Emma: Lights! Camera! Cupcakes! Read Free Page B

the platter to Romaine, and she selected another vanilla cupcake.
    â€œOh, Emma, these really are the best. Too bad you don’t make wedding cakes!”
    â€œHey!” said Romaine’s sister, who looks a lot like her. “I saw on that TV show Cupcake Connections that they did a cupcake tower for a wedding. It was really pretty!”
    I wanted to say the Cupcake Club had actually done a cupcake tower for Mia’s mom’s wedding and for a bridal fashion show, but I didn’t want to get too involved in their conversation. I was just there as a server after all. Mona had been pretty strict when I started working at the salon that Iwasn’t really supposed to chat with everyone. I was supposed to be working.
    â€œYes, but where do you think would we find someone who . . .” Suddenly, Romaine stopped and turned to look at me. Then everyone was looking at me. I blushed and looked down just as Mona and Patricia burst back into the room with the rack of dresses.
    â€œHere we go!” said Mona.
    â€œYOU!” said Romaine.
    I looked up. “Me?”
    Mona looked both worried and confused. “Everything all right in here?” she asked.
    Romaine had crossed the room, her cheeks suddenly pink and her eyes shining with excitement. “Emma! Would you make cupcakes for my wedding?”
    I thought I was going to faint. I put my hand to my chest. “Me?” I croaked.
    â€œYes, you!” cried Romaine.

CHAPTER 3
Stop the Presses!
    M ona clapped her hands and said, “That’s a lovely idea, but let’s get people started on their fittings, and then you can work out those details later. I know you ladies have limited time today. Romaine, would you like to come first, please? Right this way.”
    Still smiling, Romaine crossed the room and called, “I love this idea!” before she drew the curtain across the fitting room. Mona swished in behind her, a large white garment bag over her arm. Mona was wearing her white gloves, as usual. She never wants to leave a mark on any of the expensive fabrics or embroideries that the store features, so she wears white gloves when she’s touching the gowns. At first it seemed a little silly, but once, Iaccidentally got some frosting on a white dress I was wearing, and I learned the hard way you have to be really, really careful.
    Mona and Romaine chatted behind the curtain, while everyone else around the room chatted. I put down the cupcakes and passed iced water in small plastic party cups, which people gratefully gulped down. Chatting was thirsty work.
    Moments later the curtain was pulled back and Mona happily announced, “Ladies, here comes the bride!” And out stepped Romaine.
    Everyone in the room gasped. Romaine looked incredible! The dress was a simple, with white lace on top and a fitted white bodice underneath it, and little cap sleeves. The gown ballooned out into a princess-type bottom, with a big skirt made of a thick satin that glowed a pearly white and swished from side to side as Romaine walked.
    â€œOh, darling!” said Mrs. Ford, and she began to cry. I almost cried too, but instead I jumped to get the tissue box from the sideboard and brought it over to Mrs. Ford, where she laughed and gratefully plucked a few tissues.
    â€œOh!” She mopped her eyes. “You look more beautiful than I’ve ever seen!” she said to her daughter, and that was saying something.
    Romaine twirled and looked at the dress in the mirror, smiling so, so happily.
    â€œAwesome!” her sister said breathlessly.
    â€œGirl, you look g-l-a-m-o-r-o-u-s, glamorous!” sang Samantha.
    â€œI love it, Mona!” said Romaine sweetly. “It’s the prettiest dress I’ve ever worn. And it’s so comfortable! I thought it might be heavy or scratchy, but it’s not. I feel totally relaxed in it.” She spun around again.
    â€œIt’s divine, dear, just divine!” said Mona.