She felt like a selfish pig. This shouldn’t be about her and Drew. This should be about her Dad and figuring out what had gone wrong for him at Clayworth’s. But part of her knew this was another barrier, keeping her away from Drew. She tried to hide it.
“Great, Dad. I look forward to seeing you.”
“You don’t sound like you mean that, Athena.” The crisp, hurt tone in his voice couldn’t be missed.
She didn’t, and the guilt gnawed a hole in her stomach. “Really, we’ll all be happy to see you.” The little bell, jingling once more as the door opened, saved her.
“I’m sorry, Dad. Customer.”
“Go. I’ll be in touch. Soon.”
She shut her eyes, her heart pounding like a hammer against her ribs.
Why does it feel as if my life is rushing to some grand exposé of lies, love, and larceny?
Refusing to give the Fates the upper hand, she marched into the main room of the store to find a tall woman with a long, solemn face shifting through the evening clothes.
“Hi, I’m Athena Smith. May I help you?”
The woman glanced up and smiled. Athena was startled at how pretty she looked with her eyes crinkled, her mouth curled deeply at the corners and dimples denting each cheek.
“Hello, I’m Dottie Crawford. I saw you and the shop on Talk of the Town. I never miss Rebecca’s show or column.” She glanced around. “As usual, Rebecca’s right. This is so beautiful and unique. She said it was the perfect place to find a wedding dress.”
Athena figured Dottie to be in her late forties, early fifties. Second wedding? She gestured toward the mannequin. “This is the Valentino dress Rebecca liked.”
The woman shook her head, her low ponytail swishing across her back, but Athena saw longing in her eyes. “No, no, too grand for me.”
“You have the height and figure to carry this gown off.”
Dottie ran her fingertips over one rhinestone-encrusted sleeve. “It’s beautiful, but it’s my fiancée’s second wedding and we’re trying to keep it simple.” She blushed, and the color made little gold flecks show in her brown eyes. “It’s my first wedding, so Fred thinks we should do it up a little.”
“Congratulations. When’s the wedding?”
Blushing again, Dottie laughed. “Two weeks.”
“Two weeks! We need to get started.” Athena went through the long gowns and pulled out two. A Malcolm Starr and a Lilli Diamond. “Let’s try these.”
While Dottie changed behind the rich brown velvet curtain, the other three customers left, each carrying a small hatbox.
Dottie came out in the first gown and studied herself in front of the large gilt-edged mirror. The Empire bodice studded with prong-set diamantes suited Dottie, and the candlelight ivory duchesse satin skirt of the Starr gown swished perfectly at the bottom.
“What do you think?” Dottie asked.
There wasn’t the look in her eyes Athena wanted to see. “Pretty. But we can do better.”
Dottie stepped back behind the curtain and Athena’s sisters came to stand at her shoulders.
“Bride. First for her. Second for him. Wedding in two weeks,” Athena whispered.
Dottie stepped out in the halter-style Diamond dress. The thick cotton lace over the nude underlining of the bodice looked lovely and a little provocative and the ivory silk matte jersey bottom hung beautifully on Dottie, but Athena didn’t like it as well as the Starr dress. Neither did Dottie. They all four shook their heads.
“What about the Valentino?” Diana asked. “It would be perfect.”
“Absolutely, you must try it,” Venus insisted, removing it from the mannequin.
Dottie hesitated.
“Please, just try it,” Athena encouraged and felt pleased when Dottie took it from Venus and disappeared behind the velvet curtain.
“I love doing brides,” Venus murmured, turning to the jewelry table.
“Me, too,” Diana ran into the other room.
Dottie stepped out in the Valentino dress and coat, with the beautiful rhinestone buckle on the belt accenting her narrow waist. Athena gasped. Dottie looked regal, and the expression on her face was the one Athena had been waiting to see.
“I feel beautiful,” Dottie breathed, gazing at herself in the mirror.
“You are beautiful.” Venus handed her a pair of Vendome earrings, rhinestone-encrusted buttons each with a two-inch drop of pure crystals.
Dottie pulled her hair out of the low ponytail and up into a high knot on her head to show off the earrings.
“You’re a size-eight shoe, right?” Diana asked.
When Dottie nodded, Diana helped her slip on satin d’Orsay pumps. “Here, this Charlet rhinestone bag, hand-made in France, finishes the outfit off.”
“It’s perfect,” Dottie sighed, still staring at herself in disbelief. “I never thought I could look like this.”
Athena got a lump in her throat. “You’ll dazzle Fred in this.”
“I’ve felt dazed since I met Fred two weeks ago.”
“And you’re marrying him already?” Venus gasped, looking as shocked as Athena felt.
“I should have said met again.” Laughing, Dottie flushed. “Twenty-five years ago we dated in college and reconnected at our college reunion. Fred’s been divorced for years, and I never married. He says we were always meant to be together but we were too young then to deal with it.”
“I love when couples get back together,” Diana sighed.
Athena sat down hard on the settee.
Lost in thoughts of Drew and their past, she watched her sisters fussing over Dottie without really hearing what was being said.
She tuned back in as her sisters presented Dottie with a gift.
Dottie shook her head. “I can’t accept these earrings as a wedding gift.”
Her sisters chorused, “Of course you can.”
“Please. We want you to have them,” Athena added.
All of this happened on the outside. Inside, her life played over and over in her head. If she’d needed any further evidence the Fates planned to drag her kicking and screaming toward some monumental conclusion, they’d just given her a preview.
Half an hour later, laden with the hanging bag holding the Valentino dress, and several boxes, Dottie paused in the door Athena held open.
Turning, she smiled at all of them. “Thank you all. I feel like you’re my fairy god-sisters.” With a wave, the blissful, blushing bride left to live happily ever after.
“Or we’re three busybodies, like Mom sometimes called us.” Diana laughed.
“Or the three Fates butting into everyone’s business,” Athena sighed.
“No, we simply love to make people happy.” Venus flung herself down on the settee. “Fabulous day.”
“Now please tell me why you’re worried about Dad,” Athena blurted out, unable to wait another moment, now that she realized time was running out.
“We think he’s keeping a secret from us.” Sadness flickered through Diana’s eyes.
Dread gnawed at Athena’s stomach where guilt had left off.
“She thinks it’s a terrible secret. I don’t,” Venus shook her head, and thick tendrils of hair slipped out of her topknot to fall charmingly around her shoulders. “I think it’s some kind of good secret. Honestly, Dad hasn’t sounded so content in years. Who wouldn’t after being freed from those overbearing Clayworths? Of course he didn’t sound as great after we told him about the robbery and you.”
“Let’s go to Florida to see him,” Diana declared, hands on hips.
“He’s coming home soon.”
“What!” Venus sat up. “Did he e-mail you?”
“He called my cell this afternoon to tell me.”
“I knew he was worried about you.” Diana nodded. “It’s time for him to come home. It’s time for all of us to put this business behind us.”
“For once you’re right, Diana.” Venus sighed. “I suppose I’ll have to put up with the Clayworths, but I’ll never forget about this or forgive them for it. I’m like an elephant.”