Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Frannie looked pleased. “I always have time for my girls. Want breakfast? I just took scones out of the oven—blueberry lemon thyme, your favorite.”
“Mmm. Okay.” The bakery wasn’t as crowded as usual—probably because of the weather—and I grabbed a stool at the white marble counter. After shrugging out of my coat, I pulled some hand sanitizer from my bag and gave my hands a quick rub.
“So what’s up?” Frannie asked, placing a cup of steaming black coffee and a small plate with a scone on it in front of me.
I gave her a brief rundown of my meeting yesterday and the conversation with Winnie and Felicity over dinner last night. “Felicity mentioned this friend of hers that had to go out of state to find a shop that carried dresses in her size. It’s just not right.”
“No, it isn’t,” Frannie agreed. “That’s why you’re doing the fashion show, right?”
“Yes, but that’s a one-time thing. It will be done in a day. And brides will still have to special-order any dress they see that they like.”
A crease appeared between her brows. “I see what you’re saying. It’s not a long-term solution.”
“Exactly.” I fidgeted on my stool. “I mean, the story of finding your wedding dress is one a woman will tell her children and grandchildren. No one wants that story to be, ‘Well, I was treated like crap and nothing fit, and in the end, I settled for a gown I didn’t really love because my options were so limited.’ Shopping for the dress should make a bride feel celebrated, it should be part of the love story, not an exercise in frustration and shame.”
“You sound really passionate about this,” Frannie said.
“I feel passionate about it. If curvy brides aren’t free to choose a dress style that makes them feel beautiful because the industry thinks they need to cover up, what are we saying? That only certain bodies are worthy of telling a love story? I reject that!” I banged a fist on the counter twice.
Frannie smiled at my fervor and nodded. “Good. Everyone should.”
“I feel this spark of—of inspiration. Of wanting to be part of the change. I know the fashion industry is making strides toward body positivity, but the progress might not be quick enough for a bride around here who needs a dress in four months.” My mind was going a hundred miles per hour now. “If and when I’m ready to look for a wedding dress, if I don’t find something I like around here, I know designers I could call. Or I could always design my own gown. But that’s not the case for most women, you know? I want to help.”
“Millie, I think you know the answer to whatever question you came in here to ask me,” Frannie said wryly.
“But I love what I do now,” I fretted, “and where I do it, so is it nuts to consider leaving that job to start my own business? To upend my life? I just bought a house! I can’t afford to go broke.”
Frannie shrugged. “It’s a bold move, and a risk, but I’ve never known you to shy away from a bold move. Do some research. Crunch some numbers. Reach out to those plus-sized salon owners in other states and maybe to some designers. Then see how you feel.”
The bell rang as a customer came in off the street, and I picked up my coffee again. “You better get back to work. Thanks for listening.”
“I’m always here for you.” She blew me a kiss and moved over to the display case to greet the couple who’d come in, and I picked up my phone to scroll through my messages.
That’s when I noticed I had a voicemail from Mason.
It struck me as a little odd, since we didn’t normally call each other, and I hoped everything was okay with him and Lori. Mason had come a long way, but he could still be emotional and sensitive. I crossed my fingers there hadn’t been any drama, and the wedding was still on.
Breaking off a corner of the scone, I popped it into my mouth as I listened to his message.
“Hey, Millie.” Mason sounded excited, almost out of breath. “Just wanted to let you know there will be one extra person at the rehearsal today. Believe it or not, I found my biological dad—I discovered his name in a letter my mom wrote to me before she died, a letter I only came across last summer when I was going through her things. Anyway, after some hunting and a paternity test to make sure he was really the guy, we started talking. He’s really cool—a Navy SEAL!—and he was shocked to learn of my existence.
“We don’t really know why my mom never told him, but anyway, that’s a longer story I’ll have to tell you later. The important thing is, I found some real family and he’ll be there for me at my wedding. We met in person for the first time at lunch yesterday, and it was amazing. Lori and I invited him to the rehearsal, and he said yes! I don’t think he’d be comfortable with anything too official—he’s sort of reserved—but maybe we can find some way to seat him in a special place or something?