Finding The One by Annabel Howarth

You will find The One when you least expect it and you will know you have found The One almost straight away, so relax in the knowledge that it will all work out and enjoy the experience of searching for The One in our capable hands.

This was a statement that Brenda used to think was true for everything, not just the right partner or, in this case, the perfect wedding dress.  Now, as she read the blurb on the flyers on the counter in front of her, she sighed.  If only she could find The One.  The One reason why selling her beloved bridal shop was going to be a good thing for her.

The bell to the shop door rang and a surge of expectancy filled Brenda’s chest.  She hoped Margaret didn’t hear her sigh of disappointment when she realised it was only her. 

“Hi Brenda, I thought you might need cheering up, so I’ve bought us the biggest pieces of red velvet cake they had in Julie’s to go with a nice cuppa.  Shall I put the kettle on?” Margaret was beaming at her as she made her way to the back room.

Brenda sighed, loudly and at length.  So that’s what I have to look forward to, she thought, an ever expanding waistline from an addiction to all things sweet, encouraged by my well meaning feeder friend.

“Have you looked at those brochures yet?” came the voice from the back room. 

Brenda looked under the counter at the untouched collection of cruise brochures Margaret had brought in for her two days before.  She pulled them up onto the counter and quickly bent over the page corners in a bid to make them looked used, before replacing them.  “I’ve had a quick glance through,” Brenda shouted back. 

“Oh good,” said Margaret as she walked up behind Brenda, “A good holiday is just what we’ll need after saying goodbye to this place.”  Margaret looked intently at Brenda as she passed her the tea and cake.  “I know you’re really upset about closing the shop, but you know, I do think it will be for the best.  You and Ron, you’ll be able to spend some quality time together when he retires at the end of the year.”

Brenda smiled weakly.  “To be honest, Margaret, the idea of Ron being home all the time, scares me to death.  I know I’ve moaned about his dedication to his job all these years, but that’s what I’m used to.  That’s what I know.  What’s he going to expect when he’s there all the time? I’m hoping he’ll take up golf or something.”

The bell to the shop door rang again, but this time Brenda didn’t look up.  She'd already decided that at 3.30 in the afternoon, there were going to be no customers at all today.  It would be a delivery and Margaret could deal with it.

Margaret nudged Brenda from her daze.  “I’ll just take these things into the back room, Brenda.  I think we’re going to be busy.”

The party of five looked on the tired side.  Brenda was shocked into work mode, trying to size up who was the bride to be.  Surely not the reluctant, dejected looking one, but probably yes.  These days they expect champagne.  Her mother has probably dragged her in here.  Brenda fixed her most brilliant, welcoming smile.  “Can I help you, or are you happy just brousing yourselves for now?”

“Just brousing at the moment,” came the strained reply.

Yes, it was definitely her.  Brenda watched as the three ladies, who looked as though they were in about their late twenties, sifted through her depleted stock. 

"Nanny, nanny, here is a flower for you.” 

Brenda looked across at the little girl, with blonde curly pigtails, stood by the coffee table in the middle of the shop.  Her grandmother was sat on one of the armchairs, and the little girl held an artificial flower she had taken from the vase on the table.

“Thank you so much, my darling, it’s beautiful.  We must put it back though, it isn’t ours.  It belongs to the lady,” said the grandmother pointing towards Brenda.

“It’s okay,” said Brenda as she walked towards them.  She looks about my age, Brenda thought.  It’s heart melting watching those two together.  I don’t feel ready to be a grandmother myself, but what an adorable little thing.  “How old is she?” asked Brenda.

“How old are you, Melody?”  The little girl held her hands together and looked down.  “She’s three.  You’ve been a very good girl today, haven’t you, Melody?  We’ve been all over the place looking for dresses for your Aunty Izzy.”  The little girl smiled and nodded.  “We had an appointment first thing this morning in a shop in Didsbury.  It was lovely.  Champagne, the works, you know.  Lots of designer dresses.  Izzy thought she’d seen just the dress she wanted on the internet.  What was the make of that dress, Izzy?”

“Jenny Packham”

“She really had her heart set on it before we went, but you know, the style didn’t suit her.  And she feels like she’s running out of time.”

“When is the wedding?” asked Brenda.

“October,” said Izzy.

“Plenty of time, love,” said Margaret, who'd returned from the back room.

“Well, you say that, but Sarah works shifts, and this is her only free weekend for months, and she lives down South,” said Izzy.  “We can’t look for bridesmaid’s dresses until we’ve found my dress.”

“You are right, love, but don’t worry.  The best thing is to try lots of different styles on and get a feel for what suits you.  You will know when you have found The One,” said Brenda, with a reassuring smile.

Brenda watched and made encouraging noises, as Izzy tried on different styles of ivory organza, knowing that they were not the right dress for her.  Brenda knew she had to time it just right.  She had to give her customer the freedom to try on the dresses she thought she should try, but ensure that she didn’t feel so despondent that she would leave the shop without trying on The One.  Brenda had earmarked it for her in her mind almost as soon as she had walked into the shop.  This was what years of experience had taught her, not expensive designers or the internet. 

At 4.15, Izzy was looking despondent again. 

“How about trying this one?” said Brenda.

She could see the disbelief on Izzy’s face. 

“Well, okay, I might as well,” she shrugged.

“Let me help you,” said Brenda, and she gestured to Margaret to show the others the bridesmaid’s dresses, as she guided Izzy to the changing room.

The oyster coloured dress, complimented Izzy’s pale skin, where the ivory had left her looking washed out.  Brenda felt that thrill she knew she would miss, when she heard Izzy say, “Oh, does it lace up at the back?  I always liked the idea of that,” and “And it has buttons all the way down the back too!”  Brenda felt a surge of excitement as she looked on the surprised faces of the other ladies when Izzy came out of the changing area, with the long train behind her, and they commented on the detail and how relaxed and comfortable Izzy looked.  Izzy’s whole face had lit up and she was standing confidently. 

“What do you think, Mum?  I think it’s the One!”

Both Brenda and Margaret were in their element now, and by 5.15 Brenda was taking the deposit for a wedding dress, veil, two bridesmaids dresses, one flower girl dress and four pairs of shoes.

“Well Margaret,” said Brenda, after she turned the “closed” sign and collapsed onto an armchair, “If that’s the last sale we make, I will feel like we went out on a high.  Days like that are what it was all about!  Pass me those brochures, will you?  I feel like booking that holiday now.  And do you know what else I’ve been thinking?  I think maybe I should take up golf.”

The bell to the shop door rang.  Brenda didn’t turn around at first.  She expected it would be Ron.  He usually came to meet her after work on a Saturday.  The expression of surprise she could see on Margaret’s face, made Brenda stand up and turn suddenly.  It was Ron.  But he wasn’t alone. 

“Mum,” said an apprehensive looking Chloe, “Rob and I have something to tell you.  We’ve just come from the infirmary.”

“Oh, Chloe love, is everything okay?”

“Yes, Mum, it's good news.  Well, we think so, anyway?  We’re having a baby.”

“A baby?  Wow.  How far along?”

“Just 12 weeks.”

“Margaret, is there any of that cake left?  I think I might need it now.  Do you fancy putting the kettle on?  I’m too excited.  I’m going to be a grandmother and we might need to rush through another wedding dress order!”

“Mu-um!”

Inspired by an article in the Huddersfield Examiner 12^th January 2016, about the closure of a local wedding dress shop.