Chapter 3: The Secret in the Silk
Grandma’s room was a time capsule of lavender and cedar. The air was stagnant, holding onto the scent of her rosewater soap. I opened the heavy oak closet doors, expecting to find her sensible floral dresses and wool cardigans. But as I pushed aside the everyday wear, my hand hit something different—a heavy, high-quality garment bag tucked at the very back, hidden behind a winter coat.
“That’s new,” I muttered.
I unzipped it, and a shimmer of soft, cornflower-blue silk spilled out. It was a gown from a different era—hand-stitched, with delicate beadwork around the neckline and a sweeping, floor-length hem. It was breathtaking.
“This is your prom dress…” I whispered, recognizing it from a single, faded black-and-white photo I’d seen as a child. “You kept it. You never even told me you still had it.”
I held it up against myself in the full-length mirror. Despite the decades, the silk felt vibrant and alive. It fit me almost perfectly, hugging my waist in a way that felt like a ghostly embrace.
“Oh, that dress,” Mrs. Kline’s voice came from the doorway. I jumped, my heart racing.
“You’ve seen this?” I asked.
“Once,” she said, her eyes fixed on the fabric. “A very long time ago. Lorna was very private about her past. She never let anyone touch that piece. It was her one vanity.”
“I’m wearing it to the funeral,” I decided.
Mrs. Kline nodded quickly, a strange glint in her eyes. “It will need a professional touch. The silk is delicate. I know a man downtown, Mr. Chen. He’s a wizard with vintage pieces. He’ll make sure it’s perfect for the service.”
She handed me a slip of paper with an address. As I took it, the lilac scent seemed to thicken, and I noticed how tightly she was watching my face. I didn’t think much of it then; I was too busy wondering why Grandma had kept this beautiful thing hidden in the dark for forty years.
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