Rod, again - Chapter 6, The dream dress

Cindy was giddy as Rod drove back to the apartment. She hadn't stopped talking since she'd agreed to marry him. Her monologue jumped from topic to topic, all wedding related. Sometimes, she would start a subject, change course for a side note, and return to complete the original thought. Rod made no attempt to join in the conversation, treating any questions she posed as rhetorical. Cindy knew Rod was amused by her behavior but she didn't care. At some point during the ride her mother called. Cindy delivered the news and found her mother much more receptive to her babbling. Rod could hear enough of their conversation to sense that mother and daughter were both operating at the same fevered pitch. They were still talking as he pulled into the apartment parking lot. No longer focused on driving, Rod tried to pay better attention to the conversation. Rod guessed that the discussion was about wedding dresses. It sounded like Cindy had some very specific ideas. Finally, Cindy ended the call with her mother. She looked around, suddenly aware that the car was parked. Rod smiled at her as they got out of the car.

"So, how's your mother?" Rod asked, wryly.

"Oh, you know, she's okay." Cindy deadpanned. Then, grinning, she added, "I think she's pretty excited!"

As they walked into Rod's apartment, Cindy relayed the gist of her telephone conversation. Always one to be prepared, her mother had been maintaining a potential guest list for years. She had also researched the local banquet halls. Cindy assured Rod that nothing was set in stone and that her mother was only trying to be helpful. Already, Cindy noted, she had told her mother that the wedding would likely be in Phoenix, not back in her home town. Rod worried that he would be blamed for the choice of venue but Cindy claimed she had been very clear with her mother that the decision was hers. Rod wished he had paid closer attention to the conversation. All he could remember was that they talked a little about dresses. For now, he decided to relax and enjoy the moment. He didn't know Cindy's parents but they couldn't be all that bad; they'd raised a wonderful daughter.

"So, it's sounds like you have an idea of what kind of dress you want," Rod said casually.

"I don't just have an idea," Cindy said, smiling. "I know exactly what dress I want."

"Wow," replied Rod. "Where did you see it?"

"Wait a sec and I’ll show you." Cindy answered as she ran out of the apartment. She returned a few minutes later holding a worn notebook. She opened it to a dog-eared page and handed it to Rod. "Here," she said. "Take a look."

Rod took the notebook. On the page was a sketch of a wedding dress. It was done in pencil and the eraser marks indicated it had undergone some redesign. Next to the dress were some general notes about how the dress should 'flow freely' and 'not be too tight here'. Another note cautioned about not being too ‘old lady’.

"You drew this?" he said, at last.

Cindy nodded. "I started it when I was fifteen. Over the years I've made some little changes, but now I think the general idea is perfect, or at least close. I'm no designer, so I don't even know if it's possible to make this dress. But, this is the one I've dreamed of."

Rod looked at the drawing again. "So what do you do now?"

"Well," said Cindy. "Now, I make a copy of this page and send it to Daddy. Mother said he may know someone who can turn it into an actual dress."

"Your dad knows dress makers?" Rod was surprised.

Cindy chuckled. It did sound funny. "Daddy invests in all sorts of companies, including some clothing designers. Mother thought they might be able to help."

Rod began to suspect that Cindy's father was more influential than he had realized.