m not really feeling this one.” She stepped down and tried on the second. While she liked
the way the trumpet-style dress hugged her curves, she could barely move.
Taylor laughed. “Girl, you look like you’re struggling. You don’t want to trip down the aisle in that dress.”
Mama Yvonne giggled. “Now, that would not be good.”
“Well, we don’t want that, now do we? I want to be comfortable and able to move freely.
Back to the drawing board.” The sheath was nicer but didn’t really pop like she wanted.
The mermaid style gave her almost the same feeling as the trumpet.
Kamryn tried not to get frustrated. This was only the first day.
The attendant came into the dressing room with another dress as Kamryn was taking off the last one. “This dress is from one
of our recently discontinued lines and was just moved to the rack. You seem to like the more fitted dress styles. The fit-and-flare
is similar to the trumpet but allows for more freedom of movement.” She held it up.
The ivory strapless dress was absolutely gorgeous. She quickly put it on with the attendant’s assistance and walked out.
“Have mercy,” Mama Yvonne said and brought her hand to her chest.
“Yeah, that,” Taylor echoed.
Kamryn stepped up on the podium and had to agree. It was classy, sexy, and even had a front slit that ended a few inches above
the knee. Just like the trumpet, it hugged her curves, but she was able to walk without restriction.
The attendant elaborated, “The dress has moondust netting and more than twelve hundred crystals that will shimmer in any lighting.
The sweep train is only about a foot, which will be perfect for an outdoor or beach wedding.”
Kamryn faced the three seated women. “Well, what do you think?”
“It’s stunning, baby. My son isn’t going to know what hit him when he sees you.”
“Thanks, Mama Yvonne.”
Giselle gave a little smile that seemed forced. “It looks like it’s the right dress for your wedding.”
“Great. And you’re right, Giselle, it is the perfect dress for my wedding,” Kamryn said in an effort to be friendly. “I think this is it.” She had the consultant
take a couple of pictures so Kamryn could share them with her mother, then carefully stepped down.
Mama Yvonne said quietly, “Do you want to try on a few more or see what another store might have? You might see something
else you like better.”
“No. I don’t believe I’ll find anything I’ll like more.” She glanced in the mirror once more and smiled. She needed a few minor alterations to let the bodice out a little. Though the dress fit snugly, Kamryn wanted a little wiggle
room in case she gained a few pounds. After meeting with the specialist, she made an appointment to return in four weeks for
the dress, then they drove to a nearby restaurant for a late lunch.
As they ate, Taylor said, “I can’t believe you found a dress at the first store. I remember going with one of my cousins a
couple of years ago, and we went to a good dozen shops over a month’s time before she found something. She ended up ordering
from the first place after all that running around.”
“I thought that’s what I’d have to do, but I’m so glad to have it off my to-do list. Giselle, do you have any photos from
your wedding?”
“A few.”
“I’d love to see them.”
“The wedding was so beautiful,” Mama Yvonne gushed. “She looked like a doll.”
Giselle pulled up the photos on her phone and handed it to Kamryn, who leaned over to show Taylor, who was sitting next to her.
Kamryn said, “Mama Yvonne is right. These are gorgeous.” She speculated on whether Giselle’s earlier comment about looking like a princess had anything to do with the fact that she’d chosen a ball gown. She handed the phone back.
“Thanks,” Giselle mumbled.
“I always wished I had a daughter to pass down my wedding dress to,” Mama Yvonne said.
“You’ll have to show us the pictures when we get back to the house.”
“That’s a good idea, Taylor. And, Mama Yvonne, you still have two sons, so it could be that one of their ladies can wear it.”
The matriarch stood a good three or four inches shorter than Kamryn, so no way would she have been able to wear it. She wasn’t
sure if even Taylor could fit into it. With what Tariq had told her about Giselle’s mother, Kamryn bet she would’ve had a
fit if Mama Yvonne suggested Giselle wear her dress.
Over the rest of the meal, she shared a little more about their plans for the honeymoon and the possibility that she’d be
starting a new job.
Mama Yvonne dabbed the corners of her mouth with a napkin and laid it aside. “Is this the one you were talking about with
your friend?”
“Yes.”
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Taylor said.
They talked a little more about the plans, then made the drive back to the Bradley home, where they all went inside to see
Mama Yvonne’s wedding photos.
“I haven’t pulled these out in a while,” she said, removing the two albums from a plastic cover.
Taylor took the first one and opened it. “Okay now, Mama Yvonne. These are gorgeous.”
She giggled. “I just wanted to let him know what he was getting.”
They all screamed with laughter. Even Giselle, who’d been mostly standoffish throughout the day, joined in.
“By that big smile on his face, I’m sure he knew what he was getting,” Kamryn said.
Giselle had the second album open. “Tariq looks a lot like his dad in these pictures.”
“He does,” Kamryn agreed. “And I hope he’ll have this same smile on his face four months from now.” She and Taylor shared
a look. She bet that Taylor and Austin would be next to walk down the aisle.