Always the Designer, Never the Bride (22 page)

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Authors: Sandra D. Bricker

BOOK: Always the Designer, Never the Bride

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"It's all booted up and ready to go," she told her, setting an open white laptop on the table in front of her.

"What's going on?" Devon asked, standing in the doorway in his bathrobe, eyes squinting into the sun.

"No, no, baby, not now," Carly said, taking his arm and leading him back into the house. "Audrey has to focus. You go back to bed, and I'll bring you a sandwich."

"Any more Yoo-hoo?"

"You don't need any more. You had three of them yesterday. I'll bring you iced tea and those little cookies you like."

"The ones with the raisins or the ones with the chocolate chips?"

"Chocolate chips. Now scoot!"

The patio door clicked shut as Audrey typed
wedding plus size
into the search engine. Halfway down the page, she noticed an article about things to watch out for when styling the larger body, and she clicked on it and began to read.

A few moments later, the patio door whooshed open again, and J. R. appeared.

"Hey! I just got here and saw you out here with—"

"Uh-uh!" Carly exclaimed, cutting his words in half and dragging him back into the house by the arm. "No. She's working. Go upstairs with Devon. I'll bring you a cookie."

Audrey glanced back at him as the door closed between them, and she couldn't help but laugh as J. R. asked Carly, "What kind of cookie?"

Audrey wasn't entirely sure what she'd expected, but the young woman seated across from her wasn't it. Lisette Gibson may have been a size 26, and she was indeed more graciously endowed than any woman Audrey'd ever met in person, but that's where her challenges ended, as far as Audrey could see. Elbow-length blonde hair, crystal blue eyes, peaches-and-cream complexion, legs for days, even for someone standing tall at around 5'9".

"So I warned you," she teased. "It's not an enviable butt I'm packing here."

Audrey chuckled. "But we work with what we're given, right?"

"That's the plan."

"Why don't you tell me about your original wedding gown," she suggested as she filled both china cups with tea from the beautiful porcelain pot. Selecting a couple of cookies and squares of cake for each of their plates, she added, "What was your vision?"

"The cake is green," Lisette pointed out. "What kind of cake is green?"

"Pistachio, I think."

"Oh. Okay, I'll try some."

Audrey dropped the green cake with the chocolate ribbon running through it to Lisette's plate. "Where was I?" she asked. "Oh. Your vision."

"Well, which one do you want to hear about?" Lisette asked her with an arched brow. "My vision or the original gown? Because the two are very, very different."

Audrey nodded. "I see."

"I brought you a photo of me in the dress at the time of the first fitting."

Lisette slid the photograph across the table, and a fraction of a groan escaped Audrey's throat before she could stop it.

"So you see my dilemma."

"I'm afraid so."

The beautiful plus-sized woman across from her had been jammed into an expensive lace sausage casing. Audrey understood Lisette's distress.

"We went through three different versions of this dress before I finally gave up. She just couldn't seem to interpret what was up here," and she tapped at her forehead, "to get it down here," then tapped the photograph. "I guess maybe it wasn't her fault. I knew she hadn't designed for a bigger model before, and when she looked at me with such . . .
panic
. . . I guess I should have taken my business elsewhere right then and there. But Riley Eastwood does such beautiful work. I thought for sure she could translate that on a larger scale."

"That's who you worked with?" Audrey clarified. "Riley Eastwood?"

"Yes. She did my cousin's gown, and it was just breathtaking."

"She's amazing."

Audrey picked up the photograph and examined it more carefully, struggling to imagine someone whose designs rivaled Stella McCartney and Vera Wang designing . . .
this.

"Isn't Riley Eastwood headquartered in Chicago?"

"Yes. And I flew back and forth four times with nothing to show for it."

Audrey gazed at the photograph again wondering how such a gifted designer could have gone so terribly, terribly wrong.

"I'm not one of those people who believes a big woman should only wear an A-line muumuu," Lisette explained. "I do have a shape under here, and I try to accentuate it when I can. But not to this degree. I think there's something between muumuu and sausage casing." Tapping her trim pink fingernail on the tabletop and working very hard to hold back the threatening emotion on her horizon, she nibbled on the corner of her lip and raised her gaze to meet Audrey's. "My fiancé really does love me, Audrey. Just the way I am, big butt and all. I want to look over-the-top beautiful for him on our wedding day. Is that too much to ask?"

"No," Audrey softly replied. "You're a gorgeous woman, Lisette. We just need to play to your strengths."

"What do you think then?"

Audrey had never been given to insecurities, at least not where her designs were involved. But Kim Renfroe had contributed the direct hit that had left a gaping wound. Further, if this bride couldn't work out satisfaction with a Riley Eastwood design, what would she think of Audrey Regan?

It's too late for second thinking now,
she decided, and she lifted her portfolio from the floor where it leaned against her chair.

"I made these preliminaries before meeting you, of course," she said as she unzipped the leather case that had once housed Kim's gown sketches. "I was thinking about how you described yourself on the phone—which didn't nearly do you justice, by the way—and I thought a fit-and-flare silhouette seemed like a good bet. Meeting you, I think it might be really flattering on you." She opened to the first sketch and held it up for Lisette to view. "Fitted on the top with a thin ruffled assymetric strap over one shoulder, not too much cleavage, tighter at the waist, and only a slight flare at the bottom."

Lisette didn't utter a word, but she nodded enthusiastically.

Audrey flipped the page to the next sketch of the three she'd had time to do before their meeting.

"This one looks good on just about any body type," she said. "Strapless with a sweetheart neckline, empire waist, and then these beautiful layers of flowy chiffon for the skirt. You would look stunning in this."

"Mm-hmm."

Not much reaction to go on, so Audrey continued.

"And this third one is a beaded, blingy bodice with lace cap sleeves, and a sort of princess ball gown skirt with beaded tulle and a stiff organza petticoat. I think any one of the three would be—"

"The first one."

Audrey clamped her lips tight at the interruption.

"I adore the first one."

"Okay." She flipped back to the first page and held it up toward Lisette.

"Audrey, it's just what I had in my head."

"It is?"

"Absolutely. Not too much dress. It will show my curves without outlining them. I just would like a little more bling. Can we do some bling?"

Audrey grinned. "Bling is my specialty."

"It is?"

"Do you want to keep the strap?"

"Yes! Absolutely."

"Then since the strap is a ruffled flower of sorts, how about we add a few rhinestone petals right here," she suggested, pointing out the spot where the strap met the bodice. "And we can use a fabric with crystal beads and rhinestones, maybe in an ivy type pattern on the skirt to give you the sparkle you're looking for."

"Perfect," Lisette cooed.

"And with the shoulder being so dramatic, what do you think of this? Instead of a traditional veil, we could place a crystal band in your hair. Not a tiara, but more of a headband that—"

"Yes. With a veil at the back. Kind of like this . . ." With both hands, she demonstrated the flow of her imaginary veil, the one Audrey could see had been living in her mind since the day her fiancé had proposed. Maybe longer. "And I want a spectacular view from behind. Maybe a great train, or some sort of design that draws the eye while camouflaging the tush?"

"Okay. I have some thoughts about that," Audrey said, sketching them out. "How about—"

She looked up just in time to notice the tears in Lisette's pretty eyes.

"I'll do some final sketches this afternoon and email them to you for approval."

Lisette nodded. "And you promise it won't come out of your sketch pad and onto my body looking like
this?"
she asked, holding up the photograph she'd brought along.

"Oh, yes. I promise."

"Here's a harder one for you. What are the chances of having this dress in three weeks and one day though?"

"Well," she said, closing up the portfolio. "I'll be returning to New York in a couple of days, so—"

"I can't go to New York, Audrey. I've got wedding plans up to my eyeballs at the moment. Is there any chance you could stay in Atlanta while you work on my dress?"

Audrey hesitated, a cool chill moving through her when her bank balance breezed across her mind's eye.

"What will it take to make that happen, Audrey?"

"Well. I would need to snag some work space, and—"

"Look," she interrupted again. "Whatever it takes, I'll pay it. I need you and this dress. Whatever you need to stay through my wedding day, consider it done."

"Lisette, I don't think you realize how expensive it can be to—"

"I'll worry about the dollars. You just make that first sketch come to life for me. Okay?" When Audrey paused, she leaned toward her. "Seriously. I really feel like you understand. I need a designer who understands."

Audrey sighed. "You're going to be a very beautiful bride."

Lisette bounded from her chair and rounded the table, wrapping her arms around Audrey, and swaying her from side to side. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"

Audrey had to admit that she really looked forward to sinking her creativity into this one. And the joy of supplying something for Lisette that no one else could or would—that just made it all the more sweet.

Lisette pulled her checkbook from her purse and began writing before Audrey could even consider quoting a price. She tore out the check and extended it toward Audrey. "This should get you started with what you need. Get your ducks in a row, consider what you need to stay here in Atlanta for three weeks, and just give me the invoice."

Audrey found it hard to swallow around the lump in her throat as she stared at the check. "Five thousand dollars."

"I know. It's not nearly enough. But find out how much it will cost for your work space, the supplies, your accommodations, and I'll cut you a check for the balance. You can't believe how much I need you, Audrey."

"Back atcha," she muttered. "Thank you."