“Is there somewhere Ava can try on the dresses?” Sophie asks. She is carefully holding a few dress bags, maybe five or six, in one hand. They are not made of see-through flimsy wrap like last time. These are cream-colored and sturdy, and the bulky size of some of them suggests to me that they are most likely…

“Wedding dresses?” I ask.

Her eyes widen as she nods. “Oh my God, wait till you see them. They’re gorgeous. I had so many to choose from, it was seriously hard to narrow it down, but I picked a few that I know you’ll look amazing in. It’s your choice, though, of course, which one you decide to wear for the shoot.”

“You want me to wear one?” I point to my own chest.

She looks at me like I’m a bit thick. “Well, yeah. You’re the one having the wedding, remember?”

“I know that, but why?”

“Because the editor thinks it will be more interesting for the readers than just you in a pair of jeans checking out a barn. No offense.”

“None taken.”

Nadia interrupts. “I know for you this is all about the big day itself, but we really want our readers to feel like they’re also on this journey with you. We want them to understand, through the article and photos, just how much this means to you.” She waves her hands around theatrically as she speaks, using them for emphasis on the pertinent points.

She’s full of shit, of course, but if it means I get to dress up I really don’t care.

“Plus you get to be pampered and wear a seriously divine dress,” Kelly adds.

They all look at me expectantly.

“Is that OK with you?” Nadia asks.

I nod. “You had me at ‘pampered.’”

“I promise we won’t do anything you don’t feel comfortable with,” James says.

“That’s a shame,” Amanda sniggers.

Chapter Seventeen

Oh, yes.” Mum claps her hands to her cheeks so soundly I’m worried she’ll leave a mark. She nods her head energetically. “Definitely that one.”

“You said that about the last three.”

“Sorry. I can’t help it. You look amazing in them all.” She turns to Sophie. “She gets her figure from me, you know.”

Sophie smiles diplomatically.

“Which one did you like the best?” Kelly asks. “After all, it’s your day, your decision.”

I turn back to the mirror and study the dress I am wearing. It’s made of a soft material that drapes gently over my body, and even though I am much thinner than I should be, it mystically gives me a womanly appearance. Curves where there are none. Long enough for me to trip if I’m not careful, it also has a lacy top with cap sleeves. I can’t stop looking at myself. It is beautiful, and I feel beautiful in it.

“This one,” I say.

Sophie sets about pinning the hemline to prevent accidents, while Kelly curls my hair into waves. She pins a silk flowered garland into my hair, and applies subtle makeup, gentle bronzes and golds, ever so slightly shimmering in the right light.