Once Within A Lifetime (22 page)

“
Phylicia, this is Esther, Todd’s mother and Esther, this is my dear friend, Phylicia Talbot.”

“
Hello, I am so pleased to meet you,” replied Phylicia and Esther nodded in agreement.

“
Yes,” stated Phylicia, “This is a marvelous place and I knew that if she cannot find a gown she loves here, she cannot find it anywhere. So what do you say we begin? First of all it will help if you have something specific in mind that you are looking for, or we could be here for a week. What style, color, specific details. We need to settle that first so we all can know what we’re looking for.”

“
Surely,” agreed Triessa, “I do have some specific details in mind and have the pictures with me of some I’ve designed in the past. Let’s look at them and then we can begin the search.”

So
they gathered to look at the pictures which were beautiful and rich in specific details and design.

“
I feel a street length will work better in the garden without the long train to get on the ground. It will also be much more comfortable.”

They
all agreed. So they began to look, found several that came close and gathered them up so they could examine them together. They then began to separate the items and try to narrow it down to one dress.

After
a few hours, they found what they all felt was the one that fit the whole idea the best, but then Esther cried out in excitement, “Look here, please check this one first.” They went over to see it and wondered how they had missed it, for it was truly the dress she had in mind.

“
Oh, thank you for continuing to look, Esther. This is elegant and just what I had in mind. Look Phylicia, the color is perfect, as well.”

Phylicia
agreed and knew it was what would be just the thing for Triessa. They purchased it, got it wrapped up and put in a special box to carry home. They selected a veil and head band as well. She found the hose and shoes that would match perfectly. These things were a lot easier to locate, especially since the dress had been selected. What a joy to have all this done and to have found everything they wanted here in one place.  

Phylicia
interjected, “Triessa, do you have a special nightie for the big night?” She grinned slyly.

“
Well, actually, I do not believe I do. Did you see something here? I had considered wearing something I had already but it may be nice to get something special, specific and brand new.”

They
all went over to one corner of the store and saw a large array of special nighties for the big night and it was another difficult choice.

“
Do you think I should get a white one or a color?” asked Triessa.

“
Why, white for your first night would be ideal, I think,” suggested Phylicia.

“
Look here,” exclaimed Esther, “What do you think of this?”

It
was white, strapless and had lace on the very top covering the breasts. It came to a “V” point just above the waist and had tiny pearl buttons down the front.

“
How utterly elegant! It reminds me of a long-line strapless bra. The good thing is that it fastened in the front. Otherwise, you may need help to get into it,” snickered Phylicia. “Then the fun surprise would be over.”

The
skirt was quite full and gathered at the waist falling in a beautiful line. With it was a beautiful robe with much lace on it.

The
sales lady commented, “With the sheer gown over it, it will be very appealing, alluring, and enticing.”

Triessa
blushed but agreed it would be just the thing.

“
I fear I will be shy having him see me like that for the first time.”

Esther
heard her, smiled and felt ashamed for what she had said to Spencer earlier in her time of great upset. She was surprised at her thoughts and would never tell anyone.

“
And these slippers,” exclaimed Triessa as she walked by them, “They are elegant and even look lacy themselves. I have never seen any like them, have you, Phylicia?”

“
No, I do not think I have. What an elegant style for a slipper. They look like dance shoes. Maybe they would work for that too.”

These
things were paid for, wrapped and then they left.

They
decided to have lunch together in a nearby little cafe which Phylicia told them about so they secured the packages in the trunk of the car and went to the cafe. They ordered lunch with the option to eat outside and enjoy the lovely day. They chatted about the exciting time coming up. Esther told them how very pleased she had been to be involved in this whole shopping trip and related how she knew Triessa’s own mother would like to have been here also. She felt this was a special thing for her to have been invited in place of Triessa's mother.

We
have found such elegant things. It is unbelievable and they are matchless,” she exclaimed. She was beginning to have the flush of excitement on her face about the whole thing now which truly pleased Triessa and Phylicia. It definitely was noticeable and they smiled at each other.

“
Yes, my mother would love to have been here, I know,” sighed Triessa, “And I surely would have loved to have her here but it could not be so. She’ll love it all the same and will be able to help me when I get ready for the wedding. I could not have found such a one-of-a-kind dress anywhere else and she will truly understand and be happy for me. She will be as excited as I am when she sees them.”

This
made Esther feel a little sad and she began to feel sorry for the problem she had created at Triessa’s place. It made her particularly quiet. She still felt embarrassed about it.

Triessa
noted her sad look and was a little fearful still, but said, “And since you’re the mother of the man I love and plan to marry, it has been especially nice to have you join us in this special trip. Thank you so much, Esther.” She reached out and kissed her on the cheek. Esther smiled and seemed very pleased. She seemed to melt a little. This may have been just the thing to make some big changes come about. Triessa found it very hard to wait to tell Todd about this turn of events.

They
finished lunch and decided to go back to the Noble home after picking Todd up at the stores where they’d left him. He’d had lunch so he was ready to go. She and Todd could plan on going to his home to get the things he wanted there. She would tell him on the way about his mother’s reactions. He would be pleased as well. It might be good if they could check on plans to return to her place tomorrow if they could get a flight out. There certainly was a lot still left to do but the big issue was out of the way since they had done what they planned to do here with getting the dress. She felt a little sad he had to wait so long to see the dress and the nightie. Triessa said goodbye to Phylicia and asked her to get in touch and let her know when she could come to her place. She agreed to do so and they left to go back to his parent’s home.

On
the way back, Triessa asked Esther if she could talk to her about the situation that had happened back at her place because she needed to know how she felt about her and get it settled once and for all.

“
What was wrong? What hurt you so? We were very upset that it hurt you as it did.”

“
I guess the element of surprise threw me off balance. I realized that I could not change anything and I certainly do not want to upset my son or you and spoil your wedding. If this is what he chooses I will be happy for you both. I truly feel so embarrassed.”

“
Please don’t,” advised Triessa, “I can understand a little of what you felt and am sorry we did not think about it ahead of time but we were so in love and excited and thought the way we planned to tell everyone was a wonderful idea. Who knows how I would react in the same situation? So let’s put it behind us and go on now, agreed?” She reached out and patted Esther’s hand. Ester smiled and nodded in agreement.

They
arrived back home early afternoon, much better than Todd had expected with three ladies out on a shopping spree.

“
Maybe we can go to my place this afternoon and get my things, if you would like,” he said to Triessa. “What will you have to do to get ready?”

“
I will just change and be ready to go. I had been thinking along the same lines. Why don’t you call to see if we can get a flight tomorrow so we can get at things there. Do you think we can get a flight?”

“
I will be right back,” he said, as he gave her a hug.

She
soon returned and Todd told her he had called and they could get a flight later in the afternoon, if that was all right. She agreed that it was fine. They could spend a little more time with his folks. Then they left for his place which was not too far away.

Soon
they arrived and were greeted by his two large dogs, then went inside to begin getting things ready.

“
We can stay here overnight if you wish, Dear, and leave in the morning. We have plenty of time with an afternoon flight. It will give us time to look around here a bit to see what has been done while we were gone.”

“
That sounds great to me,” she replied. “And we can see your folks again before we go.” Then she told Todd about his mother’s change of heart while they were shopping and eating. “I think it especially pleased her because she found the dress we decided was just the one I needed. I am glad it turned out that way for her sake.”

“
Let’s go see what, if anything, has been done with the vineyards,” Todd suggested.

While
he was talking, he took her hand and began to lead her out back to look. They stood to look first and, from the back of the house, they could see that some vines had been put in and were blooming beautifully.

“
Oh, look,” he exclaimed, “They are there and doing so well. Let’s go down and have a closer look.”

They
went down and looked at the rows which were so even and nice. There was a good crop already planted. The gardener was working nearby and told them that he had them nearly all done. He just had a few more to finish on one row then they would be complete. He was planning to finish it up tomorrow.

“
Thank you so much,” said Todd. “We are so pleased to see them doing so well. When will they yield?”

“
They should bear some this year,” he replied, “Though much better next year. You have a real quality vineyard here now. These are superior plants.”

“
I need to call the airlines again to see if the flight still holds or if anything has changed,” stated Todd. “I will be right back.”

He
returned and told her they could not get the flight tomorrow, but would have to wait until the following noon. She was visibly disappointed but felt it would be for the best. She wanted to talk more with his folks regarding their plans.

“
Great,” replied Todd and patted the gardener on the shoulder. They went back to the house to get his things together. He found what would fill a suitcase, got it ready to go, and put it in the car so they would be loaded. They could leave tomorrow when they got ready.

He
went to tell Marjolaine, his cook, that they would be eating in the dining room this evening and asked if they could dine about six o’clock. It was fine with her, so he went back out to be with Triessa.

“
I want to tell Marjolaine about our plans to be wed. She will be happy about that,” Todd told her.

“
Let’s go outside and just walk around to look at everything. I have not been spending a lot of time here lately for some reason,” he said with a smile. He took her hand, and they went outside to walk around and see all the beautiful hills in the distance.

“
It does truly look majestic,” she sighed. “Todd, promise me you will talk to your mother, so we can be set free from the fear that she may not want the wedding to take place. Ask if we can keep the date we’ve planned on or if we must change it. It will make all the difference with our plans. I truly cannot fully relax until I know. I am still frightened. We must know before we go back, so we can know how to carry on. I talked with her on the way back to her place but want her to tell you as well. You can tell how she truly feels because you know her so well. I want to be sure she is not holding back on anything with me.” 

“
I will call her this evening, or maybe I should talk with her personally tomorrow so I can see her expressions. It will be good to get the air cleared before we leave. Since we have more time maybe it would be good to stay with them tomorrow night. Would you be comfortable with that?”

She
agreed it might be a good thing for them to have more time together.

He
walked over and held her close.

“
Please do not worry. Things will be fine.”

She
smiled and they went back in to get ready for dinner. She went up to her room, freshened up, and he went to his room and did the same.