All of Me

Diana almost wrote you too, which didn’t mean the same as actually saying the words. Deliberately being hurtful wasn’t her style, so she typed I love you and tossed her phone in her purse. She wiped the tears off her cheeks and sniffled as the realization that he hadn’t apologized hit her. Whatever, she thought with a shrug of her shoulders. They’d talk about it tonight and he’d apologize then.

She began to question herself. Had she been over the top about the wedding, acted like someone she would call stupid? The cars in front of her were travelling at the speed of a snail, giving her time to reflect. Having the wedding at the house had been much more stressful than she’d imagined. Rena had been incredibly helpful, but the stress had built anyway. Diana had been on edge for the last month as the date of the wedding approached, and she had taken some of her edginess out on Marty. He had let her, hardly complaining, to her anyway.

I need to apologize as well, she told herself as the traffic eased into a speedier mode. She had behaved poorly over the last month and would have to face her fault in the argument.

She pulled into a parking place in front of Maura’s boutique and checked her face in the mirror. Her eyes were puffy and her cheeks red, and she couldn’t hide the fact that she had been crying on the drive over. With a sigh, she grabbed her bag and attempted to repair the damage, but it was useless. After a deep breath, she climbed out of her car and slumped into the boutique, forcing a fake smile on her face for Maura when she greeted her.

“Hi, Diana! You’re early. I like that,” Maura announced as she came forward for a hug. Her happy smile became a look of concern. “Why the tears? What’s wrong?”

“Marty and I had a fight,” Diana answered, and the tears started fresh as Maura wrapped an arm around her new friend.

“Oh, honey. Before your fitting, let’s have a cup of tea and we can talk,” Maura offered. She hurried to the front door and locked it, switching the open sign to closed. “Come on, we’ll go into the back room.” She took Diana’s hand and led her through the curtain that separated the two rooms.

Diana recounted the argument with Marty while Maura bustled around the small work kitchen making the tea. She paused here and there to look at Diana as she spoke, but she didn’t say anything, preferring to hear the whole story before she made up her mind about the advice she wanted to give.

She handed Diana a cup of tea with a smile as Diana finished. “And I know I’ve been a little crazy, but stupid?” Diana shook her head. “I hate that.”

“But you said he didn’t call you,” Maura pointed at Diana, “stupid, but the fact that you wouldn’t go to the JP, correct?”

Diana shrugged. “Yes.”

“I agree that the JP is not good,” Maura laughed. “I would have refused as well.”

Diana chuckled after sipping her tea. “The courthouse? Really?”

They laughed together, and Maura smiled at her. “Diana, I think this fight is just a release of stress. Had you not heard him say what he said, you would have found another reason to pick a fight.”

“I’m not usually like this, though, even when I am stressed.” Diana shook her head. “It just really hurt my feelings that he would say those things to his friends.”

“Was he really going to say them to you, honey?” Maura asked, her head tilted and eyebrows lifted. “How would that have gone?”

Diana smirked. “Not well for him.”

“Exactly!” Maura exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “And if what you’ve told me about him is true, he’s no idiot. He would have known better than to say such stupid stuff to you.”

They shared another laugh, Diana covering her mouth with her hand. “He’s definitely not stupid. That would have been a catastrophic event!” They laughed louder until each was wiping tears from her cheeks.

“So we agree I was being stupid,” Diana giggled. Maura’s eyes widened and she shook her head as if fearful, causing a bit more laughter. She set her empty tea cup on the table and smiled at her new friend. “Well, he and I are going to talk about it when I get home. Maybe I should pick him up a little gift. You know, like he’d pick me up flowers if he’d been stupid.”

“Well, he’s been a little stupid, but no more than any other man. What would you get him?”

“I don’t know,” Diana said thoughtfully. “Not flowers. Maybe a six pack?”

Maura nodded, smiling. “The way to any man’s heart.”

“Too true,” she laughed. “Okay, I’m ready to try on the dress.”

Maura rose, smiling so big her cheeks hurt. “Oh Diana, it’s so beautiful. You’ll look like a princess in it.”

“I’m so excited. Let me see, let me see!” Diana chirped, practically jumping up and down in her jubilance.

Maura led her to her workroom. She gestured to a mannequin hidden by a large cloth. “I keep them covered when I’m not working on them so they won’t need to be cleaned before the wedding. I make sure the dress is aired out as well as perfectly wrinkle free. However, if you do choose to have it cleaned, I have a wonderful cleaners that I use when I need one. They’re so careful with the dresses you won’t even know it’s been touched by hands other than mine and yours.”

Diana nodded. “I’m sure it will be fine straight from you, but after the wedding I may want to have it cleaned and preserved. Do they do that?”

“Oh, of course.” Maura reached for the bottom of the cloth and said, “Ready?” Diana bounced on her heels and nodded, her hands clasped in front of her chest. Maura lifted the cloth gently and swept it out of the way.

Diana gasped, shocked by the absolute magnificence of the dress. Maura had kept her sketch and turned a dress somewhat similar to the drawing and created a masterpiece better than either of the originals. Diana walked in a circle around it, reaching to touch with her fingers but afraid its ethereal beauty would disappear if she actually felt the material.

“Oh, Maura,” she whispered, so in awe of the dress her voice wouldn’t work properly.

“Let’s get it on you. I’m sure I have a few adjustments to make, but it will be ready with two weeks to spare,” Maura assured her. Diana stripped to her bra and panties in the middle of the workroom, eliciting laughs from Maura. “I guess you’re excited.”