“You deserve a lot better than that.” He held his jaw rigid, wanting to take all those guys to task. Couldn’t they see what a wonderful heart lay under the makeup and clothing?
James’s anger completely derailed at the earsplitting howl that grated up his spine from the back room. He jumped to his feet with Daniel right next to him.
“Holly, who died?” James called.
She stepped out, tears running down her cheeks. “What happened?” Daniel asked, rushing forward. The dress hung on Holly, practically falling off her shoulders.
“It’s too big.”
“We ordered the size your mother told us to,” Clare explained, and Holly went off again. James figured they were lucky all the glass in the front of the store didn’t shatter. As it was, James wondered if his spine was ever going to be the same. Then the tears started again, this time deep, wrenching sobs.
“Can we fix it?” James asked.
Clare’s complexion had paled by at least three shades. “We can make basic alterations, but our senior seamstress is on maternity leave. This was a special order and it was delayed.” She looked heartbroken. Holly was devastated, her makeup running down her face. James pulled Holly into a hug to try to comfort her.
“Where’s your sewing area?” Daniel asked.
“It’s in back,” Clare answered.
“Take me there,” Daniel demanded, and Clare didn’t argue, the two of them leaving the room.
“It’s going to be okay,” James told Holly.
Holly pulled back, her face a mess, and seemed two seconds from slugging him. “How in the fuck is this disaster ever going to be all right?” She lifted the dress. “It’s at least a full size too big. What size is it?” She turned and James read the label.
“A ten,” he read.
“Make that two sizes too big. What the hell did Mom think was going to happen? Why would she do this to me?” Holly alternated between explosion and tears. Not that James could blame her for either one.
“Okay,” Daniel said, returning with a stool. “Holly, step up there. James, walk to that coffee shop a few doors down and get us all lattes. We’re going to need plenty of fuel.”
“What can I do?” Clare asked.
“Just stay out of the way.” Daniel began pulling the dress this way and that, tugging it together in the back as James made for the exit. “Does your mother have a sewing machine?”
* * *
James carried the cup tray in one hand as he cautiously pulled open the door to the shop, expecting yelling, tears, or something in between, but it was quiet. Daniel stood behind Holly, still working on the dress, pinching and tucking fabric, adding pins and marking the fabric with chalk. James handed each of them their coffee and then took a seat in one of the chairs off to the side, checking email and messages on his phone.
There was nothing important, and once he slipped it into his pocket, he found himself watching Daniel as he moved around Holly, adjusting the way the dress hung. He also tugged at the square bodice of the dress, speaking softly to Holly, who lowered her gaze and shook her head.
“Don’t worry. I can fix it. I’ve been making my own clothes for years.” He flashed a bright smile in James’s direction and nodded. It was truly going to be all right.
“I think that’s it.” Daniel stepped back and had Holly slowly turn around. “Why don’t you go take off the dress. Just be really careful—there are a ton of pins.” Holly carefully stepped down, and Clare went with her into the back of the store once again. Daniel drank the last of his coffee and tossed the cup in the trash before sitting down next to James.
“Thank you.” He was so grateful for what Daniel was doing to basically save the wedding.
“Your mother really messed that up for her. I have no idea what she was thinking. But I will say this, the store certainly should have contacted her before they changed Holly’s order.” Daniel sighed. “I can make this work, somehow. I will, because I am not going to let your sister walk down the aisle on her special day in anything that doesn’t make her look the way she deserves to look.” The determination in Daniel’s expression drew James closer before he realized it was happening.
Holly joined them, and Clare brought out the dress in a plastic protective cover, carefully laid over her arm, and handed it to Daniel. She clearly felt bad, but it wasn’t her fault.
“Let’s get back to the house so I can plan how I’m going to do this before we need to leave for your meeting at the church,” Daniel told Holly gently. “It’s going to be okay.” Daniel handed the dress to him and then hugged Holly. “I’ll do my very best.”
* * *
“Are you really going to be able to fix this?” James asked, standing behind Daniel as he worked in the bedroom with the dress laid out on the bed, pins everywhere. “It seems like a huge amount of work.”
“It is.” Daniel turned to the open door, and James closed it for privacy, returning to where Daniel sat as he made notes. “I have to do something. This dress is all wrong for her.” He sighed, and James massaged Daniel’s shoulders.
“What can I do to help?” he asked. James was probably going to regret asking. He knew nothing at all about sewing, but the job just seemed huge.
“Believe it or not, you’re doing it.” Daniel set down the notebook and pencil. “At least now I know what I’m going to do.” He rubbed his eyes. “When are we supposed to leave?”
“You don’t need to come.”
“We told your sister we’d go with her and Howard. Besides, I need a break before I tackle this thing. I’m going to have to pick apart the seams and resew them. It’s fiddly work, but not the most complicated thing I’ve done.”
James leaned down, hugging Daniel from behind. “You’re a real lifesaver, you know that? Mom can sew, but I doubt she’s up for this kind of project.” Even though she should be the one fixing this mess.
“We have to get ready to go. Howard picked up Holly a little while ago. I think he’s doing his best to keep her calm, and that’s probably the only reason Mom hasn’t been hung up by her ears.” Why she had to meddle in everything and thought she knew better than everyone else was a mystery to him. She always seemed to think Holly exaggerated the size she wore. Mom was always sorry after she meddled, but she just couldn’t seem to help herself. If she would have left things alone, none of this would be necessary. But on the other hand, Daniel had come to the rescue.
Daniel nodded. “Let’s make this as quick as possible so I can get back here to work on this before we go to the parties tonight.”