Picturing the scene in her mind filled her belly with butterflies.
“Capisco?”
“Capisco,” Joy replied.
The women stopped arguing and turned to listen to Angelina.
Angelina craned her long neck and caught Dina’s eye. She spoke Italian to her, but Dina responded rather loudly, startling Joy. She stepped aside and listened as the two women returned to arguing.
The customers darted their eyes back and forth between Angelina and Dina, occasionally whispering to each other as they studied Joy in the corner of the shop.
She bit her fingernails, wondering what Angelina and Dina argued about. Something inside her told her she was the topic of their disagreement.
One of the customers approached Angelina for an autograph and photo.
She exhaled and signed away, then posed for three photos.
Joy giggled, watching her play the part of a famous person again.
“Come.” Angelina took Joy’s forearm.
“What’s happening?” Joy asked.
“I told Dina tonight is a special occasion,” she shouted to Dina yet again. “And that you need an appropriate dress for tonight.”
Dina rattled off something in Italian again.
The two women stared at Joy. Grins slowly appeared on their faces as if they understood.
“What did you tell these ladies about me?”
“Nothing.” Angelina used her sunglasses as a pointer. “Only that two men are pursuing you.”
Joy turned to the women.
They smiled and nodded.
“Oh great.”
Dina shouted again at Angelina.
“Beh.” Angelina waved her off. “We should be as lucky as Joy. She has not one but two men in love with her, and tonight she must look spectacular.”
Joy grinned awkwardly as the two customers glanced at Joy’s shoes, then at her outfit and back down to her shoes.
“Tonight she must look like she doesn’t care about either man. Tonight is all about you, Joy.” Angelina used her hands to paint the picture. “You must have confidence. So much confidence that these two men won’t recognize you.” She ran her hands over Joy’s figure. “Something sexy but not too sexy. Something provocative but tasteful. Sleek and tailored, yet loose for dancing.”
“Dancing?” Joy smoothed out her blouse.
The two women nodded.
Angelina opened the door and said one last thing to Dina before pulling Joy out the door and shutting it behind her.
Dina’s voice echoed even through the closed door and into the piazza, causing many locals to stop and listen to the tirade for a moment.
“She’s angry. I should go back and apologize or something.” Joy rubbed her neck.
“She’ll be all right. Some things are more important than flowers for a wedding reception.” Angelina laughed.
Joy nodded, then her eyes widened.
“What is it?”
“I forgot my purse back in the shop!” She pointed to the door.
But Angelina shook her head. “You won’t need it. This is my treat for my good friend.”
Joy hesitated. “No. I can’t let you do this.”
“Nonsense.” Angelina put on her Prada sunglasses, looking like the movie star that she was. “Andiamo.”
In the shop, Angelina ordered the manager to bring out several dresses.
The older woman, dressed impeccably in a white suit with a red boutonniere pinned to the lapel, adjusted her thick black-rimmed glasses set on her nose. They didn’t hide her stoic expression.
“I think she’s busy. We should come back later?” Joy gulped.
But Angelina held up a black Versace dress with thick gold zippers down the sides and back. Joy cringed and shook her head.
