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Preface
The Perfect Dress
In an epic retro romance set in the 60's, 70's and 80's a case of
mismanaged love annihilates the beautiful, talented bridal and
fashion designer who made foolish choices. The music from these
times reflects a life of destruction and despair, spiraling
downward despite occasional bouts of financial good luck. She pays
dearly for enduring two disastrous marriages, one to a much older
man and the other to a young trophy husband. The real love of her
life was an Egyptian-American Adonis destined by family to a traditional
prearranged marriage. Enter alcohol and drug abuse, sexual promiscuity
and two transgendered roommates. With a little help from the FBI, her life
on the streets of Chicago, San Francisco and Waikiki
makes this novel a thriller!
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Although my pantyhose were strangling me and my ankles had swollen
over my shoes, I was in no position to complain. Luckily, I was getting
well paid and business was exceptionally good. I was a wedding gown fairy, the
owner of a unique bridal salon...a special breed, settling only for perfection.
I really loved my job but at times, it could be quite difficult. It took stamina
and lately I had run short of it.
I was at this particular wedding reception as my duty and privilege standing
by and hovering over the bride, a true princess in her own country, Egypt.
This was the most unusual wedding I had ever worked. Not only had
the FBI paid me an enormous amount of money to furnish the bride with
an elaborate wedding gown, I was to make certain her ensemble was sheer
perfection. Therefore, I had a back-up dress in the changing room along
with every other imaginable item she might need during the course of the
reception.
A beautiful sixteen-year-old princess in her homeland, but still a typical
American teenager just married a handsome young prince from Egypt. They
had never set eyes on each other before....Can you imagine?
They were striking together! They were calm, relaxed and they definitely
appeared to be relieved.
As I sat at my table watching, I decided that maybe the prearranged
marriage concept was not such a ridiculous idea. Think of your own family,
your loved ones combing the globe selecting the perfect man for you. I was
starting to see the merit in it. Let Mama and Papa do the legwork while we
concentrate on other things, such as growing up and schoolwork.
One day a wedding is arranged and all that’s left to do is to select the
perfect dress for our wedding. After all, they say you don’t know anyone until
you live with them, so... maybe it’s a fabulous way to go.
Looking back at all the walks of life I personally had to audition, wade
through, justify, convince myself of and often become morbidly attached
to-some creep from the dark side, the wrong side of the tracks, a boozer, a
sleaze monger, a liar, cheat or sex-fiend- I wish my relatives would have played
matchmaker and done the dirty deed for me, seeking out a man who would
love and care for me unconditionally. Besides, there wouldn’t be any "I told
you so’s."
Prearranged marriages have worked for centuries in other countries. In
America with our “do it yourselves” mentality, we ladies insist on going it alone,
finding that perfect catch all by ourselves. The job is next to impossible! No
wonder we have so many divorces.
It’s the white dress that lures us to the moment, steps us up to the altar and
romances us from a child all the way to a young lady savoring that special
day, before, during and after. If only we thought about and chose our husbands
this carefully!
I had been at this particular wedding for hours; thus the swollen feet. It
had been a long day for me. I dressed the princess and had to sew her into her
dress, what is known to the trade as “painting it on.”
Her dress was absolutely perfect as she wore everything well.
It was now 7pm. After the FBI nabbed the suspected terrorists, I had done
my job. I then planned to go home, soak in a hot bath and sip warm cocoa with
my little dog, Beau, by my side. But it didn’t pan out that way. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Read on, I think you will enjoy the roller coaster ride. |
The author is a baby boomer from Chicago who attended
universities in both Illinois and California. Her undergraduate and graduate work was in the behavioral sciences. Years later a passion for design led to another degree. Cole has been published in the Palm Beach Post, Vero Beach Magazine and the Fort Pierce Tribune.
One of her key creations, The Barkery K-9 Cafe, was featured on national television. She authored a design column and has spoken on the
subject of color in design. Now based in Florida, she travels extensively
by motorhome with her psychiatrist husband and their two dogs,
continuing her career as a writer.
Send an email to the author below. 
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Watch for my new book "Gor'ko" in the spring.