I was in my office working on paperwork when Josie and Alanza walked in without knocking. “No, please come in,” I said sarcastically.
“We’re going shopping, and you’re coming with us,” Josie said with finality.
I sighed, “I’m just going to wear one of the dresses I already have.”
“Let’s just look. We can go to a few shops, and if we don’t find anything, you can wear one you’ve already got,” Alanza offered.
I sighed again, “Fine.”
The first three shops we went to in Virginia Beach were a bust; not having that many dresses that covered my scars. Josie parked the car, “Look, guys, we aren’t going to find a dress that covers everything. I’m sure one of my dresses will be fine.”
“I have a good feeling about this shop,” Finley mind linked me.
I sighed, “Come on, Amaya. If we don’t find anything here, we’ll go back to the complex,” Alanza said, squeezing my hand.
I nodded and squeezed her hand back. When we walked into the small shop, we were greeted by an older woman who looked to be in her late seventies. “Welcome ladies. Can I help you girls find anything?”
“I need a dress for the naval ball,” I said to her.
She gave me a kind smile, “All of our ball gowns are over here.” She walked us over to a small corner in the store, “I’m sorry, we don’t have many left.”
I gave her a small smile, “That’s okay.”
“Let me know if I can help you girls. My name is Helen,” she said before walking back to the front of the store.
Lavi and Alanza started pulling dresses from the rack and throwing them at me. After they had thrown several dresses at me, Alanza looked over at me, “What are you still doing here?”
I put my hands up and wandered off to find a dressing room. When I couldn’t find one, I walked to the front to find Helen. “Are you ready for a dressing room?”
“My friends think I am,” I said with a smile.
She chuckled, “Right this way.” She unlocked a small dressing, “Would you like some help?”
“No, thank you,” I said, stepping into the room. I looked through the dresses they had picked out for me, and felt a little less discouraged.
A light knock sounded on the door, “It’s me,” Finley mind linked me.
I opened the door, “Sorry Fin. There’s not much room.”
She squeezed in and we managed to get the door shut. Finley pointed to a beautiful red gown with lace arms, “Let’s see that one first.”
I slipped it on and turned around so Finley could button it. When I turned around Finley mind linked me, “I knew I had a good feeling about this shop.”
“Get out here, unless you’re naked then please stay there,” Josie all but shouted, causing me to roll my eyes. I stepped out of the dressing room, “Yes! I love that one,” Josie said.
“It looks so good Amaya,” Lavi said with a grin, wincing slightly and pressing her hand to her side as the baby readjusted.
I looked down before looking over at the full length mirror, “I don’t know. It’s pretty but I don’t know if it’s the dress.”
“So it’s a good second, if we don’t find anything else,” I nodded at Alanza’s suggestion, “Okay, get back in there.”
I tried on several more gowns but none of them covered my scars fully. I was about to give up when Lavi gently knocked on the door, “Try this one.”
I cracked the door and grabbed the gown Lavi held out for me. It was a beautiful black velvet gown with small see-through elements on the shoulders and halfway down the skirt. Once I slipped into it, Finley zipped it up and I turned to her, “This is the one,” she mind linked me with a grin.
I gave her a smile before stepping out of the dressing room, “Oh my God. If you don’t love this dress, I’m going to check you into a mental hospital,” Josie said.
I laughed and looked in the full length mirror. I was speechless as I took it in, the dress was so beautiful, “I absolutely love it.”
“Thank God! I really didn’t want to check you into a mental hospital, but was ready to do it if you decided you didn’t like it,” Josie said with a grin.
I rolled my eyes, “Are you guys sure you can’t see any of them?”
“Turn around,” Alanza said, standing to look at my shoulders, “The mesh is obscuring most of them. Your lightning scar is peeking through the top, but if I didn’t know you had scars, I wouldn’t see them.”
“I definitely didn’t notice them,” Josie said. “You looking stunning is enough of a distraction that those who don’t know you have them, won’t see them.”
I let out a breath, “Okay. This one it is.”
I redressed quickly after Finley helped me out of the dress. “Did you find the one?” Helen asked when we reached the front of the store.
“I did,” I told her, placing the dress on the counter.
I handed her my debit card and tried not to cringe at the price. “Would you like a black garment bag or a clear one?”
“Black please.”
She handed me the garment bag, “Thank you girls for coming in. Have fun at the ball,” she said with a smile.
“Thank you so much,” I said, giving her a smile.
Author: Kailan Counahan 