Spellbound - Cara Lynn Shultz [93]
I scrutinized the one-shouldered, red-sequined cocktail dress I was wearing in the mirror. “You guys, just because it’s November, doesn’t mean I have to wear red,” I protested, opening the door with a frown. “I look like a hooker in this.”
“Yeah, but at least it’s a high-priced ho.” Aunt Jess snickered, and Ashley giggled. Christine gave both of them disapproving looks.
“I know!” Ashley chirped. “Let me go pull a few more dresses. Trust me!” she begged when she saw my face. Visions of sugarplum-colored dresses danced through my head. Please don’t let it be covered in glitter.
“Here, try this on again,” Aunt Jess said, pulling a sparkling white strapless number with a full skirt out of the pile before leaving the room to let me slip into the fluffy frock.
“I look like a snowball,” I grumbled once it was on, holding open the door to the dressing room. I stared at my scar with a resigned sigh. They didn’t have any long-sleeved dresses that were right for the occasion. I desperately wished I could wear jeans and a black shirt. Why, oh, why was this dance semiformal?
“We can get you gloves,” Christine said, noticing me giving my arm the evil eye. “It’ll be acceptable.” I was relieved. Even though Brendan knew about the accident, he hadn’t ever seen the ugly scar. I shut the door to slip out of the dress when there was a stilted banging at the door. I opened it to find Ashley standing there. Or should I say, Ashley’s legs, sticking out from underneath a pile of dresses that she had piled in her arms. The stack was taller than she was. All the dresses were black.
“Oh, Ashley, I love you!” I exclaimed.
“Black is something for old women and widows to wear,” Christine muttered disapprovingly. “You’re young. You should wear something bright and festive.”
“Well, you’re both, and look at what you’re wearing today,” Aunt Jess cracked, dissolving into giggles. Christine looked down at her pink leopard-print twinset and frowned.
“I guess you’re right,” she conceded. “Well, what’s important is that Emma feels comfortable, so let’s see what you’ve got here.”
We hung up the dresses and my eyes immediately went to a simple strapless dress with a tulle skirt that was artfully shredded. It looked edgy yet classic at the same time. As Ashley pulled up the zipper, I prayed that it looked as good on me as it did on the hanger. I whirled around, completely thrilled.
“If I could wear this every day, I would,” I said, holding up the tulle and bowing to my reflection. I couldn’t believe that was me in the mirror. The most dressed-up I had ever gotten was for my mom’s wedding to Henry, and even that was just a pale yellow sundress since they got married at City Hall.
I saw Aunt Christine’s reflection smiling in the mirror and dabbing at her eyes with a pink tissue.
“Aunt Christine, are you…crying?” I asked, crestfallen. “Is it really that big of a deal that I’m wearing black?”
“No, honey,” she said, a melancholic smile on her face. “You’ve just come such a long way from how I found you six months ago in June. I’m glad you’re getting the chance to be happy.”
“Aw, Aunt Christine.” I sniffled, stepping over a mint-green lace dress to hug her.
“Okay, okay, no crying on the couture,” Ashley said, alleviating the happy sadness in the tiny dressing room. “By the way, I have shoes that go perfectly with that dress.”
That night, I stared at the dress as it hung on the back of my door. I had shoes coming from Ashley (luckily when it came to shoes, we were the same size), a wrap from Aunt Jess, and gloves and earrings from Christine. I hated to admit it to myself, but I was actually excited about