The Wedding Dress Yes (Crossroads Collection)

by Amanda Tru

  TeraLyn was Rhonda’s daughter and worked at the shop with her mother. She was a few years younger than London, and London hadn’t yet had the chance to get to know her well.

  “No problem, Rhonda,” London assured. “I already told you that I don’t mind helping out. You’re giving me such a great deal on the rent that I expected it.”

  “You are too kind.” Without missing a beat, Rhonda gestured to the mannequin clothed in a wedding dress. “Is that your display?” Rhonda asked, pointing to the mannequins clothed in wedding dresses.

  “Yes,” London said proudly, liking the way the dresses showed up against the panels she’d painted herself and arranged in a mural-type background. She really liked the way the simple trees and blossoming branches looked elegant and sophisticated but not overwhelming to the gowns. The wedding dresses remained center stage, and London had added just enough color with a few accessories and flowers to make the whole tableau look elegant and romantic.

  “Don’t you think that dress is a little… immodest for Crossroads?” Rhonda asked, pointing to the soft turquoise gown flanking three wedding dresses.

  “Um… no, I don’t,” London replied honestly. “It is actually very modest for Hollywood, and that particular dress topped all of the best-dressed lists when worn at an award show a few months ago. The celebrity who wore it is a friend of mine, and she wanted me to keep it to display.”

  “Well, that was nice of her, but isn’t that like selling scuba gear in a desert?” Rhonda asked, her brown eyes sparkling as she giggled at her own joke. “It’s your shop, my dear, but I don’t recall Crossroads hosting any Hollywood award shows that I’m aware of. Don’t you think you’d better cater to the fish in your own pool, or desert, as the case may be?”

  London pursed her lips together. “I’m happy to mind the shop, Rhonda. I’m finally caught up with my custom orders enough that I can work on decorating my shop the way I want it, and this is the display I want to use. I don’t anticipate my clientele will include many Crossroads residents, but these dresses and the arrangement will appeal to those customers I do have. With my brother’s wedding this weekend, I don’t plan on getting my entire boutique fully decorated the way I envision, but I’m fine with taking things slow with this display window as my first step. In other words, I have plenty of time at the moment to monitor your store for the hour or so you’re gone, and you really don’t need to concern yourself over my interior design. I’ll be fine.”

  “I’m just concerned for you, my dear,” Rhonda placed a gentle hand to London’s shoulder affectionately. “I don’t want you to offend some of our more conservative residents. Mr. Snow always says that if a business gets a bad reputation in a small town, then there’s nothing that can be done. I want you to be successful!”

  “I appreciate that,” London said, trying to tone down her response. Rhonda meant well. She couldn’t fault the matron’s concern. “I’m not a novice at this, though. I know what I’m doing. I have a healthy client list and plenty of experience with well-known fashion designers. My business isn’t the same as yours, and I think you’ll need to trust me that I can manage everything on this side of the pillars.”

  “Very well, then,” Rhonda sighed sadly. “If things don’t work out, just know that you’ll always have a place at Snow White Bridal with me. With TeraLyn taking classes at the university, I don’t know that she will stick around as my assistant. And I care too much to let you fail completely.”

  Why does her concern feel so insulting? London wondered, feeling very confused. Rhonda had a heart of gold. London just couldn’t figure out why Rhonda’s concern ruffled her feathers so much. She should feel grateful, not angry.

  Rhonda left with a cheery goodbye and a wave of her hand, finally leaving London in peace. Several customers came and went, and London easily found orders, rang up purchases, and played the part of wardrobe assistant to those customers trying on the wares.

  Estimating that Rhonda should be back any minute, London wandered back to her side of the store and checked her messages. With her brother, Dallas, getting married in two days, London wanted to make sure there weren’t any last-minute details that needed attending. London had designed and created the wedding dress for Dallas’s fiancée, Kate, and those for her bridesmaids as well. While the gowns hung ready and waiting on the hangers, it was London’s sister, Brooke’s, turn to work her florist magic and get the flowers ready. London was already planning on a late night tomorrow assisting Brooke’s preparations for the big day.

  Then they’d do everything all over again for Brooke’s own wedding at the end of the summer. With the summer flanked by two family weddings, it promised to be busy. In fact, her siblings announcing their engagements is what prompted London to consider coming home. Both Dallas and Brooke immediately asked her to design the wedding dresses, and she knew that would take considerable time in the area. She’d grown so weary of living in southern California, especially after last year, and a few months in New York hadn’t quelled the longing for something different, or maybe it was the longing for something familiar.

  London wanted to go home.

  It had taken months of back and forth travel to move her business, and she’d only had her apartment and truly lived here for the past six weeks. While she still would need to travel at the request of certain clients or for the occasional fashion show, the move went better than London expected, and she felt convinced she’d made the right decision.

  The bell jingled again, drawing London’s attention back to Rhonda’s shop. She glanced at the clock, hoping it was Rhonda arriving back and not another customer. While she didn’t mind helping, the steady stream of customers prevented London from getting her work done, and with the busy weekend ahead, she really needed to contact a few clients and mark some items off her to-do list.

  Unfortunately, it wasn’t Rhonda who stood inside the door. Recognizing the visitor immediately, London stopped so suddenly that she dropped the scissors she held in her hand. It took the space of a few seconds to recover from seeing one of the last people she’d expected to step into a Crossroads bridal shop.

  “London?” he asked, his face registering the same surprise that surely showed on London’s.

  “Adam?” London choked out, completely forgetting the scissors still on the floor.

  Adam suddenly laughed and hurried forward to give London a warm hug. “I heard you were back in town, but when I didn’t hear any more, I assumed you’d left again.”

  “I guess I didn’t realize you were in town either,” London said, starting to regain her senses. “It’s good to see you! You look great!”

  He really did. His face was different—more masculine and mature—but those eyes were the most familiar. Their beautiful amber color still held her captive as they peered at her from behind a pair of glasses that only served to make him look even more intelligent and appealing.

  Adam’s laughing gaze turned serious as it searched her face with the same intensity that she searched his and finally ended locking with hers. “You look great, too, London. Of course, I’ve always expected you to be just as beautiful as you were in high school.”

  London smiled tolerantly. Adam had been her high school sweetheart. She knew he’d loved her, but in the kind of puppy-love, fantasy way. “You had young eyes then, Adam. I’m afraid you always saw me as more than I was. I don’t think anyone could ever measure up to that teenage boy ideal.”

  “I disagree,” Adam said easily. “Clearly, you haven’t looked in the mirror lately. I said I expected you to be just as beautiful. I didn’t expect you to be more.”

  London laughed outright. “You flatterer! You must have taken a few lessons in charm since you asked me to the prom. I don’t remember you being so smooth!”

  Adam grinned, showing a vision of the boy London once knew, but growing up had only done good things for him. His brown hair neatly waved across the top of his forehead above those amber-colored eyes. The planes of his face were
strong but not rugged, handsome yet refined. He wore a suit that fit his lean body well, and in many ways, he resembled that tall, lanky boy she’d fallen for over a dozen years ago.

  “I don’t recall a charm class in law school, but I probably picked it up along the way.”

  “I heard you were a lawyer,” London acknowledged. “I think our mothers keep up with each other. So, are you in Crossroads visiting?”

  “I live here,” Adam said. “I have law offices a few doors down from the bridal shop After law school, Murray Law here in town offered me a position. With the growth of Crossroads and the fact that Murray intended to retire in a couple years, it seemed like a good opportunity. I run the business myself now. You’ll have to look for the sign for Caldwell Law Offices.”

  How could she not have realized that Adam was still here in Crossroads? True, there were many years when she hadn’t returned home at all, but she thought her mom kept her pretty up to date about the happenings around town. However, admittedly, when her mom’s conversation inevitably shifted to insinuating that London should really choose a guy to settle down with and offering nominations on candidates for the role of husband, London tended to tune her out.

  “What about you?” he asked. “Are you here for Dallas’s wedding?”

  “I actually moved back about six weeks ago,” London explained. “I’m renting space from Rhonda for my fashion designing business.” London gestured in the general direction of her end of the shop.

  “Good for you!” Adam said brightly. “It’s great to see you following your dreams and starting a business. I hope you do well here. It’s often easier to be successful in a small town versus a place like Hollywood. Smaller pond and all that.”

  And there it was. The automatic assumption that London had moved back to Crossroads because she’d failed. In reality, she’d moved back because her business was successful enough that she could live wherever she wanted. Did no one in town realize she was a top designer? Did no one recognize her name as the designer of wedding dresses and gowns featured in magazines and on nationally televised award shows? Surely her mom had bragged just a little around town!

  Smiling tolerantly, London moved on from small talk, “So how can I—”

  “Adam!” Rhonda greeted enthusiastically as she bustled through the front door. “I’m so glad I caught you!”

  “Here are the papers you requested,” Adam said, extending a manila folder to Rhonda. “The renter’s agreement and terms and conditions should all be there. I just didn’t realize your tenant was London!”

  “You two know each other?” Rhonda asked, warily looking from one to the other.

  “Oh, yes! We graduated high school together,” Adam supplied.

  “Papers?” London questioned, wanting to skip any further explanation of their relationship.

  “We asked Adam to draw up a formal rental agreement for you to sign,” Rhonda explained. “It’s just putting in writing what we’ve already discussed. Of course, I didn’t think it necessary, but Mr. Snow insisted. You know how he is.”

  “I don’t mind signing at all,” London said. She actually preferred it that way. She liked business dealings to be formal and spelled out. Extending her hand to accept the folder, she offered. “I’ll look over the papers and sign them tonight. Then I’ll get them back to you tomorrow. Will that be okay?”

  “No hurry,” Rhonda said easily, drawing the folder closer to herself. “Let me just look over it first, and I’ll give it to you in just a bit. It’s just a formality, of course.”

  She turned and told Adam warmly, “Thank you for drawing those up. Can you stay a while? I know TeraLyn should be here shortly. I’m sure she’d like to see you.” Her carefully drawn-in eyebrows pumped up and down suggestively.

  “I’m sorry, I’ve got to get back to the office,” Adam said, taking a step back and looking at his watch as if suddenly short on time.

  The phone rang. With a reluctant goodbye, Rhonda hurried to answer it.

  Instead of retreating for the door, Adam turned back and casually asked London. “Hey, London, how would you feel about going out and catching up sometime?”

  London blinked, momentarily startled by the unexpected invitation. As her mind scrambled to keep up, she heard her voice responding. “That sounds like fun!”

  What is this? Is this a date? Is it just old friends meeting?

  “Great! Are you free tomorrow night?”

  London breathed a sigh of relief. “No, I’m sorry,” she replied honestly. “My weekend is booked with Dallas’s wedding. We might need to get together some other time.”

  On the one hand, London hoped he’d accept the vague “maybe someday” answer. Adam Caldwell was a good guy, but London’s heart still felt so bruised from last year that she hated to risk hurting him.

  On the other hand, she felt a tingling of excitement at the idea that maybe his offer included more than a friendly catch-up session between friends. After all, they had been more than friends before, and London’s memory was good enough to clearly recall how Adam had made her feel in high school. This adult Adam seemed even more qualified to set a woman’s heart racing, and that thought alone was enough to terrify her.

  “What about tonight?” he suggested. “We could grab some dinner when I’m done with work. Maybe about 5:30?”

  London found herself nodding and smiling. “I’d like that.”

  “Great!” Adam beamed. “Where should I pick you up?”

  “How about the same place as usual—my parents’ house?” she said with humor. “I’m headed over there to help with some wedding preparations.”

  Adam laughed. “Sounds good. It’s been a while, but I know the way. I’ll see you at 5:30.”

  When Adam turned and headed toward the door, London caught sight of Rhonda standing by the cash register. She was no longer talking on the phone, and her face shone bright red and upset.

  What’s wrong? London thought in alarm. Was the phone call bad news?

  As Adam reached the front door, it opened, and TeraLyn Snow walked into the store.

  “Oh, hi, Adam,” she said in surprise.

  “Hi, TeraLyn,” Adam answered, shuffling around her while trying to make it out the door. “I was just dropping off some papers for your mom. Good to see you!” Having managed a successful maneuver, Adam hurried out the door as TeraLyn looked after him, her expression almost forlorn.

  “TeraLyn, dear, I need you to go clean out the dressing rooms and hang the gowns back up on the racks where they belong,” Rhonda immediately instructed.

  Before TeraLyn could respond or London could greet the young woman, Rhonda turned to London and said brusquely, “I need to speak with you privately.”

  “Is something wrong?” London asked in concern. “Was it the phone call?”

  Rhonda didn’t say anything but led the way back to London’s side of the store. Only when she positioned herself behind the display did she whirl back around and choke out. “London, dear, are you aware that Adam is TeraLyn’s boyfriend?”

  Alarm shot the length of London’s spine. “No, I had no idea. I haven’t seen Adam in years and didn’t even know he still lived here.”

  Rhonda nodded. “I was afraid of that. And now you’re going out with him, and I’m just so concerned about my TeraLyn!”

  “I don’t know that Adam and I are going on a date,” London clarified. “I think he just wanted to catch up. I can explain that to TeraLyn.”

  Rhonda waved away her suggestion as if it were an annoying gnat. “No, I think maybe it would be better if you just canceled. It hasn’t been very long since Adam and TeraLyn broke up. I think him eating dinner with anyone would just be too upsetting for my poor TeraLyn.”

  “So, he’s her ex-boyfriend, not her current one?” London asked cautiously, wondering at what kernel of truth lay beneath Rhonda’s drama.

  “It really is just a tiff,” Rhonda said briskly, brushing at an imaginary speck of dust on a nearby shelf. “I’m
sure they’ll be back together in another week.”

  London paused, trying to make sense of the situation, but not really getting anywhere. Finally, she managed. “I think I’ll keep our dinner plans for now and talk to TeraLyn. Thanks for the heads up, I didn’t know she and Adam had dated, and I certainly wouldn’t want to hurt her in any way.”

  “Hmmph… well, it’s not just TeraLyn I’m concerned about.” Rhonda said, obviously not yet satisfied with London’s response. “I’m concerned about you as well. Your mom told me about the bad breakup you had last year. She was really worried about you. Wasn’t your boyfriend someone you met in Hollywood, like a set janitor or prop guy or something?”

  “Something like that,” London conceded dryly, trying to conserve her patience in a reservoir that was beginning to run low.

  “Well, I’m just not sure you’re ready to start something new after such heartbreak.” Rhonda’s brown eyes were warm and caring. “I don’t want you to get hurt, dear.”

  London took a deep breath and responded quietly. “As far as I know, having dinner with someone doesn’t necessarily carry the label of ‘date’ with it. In which case, you’ve wasted a lot of worry. On the flip side, if it is a date, it certainly won’t be ‘starting anything new.’ Adam was my boyfriend in high school. Regardless of whether there is a continuation of anything romantic, I would like to talk and see what he’s like past age 18.”

  Rhonda sighed dramatically. “I can see you’re going to stretch my prayers to the limit, my dear.”

  London smiled. “I’ll take prayers over worry any day!”

  Rhonda still didn’t seem satisfied, but London ignored her and came out from behind the display to get to work. Sighing every few seconds, Rhonda eventually wandered over to her own side to help TeraLyn, but it wasn’t until customers arrived and Rhonda became busy putting on the charm that London felt any relief from Rhonda’s disapproval.