Johnny came closer and rested his chin on her shoulder. His soft breath tickled her neck, making her heart flutter. His presence wasn’t helping her focus on the dress.
Peeling back the familiar brown paper, she let loose the package in an explosion of soft white tulle. Kate found the shoulders and unfolded the gown to reveal another diamond-encrusted bodice embroidered on that same soft, silky fabric. Attached was a tulle skirt with a sweep train. A wide, dusty-rose sash cinched in the waist and was tied at the back into an oversize bow. Large rosettes in various shades of pink, with olive-green leaves were buttoned onto the sash and cascaded down the train. Certainly there was not another like it in all the world.
“Wow,” said Johnny.
“Yeah. Wow.” Kate turned to see Johnny’s reaction, if a boy could have a reaction to a pretty dress. He had taken a step back, but he wasn’t looking at the dress. He was staring at her.
She fluttered her eyelashes and looked down. “W-what do you think of the dress?” She faltered. Why was he staring at her that way?
She wanted to pull out the dress full length, but then there would be the bother of trying to fold it back up again. But here she was, in her own apartment. She could try on the dress.
She ran over to the window and pushed the lace curtain aside. The Burgosov was leaning against the wall, now eating his hot dog. He gave her a mock salute. He was definitely staying behind to watch them. Their apartment was easy to spot because of Babcia’s lace curtains on all the windows. The man finished the hot dog and pulled out a newspaper.
Kate scooped up the package, “I’ll be right back,” she said, calling over her shoulder on the way to her bedroom. “Let me know if he moves.” She would be quick, and then they could figure out how to sneak it past their guard and get it to the store. She laid the dress out on the bed and took a closer look at the gown. Breathtaking.
Despite its age, the white fabric was still dazzling. She ran her fingers along the sweetheart neckline. Looking closer, she could see the bodice was encrusted with pale pink diamonds that matched the rosettes at the back. And the skirt! The skirt flowed and flowed. There was so much fabric, she didn’t know if she could get the dress on without help. She needed Josie.
Chapter Thirty-five
“Josie! It’s Kate. Come help me try on a dress. Door’s open.” Kate hung up the receiver then opened the lock. “That guy still there?” she asked Johnny.
“Hasn’t moved. I think he’s scaring the neighbors. Maybe one of them will call the cops.”
While waiting for Josie, she folded clothes and returned them to their proper closets and drawers. Johnny helped right the furniture and slide all the drawers back in.
Holding up a broken lamp, Johnny shook his head. “Don’t you think this is the exact wrong time to be trying on a dress? Your mom might be on her way home.”
“No. It’s the exact right time.” She grinned. “Once this dress leaves the apartment, I’ll never have it all to myself again. It’s got to be now.”
Josie burst into the apartment. “Okay, where’s this dress?” She stopped short, her eyes big. “Johnny. Um. Hi, again.”
Kate laughed at Josie trying to regain her composure. How was she going to explain Johnny and a wedding dress? Grabbing Josie’s hand, Kate led her to the bedroom. “Come on, wait till you see it.”
Josie looked over her shoulder at the rest of the apartment. “Good grief, what happened here? Your mom’s gonna kill you.”
“We had a break-in.”
“What? Are the police on their way? We shouldn’t touch anything.”
Kate closed the door. “We already know who did it. Kind of old acquaintances of Elsie’s. Adalbert is handling it.”
Josie’s eyes were big.
“Really, it’s a family thing, but don’t tell my mom. She’s already worried about my aunt and uncle.” She lifted up the dress to distract Josie.
“Eeeee!” Josie squealed. “You do live a charmed life, Katie. Look at this dress!”
“Amazing, isn’t it? Help me try it on.” She kicked off her shoes. Josie would have to stand on the bed and lift it over Kate’s head. She couldn’t help giggling. How crazy was this?
“So what’s happening with Johnny? I feel like you’ve been holding out on me.” She looked pointedly at Kate.
“I’ll tell you everything later, but first let’s get this dress on. We haven’t much time.”
“This must cost a fortune.” Josie examined the diamonds on the dress. “Are these real? Don’t tell me these are real.” Josie picked up the dress and held it to herself. She twirled around the room. “Me next. I have to try it on.”
No shock. Josie didn’t get a shock. This dress was different from the ball gown. Kate waved her hands to hurry Josie along. “I don’t know if we’ll have time. I really should be getting the dress to the store.” She was glad Josie didn’t press any more. Kate had no idea how to explain the gown in her apartment. It was awkward enough explaining Johnny’s presence.
“All right,” Josie said, standing on the bed. “Come over here and put on the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen.”
Kate lifted her arms while Josie guided the dress on. The fabric felt deliciously cool against her skin. Softer than any fabric she had ever felt before.
“What material is this anyway?” asked Josie.
“I don’t know. Some kind of silk on the bottom layer, I guess. Then layers of a tulle-type fabric over the top.”
“It’s heavenly. I’d love to have pajamas made of this silky stuff. I’d stay in bed all day.” She hopped off the bed and came around to Kate’s back. “Lift up your hair so I can get these buttons done up. Good grief, but there’s a million of them.” She snapped her gum.
“Hey, you better not get any gum on this.”
Josie swatted at Kate. “Who do you think you’re talking to here? You don’t care about fashion except if it’s in a store window. This dress must have you bewitched.”
Kate nodded. “I’ll never see its like again, and soon it’ll be back where it came from.” If Adalbert finds the Kolodenkos. They would want it back with them after they found out all the shenanigans that had happened in America. Her hope to be the next Keeper got smaller and smaller with each mistake she made. She sighed. “Are you almost done? It’s starting to feel a little snug.”
“Not snug, but clinging. It’s perfect, like it was made for you.” She pulled Kate’s hair up in a French twist and stuck in some bobby pins. “Now let me see you.” She spun Kate around. Josie drew in a low breath. “Girl, you’ve got to see yourself in your mom’s big mirror.”
Suddenly, Kate grew shy. “But Johnny’s out there. I don’t want him to see me.”
Josie rolled her eyes. “It’s not like this is your wedding day. Come on.” She tugged at Kate’s arm. “I’ll tell him to close his eyes. Oh, but let me straighten out the skirt and train, in case he peeks.” Josie winked.
Opening the door, Josie sounded the alarm. “Coming through! Close your eyes unless you want to be blinded by the beauty.”
When Kate walked, the skirts made a soft rustling sound. She sprinted through the living room on her tiptoes, keeping her eyes glued to the floor. She didn’t want to know if Johnny saw her or not. Once safe in her mother’s room, she closed the door tight.
“Wait, let me line you up before you see. Your turn to close your eyes.”
Dutifully, Kate stood in front of the floor-length mirror with her eyes closed. She could feel Josie arrange the soft folds of fabric around her.
“Done.”
Kate opened her eyes and stared at her reflection. The strapless dress fit snugly against her chest in a feminine heart-shaped bodice. The rose-colored sash was tied at the smallest part of her waist, making the skirt billow out to the floor. She turned to the side to see the full effect of the large bow. So pretty. Her gaze followed the dress up to her face. Kate gasped. The young woman before her looked like a princess. For a minute, Kate wondered if she wa
s staring into a magic mirror. Maybe the dress was bewitched so that all who wore it became beautiful.
“Say something,” blurted Josie.
Kate simply smiled at her reflection, slowly spinning around so she could see the dress from all angles. “I wish I could get my picture taken so I can remember it.”
“It’s best you don’t. This dress is going to spoil every other dress you try on. Your own wedding day is ruined now, don’t you know.”
Kate locked every detail of the dress in her mind. The feel of the soft fabric against her legs, the gentle swish it made as she moved, and even the scent, a sweet lavender like the dress had been packed in flowers. Then she imagined what Cinderella must have looked like and felt on that day. Picture books only speculated, but now she knew what the dress was really like. She was wearing Cinderella’s dress.
Josie examined the intricate rosettes at the back, likely trying to learn how they were made, so she could duplicate the flowers. Kate was dying to tell her about Cinderella. What would Josie do if she knew whose dress this was? She would faint dead away. But Kate couldn’t tell the family secret. The dress started to feel heavy as the weight of the secret pressed down on her.
But Johnny knew. Why would Uncle Adalbert tell Johnny? It was supposed to be a family secret. Kate thought of Johnny’s warm breath on her neck. The way he could make her blush by looking at her. How he was so quick to forgive even after she had embarrassed them both. Could it be? Was Uncle Adalbert thinking… Kate tried not to think about what Uncle Adalbert was thinking. Not today. It would be too distracting.
“I’d better get this off,” Kate said, still staring in the mirror.
“I suppose,” said Josie, fingering the silk. “I haven’t been this jealous of you since we did the switcheroo at the fashion show. Remember that?”
“Hmm,” answered Kate, thinking about her first window night, her second time meeting Johnny.
This time, on her walk through the living room, Kate strolled, lingering in the gown as long as she could. She imagined a castle with marble floors and a grand staircase leading down from the ballroom and into the gardens. Next came an image of the woman from her dream, out of place against the finery, keeping to the shadows but smiling. She wondered who Cinderella’s fairy godmother might have been.
Josie giggled, holding on to the back of the dress as she helped Kate navigate through the room.
Kate looked up and saw Johnny staring at her with his mouth open in a goofy grin.
“That’s some dress,” he said. “You look…you l-look…” he stuttered.
“Amazing? Gorgeous? Breathtaking?” offered Josie.
“Beautiful,” he said.
The way he said it sent a shock wave down to her toes. She hustled back to her bedroom with Josie at her heels. They collapsed on the bed, clutching hands and laughing.
“Did you see Johnny’s face when he saw you?”
“Okay, come on, come on. I’ve got to get out of this dress and get it down to the store.”
“Is this the next dress for the window?” Josie went to work on all the tiny buttons. “Stand still. I can’t get these things off with you jumping around like that.”
“Sorry.” Kate stood still, but had trouble slowing down her racing heart. The look that Johnny had given her! “No, this one’s not for the window. The owners don’t want it displayed.” And she was going to honor those wishes this time. “But it does need to go back with the other dresses.”
Finally, sadly, she slipped the dress off and changed back into her regular clothes. The letdown was like coming home after a whirlwind vacation in Paris. This dress was more than a dress. It was history and fairy tale and responsibility all wrapped up in one frothy frock.
Whereas the ball gown had bite to it, this gown was gentleness and love. It said, “Sorry about my sister dress, but she has a purpose and she’s focused.” This dress simply asked, “What are you going to do about us, Kate Allen, descendant of the original Keeper?”
Aunt Elsie once told her the dress would make her choose. She didn’t realize the choice would come at the cost of protecting the legacy or finding her father. If the Burgosovs were telling the truth about the shoes. Elsie once chose the dress over her sister. How could the dress demand such a price?
“Can I try it on?” Josie was holding it up to herself and twirling in front of Kate’s small mirror.
Kate frowned. “We do need to get it to the store.” In reality, there probably was time for Josie to try it on, but Kate didn’t want her to. Josie didn’t know how special the dress was. And Kate didn’t want Johnny to see someone else in it, either.
Josie looked curiously at her, as if reading Kate’s thoughts. She sighed. “I understand. Give me one more minute. I want to see how the skirt is made.” She flipped the dress up to study the waist.
After Josie had a sufficient look, Kate brushed her fingers over the dress one last time before wrapping it in the plain brown paper. She thought about the Burgosov waiting outside. Would he follow her to the store? Of course he would. And likely he would demand to know whatever it was that she carried with her. Unless…
“Josie? Can you do me a favor?”
“Sure.”
“Can you put this in my locker at Harmon-Craig for me?” Kate squeezed the package into a large shoulder bag and held it out to her.
Josie looked at Kate quizzically.
Kate tilted her head in the direction of the living room, hoping Josie would assume she wanted to be alone with Johnny. Which, she kind of did, but that wasn’t the main reason.
“Right. No problem. Just tell me how it goes,” she said meaningfully.
Kate spotted Adalbert’s work package. She scooped it up and added it to the bag. “This, too. It goes to Mr. Oliver. Adalbert was supposed to do a rush job, but he can’t handle it right now.”
Josie shrugged. “I could stay and help if they’re backed up. I wouldn’t mind the extra money.” She slung the bag over her shoulder. “Bye, Kate,” Josie said on her way out the door. “Talk to you later.” Then she nodded good-bye to Johnny.
Kate kept her eyes focused on the front door as it closed. It was awkward now that she was left alone with Johnny. He kept looking at her with a goofy grin on his face.
“Did she leave with what I think she left with?”
“I have a plan. Let’s finish cleaning up. We need to go back to my uncle’s house.”
Chapter Thirty-six
“Uncle Adalbert, I have a plan, but you need to get started right away.” Kate burst into the Oberlins’ home, Johnny following close behind.
“What are you kids doing here?” he asked.
“Josie is delivering the dress. That Burgosov outside won’t suspect her. In fact, I think he followed us back here.”
Johnny peeked out the window. “Can’t be sure since it’s so dark out now, but there is someone over there in the shadows.”
“Sit in here,” commanded Adalbert, gesturing to the kitchen table. “Elsie is sleeping.”
That meant Kate would have to wait to ask about the shoes again.
“What is your plan?” Adalbert asked.
“We can do a switcheroo on them.” She waited for his reaction.
“What is this word, switcheroo?”
“You are a master designer. You can sew identical Cinderella dresses. We deliver the fakes to the Burgosovs. How are they going to be able to tell the difference? They couldn’t tell a chiffon from a silk. The dresses only have to look similar.” And this plan will give me more time to figure out what to do about the shoes.
Uncle Adalbert nodded. “It could buy us some time,” he said, echoing Kate’s thoughts. “But not much. The Burgosov boys might not know the difference, but their mother will. Our families will still be in danger. How much longer will the ball gown be in the window?”
“It’s in the design for next week, too.”
“Dresses like those take months to make. I will have days.”
�
��Josie and I could help.”
“Yes, that is necessary. I start tonight. I will have to use all my connections to get the right fabrics.” He paused and thought for a moment. “And I have a plan of my own. A backup in case the switcheroo of yours doesn’t work. Our family’s safety means more than dresses.”
“What kind of plan?” Kate had only had the dresses in her possession for a short time, but she was already feeling protective about them. She didn’t want to walk away and let the Burgosovs steal them.
Adalbert sighed, glancing toward the back of the house where Aunt Elsie was probably resting. “She needs a special place with doctors and nurses, soon. If she is in danger, I should make plans now to have her moved to a facility.” His voice choked up.
“You don’t think we should all move, do you?” Mom had been wanting to leave their old apartment for years, but now she was content. The familiar rooms were a reminder of Dad. She glanced at Johnny, and he smiled at her. How far away would they have to move?
Adalbert examined his fingernails. “I may have to return to Europe alone and find the Kolodenkos to give them back the dresses. Should they still want a Keeper, they can find someone suitable. Then it will not matter where any of us live.”
He sounded awfully convinced that Kate would not be that Keeper. “That reminds me of something else.” She scrunched up her shoulders. “The Kolodenkos did try to contact you. My mother saw the special envelope that Babcia always threw away. So when another came in the mail, she tossed it.”
“They will try again. Is too important for them to give up.”
Johnny spoke up for the first time. “Is it just me, or does anyone else think we should call the police? You don’t have to tell them what the dresses are.”
Both Kate and Adalbert immediately shook their heads. “Last resort,” said Kate. “Let’s try this first.”
For centuries, the women in Kate’s family had been hiding the dresses. How many times had they come up against the Burgosovs? Had there been danger all along? How many of them went to the authorities for help? Probably none, given the part of the world they came from.
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