"So..what do you think?"
"Mom. It's...beautiful! I love it!"
"And the timing is pretty much perfect, wouldn't you say?" her mother reminded her recently-engaged daughter.
"No kidding! Oh, Mom. This is just so incredible, and I'm really, really happy for you!"
Brooklyn Maxwell was 43 and the new owner of Brooklyn's Bridal Boutique which was now fully stocked with wedding dresses to fit any budget as well as everything else a bride-to-be could possibly want for her big day.
It had taken everything she'd saved since her divorce ten years ago plus a small-business loan, but here she was giving a private showing to her 22-year old daughter, Kristi, who would be getting married in just four short months.
"I already see it, Mom!" she said as Kristi's eyes fixated on her one-and-only dress.
"It's beautiful, honey. Do you want to try it on?"
"Yes, of course. I mean, I don't need to to know it's the one, but I do want to get a feel for how much it might need to be taken in," her daughter said excitedly.
Just minutes later, both of them knew why she'd chosen it. It looked absolutely gorgeous on her. When she was done, Brooklyn carefully hung it in the 'sold' rack after also tagging it as such with a bright red card that said 'SOLD' in gold letters.
"Okay, we'll have you come in for your fitting whenever you're ready, and it will be right there waiting for you," her mother told her.
"You're the best, Mom. And the best Mom—ever!" Kristi said before hugging the mother who'd raised her alone and sacrificed so much for her since her father abandoned them for another woman when she was 12 years old.
Kristi Maxwell had just graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle a month ago then three days after that had accepted a marriage proposal from her college sweetheart, Ryan James, a 24-year old graduate student majoring in geological engineering.
Brooklyn had foregone college in favor of marriage, and although she deeply regretted not going, she never once regretted having had her daughter at the age of 21. And now, all those years later, she couldn't be more proud of the beautiful young woman who'd grown up to become her best friend.
"Okay, one down, one to go," Kristi said cheerfully.
"What? What are you talking about?" her mom asked as she moved the dress to the sold rack.
"Well, I'm engaged so now...it's your turn!"
Brooklyn spun around and said, "Hold on there, little Susie Q. That is not happening. Fool me once, shame on you, right?"
"Mom? Don't be such a cynic, okay? There are plenty of great guys out there and you're so beautiful! Please at least keep an open mind. Please?"
Her mother rolled her eyes then said, "You know I'd do anything for you, right honey?"
"Yes. Of course, I do," Kristi said. "Thank you for agreeing without another big argument!"
"Um, no. I did not agree. I was trying to say, 'There's an exception to every rule', but you didn't let me finish."
Kristi playfully stuck her tongue out at her mother who, knowing they were alone, did the same thing back causing them both to laugh before hugging one another again.
"How about we move onto something practical? You know, something that might actually be possible like choosing a wedding photographer or the live entertainment or maybe even your wedding cake?" Brooklyn suggested.
Kristi heaved a sigh then said, "Okay. You win. For now anyway."
It wasn't just that Brooklyn had been left for another woman by her ex-husband. After waiting eight long years, she finally met someone she fell in love with. To her great delight, he'd proposed, and she'd happily said 'yes'.
A re-born-again believer in true love, she couldn't wait to say 'I do' and, nothing could have been more perfect than that day until the wedding was supposed to start and the groom didn't show up.
An hour later, sitting alone, and worried sick something might have happened to him, and still wearing her beautiful wedding dress, Brooklyn received, not a personal visit and not even a phone call, but an 'apology text'. A text in which her handsome, 40-year old fiancé told her he couldn't marry her because he'd fallen back in love with his high school sweetheart who'd looked him up a few months ago. He admitted he'd been seeing both of them before and after he'd proposed, and thought it would be 'comforting' for Brooklyn to know 'this was the hardest decision he'd ever had to make.'
She took off her wedding dress, and swore she would never marry—or even get serious with anyone—ever again.
And now, just a couple of years later, although she'd never admit it to her daughter, or even to herself, she still yearned to love and be loved, and while she held out little hope of that ever happening, embers still glowed warmly somewhere deep inside her.
****
One week later
"Okay! Welcome to bridal boot camp, everyone!" the perky young instructor said. "My name is Becca, and for the next four weeks, I'll be helping you get into the best shape of your life! I mean, come on, ladies, who doesn't want to fit into that dress, right!"
There were hoots and woot-woots and lots of applause from the dozen or so new brides-to-be who'd signed up for the class, as well as the husbands-to-be they'd persuaded to come with them.
"All right. Before we get started, let's get to know each other, shall we?" she said just as cheerfully.
Kristi beamed as she introduced her handsome fiancé while Brooklyn stood off to the side observing. Her daughter had asked her to come and take a look and find out what 'bridal boot camp' was all about.
Brooklyn had no personal interest in going, but she did have a professional one. If clients were going to be talking about this new (well, new to her) craze in pre-wedding routines, she wanted to know what it was all about. Also, she'd been promised a plug for her new boutique, so she stood there casually observing while taking note of the kinds of things the couples did as they followed Becca's lead.
After the introductions, the class did some warm-up exercises then moved into a 'trust exercise' where the 'bride' would fall into the 'groom's' arms as a way of building trust.
"Or break skulls," Brooklyn thought to herself.
Right in the middle of it, Becca called out, "Oh, ladies! And gentlemen, of course. May I have your attention real quick?"
Everyone stopped, turned, and turned to look at her.
"The very handsome guy who just walked in is Serge Harkhov, a local wedding photographer...hint, hint...who's taking photos for the gym here where I hold my boot camps. So ladies, look all you like but be good. Remember, your husbands-to-be are watching!"
There was a lot of laughter along with applause as the handsome young photographer held up one hand in a kind of wave/acknowledgement.
"Oh! I am SO sorry! Before I forget, let me also introduce someone else you'll want to get to know, ladies. This gorgeous woman is Brooklyn Maxwell, the owner of the newest bridal boutique in the Seattle-Tacoma area. Fittingly, it's called Brooklyn's Bridal Boutique. Try saying that really fast three times," Becca said as she asked Brooklyn to say hello.
"Go, Mom!" Kristi hollered out and drawing several stares of unbelief.
"She's your mom?" one of the brides-to-be said. "She looks like your big sister."
"And you just got 10% off any dress in the store!" Brooklyn said with a smile as she pointed to the younger woman who'd complimented her.
"I think you look younger than your daughter!" another shouted loudly. "Was that enough for 20% off?"
More laughter followed before Brooklyn told them where her boutique was located and the products and services she offered.
"I have a stack of business cards so when you leave, please take one and I hope to see all of you soon!"
She thanked them for their attention and smiled in thanks for the mild applause when she finished. After that she faded into the background as Becca put them through their paces while the photographer moved around taking action shots of the happy couples in motion.
