Is this destiny?

~ Reno ~

In the afternoon, before Jeff's birthday event, Aiden entered the styling salon with Sarah. She was anxious, not knowing what to expect. It's not her first time in the styling salon, but Aiden kept her in the dark about what kind of appointment he made for her. Also, she has no idea about the dress or anything else.

When stylist came to take her in the private room, Aiden gave her an encouraging nod and looked after her until she stepped behind the curtain.

As soon as she was out of sight, Aiden got his phone and made a call to his mother while walking outside. "Yes, I just dropped her off... you will do just fine."

…

Stylist introduced herself, "I'm Nana, Miss Hill, I will be taking your measurements first to make sure gown fits."

"Gown?", Sarah was curious what it is.

"Yes", Nana smiled. "I will show them to you after measurements, so you pick one."

"How many are there?" Sarah's curiosity was rising.

"I narrowed it down to two for you to choose from." Nana eyed Sarah's body. "I think I selected well. But if you don't like any of them then I can show you additional choices."

After she took Sarah's measurements, Nana led her in another room where Sarah got to see two gowns on mannequins. Sarah held her breath when she saw them. Both were body hugging dresses, but vastly different. First one was white with gold details, and second one was black with red details. Black dress shimmered under light.

Nana explained. "The white gown is putting an emphasis on your waist and hips with the golden design. Sleeves have openings which are covered with the sheer fabric." She moved to the black one. "The black gown will showcase your back and put an emphasis on your waist and legs with red design and this slit which ends high on the thigh." She looked at Sarah. "Come, take a look and pick one. We will do fitting and adjustments as needed."

Sarah looked at Nana and smiled. "No need. I choose black one."

"Oh? You don't like white one?" Nana was disappointed.

"Don't get me wrong, it's beautiful... but it looks more appropriate for a wedding... if I'm the bride. It will attract too much attention, and I want to avoid that." Sarah explained.

"That would be my pick", voice came from the back. Sarah turned around and saw a woman in her late forties, maybe early fifties smiling at her. Her eyes were glowing, and smile was warm. "Sorry to intrude, but I overheard you and felt the need to say something... I'm Elanor, you can call me Nori." Woman extended her hand to Sarah.

Sarah smiled back and shook her hand while nodding lightly. "Sarah, nice to meet you."

Nana looked at Nori with her eyes wide open. Nori gave her a small nod and gestured to proceed. "Don't mind me."

"Yeah, right..." Nana looked confused for few seconds. "Come, Miss Hill... let's have you try the black one."

Few minutes later, Sarah exited the dressing room wearing a black gown. Nana circled around her... "And you picked this one because you don't want to attract attention?" Nana shook her head.

The body-hugging sleeveless gown fit Sarah very well, and it looked much better than on the mannequin. Sarah turned around and looked at herself in the mirror. No alterations were needed, the gown fit her perfectly.

Sarah's back was exposed due to the open back of the dress, but it was covered with layers of sheer fabric that fluttered as she moved. It looked like she has black wings, and it also covered the scars of her recent surgeries. Sarah knows that Aiden picked the dresses, and she was touched how thoughtful he was… he knows that she would not like to expose her scars, and this dress reveals her back while covering them. It's perfect.

"My dear, you look stunning!", Nori, who was still in the room, cheered.

"Thank you." Sarah politely responded. Sarah assumed that Nori is an employee, maybe a manager or a boss, considering that she does not do anything other than observing.

Sarah moved few steps and looked at the slit on her left. "Can we lift the slit?" Sarah pointed to the top of her thigh. "It's only reaching half through my thigh, and it will restrict me when I move."

Nana raised her eyebrows, "You are not supposed to run in this, Miss Hill."

Sarah giggled seeing Nana's exaggerated expression. "Not running... dancing." Sarah twirled few times to demonstrate. "See? The dress will flow much better, and I want more space to move."

"You like to dance?", Nori asked.

Sarah revealed a huge smile. "Yes, very much. And I have a great partner." She pirouetted and made a bow.

Nori was surprised. 'Since when Aiden dances?'

Nana shook her head. "The slit was supposed to be to the top of the thigh; however, you have long legs, Miss Hill. I will have that adjusted." Nana approached Sarah with a measuring tape and made a note how much to increase slit.

"I think that besides that, outfit is done, right?" Sarah asked.

"Oh, no... let's see how it looks with a headpiece." Nana stepped outside and in a second came back carrying a hat with tall black feathers.

Sarah's face showed displeasure. "We can skip that."

"Oh, but it comes with a head piece." Nana had a pitiful expression.

Sarah was not swayed. "Maybe... but not on my head. Even if you force it on me, I will remove it as soon as I step outside. With that on, I will look like a bird died on my head."

Nori laughed but didn't say anything.

"You think it's too much?" Nana asked.

Sarah nodded. "Yes... yes, I do."

"OK. There is another, more discrete, option." Nana came back few seconds later with a second option.

Sarah vigorously shook her head. "Absolutely not... it looks like Genghis Khan's hat got attacked by bedazzled grannies."

Nori laughed hard, and almost fell of the chair. It was a contagious laughter, so Sarah started laughing also. "Nana, if you want me to put something on my head, it needs to be something discrete. I really don't want to attract attention. OK?"

"What about your partner? Don't you want to attract his attention?" Nana bitterly asked.

Sarah looked at Nana seriously. "I don't need a dead bird or Mongol hat on my head to get his attention. Less is more."

Nana grimaced and stepped outside.