Here With Us (The Archer Brothers)

“I was only joking, dear. Come on, let’s find you the perfect dress.” She leads me to the back room where there’s a semi-circle sofa on one side, massively large mirrors with dressing rooms on the other side, and a pedestal in the middle. There’s a coffee table with more champagne and various fruits.

Alex leads me into the dressing room, which is really a large walk-in closet. “Everything I’ve chosen comes in your size. With your wedding so close we won’t have time to do serious alterations.”

“I understand.”

She doesn’t show me my first dress but helps me slip into it. Once she has it fastened in the back, Alex tells me to turn around. When we first talked, she told me it’ll be my first impression of the dress that will matter the most. So, as I look in the mirror and study my reflection, I know the satin, A-line gown I’m wearing is not for me. It’s poofy and big, and while it’s pretty, I don’t like it.

“Let’s go show everyone.”

“I don’t like it.”

“I know, sweetie. I can tell by the look on your face. Would you like to show your mom anyway?”

I hesitate for a second and then nod. I doubt anything she, Lois, Livvie, or Penny say will change my mind, but their opinions matter. Alex pulls the curtain aside and I step out. Instantly, all eyes are on me, and I can tell they’re not a fan, which honestly, is a huge relief. Before anyone has a chance to tell me, I step back into the room and Alex closes the curtain.

“Well, this is a no.” She laughs as she unzips the dress. The next four are the same. They’re either too short, too long, too sexy, or just not what I’m looking for. I start to think I really messed up by waiting so long to find the right dress for me.

Alex excuses herself, saying she has one more for me to try on. One more. Another jab, although I’m sure unintended, that I’m exhausting all my options. I can’t even look at myself in the mirror right now because I don’t want to see the disappointment etched across my face.

When she returns, she’s carrying an ivory-colored gown, a color I specifically told her I didn’t want to wear. Before I can protest, she holds her hand up.

“The color is wrong, I know. But try it on. I think you might be surprised.”

I nod. At this point, I have nothing left to lose.

Alex tells me to turn around so that I’m facing the wall. While I step into the gown, she says, “This came in the other day. It’s a gorgeous dress and perfect for the beach.” I slip my arms into the straps and glance down at the dress. I’m unsure, mostly because of the color. In my dreams, I’m a bride in the purest white dress walking toward her prince.

“Turn around,” Alex whispers. I do so, but slowly, and when I see my reflection, a tear falls down my cheek. I let out a sob and quickly cover my mouth.

“I thought so too.” Alex stands next to me. “You look radiant.”

I can’t help but nod because I see it, the dress of my dreams, only different. The ivory is embroidered with flowers, leaves and other intricate designs. Alex tells me it’s a double V-neck design with an A-line skirt. None of which matters right now because when I look at myself, I see the bride I want to be walking toward my groom. This dress is the definition of perfect.

“Best of all,” Alex says as she shows me the train. “Is that it has pockets.”

“What?”

She nods and smiles brightly.

My hands run down the fabric until they’re nestled deep within the pockets. “Wow, crazy.”

“Do you want to show your mom?”

Alex takes my arm without waiting for a response and guides me to the door. She steps out and says something to my mom, Livvie and Penny, and then pulls the curtain back. When I walk out, they’re all facing the other direction and I know Alex has done this so they can see me standing on the pedestal instead of walking toward it. She situates the train and then tells them to turn around.

There’s a collective gasp among them and all three have their hands covering their mouths.

“You found it,” Lois tells me.

“Ryley, this is it,” Penny says.

“Evan is going to faint,” Livvie adds.

“Simply breathtaking,” my mom says as she wipes away fallen tears. This dress must be the one if both my mom and I cried.

“How much is it?” I ask Alex.

“It doesn’t matter,” Mom says. “We’ll take it.”

My mom drives us to the café near base to have lunch instead of heading to her house where all my bridal stuff is stored. My dress is in the back of her SUV, and I’m nervous about it. Right now, I want it hanging in the closet, where I know it’ll be safe. I can’t leave anything at home because Evan is a snoop, even when he doesn’t mean to be. We talked previously about the whole not seeing the bride before the wedding thing and said it wasn’t for us, but now that I have my dress, now that things seem more real, I think I want that. I also don’t want to spend a night away from Evan, but I might have to make a sacrifice just this once.