Chapter 24
Dear Anne,

I have great news. Next week, Fred has some business to do in Halifax and he is taking me with him. My mother will look after baby Fred while we are away. Would you like to meet me? We could stroll through the city and maybe get to look for some things for your wedding. Have you yet a wedding dress? Have you made a final decision about it? I would be pleased to see you again, Anne. I will call the orphanage soon. I hope you can give me an answer then.
Yours, Diana
Of course, Anne would meet Diana. One week later the young women met each other at the station in Halifax. Laughing, they hugged each other, as Diana and Fred get out of the train.

"How nice to see you two again." Anne smiled. "Gilbert is sorry but there is so much work in the hospital that he couldn't get a free day. "

"I'm very busy, too," Fred answered. "But maybe we could meet each other for supper."

"That would be great. Now, first we should go to the hotel." Diana said, and took Anne's arm.

"Go ahead, you two! I must go to the bank at once." Fred looked busily at his watch. "I will be back in the hotel at the latest, at 5.00 pm, Diana." He kissed his wife on the cheek and wished them both a fun time.

"I have so many things to tell you Anne. Where should we start our city stroll? I don't know a lot about Halifax."

"Don't you want to rest a little bit first?" Anne asked, laughing.

"No, I can't wait to rummage in all these shops."

Chattering, the two left the train station.

"Now let us talk about your wedding dress."

"Diana, I'm so glad that you are here," Anne sighed with a laugh. "I have looked at some dresses, but I can't make a decision. I don't know one fits me. I feel so ugly in most of them."

"Anne, you are beautiful. Now, Diana is here, and I will help you. Come on, we will find you the dress of your wildest dreams. I promise."

They strolled through many shops the whole morning. They hadn't looked for a wedding dress so far, but they looked at much china, books, and coloured stuff. They laughed and chatted with each other. It was very funny for both. Around noon they sat down in a small restaurant to eat.

"Now," Diana said as they left the building after their refreshments. "We will look for your wedding dress, now, Anne."

Together they went into a big shop at the corner. It sold many dresses, things, hats, and shoes. For two hours they looked at every wedding dress, and everything in this shop. But there wasn't the right one for Anne. Diana realized that they hadn't found the right dress for Anne. Sure, many dresses fit her, because Anne had a fabulous figure, but they all hadn't the special touch. The little thing to make it perfect.

With a look of giving up, Anne walked down the street: "This was what I thought, Diana. What should we do? I can't find my perfect dress." Anne said desperately.

"Come on, Anne. We shouldn't give up so quickly." Diana nudged her friend in the side.

With cheerful new courage, they entered the next shop. But here they hadn't any luck, either. Anne's mood was almost at rock bottom.

"Maybe we should make a break, Anne." Diana said as she noticed Anne's expression.

"Tomorrow, we will search again. All right?"

Anne nodded. They walked in direction back to the hotel. On their way, they passed a very small, odd shop. In the shop window were piles of very old books, and beside them some vases, and a wreath of dried roses. A rocking chair stood at the other end of the window and a shovel leaned against it.

Anne stopped abruptly in front of the window: "Diana, let us go into this shop."

"Why will you look into this odds and ends shop?" Diana asked.

"I don't know, I think it is a special one. It looks interesting. Please, Diana."

"Well, if you want. But you wouldn't find your wedding dress, here."

"I must go into it, Diana. I think this shop belonged to a kindred spirit."

Diana start to laugh and let Anne pull her into the shop. Inside, the shop was very tiny. It was crammed with so many things. The things seemed dusty and Diana had the impression that not many people visited the shop.

"It seems like no one is here, Anne. Let us go." Diana said impatiently.

But the astonished Anne looked around. The shop fascinated her. So many secrets were hiding here. Her lively imagination started to work.

Suddenly the door behind the counter opened. An old lean woman came out of the adjoining room. Astonished, she looked at the two young girls. She hadn't seen such young girls in her shop since a long time ago.

"How may I help you?" She asked in a friendly way, her blue eyes glittering impishly.

"We want to look around a little bit," Anne explained. "You have a very interesting shop. I believe it is full of adventures."

The woman smiled to Anne: "Yes, I think so, too. Everything here has its own story. But I don't believe that you two would find it interesting."

"Oh, I'm interested on every story. It is exciting what some things have seen." Carefully, Anne stroked a silver candleholder.

The old woman smiled, because this young girl was so different from the other girls she knew.

"This candleholder belonged my grandmother. It was a gift for her wedding. She loved her husband very much and when he died she couldn't bear the sight of this candleholder. It reminded her always of her happy wedding. So she packed up it in a box and brought it to the attic. Many years later, she tidied up this attic and found it again. My grandmother cried violently as she saw it. I was yet a little girl, when this happened. I was worried as I saw her tears and tried to comfort her. But suddenly she laughed and said: Doreen, I only cried of my memories. We live for our memories. This made me very thoughtful. Since that day, I have tried to put every little thing into my memory."

"A nice thought, to live for our memories. But why would you sell it, if you like it so much?" Anne asked.

"Oh, I won't sell it. Most of these things, I don't sell. I know, I have a shop, but actually I don't want to sell anything. That is why my shop is so full. I don't need the money, really. The shop is my hobby."

"I knew that you wouldn't find a wedding dress here, Anne." Diana whispered to Anne. She didn't know that the old woman had fantastic hearing.

"You are looking for a wedding dress?" The woman asked.

"Yes, I will marry in September," Anne explained. "But I was so magically drawn by your shop that I had to come in."

For a moment the woman looked searchingly into Anne's eyes.

"I believe I have something for you." She said, and quickly disappeared behind a tall shelf. She came back with a package in her hands.

"Many years ago, I almost got married. I had even bought my wedding dress and everything was ready. But then there was an accident." tears glimmered in her eyes. Spontaneously, Anne touched her hand.

"An accident took my George away from me. Since that time, I haven't opened this package." Slowly she started to open it. The smell of mothballs surrounded them. With wide eyes Anne looked over the edge of the package. A gleaming white thing came out of it. It was a wedding dress and it took Anne's breath away, as she finally saw the whole magnificence. White satin, a collar with tender lace. Light puffed sleeves; on the elbows they changed into lace, too.

"Wow," Diana called enthusiastically. "What a beautiful dress."

Speechless, Anne stared at the white dream.

"Do you want to try it on?" The old woman asked.

"Really?" Anne looked at her with wide eyes.

The woman nodded and handed her the dress. Anne put on the dress in the adjoining room and came back.

"Oh my gosh!" Diana yelled. "You look fabulous in this dress!"

"Do you want it?" The woman asked and smiled at Anne. "It really fits you."
"You. you really would sell it?" Anne stammered unbelievingly. Was she dreaming? The dress was perfect; she would never again find such a dress.

"No, I won't sell it. I want give it you as a present."

"What?" was the only thing Anne could say. She was completely stunned. In a tiny shop, she had found the dress of her dreams and a complete stranger would give it her. "I. couldn't accept this."

"I believe this dress is right for you. It had only waited for you. It is a pity to let it get dusty. The right person should wear it. Please take it; you are the right person for it. Please do this for me." Doreen said.

Tears were glittering in Anne's eyes, and spontaneously she hugged the old lady.

"Thank you," Anne whispered. "Thank you very much. I so not even know your name." Anne laughed suddenly.

"Miss Cotton!" The woman answered. "Doreen Cotton."

"You are a kindred spirit, Miss Cotton. I had known it at once."