Elsie stared, wide-eyed, at the glamorous dresses displayed before her, all well over $5,000.
“Your dress has been taken care of.”
By who? Certainly not her parents, nor could Jack afford such a gift, though he’d told her numerous times he’d give her the world if he could. And yet, what he gave her was much more valuable, for never had she loved so deeply, or felt so deeply loved in return.
And soon they would be wed, united forever.
“Enough daydreaming.” Mercedez clapped, jolting Elsie’s focus back on the task at hand. “You have many dresses to try on.” She grabbed Elsie by the wrist, urging her toward the east corner of the store.
Elsie stumbled along behind, feeling like Cinderella stuck in Pippy-Longstocking’s body. Or maybe more like a prepubescent middle-schooler about to raid her mother’s closet.
Her heart sank as she thought once again of her mother and the fact that she wouldn’t be able to share her long-awaited day with her.
Oh, Lord, soften her heart. Even if just a smudgeone, and just for this one day.
She sighed. Beautiful gown or not, this was not going to be anything like the wedding she’d dreamt about.
Mercedez ushered Elsie into a large, furnished dressing room and motioned to a glass table filled with chocolate covered strawberries and champagne glasses. “Relax, enjoy.” She started to leave then stopped. “Is everything all right, dear? You looks … tense.”
Elsie forced a laugh. “Pre-wedding jitters, I suppose.” No sense delving into her woes with a complete stranger. Doing so would only make her cry, which, considering she was wearing mascara, would streak her face with black. That would not bode well in the large number of selfies she planned to take.
Note to self: Wear waterproof make-up the day of the wedding, because there were sure to be a lot of tears that day. Thankfully, most would be from joy.
“Make yourself comfortable.” Mercedez flicked her hand toward a white leather chair. “I’ll return shortly with some gowns I believe will compliment your delicate frame quite nicely.” With that, she left, closing the door behind her.
Elsie stared at her reflection in the three-way mirror, trying once again to figure out who could’ve funded her 
dress. It was almost as if she’d slipped into a modern day fairy tale, like the kind Gail Sattler writes.
Oh! Wouldn’t the author get a kick out of this unexpected turn of events? Elsie really needed to connect with her on Facebook, send her some photos from her fitting, maybe even write up something for that Inspy blog the author was part of.
A grin emerged as an enchanting plan took hold. Though she wasn’t much of a mystery reader, and certainly was nothing of a writer, the mystery of her dress buyer was begging to be unveiled. Ha! Pun intended. And she knew just who would help her.
YOU! The Inspy Romance Readers! Who do you think funded her dress and why? If it’s a long-lost friend or someone from her past, how did they learn about Elsie’s upcoming wedding and financial struggles? Share your thoughts with us. You never know, your comments might just make their way into the next scene. Return July 5th to read more of this story.
Jennifer Slattery is a missional romance novelist with New Hope Publishers. She writes and edits for Christ to the World Ministries, is a regular contributor to Crosswalk.com, Internet Cafe Devotions, Faith-filled Friends, and Jewels of Encouragement, and manages the social media for Takin’ it to the Streets, a ministry that serves Omaha’s working poor and homeless. She’s placed in numerous writing contests and her work has appeared in numerous compilations, magazines, and e-zines.
I think it’s her boss. He appreciates her work ethic and the way she keeps things going at work. He knows she can’t afford an expensive dress, and he wants to make sure she has the wedding of her dreams.
I think it could be one of her relatives. Possibly a spinster aunt, who is a romantic at heart and doesn’t agree with her parent’s decision to not support their daughter in her choice of a husband. Jennifer, I’m enjoying the story :)
I think it could be one of her old high school teachers who always looked out for Elsie, knowing she had a difficult relationship with her mother. This teacher also happens to be the church organist who is going to be playing the bridal march as Elise comes down the aisle …
I think it’s her Mom. A gift to heal wounds and bring healing to their relationship.
I’m so sorry I’m so late in responding to all these fun comments! My hubby had surgery Thursday, and things are just beginning to settle back into some semblance of normalacy. :)
That is shuch a fun idea, Merrillee! I often think over some of my favorite novels, wondering what it was about them that I enjoyed so much, and I’ve found stories that reveal a strong, close-knit community draw me most. In our increasingly corporate world where some may not even know their bosses, or at the very most, may see them in passing, how lovely it would be to meet a boss who not only knows his employees but cares for them as well. :)
Oh, I like that, and the potential mystery it could involve. :) I’m already envisioning this aunt, her home, and the many wonderful things she sews and knits. :) In fact, what if this aunt sewed her veil, with beading and silk roses stiched in? (My mother-in-law did that for me. :) She surprised me with the veil shortly before my wedding.)
What a sweet idea! Funny, the heroine in my debut novel, Beyond I Do, has just such a teacher, named Mrs. Eldridge, who reached out to her in third grade and became a dear friend and spiritual mentor. By the time of the novel, the heroine is an adult, but her relationship with this special woman has remained and in fact, grown stronger. :)
I love this idea! In fact, maybe she even took up a drive at the church! And perhaps the entire church contributed, and when they see her walk down the aisle, they all stand in awe at how beautiful she looks, overjoyed that God allowed them to play a part in her special day. :)
What a beautiful idea! I like that, Stacey! Because deep in her heart, she loves her daughter deeply and couldn’t bear to miss out on this day. :)
I think her mom secretly does not totally agree with her husband and is heart broken she cannot be a part of the day. So, she decides to pay for the dress with some money she has set aside. Her mom is probably sitting with a cup of coffee staring into space, tears running down her face because she is torn between two people she loves.
Oh, what a beautiful scenario, and such an example of a mother’s heart. We love our children no matter what, don’t we? I suspect even her husband is acting out of love, though maybe misguided. Dads can have such a hard time giving up their little girls! Wouldn’t it be wonderful if this dress brought the entire family back together? :)