Standing in front of the bright yellow sign of her favourite store, Cassie began to question what she was doing there in the first place. She knew. In every fibre of her pitiful being, she knew she should never have accepted that invitation. Who in their right mind agreed to their ex’s engagement party? Cassie James, that’s who. And yes, they had known each other since birth because their mothers were best friends. And yes, her mother had played the “I’ll be so disappointed in you if you don’t come” card, essentially forcing her to go. But, still, she was the idiot who agreed to go, and it was way too late to back out now. So, she needed to go into Hart to Hart and find something to wear to that god forsaken party she had to attend that evening.
The familiar musk greeted Cassie as she entered the bright store. Annie Hart, the store’s owner and Cassie’s friend, attempted to disguise the smell with vanilla sunrise candles and distract with sunny yellow walls covered in old family photos (from the early 2000s all the way to 1889). Everything about the little store reminded her of her grandparent’s home, from the disgustingly bright walls to the musky smell.
That place was burned into her memory. Most of her childhood was spent there as her grandparents cared for her while her parents worked. Her mother as a nurse and her father as an Asset manager. Some part of her regarded them as her real parents. They were the ones who supported her and her dreams to become a costume designer. They were the ones who understood her, knowing exactly what she was feeling without a word. And they were the ones who showed up for her. They never miss a game or a recital or a dance. Whatever it was, they were there for her.
Cassie had been devastated when they died suddenly in a car accident. For a long time, she thought she was never going to be able to survive losing them. But then, on one of her worst days when she considered ending everything, Cassie discovered Annie’s store. The moment she stepped inside it was like she was back with her grandparents. She started hysterically sobbing. Annie, who was the most compassionate person Cassie had ever met, comforted her for hours. Until the final tear fell, and she took a last gasping breath. She, and her store, were the bright light that got Cassie out of her dark hole. Ever since then, they had been the closest of friends. And Hart Two Hart was her comfort, her soft place to land.
On this day, however, the pit in her stomach didn’t ease like it usually would and the 100-pound weight pressing upon her shoulders seemed to get heavier.
He messed her head. It had been a year and he still had control over her. He had moved on with the very woman he told her she didn’t need to be worried about. He had started a new life with a new house, a new woman and soon, a new baby. And Cassie, she was still under his thumb. Just like she had been for the three years they had been together. God, she was so stupid to listen to her mother and be guilted into going to this stupid party. It hadn’t even happened, and yet all the hard work she had done to repair her self-confidence and all the only parts of her he broke along the way was unravelling before her eyes.
'Penny for your thoughts,' a melodic voice said, breaking Cassie’s train of thought.
Cassie looked in the direction the voice came from and found her friend smiling brightly at her. Annie hadn’t aged a day since their first meeting. Her green eyes still glistened with childlike glee. Her white-blonde hair sat on her shoulders in a curled bob. It is shorter now which better fits her face. Annie had considered dyeing her locks but quickly decided against it. Everyone always commented on how beautiful and unique her hair was. Her pale skin was sprinkled with so many freckles that you could never tell if she gained more, although she undoubtedly had as she spent most of her free time in the sun. She was just as short and as thin as ever; despite the bright pink platforms she was prone to wearing and her daily trip to the gym next door after work. Cassie often said that she must have found some secret potion that had the secret to immortality in one of the donations. To which Annie always responded the same, 'That, my dear, is something for me to know and for you to discover over the next 20 years.'
Seeing the face of her friend, Cassie felt like she could breathe again. Annie was always there to help her when things went awry, helping to get her back on her feet. She had been there after her grandparents and through the list of bad boyfriends, with the most recent being the worst. She was there through the rejections and provided a bed when she was faced with homelessness. She was ride or die.
'You remember how I told you about that party?' Cassie began tentatively.
Annie raised a knowing eyebrow and said, 'You know I do.'
'Well, I may, or may not, have been talked into going by my mother and it may, or may not, be tonight and I may, or may not, have nothing to wear.'
'Jesus! Firstly, how could you let her do that? Did you not learn from the last time she talked you into something and you got stuck on a date with her dentist’s creepy son?'
'Don’t remind me,' Cassie responded with a groan.
'Secondly, why did you not tell me beforehand so I can talk you out of it? It’s so close now that the only excuse you have is to be murdered, and that may not even work.'
'I know. I know. I should have told you sooner, but I was in denial myself and could not believe that I had agreed to it.'
'Thirdly, luckily for you, I have the perfect dress for you to wear. It just came in, so I haven’t had a chance to put it on the floor yet.'
'You are an angel'
Annie’s anger disappeared and a look of pity danced across her eyes as she said softly, 'And finally, I have something I can wear so that I can come with you. Don’t think for a moment that I am going to let you go through this only. I will be right by your side the entire time.'
Cassie embraced her friend as she tried to keep the tears at bay. Of course Annie was going to be there with her, just like she always was.
'You are the greatest friend I could ask for.'
'And don’t you forget it.'
They both let out a laugh and Cassie felt the usual comfort of the store seep back into her as her anxieties eased.
'Now,' Annie said. 'Let me show you that dress.'
Wordlessly, Cassie followed Annie into the storeroom where the hidden treasures of this hidden treasure were located. As soon as the door opened, Cassie was again hit with the musky smell, only this time it was far stronger. This was her favourite place in the store. There was always something to be found that she could use in her next project. It was also far less obnoxious. The walls were a plain white with no decorations upon them. It let her, and anyone else, truly see the items.
Annie looked through a couple of piles of dresses before she returned to Cassie with a tea length, off-the-shoulder blush dress. Cassie gently touched the intricate lace of the bodice. In her mind, she saw the story of this dress. It belonged to a rich housewife in the fifties. It was her favourite dress and wore it almost every event she attended with her husband. She had gifted it to her daughter upon her sixteenth birthday. She was more rebellious with her fashion and had altered the neckline to be an off-the-shoulder. The dress was treasured. It was loved. And now it would have a new life with someone else.
'When I saw it, I instantly thought of you.' Annie said softly. Cassie looked upon her gratefully. This was the dress she needed. It would get her through this horrific party and allow her to appear far more confident than she felt.
'This is wonderfully Annie. Thank you so much.'
'Right then, let’s go back out and I can ring you up.'
Cassie turned to leave when her foot hit something on the floor. She looked down to find a battered green suitcase, its colourful stickers faded and ripped. Unlike the beautiful dress she held in her arms, this case was unloved. At some point it must have had an owner who liked it but that had to be decades ago. Somehow, that was what intrigued her. She was desperate to know the history behind it because there was something about it that reminded her of herself.
'You alright Cass?' Annie queried when she realised her friend was not by her side. She walked back to her friend and saw what she was staring at.
'That came in a couple of weeks ago. I have no idea what I’m going to do with it. It’s so battered and bruised that I don’t know if I can sell it,' Annie said.
'I’ll take it.' Cassie responded without looking up, her voice revealing her childlike wonder over the find.
'Are you sure?'
'Absolutely.'
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