The two women stood outside the Davida’s Bridal store, watching women and some men browsing the racks of silky and muslin, extravagant dresses of different colors. Aniha clucked her tongue. “Looks like a room for parading lady peacocks.”
Diana laughed. “Of course we’ll have to be one of those parading peacocks,” she teased, her eyes dancing with mirth.
“Yeah, don’t remind me…” Aniha grumbled and rolled her eyes as Diana hooked an arm around her own, dragging her into the store. A cold draft wafted over their heads as they entered and Diana’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Oh it’s so heavenly in here,” she breathed, pulling her friend inside.
“Depends on your opinion.”
Diana nudged her friend. “Bad girl,” she murmured at Aniha’s loud proclamation, noticing that one of the cashiers and two customers glanced in their direction. “Especially considering yours will be here soon enough.”
“Who knows these days? Especially with Wick’s folks being a little…”
“Evil?” Diana supplied as they strolled to an empty corner with racks of pastel dresses.
“A little milder than I thought but yeah, I guess…” the bald-headed girl sighed heavily.
Aniha tackled one and Diana the other, both searching for the wedding dress of their dreams.
“Okay, I’m seeing too much pink,” Aniha drawled, huffing a breath as she pushed yet another dress to her left. Her arms were already hurting from tackling the second rack with no success.
Diana smirked. Of course Aniha wouldn’t find anything. She was hardly the fragile typ.e “Uh-hmm. I see something–well a few things.”
“Oh really, what kind of style?” She headed over to Diana’s rack and peered over her shoulder at the halter dress Diana displayed to her. Shrugging her shoulders at the low neckline, Aniha looked at Diana. “It’s your wedding.”
Diana rolled her eyes, pushing the dress back onto the rack. “How did I know you’d say that?”
“Because you know me.” Aniha smirked, pushing another stack of dresses to the side. “So why again couldn’t Delia be here?”
Diana sighed heavily. Delia would’ve been a perfect companion for dress hunting, considering she’d had a wedding once. Aniha wasn’t helping at the moment. “She had to watch the store… Her manager called in sick.”
“Hmm…” Aniha said cryptically and the silence overtook them as the girls both searched for their wedding gowns.
When Diana found one dress she wanted to try, she told Aniha to wait for her while she tried it on. Aniha, content that she wouldn’t have to start first, sat down on one of the chaise lounges leaning against the wall and waited for her friend to emerge from the dressing room.
Drumming her fingers on her lap, she immediately thought about her wedding and how it had to be delayed yet again, because of Colin’s parents. They were so adamant about she and Colin’s union, but they never spoke ill about her in her face. It was always in whispers, in ‘discrete’ stares, and mysterious phone calls during the night while she and Colin were either intimate or trying to get some rest.
Caught in a mid-sigh, Aniha straightened in her chair when she noticed someone staring at a bride’s portrait above a dress rack. Raising a brow, she recognized the older woman from one of the pictures Diana had shown her. It was Bryce’s mother, Mrs. Rousseau. Tilting her head curiously, Aniha discretely watched the woman stroll down the aisle. What was she doing here?
Staring wistfully at one of the dresses hanging on the shelves, Aimee Rousseau contemplated talking to Diana about the kind of dress she’d dreamed her duaghter-in-law would wear. She knew the times, knew the kind of styles featured in the designer bridal magazines but somehow, she believed that Diana would honor her request.
After all, she was a good girl, respectful and kind, unlike the other one. She sighed and walked to another rack of dresses, dismissing the ones that she’d just studied.
“Aimee?” Diana’s voice was heard from behind and Mrs. Rousseau smiled gently before turning around to greet her soon-to-be daughter-in-law. “Wow… It is you,” Diana laughed nervously. What was she doing here? She subconsciously pushed her hand behind her back, hiding the dress she’d just tried on.
The older woman smiled gently. “Hello dear. You must be wondering why I’m here, correct?”
Diana laughed again. “Oh… Not really… Maybe… Yes.”
“Hmm, well, I heard from Bryce that you were going wedding dress shopping.”
“Uh-hmm…”
“Well, I came to give my opinion and perhaps see what kinds of styles you were contemplating,” Aimee answered matter-of-factly, like it was expected that she be here.
Diana smiled gently. Mrs. Rousseau was definitely a sweet woman but judging from the elder woman’s attire, any choice she would have for the wedding attire might be a bit outdated and definitely not Diana’s style. “Oh… okay,” she laughed nervously.
“Okay!” Aimee cheered, beaming from ear to ear that her soon-to-be daughter in law would agree to involve her in such an intimate part of her wedding plans. “So what have you picked out so far?”
“Erm, nothing really…” Diana glanced over her shoulder at Aniha who had her legs crossed casually, reading a bridal magazine with an unconcerned expression on her face.
“Well, what are you waiting for? Let’s find you a dress.” Aimee bustled over to a rack of ivory and white dresses that were adorned heavily with embroidery. Diana masked a wince and slowly approached the rack.
Looking up from the magazine, Aniha choked on her saliva when Diana dressed in a very-frumpy dress, in her opinion, trudged slowly out of the fitting room, careful not to trip on the long mermaid hem. She stood to her feet and made her way over to Diana, fighting a grin. “Wow…”
Diana rolled her eyes, tugging at the skirt of the dress as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. “Don’t say it…”
“Then why are you wearing it?” Aniha rubbed her chin and smirked at Diana’s reflection. “It’s definitely old Hollywood, if that’s the look you were going for. What’s with the roses?”
“Because Aimee said that I will be having French pink roses…” Diana sighed heavily, peeking over Aniha’s shoulder to where Aimee was browsing the rack for more dresses. She winced when the older woman stroked a puffed sleeve of another white dress. “So no?”
Aniha shook her head. Thank goodness her mother was nowhere around to dictate what she would wear at her own wedding, if she and Colin got married at this rate. She swallowed a sigh and dragged her gaze from the dress. “No.”
“Okay,” Diana said, a little too relieved as she shuffled back to the fitting room. “I have one more dress.”
“By her?” Aniha murmured, folding her arms across her chest.
“Uh-hmm.”
“Oh boy.”
While Diana struggled into another vintage wedding gown, Aniha strolled around the room while holding back a laugh. Voices could be heard toward the front of the store, the main speaker was Aimee Rousseau who gushed over the many gowns Davida’s store featured.
“Oh to be young and engaged again,” Aimee smiled as she spoke to an engaged pair who were shopping as well. “So many beautiful gowns. I’m sure you’ll find the perfect one for you. I’m shopping with my soon-to-be daughter-in-law.”
“Oh congratulations,” the dark-haired woman said, smiling at the older woman whose eyes lit up with pride. “She’s so lucky to have a mother-in-law like you.”
She’s not lying… Aniha mused as she watched Aimee giggle and continue to brag about Diana. She wished that Colin’s family would just hurry up with their hesitations and let them get married already. She wished Colin’s mother would at least look at her with the same kind gaze that she’d witnessed Aimee casting on Diana many times.
“Okay, I’m coming out!” Diana announced, her voice a little lighter now. “Don’t laugh, Aniha…” she warned, pushing back the curtains.
“So…” Diana striked a pose in front of the mirror and smiled. “What do you think?”
Aniha turned around to face Diana and snorted. “Okay, definitely an upgrade…”
Diana’s smile waned. “But still too Hollywoody?”
Aniha’s eyes traveled down from the narrow waist, the shapely skirt and finally the puffed out train. “Um… A cross between peacock and Ariel the mermaid.”
Diana laughed, covering her mouth with her hands. “Shh before Aimee hears you.” She peered over her shoulder, noticing the woman in question was too busy chatting to notice she’d exited the fitting room. Good, she could quickly slip out of the dress and say the dress was too tight. She shuffled back to the changing stall. “Okay, now I’ll try my choices. Get excited.”
“Yay, I’m tingling with anticipation,” Aniha managed to sound drone while smiling in amusement.
“Actually,” Diana said from inside the stall. “I have three dresses I want you to try out. Can you see which one fits better for the bridesmaids?” She flung the dresses over the door to Aniha’s semi-open arms. “Thanks,” she singsonged and continued getting dressed.
“Okay, same thing with the Barbie Hollywood dress… No,” Aniha said adamantly, pulling at the puffy skirt of the red patterned dress.
Diana laughed from the fitting room. This first dress of hers was a little hard to maneuver. “Okay, cross it out and try the others.”
“Alright then,” Aniha mumbled, returning to the dressing room and once again cursing Delia for skipping out on her.
The first thing Aniha heard once she exited the dressing room with the second dress was a gasp from Diana behind her. Turning around, her brows lifted at Diana’s dress. “Okay I like this one.”
Diana grinned. “I love this dress on you, Aniha. The color looks amazing and I’m sure it’ll look great on Delia too, right?”
Aniha shrugged. “Yeah, it’s a step up from the Bloody Mary gown.” She tilted her head to study Diana’s dress. “Does that feel comfortable on you?”
Diana nodded, placing a hand on the embroidered bodice of the dress. “Yeah I love it. Comfortable and definitely pretty. You think Aimee will love it?” she peered over to where Aimee was still chatting with the young couple and smirked. “What on earth is she talking about?”
“Maybe giving them some early marriage advice.” Aniha leaned forward and fixed a small pearl that lay askew on Diana’s dress.
“Like what?” Diana peered down at the pearl and frowned. Oh no, was the dress flawed already?
“You know. Compromise, sex… whatever else.”
Diana’s cheeks warmed involuntarily and she giggled softly to cover her embarrassment. Aimee was yet to discuss that with her. Was that day approaching fast?
Aniha paused before laughing. “Don’t tell me you haven’t gotten that talk, Diana…”
“Not from her, no.” Diana giggled. Her mother was not around and she didn’t think Delia would even think to discuss it.
“Oh boy… Should I educate you?” Aniha offered half-teasing.
Diana lifted her eyes to Aniha and shrugged. “Sure. What do I need to know?”
There was a wicked glint in Aniha’s black eyes and she leaned in to Diana’s ear. Whispering something, Aniha leaned back and raised her brows in question, waiting for Diana’s response.
Biting her lip in hesitation, Diana leaned in also and whispered even softer, forcing Aniha to lean in closer to hear the response better. She then stepped back, hands clasped in front of her.
Aniha blinked a several times, completely taken aback by Diana’s confession. Then she burst out in laughter. “You’re joking, right?” She shook her head, staring incredulously at her friend who covered her giggles with her hand. “You’re pulling my leg right?”
“Nuh-unh,” Diana answered, careful not to cause any more attention that they were already getting.
Aimee finally made her way over and smiled at the dress Diana wore. “Oh I like this, dear.”
Diana turned around quickly, her cheeks warm from what she’d just told Aniha who was still struggling between shock and hysterical laughter. “Oh really? Thanks. I’m about to try another.” She winked at Aniha and shuffled back to the fitting room.
Aimee smiled in Aniha’s direction. “I appreciate you coming with Diana. I’m sure it means a lot to her.”
“It was no problem, Mrs. Rousseau,” Aniha answered, clearing her throat to curb the laughter. She sat down on the chair and Aimee sat beside her. “This is her big day after all.”
“Yes, I’m very excited. Probably more than I should,” Aimee confessed. “I guess I’m making up for her late mother’s reactions, I’m sure.”
Aniha smiled, once again wishing Colin’s mother was half what Aimee was. “Yeah… She’s lucky to have you around.”
“Thanks dearie,” Aimee placed her hand over Aniha’s and patted it gently.
“Okay…” Diana announced, her voice wavering with nervousness as she emerged from the fitting room once again. This was the dress she loved at first sight. Would her friend and mother-in-law to-be think about it? “What about this one?”
Aniha and Aimee turned their heads in the direction of Diana’s voice. For the first time since they’d entered the store, Aniha was thoroughly speechless over what she saw in front of her. So was Aimee apparently who slapped a hand to her mouth, her eyes watering as she gazed up at the dress adorning Diana’s petite form.
Diana smiled, pleased with their reaction. She clutched the silky skirt of the dress and twirled around. “I’ve found it,” she giggled excitedly.
… to be continued…
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