205 - Perfect Dress
205 - Perfect Dress
I don’t know what I want, I just know that I’ll know it when I see it. - Camille
Before they flew home, the Saints spent two days in New Orleans. While Sid went with Camille and Nicki to go shopping, Trigg went with Darkness to a small voodoo temple. He spoke with the priestess and discovered that the voodoo traditions were not much different from the hand binding that he did for Nessie and Knuckles. There were a few minor changes, but the priestess gave him the best advice, and he carried those words with him for the rest of weddings that he performed.
“As long as love is there, the words and actions mean very little. You just need the gods and spirits to be welcome and the ceremony to be filled with love. Everything else will take care of itself.”
They left with bags full of items that he would need. Books explaining the religion and its history. Red and white candles. Herbs to cleanse the area. A red scarf to bind their hands. Talismans to protect the couple. And the most important item that Trigg needed was a business card with her cell phone number on the back.
Each night when they met back at the hotel, Camille was disappointed that she had not found a wedding dress. During those two days they had gone to almost every dress shop in New Orleans, Metairie, and Baton Rouge. They flew home without having found that perfect dress that spoke to her.
On the flight home, Camille and the other women huddled together as they each searched for wedding dresses. She flagged a few that she liked but when they searched around the tri-city areas, Worcester and Boston, they were unable to locate any store that carried the style that she liked. Her selections were all over the place and none had any resemblance to any of the others.
Sighing, Sid grabbed a notepad and pen with the Wolf Pack Security and Protection Services printed on them. Pointing at the dress on the screen in front of her daughter, she said, “Okay, tell me what it is about this one the you like.”
“The skirt.”
Looking at her daughter in absolute disbelief, she asked her to confirm, “The skirt? The only thing that you like is the skirt?”
Camille blushed, “Yeah. It’s simple and there’s no stupid beads or appliques on it. And this overskirt,” she enlarged the picture and Sid saw the overskirt for the first time, “adds just a little depth to it.”
“Okay,” Sid made a note on her notepad.
Plain. No stupid beads. No applique
overskirt – yes
“What’s another one that you liked?”
Camille pulled up another dress, and they went through what she liked about it. By the time they landed, Sid had a list of things that Camille liked and disliked. The plan had been to narrow down what they should look for. Instead, they knew what not to look for.
She did not want beads, appliques, or excessive lace. White was an absolute hell no. There should not be any train, and if there was one, it should be short. Not-there short.
The material should be satin or silk. Tulle, organza, chiffon, and taffeta were out. Lace should be minimal, used for accents and not a major part of the dress.
It should have a floor length skirt. A full skirt with petticoats was okay. She did not want a hoop skirt or tightly fitted. The suggestion of a mermaid train drew a threat of death. She did not want a bustle. A high-low was not an option, but she would consider a drop waist or A-line as opposed to a ball gown.
Camille liked the corset style bodice. She would prefer a V-neck, halter, off the shoulder or even a sweetheart style neckline. There should be no sleeves and very little material on the back on her shoulders. Her fairy tattoo declaring that she belongs to the Darkness should be exposed.
They called Claire to find out what the V-shaped waist was called. Her older sister admitted that she could only think of two waistlines that met the description of “You know, V-shaped.”
“You have the high to low waistline where the bottom is at the thigh and curves up to the belly button like an inverted V.” Claire explained and everyone could picture her describing it with her hands, “Then you have the Basque where the outside is at the top of the hips and it curves down to the pelvic bone forming a V.”
“That one,” Camille said. “The basket one.”
“Close enough,” She laughed at her younger sister. “If you can’t find what you want, I can try to find the pieces of patterns and make you a dress.”
“How come you didn’t pursue fashion?” Camille asked.
“Because nursing pays the bills and I still have a hobby that I love.”
“That makes sense,” she told her older sister. “Can we get together sometime because I’m not finding anything that I like.”
“Yeah, I have a short shift at the hospital tonight and I told Celt that I would come man the front desk so that Juanita can go to her appointment tomorrow. I can come by your house Saturday afternoon.”
Plans were made and Trigg found himself sitting in the living room of Camille and Darkness’ house on Saturday afternoon. He wondered why he was there as his daughters and wife poured through Claire’s pattern collection. Although, honestly, he knew exactly why he was there. Sid said we’re going and he went.
There was a knock on the door and none of the women moved to answer it, so he did. A slightly embarrassed Scrapper stood there with a large pink and white box in his arms. Moving back, he motioned for the other club president to enter.
As they walked into the living room, the women fell silent and looked over at the two men. Scrapper sat the large box on the coffee table and took the lid off. Looking at Camille, he gave a small shrug.
“I, ummm, Zee said that you were having a hard time finding a dress. We’ve been going through dad’s storage locker and found my mom’s wedding dress.” His voice was thick with emotion as he pulled the dress out of the box. “I think dad would love for you to have it.”
Camille looked at the ivory dress with the corset top that laced in the back. It had the Basque waistline that she liked and strong boning that gave the bodice a feminine shape. A full, floor length skirt covered in matching Chantilly lace was under an overskirt made of the same ivory satin. The overskirt had a small train that was barely noticeable even when held to its full length.
Small satin rosettes lined the off the shoulder neckline. Camille stood up and gently touched the line of tiny rosettes. Tears filled her eyes as she looked at her dream dress in the real world.
“Are you sure…?”
Scrapper cupped her cheek and kissed her forehead. “With the way you’re looking at it, I’m certain.”