Marry Me at Christmas (Fool's Gold #19)(66)

Although the box was larger than most, she knew the drill. Wedding gowns came in impossibly small packages. They had to be fluffed, then steamed into bride-ready perfection. The dresses she had set aside for Ginger were hanging in the largest dressing room. It would take a couple of hours to get this one in the same shape.

“Or longer,” she murmured as she pulled the stunning gown out of the box.

She had to admit, he got the color right. Like her choices for the petite bride, he’d gone with a pale ivory. The warmer tone would complement Ginger’s skin and hair color. But instead of a sleek, delicate silhouette, this gown was all about volume.

The tiny cap sleeves were layers of lace. The bodice was fitted, then the massive skirt billowed. Tiers of lace and silk fluttered to the floor. The train had to be at least eight feet long. The dress was heavy, and while the size was right for his sister, there was no way this gown could work. She would look like a child trying to wear an adult dress that overwhelmed her. No amount of tailoring could make this suit her delicate frame.

Madeline put the dress on a hanger, then hung it on a rack. She would give it an hour to shake out before starting the steaming process. She picked up the envelope containing the invoice, then nearly passed out when she saw the twenty-eight-thousand-dollar price.

“You really need to learn to say you love her,” Madeline whispered, hoping Jonny had made sure the dress was returnable before he’d handed over his credit card.

Three hours later, Jonny and Ginger arrived right on time. Madeline smiled at Ginger.

“Are you excited?” she asked. “Or nervous?”

“Both,” Ginger admitted with a laugh. “I can’t believe how fast time is going. Oliver and I are so busy with our research. Thank you for all you’re doing for us. There’s no way we could get married without so much help.”

Madeline hugged her. “It’s been fun for me.”

“Me, too,” Jonny added. “Not that you were asking.”

Ginger wrinkled her nose. “I’ve thanked you fourteen times already and you know it.” She pressed her hands together. “I can’t wait to try on the dresses. I love the pictures you sent.” She held out a small tote bag. “I have my shoes and the underwear you told me to get.”

Ginger started for the dressing rooms. “There are two dresses, right? We narrowed it down to that?”

Madeline looked at Jonny, who glanced around innocently. When he didn’t say anything, she shook her head.

“You expect me to tell her?”

“What?”

“You have a third dress from your brother.”

Ginger sighed. “What did you get?”

“Nothing. It’s nothing. Another dress for you to try. It’s beautiful. Tell her it’s beautiful.”

Having just spent two hours steaming it, Madeline was intimately familiar with the designer gown. “It’s lovely. Handmade. The lace is truly exquisite.”

Ginger didn’t look convinced. “But?”

“But you should try it on, along with the other two. I also have the maybe dresses from your last visit.”

“Okay, then. I guess I should get ready.” She headed for the dressing room.

Madeline started to go after her. Jonny grabbed her arm.

“You mad?”

She smiled. “No and not even surprised.”

“Yeah?”

“You’re consistent and adorable. You know that dress is never going to work, right? It will overwhelm her.”

“But it’s really pretty.”

“Which translates to ‘I can’t possibly convince you so you’ll have to see her in it to decide for yourself.’”

He kissed her. “I like that you’re so smart.”

“Sure you do.”

Madeline went back to the dressing rooms and knocked.

“Come in,” Ginger called.

Madeline entered and saw the other woman had changed into a nude strapless bra. She had on plain bikini panties and nothing else. The giant designer dress hung on a rack in the center of the room.

“It’s huge,” Ginger said with a moan.

“It takes a village and a really big crinoline slip.”

Madeline got her into the puffy slip, then Rosalind came in and helped her get the dress onto Ginger. The second it settled on her body, she seemed to shrink.

“How many buttons are there?” Ginger asked.

“About five hundred.”

The other woman laughed. “Only do the top two. Then please get my brother. Not only can’t I walk, but no one should have to button me into this.”

Madeline fastened a couple of buttons, then used clips to secure the rest of the back. She walked into the waiting area and motioned for Jonny to follow her.

“That bad?” he asked.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You didn’t have to. You have smug-face. That’s your silent way of telling me I was wrong.”

She turned toward him. “I don’t have smug-face, and even if I did, you weren’t wrong. You love her and you want her to have a beautiful dress. That’s really sweet.”

“Even if I didn’t get the right one?”

Madeline smiled. “I’m really hoping you can return it.”