When Jess and Michael get engaged, her cousin Sarah decided to sew her wedding dress for her as a gift. But during the final fitting, Jess discovers that the wedding dress is two sizes too small. Will Sarah fix her error, or will Jess have to take things into her own hands?
My cousin Sarah and I have always had a complicated relationship. She’s loud and bubbly, but also the type of person who craves the spotlight. And because of that, our entire family gave her the attention she wanted. It made more sense to shine the spotlight on Sarah, rather than ourselves.
When Michael and I got engaged after being together for four years, my whole family seemed genuinely excited for me.
A couple standing together | Source: Midjourney
Sarah even got all of our girl cousins together, along with my best friends, for a night out. Ending in an Airbnb where we continued the party, because I was the first of us to get engaged.
During that night out, Sarah came up to me, a glass of champagne in her hand.
“Jess! I have a great idea!” she said.
A smiling woman holding a glass of champagne | Source: Midjourney
“What?” I asked. “What do you want to do?”
“I want to make your wedding dress for you!” she exclaimed, swaying to the music as she spoke.
Now, Sarah is a brilliant seamstress, and she’s made some incredible outfits in her young career so far. Despite our complicated relationship, the thought of Sarah making a dress for me was actually a lovely idea.
A woman working as a seamstress | Source: Midjourney
“Really? You’d do that for me?” I asked, touched by the gesture.
“Of course, Jess! It’ll be perfect!” she replied with a smile that seemed nothing but sincere at the time.
The rest of the evening went off without a hitch. I was surrounded by the people who loved me, and even more, my cousin wanted to do something so intimate by making me a wedding dress.
Smiling women at a party | Source: Midjourney
Everything felt right.
We spent weeks choosing the design and fabrics. We pored over the magazines and websites, and finally, I had an idea in mind.
One day, I met Sarah at her office, ready to take my final measurements so that she could start with my dress.
“You’re going to look amazing,” she said, taking my measurements precisely, jotting down everything carefully on her writing pad.
The office of a seamstress | Source: Midjourney
“Oh, I hope so,” I said, taking a sip of my coffee as Sarah put her measuring tape away. “I’ve been on a strict diet, and I’m finally happy with my weight. So, it’s just about maintaining my figure now.”
“You look good, Jess,” she said. “But if anything changes and you find yourself losing or gaining weight, just let me know, and you can come in for another fitting.”
I nodded and left, eager to see how my dress was going to turn out.
But when I went for the final fitting, things took a turn.
A garment bag on a hanger | Source: Midjourney
I slipped into the dress, but something was wrong—it was way too small. I couldn’t even zip it up, no matter how hard I sucked in my breath.
“Jess! Are you crazy to gain weight before the wedding?” Sarah asked, her tone dripping with mock concern.
My heart sank. We were two weeks away from the wedding, and judging from this fitting, I didn’t have a dress.
A shocked young woman | Source: Midjourney
“I haven’t gained any weight, Sarah,” I replied. “I’ve been too stressed to eat. If anything, I should have lost weight because of that!”
Sarah shrugged, barely concealing a smirk that was plastered onto her face.
“Well, I’ll try to fix it, but with the wedding so close, I can’t make any promises. I have other clients waiting for their orders, too, Jess.”
A nonchalant woman | Source: Midjourney
Her words rang loud and clear in my head as I drove away from her office.
And then it hit me — this wasn’t an accident. I recalled the way she spoke to me, and the tone in her voice. There was no remorse in her mistake. There was no mix-up in measurements. There was no weight gain with me.
This was deliberate, and Sarah had made the dress too small on purpose.
“I don’t know what to do,” I told Michael when he got home that evening.
A couple talking in their kitchen | Source: Midjourney
“Show me the dress?” he asked, pouring himself a glass of water.
“What! No!” I exclaimed. “The dress may be a mess, but it’s bad luck for you to see!”
“Look, why don’t you take the dress to Mrs. Lawson? She’s my mom’s friend, and she does all her alterations. She’s making Mom’s dress for the wedding, too.”
An older seamstress | Source: Midjourney
So, I gathered the awful dress and went to Mrs. Lawson, who was a retired seamstress with a reputation for miracles.
“Oh, honey,” she said when I walked in. “Michael phoned me and told me all about the mess. But I’ve seen the worst and made it a hundred times better.”
“This might be tricky, though,” I said, showing her the dress.
A smiling older woman | Source: Midjourney
“Honey, I’ve seen it all, trust me. Let’s make this work,” she chuckled.
Together, we transformed the original design into something completely new. A chic, short, cocktail-style dress that was bold, unconventional, and a bit edgy for a wedding.
But it was absolutely stunning. It was everything Sarah’s dress wasn’t: fun, flirty, and perfectly me.
A wedding dress on a hanger | Source: Midjourney
When it was time to walk down the aisle, my heart raced. I stood in the bridal suite of the wedding venue and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked beautiful. I felt beautiful.
As my dad walked into the room to get me, his jaw dropped.
“My darling,” he said. “You look incredible! Wow!”
A close up of a bride | Source: Midjourney
“Thanks, Dad,” I said. “I know it’s not what we all envisioned me wearing for my wedding, but it’s been the best surprise. I feel like a bride.”
“That’s the only thing that matters, darling,” he said.
Soon, my entrance music began, and goosebumps appeared all over my body as a classical version of a Lana Del Rey song took over the room.
Heads turned.
A smiling father-of-the-bride | Source: Midjourney
And I felt the buzz of admiration follow me as people watched me walk in. I knew that my dress was a hit.
When I got closer to Michael, his eyes widened, and his smile took over his face. I knew then that the man I was about to marry fell in love with me all over again.
But before I took my place next to Michael, I turned to Sarah, wanting to see her expression first.
A groom standing at the altar | Source: Midjourney
Her face was priceless: she was pale and shocked. I knew she had expected to see me in tears, humiliated by her sabotage and wearing that horrible dress she had designed.
Instead, I was glowing, smiling from ear to ear.
The ceremony went off without a hitch, Michael’s vows leaving me in tears and my heart full of love for the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with.
A bride with tears in her eyes | Source: Midjourney
But then came the reception.
Michael and I were mingling with our guests when Sarah cornered me.
“Jess, what happened to the dress? Where’s my original design? Why did you change it?” she asked, trying to hide her confusion.
I grinned.
A close up of an annoyed woman | Source: Midjourney
“Oh, I thought I’d take your design and make it better! Remember, you weren’t even sure that you could do anything about it. And I was bursting out of it because it was at least two sizes too small.”
“So, that’s it? You just threw away my hard work?” she gasped. “That’s low!”
“No, Sarah, your work is the foundation of this dress. It’s just a hundred times better because the woman who fixed it wanted me to look and feel beautiful on my wedding day.”
A close up of an annoyed woman | Source: Midjourney
Her mouth opened, but no words came out. Around us, guests kept complimenting my dress, calling it unique and stunning.
Sarah had no choice but to stand there and listen.
“Come on, love,” Michael called to me. “Let’s do our first dance so that I can really get into the buffet after! The roast beef is to die for!”
“I’m coming,” I smiled, finally happy.
A couple standing at a wedding buffet | Source: Midjourney
What would you have done?
If you enjoyed this story, here’s another one for you:
I Asked My Grandmother to Walk Down the Aisle at My Wedding — My Family Demands That I Apologize for It
Just days before her wedding, Leah discovers that her grandmother didn’t have a wedding. Unable to sleep due to her grandmother having missed her opportunity, Leah wants her grandparents to have their moment and walk down the aisle. Instead of it playing out as Leah plans, she has to deal with a grandmother in a wedding dress, an embarrassed grandfather, and livid family members. Did she ruin her own wedding just to give her grandmother a memory?
“Tell me about your wedding, Gran,” I asked, rocking back and forth on the porch swing. The night was quiet, and we were a week away from my wedding.
A person sitting on a porch swing | Source: Midjourney
All I wanted to do was soak up the time I had left with my grandmother because once we were married, Nate and I would be moving away.
“Oh, honey, there wasn’t really a wedding. Your grandfather always promised, but it never happened,” she smiled, her eyes distant.
A smiling old woman | Source: Pexels
“Never?” I asked, frowning.
My grandmother shook her head.
“No. He didn’t even propose, Leah,” she said. “He always said that we’d get around to it eventually, but life just kept getting in the way. We raised our kids, took care of the house, and before I knew it, decades had passed.”
A woman washing dishes | Source: Unsplash
“But you are married, right?” I asked, trying to understand why my grandmother’s words felt like such a blow to me.
“Married, yes. Your grandfather took me down to the courthouse, and we signed away our single lives. He didn’t ask me; he just said that it was going to happen. And it did.”
The exterior of a court house | Source: Unsplash
My heart ached for her.
“But you wanted one, right? A wedding, I mean,” I pressed.
Her smile was wistful.
“I did, but I let go of that dream a long time ago. Now, come on, I’ll make you some hot chocolate before you leave.”
Two mugs of hot chocolate | Source: Midjourney
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
My Sweet Old Neighbor Invited Me for Christmas Dinner – The Next Morning, I Called My Lawyer
I had been determined to climb up the corporate ladder all the way to the top since I started working and at age 35, I was almost there. But a chance conversation with someone important made me realize something that led me to call my lawyer as soon as possible!
I moved to the city nearly a year ago, chasing a career dream that had consumed the better part of my early 30s. The promotion felt like a pinnacle achievement, a stepping stone to becoming the president of the company’s regional branch. But it came with a cost I wasn’t entirely prepared for and nearly took more than I was willing to give.
An serious businesswoman | Source: Midjourney
Mark, my husband, and Alex, our six-year-old son, stayed behind in our quiet, small hometown. My husband supported me, encouraging me to seize this opportunity as I fought to become the president of my company’s branch.
But every phone call with my husband and child reminded me of the ache I carried every day. I had vowed that our separation would only last for two years, and then we’d be inseparable forever after that.
A man and his son | Source: Midjourney
The holidays were the worst times of the year. This year, Alex had begged me to come home for Christmas, his small voice trembling through the receiver.
“Mom, I miss you. Can’t you come back, just for one day?”
“I wish I could, buddy,” I said, forcing a brightness into my tone. “But I’ve got so much work. We’ll celebrate big when I visit next month, okay?”
“Okay,” he whispered, but his and his father’s disappointment hit me like a punch in the chest, and I couldn’t help but feel guilty as I ended the call, declaring my love to them.
A sad child | Source: Midjourney
After we hung up, I stared at my empty apartment, feeling the isolation settle into my bones. The cold city air seemed to seep into every corner of my life. My apartment, though modern and sleek, felt more like a gilded cage with every passing day.
If not for Eleanor, my elderly neighbor, I might’ve sunk entirely into that loneliness. Eleanor was in her seventies, always cheerful and kind. She’d often leave small treats, homemade cookies or muffins, outside my door with handwritten notes that brightened my otherwise cold days.
A cheerful older woman | Source: Midjourney
Her smile alone had the capability of lifting my spirits immediately, and I leaned on the comfort she gave me. We’d chat briefly when we crossed paths in the hall, her warmth like a flicker of sunlight on dreary mornings.
She was a quiet constant in my life, a reminder that kindness could bridge even the most impersonal of cities. Eleanor wasn’t just thoughtful; she had an uncanny way of knowing exactly when to step in, and this year was no different.
An older woman talking to her neighbor | Source: Midjourney
That Christmas Eve, my lovely neighbor knocked on my door, holding a small plate of peppermint bark.
“Merry Christmas, sweetheart!” she said, her smile as radiant as ever. “Do you have plans for tomorrow?”
I hesitated, embarrassed to admit I didn’t. “Not really,” I admitted. “Just some work to catch up on.”
Eleanor’s eyes softened.
“Work can wait, dear. Why don’t you come and have dinner with me? It’s just me and a turkey too big for one person. I’d love the company.”
An older woman talking to her neighbor | Source: Midjourney
Her invitation caught me off guard. I could’ve said no, buried myself in emails and spreadsheets, but something about her sincerity tugged at me. “I’d love to,” I replied, and she clapped her hands with delight.
The next evening, I knocked on Eleanor’s door. She ushered me inside with a warmth that instantly put me at ease. Her home was pure holiday magic, cozy and festive, filled with the scent of pine, roasted chestnuts, and cinnamon. A roaring fire crackled in the hearth, and the dining table gleamed with red-and-gold decorations.
An apartment decorated for Christmas | Source: Midjourney
A small Christmas tree stood in the corner, its lights twinkling like stars against the dark window. Eleanor’s eyes sparkled as she set the table for our feast.
“You’re just in time!” she said, bustling into the kitchen. “The turkey is ready to make its debut!”
While she worked, I wandered into her living room. My eyes were drawn to a collection of framed photographs on a shelf and some keepsakes. I was completely shocked as I perused the images!
A surprised woman looking at photos | Source: Midjourney
The Eleanor in these pictures was unrecognizable. She was young, poised, and stunningly glamorous! She stood on the cover of magazines, her name emblazoned in bold letters: Eleanor Grayson, the supermodel sensation of the 1960s.
“Eleanor?” I called as she re-entered, balancing a platter with a perfectly roasted turkey.
She followed my gaze, her expression softening with nostalgia.
“Ah,” she said, setting the turkey down. “You’ve found my little secret.”
An older woman holding a turkey | Source: Midjourney
“You were a supermodel?” I asked, still trying to reconcile the elegant woman in the photographs with the gentle neighbor I’d grown to know.
She chuckled, sitting beside me. “I was. A lifetime ago.”
Dinner was ready, but the photos seemed to unlock a floodgate. Over plates of perfectly seasoned turkey and cranberry sauce, Eleanor began to share her story, her voice tinged with a mix of pride and regret.
A serious older woman | Source: Midjourney
She’d grown up in a small town, just like me, but her beauty and determination had catapulted her into the glamorous world of high fashion. She moved to the city in her early twenties, leaving behind her husband, Robert, who couldn’t join her due to his work.
“We promised each other it would only be for a little while,” she said, her eyes glistening. “But life has a way of pulling you in, doesn’t it? There was always one more shoot, one more event, one more opportunity.”
An older woman at the dinner table | Source: Midjourney
She described the highs of her career, runways in Paris, photoshoots in exotic locations, and the exhilaration of being in the spotlight! But then her voice softened when she said this…
“Robert begged me to come home,” she admitted. “But I kept putting it off. Told myself it was for us. That I’d make it up to him later.”
My mouth went dry as I noticed the similarities between our life stories. I realized that everything I thought I understood about my life was a lie.
A surprised woman | Source: Midjourney
I noticed how her hands trembled slightly as she lifted her glass of water. She hesitated, then continued.
“When I finally decided to go back, it was too late. Robert had passed away, succumbing to a terminal illness he’d hidden from me to avoid being a burden. He didn’t want to ruin my career,” Eleanor whispered, tears slipping down her cheeks.
“He loved me that much. But I didn’t deserve it.”
A heavy silence hung between us as we contemplated her last words…
A thoughtful woman | Source: Midjourney
My chest tightened as her words struck a chord deep within me.
“I never had children,” she continued. “I thought there would be time. But some things you can’t get back.”
Her story unraveled my carefully constructed justifications for my own choices. Was I heading down the same path? Trading precious moments with my family for a career I’d convinced myself was worth the sacrifice?
A happy man and his son | Source: Midjourney
Eleanor reached across the table and squeezed my hand.
“You remind me of myself, you know,” she said, her voice tinged with a wistful sadness. “Driven, ambitious, capable of so much. But time, sweetheart, time is the one thing we can’t make more of.”
Little did I know that the next morning, I would be calling my lawyer…
An older woman talking | Source: Midjourney
That night, I lay awake, my neighbor’s words playing on a loop in my mind. Images of Mark and Alex filled my thoughts. I could clearly see my husband’s patient smile and our son’s small hand gripping mine.
My chest ached with a longing I’d buried for months. By morning, I was still struggling with my decision and I knew I had to call my husband to talk it through. Mark was super supportive and even mentioned that a friend of his was looking for someone with my experience.
A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney
He hadn’t mentioned it before because he didn’t want to influence my decision as I seemed happy with staying in the city. They were offering double my salary in a senior position! Mark advised that I weigh the pros and cons of both jobs and whatever I decided, “Alex and I will be here.”
After mulling everything over, I called my lawyer, determined to make things right, although I knew my boss would try to convince me otherwise.
“I need to terminate my contract,” I said, my voice steady despite the anxiety bubbling beneath. “Effective immediately.”
A woman on a phone | Source: Midjourney
The legal process was a whirlwind. My boss, predictably, wasn’t pleased. But I felt a weight lift with every step I took to untangle myself from the commitments that had kept me away from my family.
Within days, I was on a flight home! My heart raced as I stepped into the arrivals terminal, scanning the crowd until I saw them, Mark, holding Alex’s hand, both of them beaming! I dropped my bags and ran to them, scooping Alex into my arms as tears streamed down my face!
An woman at the airport | Source: Midjourney
“Mom!” Alex cried, hugging me tightly. “You’re home!”
“I am, baby,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “And I’m not going anywhere!”
Mark wrapped his arms around us, his warmth anchoring me in a way I hadn’t felt in months.
“Welcome home, babe,” he said, his voice full of emotion.
At that moment, surrounded by my family, I understood the truth in Eleanor’s words. Careers can be rebuilt. Success can be redefined. But love, real, unshakable love, is a gift that can’t be replaced. And I wasn’t willing to lose it.
A happy family | Source: Midjourney
Sadly, this isn’t the only story where a lawyer had to get involved. In the following story, Demi’s lawyer jumps in to save her when the legal professional discovers something suspicious about the woman’s husband and mother-in-law.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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