Chapter 4
"Your sister's wearing your mom's charm? And William just calls it 'just an object'?" she exclaimed.
She slammed her hand on the table.
"Did he borrow that mouth? Maybe he should give it back if he can't use it right," she scoffed.
I didn't laugh.
Maggie immediately reined herself in.
"So, what are you gonna do now?" she asked.
"I'm just gonna focus on work for now," I said.
"You're seriously still working?" Maggie stared at me in disbelief.
"I can't let my client's wedding fall apart," I replied.
Maggie gritted her teeth.
"You're seriously a model worker. Your man's busy starting a whole second life right under your roof, and you're still stressing about whether your client's wedding arch is holding up," she scoffed.
I buried my head in the schedule, flipping through dates.
"The wedding arch never betrayed me," I muttered.
Maggie was at a loss for words.
The wind chime at the studio door rang softly.
I looked up and saw Emily standing in the doorway.
She was dressed in a simple white gown, the white charm still hanging from her neck.
William was right beside her, carrying the toolbox I always use.
I stood up.
"Who told you to come here?" I asked, my voice cold.
Emily spoke up softly. "Sophie, I came to return your stuff."
William set the toolbox down on the table.
"You left in such a rush last night. Figured you'd need these," he said.
Maggie crossed her arms.
"Wow, you remembered to bring her stuff, why not just drop her off too?" she snarked.
William ignored her.
"Sophie, can we talk?" he said.
"This is the studio," I replied coldly.
"Then let's talk business," he said.
He glanced at the wedding dress sketches pinned up on the wall.
"Can Emily try on the featured gown for the wedding showcase?" he asked.
Maggie went off.
"Have you completely lost your mind? That's Sophie's own wedding gown!" she snapped.
Emily waved her hands frantically.
"It's not like I'm trying it on for myself. I just want to help her see how it looks," she said, sounding defensive.
I turned to William.
"Did you put her up to this?" I asked.
William looked uncomfortable.
"Emily's got some experience, and her taste is solid. Plus, she's about your size, what's the harm in letting her try it?" William said.
Maggie scoffed, half laughing in disbelief.
"Are you even listening to yourself?" she shot back.
Emily lowered her head.
"Never mind, I won't try it. It's only right for Sophie to say no. I shouldn't have messed with her stuff," she said softly.
William frowned.
"Sophie, do you have to make her feel so embarrassed every single time?" he said.
"I didn't even say a word," I shot back.
"You don't have to. It's written all over your face," he retorted.
I set the schedule down.
"Fine. Go ahead, let her try," I said.
Maggie stared at me, eyes wide.
"Sophie!" she shouted.
I grabbed her hand to stop her.
"Just let her try," I said.
William finally breathed easy.
Emily shot me a nervous look.
"Really?" she asked softly, almost afraid to believe it.
"Go ahead," I said.
I went to grab the wedding dress.
The dress was tucked away in the back.
It wasn't the most expensive or the most glamorous one.
Sewn onto the hem was an old embroidered patch Mom had left for me.
Before she passed, Mom held my hand and told me that if she couldn't be there for my wedding, that patch would walk me down the aisle in her place.
Before Emily stepped into the fitting room, she ran her fingers over that patch of embroidery.
"Mom was so talented," Emily said softly.
I stayed silent.
The curtain closed.
Inside, I could hear the soft rustle of fabric.
William stood outside, never taking his eyes off the curtain.
Maggie leaned in, lowering her voice.
"You're really letting her try it on?" she whispered.
I set my phone down and opened the studio's records.
"If she wants to wear it, let her try it all she wants," I said.
"Don't scare me like that," Maggie muttered.
"I'm not trying to scare you," I said.
When the curtain opened, Emily stepped out in my wedding dress.
William's eyes softened, a flicker of emotion passing through them.
It wasn't surprise.
It was heartache.
He walked over and gently adjusted the straps on her shoulders.
"Don't be scared," he said softly.
Emily's eyes grew red-rimmed with tears.
"Maybe I shouldn't have worn this. Sophie will be upset," she said, her voice trembling.
William lowered his voice.
"She's not that petty," he said.
I stood there, my nails digging into my palm.
Maggie muttered a curse under her breath.
Emily looked up, facing the mirror.
In the reflection, she was wearing my wedding dress, Mom's white charm around her neck, and my fiancé standing right behind her.
If I weren't still standing here, it would've looked just like a perfectly rehearsed wedding.
As Emily turned, the hem of her dress caught on the corner of the table.
Rip!
A split opened up along the edge of the embroidered patch.
Maggie rushed over.
"Don't move!" she shouted.
Emily's face went pale in an instant.
"I didn't mean to," she stammered.
William was the first to reach her, steadying her.
"Are you hurt?" he asked.
Maggie crouched down, her hands trembling.
"The embroidered patch ripped," she said.
I walked over.
The rip wasn't big, but it went right across the little flower Mom had stitched by hand.
I reached out and touched it.
The threads were all loose, and no matter how hard I pressed, I couldn't get them to go back to how they were.