Chapter 93: The Appointment went Well

Evie’s POV

We had so much fun at the dress shop. Seeing Gracie again was like no time at all had passed. She was excited about being my maid of honor and she was picking out her dress too today. That way it could get ordered right now. She was going to pick it up to make sure it didn’t need any adjustments made after it came in. I was so glad that both she and her mother, Miranda, instantly connected with my parents, and Jake’s parents too. Sarah was a little hesitant at first, as she was a little jealous of Gracie. But Gracie’s sweet nature won her over very quickly.

She just fit right in with our group, and the whole appointment went very well. Gracie looked gorgeous in her blush colored dress. I knew that she would be stunning when she stood up for me. I was glad that my dad had booked the whole salon for us for four hours. Both mom and Debra had been caught off guard with our suggestion, but were quickly on board with it. When we would be in the changing room and trading out the dresses, they looked around the store themselves. When they would hear us coming back out, they would hurry back over to their chairs.

If Gracie’s mother thought it was unusual that our mothers were also looking at dresses too, she never questioned it. She just went with the flow and had fun with them, helping them find dresses. I had started with three dresses. One the that the salesperson pulled for me, one that Sarah saw and loved, and one that Debra had found. Mom and dad were looking for one for me to try on. I didn’t really know what I wanted to get. I am still self-conscious about my weight. I don’t really know what I would look good in, but the mermaid that I tried on wasn’t it.

Sarah had picked it out, and she and Gracie both said that I looked great in it. It did show off my curves, but I was not comfortable in it. I was surprised that I had gone from a size 12/14 to a 10. I knew that I had lost almost 20 lbs. in the four and a half weeks since I had been taken. I guess that is what two trainings a day will get you. But when I look in the mirror, I can’t see my weight loss. I know that may seem off, but I still see the former me right now. I wish I was more confident in the dress, because it was absolutely beautiful. I just wanted to be comfortable wearing it. I don’t think that a mermaid is going to be the right one for me.

Sarah had chosen one similar to the one she picked out for me for herself, for her to try on, and she looks like a goddess in it. I just don’t feel as confident in mine, as she does in hers. She had worn formal clothes, and heels before. Where I am more of a sneakers and jeans kind of girl. Sarah found her dress first, he mother had actually picked it out for her. I was surprised that it was not a mermaid style that she chose, as she tried on her pick first and she loved it.

Her mother had picked a square neck long sleeve dress. The body of the dress had a nude underlayer, with lace covering it. The detail of the lace on the dress was just stunning. She looked absolutely elegant in it. The long sleeves were not going to make her hot, because they were lace as well, with the same intricate pattern as the dress had. She looked delicate, and ethereal in it. Beau is going to be floored by it. It glided down her body but was a loose mermaid ending at her feet with the lace being the star of the show. It had a deep v in back that went down to her waist.

I was coming out right behind her and I saw that both Charles and Debra started to tear up seeing her in it. It was a show stopper, and she was lucky that she had found it pretty quick, with her third dress. The associate quickly ran off to go get a veil in the same lace pattern on it. It was a short veil, but it had a jeweled headband on it, and she looked picture perfect in it. I could see her tear up as she turned to look at herself in the mirror. I hope I get the same reaction myself when I find the right dress for me.

I knew this one wasn’t it, and my frustration grew. Jake didn’t have a preference. He just told me to get whatever I wanted to get, that as long as I was happy with it, that was all that mattered. Which was no help at all. All the dresses in the magazine that Sarah and I looked at were gorgeous. It is just dresses are very case specific. Some allow for larger chests, or a larger stomach, bigger legs, you needed to shop for a dress that fit your body type. Mom and Sarah keep saying that I am an hourglass, but I would prefer more covering than the mermaid that they liked earlier. It felt like I had a chalk outline on me, and all my flaws were on display in it.

The salesperson assisting me hung the three dresses up as I sat in the robe they provided me. I tried to think of what type of dress that I wanted. She had asked me earlier, but I didn’t honestly know. She also agreed with my shape as being an hourglass too. She just couldn’t understand why I was having body issues as she told me that I looked beautiful in each of the dresses that I had tried on. I just didn’t feel beautiful in them. She went to take them back to be hung up, and pull a few more for me to try on after that.

A few minutes later I heard her knock at the door advising that she was coming back in. When she came in she had two dresses with her and hung them up. She then turned back to grab a third dress from the hallway. I was surprised by the third dress. She saw me looking at it, as I had not tried on a ballgown on yet. I hadn’t even consider one. I was trying to hide behind the dress, but that was a lot of fabric. I don’t think that it is going to help anything. I honestly think that it is just going to make me look even bigger.

I can see she is reading my mind, and smiled as she said, “Actually, Evie, your father picked the ballgown out for you to try on. I know that you are struggling with seeing yourself in a wedding dress, but he might have just picked the perfect one for you. Lets just give it a try. What can it hurt?”

I nodded at her, and she helped me into it. She turned me towards the mirror as she laced up the corseted back for me. My waist looked amazing in this, and I was stunned. The gown was a beautiful sweetheart neckline with an embellished corset top. The ballgown had a top layer of tulle with a shimmer and some embellishments on it. I couldn’t help but sway to one side and then the other looking at myself in the mirror. I looked beautiful, and most importantly, I felt comfortable in this. I felt like I was covered, but still able to be sexy without revealing. My eyes were shining in happiness as I looked at myself in the mirror.

“Do you want to go out and show them?” She asked me with a smile. She could already tell that I loved it. I needed quickly as I was ready to show them my dress. As I came down the hallway Sarah saw me first and clapped her hands. That was her sign of approval. My parents teared up as I emerged and I teared up seeing how emotional that they got at seeing me in this dress. They both came up to hug me, and dad seemed happy that he had picked out this dress. Mom went and got me a set of combs for my hair that could be used in an updo, or swept over. There were crystals in it, just like the embellishments on corset part of the dress.

The salesperson wasted no time in putting my hair up in a messy bun, and using the clips to secure it. Mom put her hands up to her mouth and nodded her head. She finally said, “She looks perfect Lane, you did a great job.”

“Our little princess,” Dad said to me. I could tell that he was overwhelmed seeing me in the dress.

“Evie you look stunning,” Debra said and Charles nodded in agreement.

I went back and took it off, but I hated to do it. I loved this dress. It was perfect and remembering dad calling me their little princess brought fresh tears to my eyes. So much change, in such a short amount of time. I am so happy right now. I only have one issue to deal with, and that is protecting Gracie from Victoria. I knew that dad was already on it. I just can’t let her hurt Gracie. I have a feeling that she picked her expressly to try to hurt me, as well as to get someone that fulfilled her criteria.

I looked over at Gracie standing with her mother and my parents. She was so happy for me to have found them, but she was not happier than I was about finding them. I am not going to stand by and let Victoria get away with her plans. I know she hinted at it to cause me to be upset, but I was glad that she did it. Now that I know what she is planning, I can prevent it. Things have completely changed for me now, and if Victoria thinks that I am going to let her get away with this, she is dead wrong. I have resources now that I didn’t have before. I will make sure that even her best laid plans will never succeed.