ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟚𝟟 #3
Hopefully she wasn't trying to get me to buy more dresses. Cameron said it'd be on his card, but I still felt guilty.
"You married well." Her voice floated back.
I heard hangers sliding, boxes opening. Something rustling.
Fortunately, she returned, holding something deep red.
And silky. Very silky.
It was a lingerie nightgown, the ones you'd only see in ads. She was crazy if she thought I'd wear that to a wedding.
"Uh, Anny."
"Yes?" She smiled innocently.
"I don't think that's a wedding guest dress."
"Oh, definitely not. It most certainly isn't."
I folded my arms.
"Then why are you holding it? I thought we were specifically looking for guest attire."
She looked at me as though the answer were obvious.
"Because" She lowered her voice. "After the wedding."
Something still wasn't clicking to me.
"After the..."
I quickly got it.
Oh.
My face immediately became warm.
"No." I said, laughing nervously.
She smiled wider. "Oh yes."
"I don't know what you're implying."
She raised one eyebrow. "I think you do."
"Oh my goodness." I covered my face.
"You guys have been married for years, right?"
"Yes, we have." I peek at her from my fingers.
"So why are you so flustered?"
"I don't know! I really don't."
She held the garment toward me.
"Humor an old lady."
Well now I definitely couldn't say no.
"Well, when you put it like that..."
No, Dixie. Stop it!
I sigh. "I'm not trying that on."
"I didn't ask..." She paused. "...Okay, yes I did."
I sighed.
She had gently nudged the hanger into my hands. "Just see how it fits."
I stared at it like it was a dead rat. "This feels like a trap."
"It is."
"I appreciate your honesty."
Several minutes later, I'm in the dress, but I can't pull it up to my bust.
"Anny, I think I need your help." I call out to her.
She immediately pushed the curtains aside.
"I can't get this over..."
"Oh, that's no problem, dear." She said, helping me adjust the nightgown carefully.
The moment it's on; I immediately cross my arms over myself. The dress was already tight, so it was very compressed on my chest.
"This is too much."
Annie looked up from adjusting.
"No, you look beautiful."
"I look so exposed."
"You look elegant."
"Honey, you're married."
She leaned in closer, gently fixing one shoulder.
"I know."
"To a man who looks at you like you hung the moon."
I smiled despite myself. "Cam can be sweet sometimes."
"He adores you."
I nod.
"And I have a feeling," She stepped back, admiring me. "he'd absolutely love seeing you surprise him one evening."
My cheeks somehow grew even warmer.
I looked back at myself. I had no problems with dresses like these, but it felt so weird to make love with Cameron ever since my pregnancy with Jordyn. I had gained a couple pounds and felt very guilty about it. My body had changed, and I didn't want to spoil it for Cameron.
I hadn't looked at myself this closely in a while, but pregnancy leaves behind little reminders.
Stretch marks, softer hips. A body that looked different than the one I'd known at twenty-one.
Cameron had never complained, though. Not once.
Which somehow made me feel guiltier.
It was one of my stupid fears.
"I don't know-I still think it's too much."
"I think you're underestimating yourself."
I didn't reply to that.
A few minutes later, when I took it off, she carefully folded the red nightgown into delicate tissue paper.
I watched as she slipped it into a small boutique bag. Separate from the navy dress.
"Our little secret." Then she winked.
"Anny, I don't even know if I'm keeping it."
"Mhm." She tied the ribbon anyway.
When we walked back out into the lobby, Cameron immediately stood. His decorating magazine sat upside down on the table.
"I was beginning to think you two had moved in."
"I almost did," Annie answered.
"I was making progress."
"Find one?" Cameron's eyes immediately found the navy dress bag.
I smiled. "Indeed."
"I knew you would."
His eyes drifted toward the second, much smaller boutique bag dangling from my wrist.
He frowned slightly. "What'd you get in that one?"
I quickly froze. I kind of forgot that I was holding it. How was I going to explain my whole interaction with Anny to Cameron?
"It's nothing."
He looked at the bag, then back at me. "Nothing?"
"Mhm."
"It's a pretty fancy bag for nothing." he smiled.
"It came with..." I looked down. I had nothing to say, really. "...nothing."
He raised one eyebrow. I looked everywhere except at him. Annie, standing behind Cameron, very discreetly pressed one finger to her lips.
I fought the urge to smile.
"It's just..." I cleared my throat. "Girl stuff, Cameron."
He immediately nodded. "Oh."
"Yep." I sigh.
"I don't need any more information than that."
"That's splendid."
He grinned, completely satisfied. "Ready to go?"
"Absolutely." I nodded perhaps a little too quickly.
As he reached for the larger shopping bag, Annie caught my eye one last time. She gave the tiniest, most conspiratorial wink.
I gave her a tiny wave before looking back.