Cool air rushed out at the two Gilmore Girls as they entered Hartford's mall.
" Ready?" the elder Gilmore said.
" Where should we start?"
" Well, mom said to try David's Bridal first then the bigger department stores."
" Okay let's get going to it."
Hours passed as they both looked for their dresses. Lorelai had found her dress hours before in Coral's Formal Wear. She had seen the golden fabric sticking out from behind some purple dresses. After debating whether she should get it or not, Rory had told her that she was beautiful in it and Luke would love it. That made her get it.
Presently Rory was shifting through the racks of dresses in Burdines as she waited for her mother to come back from putting her dress in the car.
" Find anything Rory?" Lorelai asked her daughter.
" No. Let's head to the next store."
" There are only two stores left."
" I know. I know my dress is in this mall."
" I hope so."
" Me too."
After she had searched the racks for twenty minutes in JcPennys, Rory finally gave up and told her mom they needed to try the last store. The small store seemed lonely and deserted in the back of the mall as they approached it. The sign that read, Formal Wear by Carolina Rhea, seemed to light up as they entered the store.
" Hello, how may I help you?" a middle-aged women asked them.
" My daughter is looking for a formal dress to wear to a ball we are attending." Lorelai told the lady.
" Okay. Young lady come here."
Rory stepped forward hesitantly and stopped in front of the lady. The lady smiled and began to mutter things as she circled Rory.
" You're about a size six. You want a white dress, Cinderella style. I'm guessing a layer of sheer on top and a full skirt that swishes when you turn. Am I right?"
" How…how did you know?"
" That's my job. Let me get the dress I think you'll love."
The lady scurried away and returned minutes later with a dress in her arms.
" Try this on."
Rory took the dress and went into the dressing room to change. Moments later she was standing atop a pedestal gazing at her reflection. The dress was a shimmery pearl white color with rhinestone straps and a corset-like top. The skirt was full and flared out and ended directly at her ankles. She felt just like Cinderella must have.
" I love it." Rory exclaimed.
" It looks great Rory."
" It won't need any altering either. This dress was made for your daughter." The lady explained.
" It must be so expensive though."
" No actually it is fifty percent off and that makes it about one hundred twenty dollars."
" Really?"
" Yeah."
" What are you waiting for Rory? Get out of the dress so we can pay for it."
" Okay. Be right out."
Rory skipped into the dressing room as Lorelai turned to face the lady.
" How did you do that?"
" A bit of psychology and if you look at her hard enough you can tell."
" Really?"
" Yes. She'll be one of a kind."
" Huh?"
" There is only one dress like that and she is getting the only one."
" Really?"
" Yeah. I never let anyone have a dress just like one I sold. It makes me help the feel like Cinderella."
" You are a goddess."
" No just a dress designer."
" Ready mom?"
" Yeah."
Lorelai pulled out her credit card and after paying for the dress they left to head home. On the way they stopped at Prom Traffic and bought shoes, tiaras, and handbags.
Rory lay in bed as her eyes drifted over to the dress hanging on the outside of her closet door.
' Perfect.' She thought as her eyes closed.
She could hardly wait until the night of the ball.