by Claire Adams
"Ahh, how about a beautiful, black gown?" Viv suggested, holding up a lace and taffeta dress that had a plunging neckline that was way more than I was willing to risk.
"No black!" I declared. "None!"
"Okay, well, tell me how you really feel about it," Viv chuckled as she pushed a few more dresses aside before looking me up and down as she murmured, "Six maybe, eight, or a small ten."
Viv pulled a couple of dresses from the rack and held them up to me as she talked to herself. She nodded as she tossed a navy-blue dress in velvet over her arm followed by an ivory gown and a red gown, then she nodded at me and said, "Follow me."
Viv led me across the thick carpet to a room that looked unlike any fitting room I'd ever seen before. On one side of the room was a small area that had been divided by a tall silk screen covered in tiny violets. To the right of it was a small sitting area with purple velvet chairs arranged around a low table that held a tray of intricately decorated cookies and cakes and a pitcher of frosty lemonade that sweat onto the doily underneath it.
"How did you—" I began.
"Any time the doorbell rings once and doesn't quickly ring again, my assistant preps the refreshments and brings them out," Viv smiled as she moved behind the screen and began hanging up the dresses. She called, "Have something to eat and drink, hon!"
I poured myself a glass of lemonade and turned to look at the other side of the room where an enormous, round platform stood in front of a mirror that nearly encircled it. I walked over and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and then quickly backed away, feeling completely out of place. The panic began rising as I realized just how out of place I was. I had set my glass down and headed for the door when Viv emerged from behind the screen and said, "Now, you're not going to go and abandon these pretty dresses without even trying them on, are you?"
"No, I...I...no," I stuttered feeling trapped. Viv crossed the room and put an arm around my shoulder.
"You know, when I built this store, it was because I was sick and tired of going into high end places and having them look at me like I was gum on someone's shoe," she said as she gently squeezed my shoulder. "I told myself that when I had my own shop, I'd make sure that every single woman who walked through the door would feel like the queen of the world, no matter whether she bought a dress from me or not."
"But I—" I choked out.
"You aren't going to be the one who makes me break a promise to myself, are you?" she asked as she led me to the screen and gestured to the dresses she'd hung on the wall behind it. "Those dresses are just waiting for you to try them on, darlin! Don't disappoint them!"
I nodded as I looked down and bit my lip, then took a deep breath and looked up at Viv and gave her a weak smile. She nodded, satisfied that her pep talk had done its job, and then disappeared on the other side of the screen.
I began with the ivory dress. It was a made of satin overlaid with gossamer lace, and it felt as light as a cloud as I pulled it on, but once I had it on, I knew there was no way I'd be able to wear it out in public. I stepped out with my arms covering my chest and shook my head.
"Too revealing," I said as Viv waved at me to drop my arms. I did and blushed when she wolf whistled.
"Wow, you do that dress justice like it's never been done before," she said admiring the fit of the dress. "But I see your point."
I slipped out of it, and pulled on the red dress. It made of a soft, stretchy fabric that had been sewn together in strips that hugged every curve and left little to the imagination. I stepped out from behind the screen and gasped as I looked at myself in the mirror.
"No, Viv, no! I can't!" I cried as I thought about how my family would react if they saw me in this dress. It was one thing to wear a fitted sheath to the office, but quite another to pull on a dress that was little more than skin.
"Jeez, take it easy, hon," Viv said as she shook her head. "What are you, Amish or something?"
My face fell and I was silent as the blush rose from my chest to my cheeks. The mocking tone of her voice told me that her opinion of the Amish was something of a joke, and I felt ashamed to have been singled out as the butt of her joke.
"Oh no," she whispered. "Grace, you're not really Amish, are you?"
Unable to speak, I simply nodded as prayed for the floor to swallow me up. Viv put a hand on my shoulder and spun me around to face her.
"Grace, I am truly sorry for my ignorance and insensitivity," Viv said as she looked me in the eye. "I've been on the receiving end of cruel things people have said, and I swore I'd never do that to someone else and now look what I've done."
"It's okay," I shrugged just wanting to get changed out of the dress and get out of the store.
"No, it's really not, hon," Viv said as she took my hand and squeezed it tightly. "It's not okay at all. Can you forgive me for being so rude?"
"Sure," I said as I looked up at her and was surprised to see tears welling up in her eyes. "Don't cry about it, Viv. It happens. People make mistakes."
Suddenly Viv's eyes grew wide and a smiled bloomed on her lips, as she exclaimed, "Oh my gosh, Grace! I think I have just the dress for you! Promise me you won't leave, please?"
"Okay?" I said uncertain of what would come next, but hopeful that whatever it was that had made Grace's eyes light up would actually end up looking good on me. I walked back behind the screen and peeled off the red dress thinking I'd try on the midnight blue one just in case Viv's hunch was wrong, but before I could get the dress off the hanger, Viv came bursting through the door holding a dress encased in a garment bag in front of her.
"I swear, I think this is the one, Grace," she said with a warm smile. "This one will be perfect for you."
She hung the dress on a hook and unzipped its covering. We both inhaled deeply as she pulled the dress out of the bag and held it up.
"Oh my," I whispered reaching out to touch the gray, shantung silk and running my fingers over the crystal beads that covered the bodice. It was designed to drape over one shoulder leaving the other bare, but it covered more than any of the other three dresses. I'd never seen anything so lovely in my life.
"Try it on," Viv said as she unzipped the side panel and urged me to step into the dress. I did and sighed as she pulled the silky fabric up over my body. I slid my left arm through the opening and then let Viv adjust the bodice. Viv made a few adjustments, tugging on the fabric and fluffing the skirt before she said, "Step up on the platform and look at yourself in the mirror, Grace."
I hesitantly walked to the mirror with my eyes cast downward and stepped up on the platform. Viv made one more adjustment and then breathed, "Oh, will you look at you, hon?"
I looked up and gasped. The beaded bodice of the silver-gray dress fit me like a second skin flowing up over my shoulder and down across my back. The top of the dress was a triangle of fabric that folded down and attached at the shoulder, making the dress both elegant and modest. The skirt wrapped around my hips and was gathered at the waist with a large crystal decoration before flowing down into a short train in back. The dress was perfect in every way.
"You look amazing, Grace," Viv said as she walked around the platform straightening and tugging making the dress look better than I could have ever imagined.
"This is the one, Viv," I said as I looked down at her eyes shining with excitement. "It's the dress that will impress!"
"Oh Lordy, hon, now look at you!" Viv laughed as she stepped up on the platform and hugged me tightly. "You look like a princess."
"And a CPA?" I asked garnering a confused look from Viv. "I'm not only Amish, I'm a CPA. Can't get much more straight edge than that, can you?"
Viv burst into peals of laughter that were still ringing in my ears as I loaded myself, my suitcase, and my dress into the cab outside the store. Viv had given me a deep discount on the dress, and although I'd protested at first, I'd finally agreed to take the discount in exchange for a handful of her business cards which I promised I'd hand to every woman who asked me wh
ere I'd gotten my dress.
"Come back and tell me how the party went, Grace," Viv said. "I'll have Ella put out a real spread and we'll gossip about all the people you met!"
"I won't know them from Adam," I laughed as I closed the cab door and waved goodbye. Adam! I had promised to talk to him after he'd gotten the Mustang situation straightened out. I fished my phone out of my purse and dialed his number, but only got his voice mail. I left a brief message, and then tucked the phone back in my purse as my mind wandered to thoughts of dinner and how in the world I was going to sleep tonight.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Adam
Using the map that Honor had drawn me, I navigated the back roads of Corner Grove and took the long way back to the highway. Verity and I agreed that we didn't want anyone to know I'd left town, not even overnight, so I snuck out after dark, promising to be back by Sunday afternoon.
I left my cell phone with Danny and Honor and made them swear not to answer it unless I gave them the secret signal that it was me calling—two rings, then hang up, followed by two more rings and hang up. The third time they were to pick up. I showed Danny how to program the phone when I called so that they would know it was me if I called from that number again. He gave me a thumbs up and quickly programmed the phone to say, "No problem, English!"
I drove the Mustang back to Chicago, arriving at London House just before midnight. The desk clerk checked me in and gave me several messages from my mother, including an envelope containing several thousand dollars in cash. Inside there was a note that simply said, "You'll need money. Love, Mother." I rolled my eyes as I stuffed the envelope in my pocket and followed the bellhop up to my room on the 20th floor. Once he'd shown me the amenities and asked if I needed anything from the kitchen, he disappeared, leaving me alone in a room that bore only the crudest resemblance to the one I'd spent almost two weeks in at the Miller's.
I missed Grace. I wanted to call her, but I knew better than to risk it when I didn't have my phone. I trusted that she'd understand I was busy on the farm when I didn't immediately respond to her calls tomorrow, and by Sunday afternoon, I'd be back in Corner Grove, hopefully with Grace not far behind. All I had to do was get through the reception tomorrow night and I'd be golden.
I checked the closet and found that my mother had had several tuxes and a variety of shoe styles sent up to the room. The dresser drawer was full of underwear and the bathroom was stocked with all the products I'd used when I still lived at home. Something about this offering softened my heart a little; maybe my mother was trying to say she was sorry for the way she'd treated me in the only way she knew how-through products and clothing. I'd have to have a talk with her about how my tastes had radically changed since I was eighteen, but I smiled at the thought of her calling her department store sales people and placing orders for everything.
I grabbed the phone by the bedside and walked to the window as I dialed Bugsy's number and waited for him to answer. When the call went to voicemail, I left a short message, "Hey, Bugs, I'm back in town for one night. My mother put me up at London House, stop by tomorrow and we'll talk business. Room 2050. See ya, jackass!" I hung up just as the room server tapped on the door.
She rolled a cart in and asked where I wanted it set up.
"Just leave it there," I said indicating the spot in front of the plush gray couch. "I'll take care of it."
She bowed and then left the room as silently as she'd entered. I sighed, grabbed a beer from the fridge under the desk, flipped on the television to ESPN, and sat down to eat. I'd thought I'd miss these little luxuries while I was down in Corner Grove, but I was surprised to find that I missed them less than I thought I would. Still, it was nice to be able to order a meal and have it delivered while kicking back on the couch with a beer.
For a moment, I considered using the money my mother had given me to buy a television and take it down to the house for Danny and Honor. I pictured the look that Verity would give me if I did that, and quickly nixed the idea. Maybe I'd buy them each a phone and pay the plans ahead for a year. I'd have to see what Grace would say about that first, though.
Not long after I finished dinner and a second beer, I stripped down to my boxers and crawled into bed. It had been a long day, and if I knew anything about my parents, tomorrow was going to be even longer.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Grace
I tried to call Adam the next morning, but after the third time my call was sent to voicemail, I gave up and went to the gym to work off the nervousness that had been building overnight. I had never been to an event as fancy or exclusive as this one was going to be, and I was terrified that I'd stick out like a sore thumb.
I swam off my nerves for an hour and then showered and headed home, where I spent the next several hours going over the fine print on all the paperwork for Riser merger with Mija-WalCo merger. If anyone asked me questions tonight, I wanted to have the answers ready and waiting. My goal was to look pretty and be as businesslike as possible, then get out of there as quickly as I could manage.
Around noon, a call from a blocked number came in and I answered it, wondering if it was Adam.
"Grace!" Honor yelled as I answered.
"Honor? What's going on?" I asked. "Why are you calling from a blocked line?"
"I don't know. Come home, Grace!" she said. "As soon as possible."
"Honor, I'm in the middle of a business deal," I said, wondering what was going on and whether Verity knew she was calling. "I'll be back Sunday night or Monday morning."
"Grace, I'm sick of living here!" Honor cried as the words came tumbling out. "I hate this place. I hate the clothes! I hate the food! I hate the way Verity treats me like I'm a baby!"
"Honor, I know you miss Mamm and Dat, and that it's been really hard for you since they died," I said.
"No, it was hard for me before they died, Grace!" Honor yelled into the phone. "Mamm knew I hated it here. She was going to help me get out as soon as I turned eighteen. I want to go to college like you did, Grace. I don't want to be stuck in this dinky, little town for the rest of my life! I want to leave now!"
"Okay, we'll talk about it when I get back," I said trying to calm her down. "I promise, we'll figure something out."
"I can't breathe here," Honor whispered. I could hear the anguish in her voice and it tore at my heart.
"Honor, promise me that you won't do anything foolish," I said, silently cursing the lack of technology that would keep me from calling Verity to tell her what was happening. "I'll be back in two days and we'll figure things out, okay? Promise me!"
"Hurry back, Grace," she said before the line went dead.
"Honor? Honor!" I shouted into the phone. Frantic, I called Adam, but after two rings, the call went to voicemail and a staccato voice unhelpfully said the mailbox was full and to try again later. I sunk to the floor as feelings of helplessness and rage washed over me.
I wracked my brain trying to find a way to get a message to Verity, but I knew that even if I did, she wouldn't understand what Honor was feeling. For Verity, Amish identity was who she was and even though she supported my decision to leave the community, she had no desire to step outside of it herself. If I could just get a hold of Adam! Briefly, I entertained the idea of packing up and heading home, but I knew that I couldn't let Mike down tonight.
My stomach churned as I grabbed my purse and headed to the salon. The stylist chatted amiably as she swept my hair up into an elegant French knot and then brought in the makeup artist to transform my face from plain to glamorous. When I smiled, but didn't say much, they chalked it up to nerves and offered me champagne to help calm them. I accepted a glass and sat quietly holding it without sipping as they put the finishing touches on my hair and then spun me around to see the results.
"Oh wow," I whispered as I turned my head from side to side wondering where the elegant, sophisticated woman in the mirror had come from. Awed by their handiwork, I said, "It's me, but better."
The girls laughed and wished me well as I gathered my things and paid the bill. Back home, I took a quick sponge bath and then slipped into the filmy, silver underpinnings that I'd bought to match the dress before pulling the dress off its padded hanger and stepping into it.
I zipped the dress up, stepped into the silver pumps I'd bought to match the dress, then turned to look at myself in the mirror. The combination of hair, makeup, and dress was a drastic switch from the plain, Amish clothing I'd been wearing just two days ago.
"No one would ever guess that you come from Corner Grove," I said as slowly turned from side to side marveling at the way I looked. But even the beautiful dress couldn't erase the sound of Honor's voice and the fact that I knew I needed to get home as soon as possible. I dialed Adam's number, hoping that he'd answer or, at the very least, cleared out his voicemail, but I had no such luck. I tucked the phone in my silver clutch as I murmured, "Where are you, Adam?"
The sleek, black car that Mike had sent arrived just as I'd finished going over the financials one last time. The driver held open the door and helped me slide in to the backseat, dress and all. The soothing sounds of smooth jazz filled the car as we headed downtown, and I tried to will myself to relax and enjoy the moment. By the time we pulled up in front of London House, I had calmed myself enough to smile as the driver helped me out of the car.
I took the elevator up to the twenty-first floor and found Mike waiting for me in the outer room.
"Holy moly, kiddo!" he exclaimed as I exited the elevator. "You sure do clean up good!"
"Thanks, Mike," I laughed. He was wearing a tuxedo with the tie rakishly twisted. I looked at him and asked, "Do you need me to fix that?"
"If you don't mind, kid," he said waving me off. "These monkey suits make me itch and putting a noose around my neck really isn't my strong suit."
I laughed as I straightened the tie and then pronounced him ready. Mike held out his arm and escorted me down the short flight of stairs into the room. It looked like something out of the fairy tales Mamm had read to me as a child. Above, the ceiling was embedded with thousands upon thousands of tiny lights that twinkled like stars and cast a warm glow over the room. Hundreds of white trees with clear glass icicles hanging from their branches lined the edges of the room and the pale spotlights shining up out of the planters gave the room the feel of an enchanted forest.