an operation

After everything was settled at the party, and people had their food and cake was about ready to be served, Olivia went and took a look at the dress. As it was the box had its own room, left undisturbed. Just Olivia and her mother along with Kayla took a good look at it.

"Its awful, isn't it?" Kayla spoke up as soon as Olivia took it out and spread across the bed. "I look like a pink mushroom in that thing."

"Is it a prom dress?" Olivia's Mom asked out of the blue as she felt the fabric.

"Mom-" Olivia had her hand on her hips and was ready to explain to her what this was, but she rolled her eyes instead.

"Well, shouldn't it be white if its a wedding dress?" Sophia looked at both of them.

"Its kind of white." Kayla shrugged. There was a pink undertone to the shiny material.

Her mother picked up a poofy sleeve. "It is a bit much. Have you thought about it strapless?"

Olivia looked at her mother. It was as if that dress had given her mother a whole new language. She was a bit shocked. Her mother was so serious. Not nearly as silly and giddy as she was around any of them at the party. She acted as if she were younger than any of them, and she hadn't even had anything to drink.

"I'm not really much on strapless things." Kayla shook her head as if she was afraid for anyone to see her shoulder.

"Well, then, we'll have to look for lace. I could...could look for some." Sophie was still studying the dress. "Put it on. You'd be all right with it sleeveless, wouldn't you?"

"I guess, but, I can't spend, any money..on lace." Kayla looked as if she didn't know what to do.

"That's OK, I know where some is. Its right where I left it." Olivia's mother smiled.

"Mom, are you sure?" Olivia thought she might could alter the dress, but it would be such an undertaking. She wasn't sure her sewing skills were that great. After all, the last thing she'd made lately was the three tier skirt out of Roger's boxers.

"It'll be a piece of cake. I worked on costumes for plays in high school. Then I had that job when I was at the drama department in college. I was almost head of costumes." She seemed pretty proud of that fact. "And this is drama, right?"

"I suppose." Olivia looked at the dress. She hoped her Mom stayed focused on this. She hoped it wasn't a huge undertaking. "Look, I'll help, anyway I can."

"I don't think you'll have to, sweetie." Her Mom grinned more. She pinched Olivia's cheek. Again, her mother kept surprising her.