The long-awaited shopping trip! Enjoy!
Chapter 15 – She's a beautiful girl
"Morning, Chicas!" Lanie called as she stepped outside her apartment building. "It's a fine day for shoppin', and time's a wastin'. Where we going?" Lanie was rubbing her hands together. "Manhatta Mall? SoHo? Macy's?"
"Geez, Lanie. Good to see you to." Kate laughed. "This is Paige, Alexis' friend. Paige, this horribly inconsiderate shopping fiend, is my friend—"
"Best friend."
"Dr. Lanie Parrish."
"Pleased to meet you, Girl."
"My pleasure." Paige shook Lanie's hand, her refined manners evident in the light grasp.
"Hi, Lanie." Alexis gave the woman a quick hug. "I'm glad you could come. As to where we're going…we haven't decided yet."
"We've already been to the mall…that's where I got my dress and where Alexis got her first dress."
"So, I'd kinda like to try someplace else."
"Macy's maybe? Or there's that new strip mall in Midtown?" Kate suggested.
"Madison Avenue, then?" Paige suggested at the same time.
Alexis watched as Lanie and Kate exchanged a quick grimace. She knew from all the times Kate got mad when Dad insisted on paying that she paid attention to her pocketbook. And even though she was officially the one looking for a dress, she didn't want Kate or Lanie to be uncomfortable.
"Actually, I was thinking," she turned to Lanie, "Well, Kate said you know where to find all the best stuff. Something about a 'sixth sense' for fashion…You have such great style, and always look fabulous. I was kinda hoping you'd be willing to dish."
Lanie grinned at Kate as she locked arms with Alexis. "Ooh, Girl. Kick Castle to the curb. We are so keeping her."
Kate laughed. "Tried that. We keep Castle and the perks. I call dibs on Alexis."
"But you already have Castle. What do I get?"
"You get to decide where we're going."
"Ever been to the boutiques around 15th street in East Village?" Three heads shook 'no.'
"Let's start there."
Already, they were three hours into their shopping excursion, but they were still in the fourth store they had visited. At least there were dresses in this store. The first store looked promising when they first walked in, but after scouring the racks and Alexis trying on a few dresses, they determined the dresses here were a little too racy for Alexis' tastes…and Castle's sensitivities. The next store had a couple "maybes"—but none seemed to suit Alexis perfectly. Still, they were having fun. Kate didn't realize shopping with the teens and Lanie would be so much fun. Sure, she thought she'd have fun, but she was having a lot of fun and she was incredibly relaxed—especially compared to last night.
They'd spent a lot of time at the third store, Nifty Things. It had all sorts of unique gift items. Kitchen utensils made in the shapes of parrots and cows. The flying pig helicopter toys. Martini glasses with funny sayings. Jeweled contact lens cases. But the thing that amused Kate the most was the stuffed olive. It was literally a stuffed olive—a little smaller than a soccer ball, green with a red "pimento"—stuffed just like you'd find any kid's stuffed animal.
When Alexis had found it, she held it up to the others. "Look, Guys. It's a stuffed olive." Kate took one look at it and cracked up, to the point that she had tears in her eye. Maybe it was the moment or the nonchalant way Alexis said it, but she found that stuffed olive endlessly amusing. Lanie and Alexis laughed a bit, but mostly at Kate's reaction. Paige and a couple other shoppers looked confused.
"Oh, come on! It's a stuffed olive!" Kate said, swiping a finger at the corner of her eye. "That's funny."
"Girl, you got a warped sense a'humor. You think that's the funniest thing ever."
"Gimme that." She knocked the stuffed olive from Alexis' arms and caught it in her own. "I'm buying it." She didn't know what she was going to do with it, but she had to prove to herself that someone else would think it was funny.
The fourth store Kate wasn't too sure about. Oh, it definitely had formal dresses, but something about being surrounded by wedding dresses and bridesmaid's dresses left her feeling a bit queasy. The wedding dress crossed her mind, but only in a 'that's so outlandish you'd think it came from Castle' kind of way. And the bridesmaid's dresses? If she never saw another bridesmaid's dress, it would be too soon. Though, from the way Lanie fingered the sleeve of the long, white gowns that was on display near the changing rooms, she wondered if she wouldn't soon have to make an exception. At least Lanie had good taste.
They all walked around looking for something that Alexis would love. They could reject a lot of dresses just based on color alone. With Alexis hair color and complexion, reds, pinks, oranges and even some purples were immediately rejected. Though they had found one that was a pink and purple camoflauge design that they made her try on. They figured there had to be a contest somewhere for best prom fashion disasters. She'd stand a chance at winning just for considering it.
Kate found a navy blue dress with a silvery, lace overlay in a flowery pattern which color-wise, looked incredibly nice on Alexis, but was entirely the wrong fit. Alexis found a black, satin dress with a choker-style top which left her shoulders bare. It was a possibility. Alexis was in the middle of trying on a fun, bright teal-colored dress Paige had picked out when Lanie approached with something that paled in comparison.
It was a two-dress. The color was a dark, golden ivory. It hinted at a cross between light brown and pale yellow. The bodice was covered in clear sequins and beads in the same color as the bodice, but when you looked closer, you could see some light stitching and beads in brown and a light green. The skirt was the same color: plain, full and unembroidered. Lanie lifted the top to reveal the bottom half of the dress. Gathered along the waist, positioned slightly off-center, there was a sash, of sorts, in a eucalyptus green color that fell nearly the length of the dress. It was held in place by a flower in the same ivory color, with browns and greens weaved into the design. Alexis and Kate looked altogether skeptical. Paige looked downright repulsed.
"Look, I know the color is…a little off-putting. But, I really think you should try this on. I think by going with this lighter color, with your complexion, it'll actually make you look tan. And, you know, it's on a hanger. Everything looks different on." With all the doubt staring back at her, Lanie looked less confident at the end of her pitch than she did at the beginning.
But, Alexis, bless her heart, smiled, if a bit hesitantly and said, "Hey, it's worth a shot. I've rejected dozens that I thought were right, so maybe the one that I thought was so wrong will be right?"
Lanie looked over to Kate, knowing the significance of the girl's words wouldn't be lost on Kate. They'd talked about this before. "Girl's got a way with words, doesn't she Kate?" Kate refused to look at Lanie. She knew she wasn't getting out of today without talking to Lanie about L.A., Royce's letter—which she knew Lanie read—but she wasn't ready to broach the subject yet. Especially not here, standing in front of Castle's daughter.
Kate watched Alexis move to the changing room with the dress slung over her arm. She wondered how many times she pondered that same thought—but about something much bigger than a prom dress. She'd tried hard not to after Castle came back. For one, it wasn't fair to Josh. But, more importantly, she didn't want to be in that position again. She leapt before, admittedly a little late, but she fell hard—and alone. It didn't work out. But they were friends now, and that meant more to Kate than she could possibly say. So, why was that thought invading her brain so often again?
Kate was wandering, still thinking and looking at dress options when Alexis came back into the room. She stood on the stool in front of the six way mirror that wrapped half around her. Kate looked up and stepped toward the girl, locking eyes with her in the mirror. Alexis stood there with her arms hanging down in front or the perfectly fitted sweetheart-style top. She smoothed her hands over the bottom of the dress, and played nervously with the sash.
"Wow. Alexis. You look…beautiful. Lanie was right."
"Remember she said that girls. 'Lanie was right.'"
"I didn't think it would look so good—but it feels great on, too. Not itchy or tight. It's not too long or anything. It's just…my glass slipper, I guess." She offered a half smile in apology for her sappiness.
"Okay, Cinderella," Paige joked. "I just can't believe it actually makes you look like you have a tan. Remember we tried spray tans and you looked orange? Now you look totally natural and...classy, but fun."
Lanie was still thinking about the dress and what would go with it. "Only problem is you can't wear black shoes or white shoes. You might actually have to find glass slippers."
"On the plus side, your wooden shoes will match perfectly!" Kate beamed at Alexis while Paige and Lanie looked perplexed.
"Very funny, Kate. I told you. Those are fire fodder. Never to be seen again."
"Ashley won't mind if you crush his toes with your clod-hoppers."
"Already embers."
"I'm a Detective. I'll need to see evidence."
"All up in smoke."
"Liar." Kate said winking at the girl. "Maybe, I'll just call your dad? Have him find them for you? That way you can try them on with your new dress."
"Like I want my Dad digging around in my closet."
"Why should you get off easy? He digs around in mine. Here, hold still while I take a picture."
"Are you sending that to my dad?"
"Of course. He'll love it."
Lanie and Paige weren't sure what just happened, but the banter between the two had them all smiling.
While Alexis moved back into the changing room, Kate scrolled to Castle's name and attached Alexis' photo to her message.
Found it! What do you think?
She figured he'd reply back immediately, but Alexis called to her first.
"Uh, Kate? Can you come here?"
"Sure, Sweetie. I'll be right there." Kate was knocked on the door a bit hesitantly. Paige had been the one to help with zippers all day, so she was unsure of what to expect. Alexis opened the door and pulled her in. Alexis' cheeks were flushed—she most definitely wasn't looking tan.
"What's up?"
"I'm, uh, I've never worn this kind of dress before. I mean, it dips lower in the back and the way it's cut in the front."
Kate waited, but she didn't continue. There's got to be a question in there somewhere. "Do you not really like the dress? Because we can keep looking."
"No. It's not that. I love the dress."
"But?"
Alexis' cheeks reddened a little more. She looked down to where her clothes lay folded on the bench, her bra on top, and finally Kate understood.
"Ah," Kate said, kicking herself for prolonging the teen's discomfort. "Well, Lex, you're not all that busty, so… Do you feel like you're going fall out?" The girl shook her head no.
"And does the top gap? You need to try sitting, bending, and, since you'll be dancing, lifting your arms. If everything stays in place, and you feel comfortable, then I'd say you don't need a bra. The only reason to wear one would be if it would make you feel more comfortable."
"Thanks, Kate."
"No problem. If you decide you want to wear one, they make specialty bras to accommodate the shape of virtually any dress. I'm sure we can find you one."
Kate's phone buzzed.
My new ringtone for Alexis.
"Your dad just sent his response to the photo. Wanna hear it?" Alexis nodded, thinking Kate was going to read it to her. Instead she heard, part of KT Tunstall's Suddenly I See.
Her face is a map of the world
Is a map of the world
You can see she's a beautiful girl
She's a beautiful girl
Alexis grinned. "Aww, he's sweet. Tell him I said thanks." Kate agreed. He was sweet. She typed out her message
So True! Must be in the genes.
Glad to know you're thinking of what's in my 'genes'
Mind out of gutter. Lex says U R sweet & thanks
No prob. Now I need a new ringtone for you, though…
So, worth the wait? I love to read your thoughts, so feel free to leave a review. Many thanks for reading!