Between Sisters - Kristin Hannah [67]
Meghann came up behind her, stood on the platform.
There they were, side by side. Mama's girls, who'd once been closer than sisters and were now so far apart.
Meghann touched Claire's bare shoulder. “Don't even try to find something wrong with this dress.”
“I didn't look at the price tag, but—”
Meghann ripped the tag in half. “And you won't.” She turned, raised a hand. “Risa. Get over here.”
Claire looked at her sister. “You knew, didn't you? You handpicked it.”
Meg tried not to smile. “It's Vera Wang, honey. Of course I knew. I also knew your defenses were a bit high at the outset. You don't want me to buy your dress.”
“It's not that I don't want you to.”
“It's okay, Claire. It means a lot to me that you've included me in your wedding.”
“We're family,” Claire answered after a long pause. It felt awkward, this conversation, and vaguely dangerous. As if they were skating on a frozen pond that couldn't possibly hold their weight. “Thank you for the dress. It's what . . .” Her voice cracked a little. “I always dreamed of.”
Meg finally smiled. “Just because I don't believe in marriage doesn't mean I can't plan a kick-ass wedding, you know.”
Risa stepped into the dressing room, her face flushed, her arms full of gowns. “The Wang,” she said softly, looking at Meg. “You said this would be her choice.”
“A good guess.”
“She is the picture of love, yes?” Risa hung up the unnecessary gowns and went to Claire. “We'll need to take in the bust a little—just to there, don't you think?—and let out the waist. We'll also need to choose a veil. Something elegant, yes? Not too ornate. What shoes will you wear?” She began pinning and pulling.
“These pumps are fine.”
Risa knelt down to pin the hemline. “I'll keep the skirt long. In case you change your mind, which you must do. It'll be ready in time,” she promised when she was finished, then hurried off.
After she'd been gone for a moment, Claire said, “How did you know I'd choose this dress?”
“At my wedding, I overheard you talking to Elizabeth. You said a wedding dress should be simple. You were right. Mine looked like something a circus performer would wear.” Meghann seemed determined to smile. “Maybe that's why Eric left me.”
Claire heard the hurt in her sister's voice. It was thin and quiet, a thread fluttering. It surprised her. Claire always imagined her sister's defenses to be solid granite. “He hurt you, didn't he?”
“Of course he hurt me. He broke my heart and then wanted my money. It would have been a lot easier if I'd had a prenuptial agreement. Or better yet, if I'd lived with him instead of marrying him.”
Claire couldn't help smiling at the not-so-subtle reminder. This time it made sense. “If marrying Bobby is a mistake, it's one I want to make.”
“Yeah. That's the thing about love. It's inherently optimistic. No wonder I stick to sex instead. Now, how about if we pick up some takeout from the Wild Ginger and eat at my place?”
“Alison—”
“—is having dinner at Zeke's Drive-In and joining Sam and Bobby for date night at the Big Bowl. I called Gina from Everett.”
Claire smiled. “Bobby is going to date night at the bowling alley? And you don't believe in true love. Now, help me out of this dress.” Claire hiked up the falling dress and picked her way carefully to the dressing room. She was just about to shut the door when she remembered to say, “Your wedding dress was beautiful, Meghann, and you were beautiful. I hope I didn't hurt your feelings when I said that to Elizabeth. We'd had a few drinks by then.”
“My sleeves looked like open umbrellas. God knows why I picked it. No, that's not true. Sadly, I inherited Mama's style sense. As soon as I started making money, I hired a personal shopper. Anyway, thanks for the apology.”
Claire closed the dressing-room door and changed back into her clothes. They spent another