Chapter 348: Dresses
*I love you, Shy, but if you say you’re going to wear a white dress, I’m calling bullshit. – Gertie*
Saturday after they got married, Shiloh went with some of the other ladies to a bridal shop. Surrounded by so much white and ivory, she and Gertie stood out. They looked at each other and shared a smile before they both busted out laughing.
“Yeah…” Karan smirked. “I don’t know if we’re going to find anything for Shiloh here.”
“Yes, we will.” Rye assured her as she walked towards the back of the large warehouse style store.
The rest of the women all shrugged and followed her back. They weaved their way through racks and racks of gorgeous white, ivory and pale pink wedding gowns. There were large and puffy ones, others that were slim and fitting. And there were yards and yards of skirts, hundreds and thousands of beads. Satin, silk, taffeta and tule.
Several of the women stopped to admire a gown or dress here and there. Mia pulled one out and held it in front of her. It was low cut with a tight short skirt and high slit on the side in a pale pink.
“What do you think?” Mia asked in general.
“I think Celt will complain that it’s too complicated for him to get off you.” Alana told her.
Rolling her eyes at her mom, Mia put the dress back.
The group finally entered the back part of the dress shop, and the dresses were a wild assortment of colors. Everything from pastels to jewel tones and dark velvets.
“Miss Lynch!” A woman in black slacks and a pale pink oxford shirt.
“Mrs. Ortega,” Rye smiled at her, “this is my friend, Shiloh. Shiloh, this is the mom of one of my kids, Aurelia Ortega.”
“Hello, nice to meet you.” Aurelia said holding out her hand.
“Likewise.” Shiloh replied placing her darkly manicured hand in the other woman’s hand with short pale pink nails.
“Miss Lynch said that you were doing a black wedding.” She smiled as she released the hand and guided them over to the black dresses.
“Black and red poppies.” Shiloh confirmed.
“That will be beautiful.” The woman smiled warmly as she pulled out a rolling rack of traditional wedding dresses in black. “Do you have an idea of what kind of dress you want?”
“I don’t want a cupcake dress.”
Laughing, Aurelia pushed the rack back into place and then pulled out another one. “These will be more of what you are looking for.”
“Oh, Shy.” Gertie murmured as she pulled off a dress that had long sleeves, a short skirt and a small bustle.
“It would look beautiful on you.” Karan said as she eyed her lover.
“I think we found her bridesmaid dress.” Shiloh smiled at her friend.
“Are you sure?” Gertie asked.
Seeing that her friend was looking at the price tag on the sleeve, Shiloh reached over and yanked it off before handing it to the clerk. “You will need to alter it for her. But the final fitting needs to be close to the wedding.” She smiled at her friend. “She’s pregnant and we need to accommodate her belly.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The clerk nodded and then motioned to a fitting room. “Miss?”
“Shy…” Gertie said softly.
Shiloh pulled her in for a hug. “He’s a large man, I’m sure his baby will be big also.”
Nodding, Gertie lay her head against her friend’s shoulder. “I’m happy.”
“I know.” Shiloh kissed the red hair. “Let me give you this.”
“You give me plenty.” Gertie gave her another quick squeeze before following the clerk.
“What are the girls going to wear?” Ciara asked.
It was not the first time that the two women were meeting, but Ciara felt like her brother was rushing into things. She eyed the woman that would soon be her sister-in-law cooly.
“I don’t know.” Shiloh admitted. “Alyssa would love wearing a black or red dress. But Ashlyn will want something much more girly, pastels and lacy ruffles.”
Ciara smiled. Maybe this woman who refused to let anyone read her cards or tea leaves or even her palm was not as bad as she believed.
“She would.” Pagan’s sister agreed.
Both women continued to look through the dresses, waiting for Gertie to step out again. Soon, she stepped out with the dress on, there were several clips holding it to her body.
“That’s beautiful, Gertie.” Rye said causing Shiloh to look over and smile.
“That is definitely your dress.” Shiloh told her and then looked at the clerk. “Go ahead and start the measurements for the alterations.”
The clerk nodded and guided Gertie back to the dressing room.
“Shiloh.” Ciara said softly as she pulled a dress off the rack.
It was a fitted, high collared, black velvet maxi dress with no sleeves. There was a floor length black lace cape that hung around it. Aurelia walked over and saw the dress that they were looking at.
“We actually have the same cape with a red shimmer black lace.”
“Please.” Shiloh whispered and Ciara agreed.
“I’ll go get it and then we’ll get you in a room of your own.”
“Thank you.” They both said and then looked at each other laughing.
“I know why you have reservations about us.” Shiloh said as she accepted the dress. “But I promise you, I love your brother and his girls. I would love to make them my own, completely.”
“You’d be better than their own mother.” Ciara admitted. “It’s just after that *woman* hurt them…”
Shiloh rested her hand on Ciara’s arm. “I promise, I will never hurt them. I will do everything in my power to keep them safe. *All* of them.”
Ciara nodded. “How come you don’t do the cards? Or let Nessie read your palm?” she shook her head. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t going to ask.”
There was a sadness that crossed her pale face. “There’s stuff in my past that I don’t like to think about.” Shiloh admitted quietly. “It’s something that I would not want anyone else to suffer. Even if it is just for a few minutes.”
Aurelia returned with the cape and guided Shiloh to a dressing room. Once the dress was clamped so she could see how it would look with alterations, she stepped back outside.
“That’s it.” Ciara smiled and the other women agreed. “And those big curls at the front.” She said motioning to her own hair.
“The freedom curls?” Shiloh chuckled.
“Sure thing.” Ciara nodded, not knowing what they were called.
