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‘She is.’

‘Then isn’t it something she needs to know?’

‘You’re probably right.’ Jamie flopped into a huge comfy chair. ‘And I have tried – but you know what it’s like here with the fog, and how it protects things.’

‘You mean the magical gag order?’ Aiden glowered. ‘Yeah, that really complicated things for me and Mia.’

‘Gets worse, too.’ Jamie sighed.

‘Oh?’

‘She said she doesn’t believe in magic any more.’

‘Oh shit, mate, that’s really hard.’

‘Yeah.’

* * *

Across town, Katie clapped her hands together as Mia stepped out of the fitting room, the dress swirling around her ankles.

‘Now, just remember, this is only the basic shape,’ Beth, the dress designer, said again. ‘It’s just to make sure I get the fit right. How does it feel?’

‘It’s good.’ Mia nodded. ‘I feel really pretty.’

‘We want better than good and pretty,’ Katie said, standing. ‘I’m thinking maybe a bit tighter on the waist, and possibly a bit lower on the bust?’

‘I need to be able to breathe.’ Mia laughed. ‘Preferably without falling out!’

‘Aiden would like it,’ Katie teased.

‘And I’ll have you know, no one falls out of anything I’ve made!’ Beth tugged at the seams at the waist. ‘I think your friend is right. We could take this in a bit.’

‘I still need to be able to breathe,’ Mia argued.

‘You will. I promise.’ Beth added a couple of clips to the dress, pulling it to better suit. ‘So, what are we thinking for materials?’

‘I don’t really know. I think Katie probably has some ideas, though.’

‘Of course I do. But this isn’t about me. It’s about you. How do you want to feel when you walk down the aisle to Aiden?’

Mia closed her eyes. ‘Beautiful. I want to feel beautiful.’

‘And what does that mean to you?’ Beth encouraged the thought.

‘Confident. Maybe a bit light and floaty. Something magical and’ – she opened her eyes with a grin – ‘sexy enough to make him swallow his tongue. At least a little.’

‘Oh, I like that.’ Beth laughed. ‘I can definitely work with that sentiment.’

‘And when she says “magical”’ – Katie grinned – ‘we really mean it. Most of the congregation and guests are Hudsbury locals, but there are a few who aren’t awake.’

‘Right, so we need something that’s beautiful and a little bit sexy, and magical to people who don’t know the meaning of the word, as well as the people who do.’

‘That sounds wonderful.’ Mia smiled. ‘And I’d like to try and incorporate my something blue… and possibly my something old too.’

‘We can definitely do that.’ Beth nodded. ‘So Katie, does that help with any thoughts on fabrics?’

‘I was thinking maybe something very delicate, like gossamer,’ Katie suggested. ‘With some magic sparkle?’