"Oh, Candy, you are a real princess!" The girls screamed with excitement.
Miss White walked slowly to a large mirror, carefully picking up her skirt. The stranger in the most beautiful wedding dress in the world was looking at her from the mirror.
The girl looked fragile and tender - so that dress was airy. The fluffy skirt of some laces was trimmed with small bouquets of half blown roses, decorated with pearls and tiny diamonds, emphasized the girl's waist. Laces also framed the neckline of a small tight bodice and decorated small sleeves.
Annie felt an unexpected sadness. "Candy is so beautiful in this dress", Miss Brighton thought. "She is so beautiful, so in love, so happy... And I could have been like this if it were not for Archie. Oh! If it were not for Archie! And not for Candy herself..!"
But then the girl pulled herself up. "No, I shouldn't think so. She is not guilty of anything. It's just Archie's guilt. I won't think about it, I won't..."
Candy turned round and round in front of the mirror, and the dress sparkled in the sun rays with a hundred of little lights.
"Candy, that's awesome!" Patty exclaimed. "See, I was right that this is exactly what you need!"
Annie sighed softly. How does their always-quiet Patricia manage to be so generous?
Annie herself, when they entered the store, began to unconsciously advise her friend the most inconspicuous dresses, subconsciously choosing those that would not suit Miss White at all. Without admitting it, Miss Brighton wanted HER wedding, and HER dress to be much better and more elegant than Candy's...
But Patty... Where did she get that taste, how did she find that dress, how did she persuade Candy to wear it, and thus...
Candy really looked like a princess from a fairy tale...
"But it is terribly expensive," The bride suddenly began to worry when she saw the price label. "I can never afford such an expensive dress."
"But Candy," Miss O'Brien said. "After all, Neil said that you could spend a certain amount, and this price is completely suitable ..."
"Stop there, Patty! I cannot. I should work as a nurse for a year to earn money to pay for this single rose adorned with a diamond. It is just impossible to spend so much money to buy a dress, which I will wear only once."
The sellers looked at each other in surprise, and Miss White resolutely went behind a screen.
"What should we do, Annie?" Patty whispered, being, apparently, in utter despair. "How to persuade her?"
"Maybe we should really choose something more decent?" Miss Brighton said thoughtfully. "It would be more convenient for her, because she is not accustomed to wear such luxurious clothes. And she is loved not for the dress."
"Well, I don't know... I think she looks amazing in it."
Miss O'Brien stood up and ran behind the screen.
Candy was already taking off her dress with the help of a seller.
"Candy. Listen to me... After all, it will be only once in a lifetime! Your wedding will take place only once in a lifetime. Understand that this will never happen again..."
Miss White looked at her friend.
Patty continued:
"No one knows what will happen tomorrow... Let yourself be the most beautiful on this day. It's so awesome... to love... and to be loved..."
Tears flashed in front of the girl's eyes, and Candy impetuously hugged her friend.
"Patty, my dear Patty..." - I thought Miss White, hugging Miss O'Brien tightly.
Candy suddenly realized how hard it was for Patty to smile, looking at wedding dresses, because all these joyous moments reminded her of unfulfilled hopes anyway. And the friend's words were about living here and now, sometimes even sparing no expense, because there are such moments that may not happen again…
"Patty probably also wanted to be the most beautiful for Stear..."
"I take it!" Candy said.
"That's great," Annie approached them. "I think we should celebrate it!"
Annie could barely bring herself to approach Patty and Candy. But how could she stand aside, when the things have turned out in such a way?
It would just be ugly. So it was she who offered all three to sit in a cafe.
But Miss Brighton was getting harder and harder to bear Candy's company.
Her close happiness of a married woman, her dress... Candy always had Annie's dreams come true. Even her parents wanted to adopt Candy initially.
"After her wedding, I will communicate with her as little as possible," The dark-haired girl thought. "Otherwise I will not be able to hide... my envy..."