All of Me

  ***

  An hour later, Tess and two of Connie’s sisters were standing in Emily Green’s boutique. “Where would you like us?”

  Emily waved Tess, Denise, and her sister, Kristine up the main staircase. “Come upstairs with me. When is the other bridesmaid arriving?”

  Denise looked at her watch. “Joanne will be here in half an hour.”

  Tess had called Emily out of desperation. Connie hadn’t even managed to show her sisters the bridesmaids’ dresses before her mom took a turn for the worse. With only six hours left before the wedding, Emily was the only person Tess knew who could use a sewing machine.

  But Emily could do so much more than sew clothes. She’d opened an amazing fashion boutique two doors down from Angel Wings Café. The old library building had been transformed into a chic, stylish boutique. Emily had customers who lived around the world. She tutored design classes and filled her life with everything that made her happy. She’d also made the bridesmaids’ dresses that Connie had chosen for her wedding. If anyone could pull a miracle out of the bag, it was Emily.

  Emily lifted a measuring tape off her sewing table. “Who’s going first? You can change into your dresses in Nicky’s office. She won’t be back for the rest of the day.”

  Kristine looked through the dresses Denise had hung on a rack. “These are beautiful.”

  “Our sister’s got good taste. I’ve put my name on the dress.” Denise moved across to her sister and pointed to another dress. “I thought this one was the closest to your measurements.”

  Kristine lifted the dress off the rail. “Better make me first. Denise said her dress doesn’t need any alterations.” She smiled at her sister and walked into Nicky’s office.

  Tess looked at the list Denise had made before she’d left the hospital. “Has anyone called the reception venue to cancel?”

  “We don’t need to,” Denise said. “After the burglary Connie and Dave decided to have the reception at mom and dad’s place. I think mom was secretly pleased they’d changed the venue. She’s got such a pretty garden.” Denise’s bottom lip trembled. She blew her nose and took a deep breath. “Did Logan mind going to the florist?”

  Tess shook her head. “If anyone can convince them to make four bouquets in the next couple of hours, it’s Logan. Molly’s on her way over here, too.”

  Kristine came out of Nicky’s office. The red dress fitted perfectly across the top, but the skirt needed to be shortened and taken in at the hips.

  Emily moved a circular platform on wheels across the room. “Stand on here, Kristine, and we’ll get started.”

  The bell above the front door tinkled as someone walked into the boutique. “Would you like me to go downstairs?” Tess asked.

  “That’d be great,” Emily said. “It’s probably Caitlin. I asked her to come in and look after the boutique while I’m helping you.”

  Tess walked down the stairs. Molly was heading toward her with a camera hanging over her shoulder. “Am I too late for the fittings?”

  “Just in time. Emily’s doing Kristine’s dress now.”

  Molly stood at the top of the stairs. “I don’t need to ask whether Kristine’s one of Connie’s sisters. They all look alike.”

  “Strong gene pool.” Tess smiled as Kristine turned on the platform. “Emily is amazing. She didn’t hesitate to help us.”

  Molly snapped a photo. “That’s what friends do for each other.”

  “I’m beginning to understand that,” Tess said softly.

  Molly moved further into the room. Tess followed her, trying to see what Molly saw when she took a photo.

  Molly looked over her shoulder and smiled. “It’s a fine mood Emily creates in this room. See how the light falls on the different workspaces. It dances through the panes of glass, softening the edges, highlighting what needs to be seen.” Molly knelt down, changed the angle of her camera and took another photo.

  “How do you know that the image you see through your lens will look good in the finished photo?”

  “That’s a tricky question.” Molly moved silently across the room and took a photo of Denise. “Sometimes I don’t know if it will work. Sometimes I do. And sometimes the best images come from the feeling you get just before the shutter clicks into place. I use what I know, then let the rest take care of itself. How do you know how to move in front of a camera?”

  “I don’t know. It just happens.” Molly was the only person in Bozeman that knew about Tess’ past. They’d worked together in Europe and talked at a few social events.

  When she’d first seen Molly in Bozeman, Tess had felt betrayed. She’d thought Molly had come to find her after the drug scandal had rocked the modeling world. But Molly wasn’t interested in Tess’ past. She’d come to Bozeman to stay with her sister after a grueling European schedule.

  Tess was sure there was more to her arrival, but so far, Molly hadn’t told anyone why she was here or when she’d be going back to Europe.

  Molly lowered her camera. “A little bit of magic happens in everyone’s life when they’re doing something they love.”

  Tess didn’t say anything.

  “You don’t agree.”

  “I enjoyed modeling, but I never felt the magic.”

  “Maybe you didn’t enjoy it enough. How do you feel when you stand in your café at the beginning of each day?”

  Tess laughed. “Tired.”

  Molly shook her head. “The magic hasn’t gone. It’s hiding until you’re ready to see it.”

  Tess watched Emily move around Kristine. “Do you ever wonder if there’s more to life than what we’re living?”

  Molly sighed. “I know there is, but for now, this is what we have. We’re feeling restless and that’s a dangerous thing to be.”

  Tess remembered the last time they’d both felt restless and smiled. “At least we’re not in Rome.” They’d been at a sponsored gala evening. At the end of the night, they’d gone for a walk. It had been hot and sticky, and the Trevi Fountain had looked so inviting. What had started as a way to cool off had almost ended with a night in a police cell.

  Molly moved closer to Emily. “What an evening. I’ve still got the photo of the man who helped us run away from the police.”

  “He didn’t help us run. He shoved us into his car and drove off into the sunset with us. It could have ended in disaster.”

  “We were young and foolish,” Molly said with a smile on her face. “And he was too handsome for his own good.”

  Tess couldn’t remember anything about the man, except for his eyes. They were the most amazing shade of blue she’d ever seen. He’d dropped them back at their hotel and they’d never seen him again.

  The doorbell jingled and Tess looked over her shoulder. “I’ll get it.” She ran downstairs and a young girl with jet black hair and a dimple in her chin smiled shyly at her. Connie’s last sister had arrived. “You must be Joanne?”

  “That’s me.” Joanne’s smile became less guarded. “I came as soon as I could.”

  “Come upstairs. Kristine and Denise are already here.”

  As soon as she walked onto the mezzanine floor, Denise ran across and wrapped her sister in a big hug. “Did you see mom?”

  Joanne nodded. “She’s comfortable. Connie arrived as I was leaving.”

  Kristine stepped off the platform and gave her sister another hug. “Watch the pins. How are you?”

  Tears filled Joanne’s eyes. “I’m okay. What can I do to help?”

  Denise introduced Emily, Molly, and Tess then showed Joanne where to change into her dress.

  Tess felt marginally better now that Connie’s sisters were well on the way to having bridesmaids’ dresses. She had two things left to do; check on Logan and see how Annie was going.

  She just hoped the surprise wedding cake Annie was decorating would be appreciated as much as the dresses.