Let's Talk with Maggie Toussaint
The Pink Dress
April 24, 2025
By Tabby Winslow, amateur sleuth of A Magic Candle Shop Mysteries
My family size has been shrinking for years. When I was a kid, Dad disappeared one day. Went out for eggs and never returned. Now I have a phobia about buying eggs.
Last year Mom died. She used her energetic power to its max and beyond trying to save her friend with cancer. She knew what she was doing, knew that she couldn’t stop the disease altogether. Her efforts only gave her friend a brief reprieve. But Mom pushed her limits one time too many. Then she passed.
Though she’s on the lam, my aunt is still alive. Turns out her boyfriend has dangerous family in Chicago. It’s the kind of kin that wears shoulder holsters all the time, and they are not law enforcement. Just the opposite. And they thought Frankie was dead until his picture in the paper got picked up by the AP and the jig was up.
So there’s just me, Tabby Winslow, and my twin sister Sage. We are currently learning how to fun the family business and balance our finances. We are also playing catch-up with our secret energy powers and belatedly meeting the paranormal community in Savannah, Georgia, where we live.
Here are a few facts about me. I have never been a fan of fancy occasions or girly dresses.I’ve always been introspective and creative. My fraternal twin is my best friend.
My fiancé, Dr. Quig Quigsly, keeps pressuring me to set the date for our wedding. We’ve been engaged for four months, and the mere thought of planning a wedding gives me heart palpitations. So, when Quig’s mom offered to throw us an engagement party in late June, I jumped at the chance.
Especially since my family has a formal dress closet of dresses and gowns. With this fantastic collection of black dresses, I was in high cotton. Wouldn’t even have to go shopping for the event.
Or so I thought. (Cue scary music)
Quig informed me that his mother had a pastel theme for the June party, and I was expected to dress accordingly. Rats! That was terrible news.
I’m as human as anyone, so I griped about my problem in the Book and Candle Shop. Gerard, one of our shop clerks, told me I’d look great in pink. My heart stopped, and my knees wobbled. I nearly passed out with apoplexy as I told him through clenched teeth that I would never, ever wear a PINK dress.
But I lived to eat my words.
Gerard, one of the best shoppers I know, made it his personal mission to find me the perfect dress. And he did. Much to my surprise, the soft pink color made my entire body glow. I was absolutely enchanted with the dress he found.
If you assumed that I said “Yes to the Dress,” you’d be absolutely right! Gerard said it was all about the shade of pink, and now with the wisdom of hindsight, he is absolutely right. Even better, it had a classic cut, no ruffles or girly-girl stuff. It was a dress I was proud to wear, and Quig loved it. Double score!
Is there a color you’d never wear? Why or why not? Comment and my author Valona Jones, aka Maggie Toussaint, will randomly select a winner to receive CANDLE WITH CARE, book 4 in A Magic Candle Shop Mystery series. (eBook or print; print is US mailing address only)
Would you like to know more about author Maggie Toussaint? Visit her WEBSITE.
Posted in Let's Talk, with Maggie Toussaint • Tags: A Magic Candle Shop Mystery, Let's Talk, Maggie Toussaint, The Pink Dress, Valona Jones | 26 Comments
Orange. It makes me look sickly. Congratulations on another book!
I understand. There are some shades of green and yellow I can’t wear. Thanks for the congratulations!
Count me in for another vote against orange, but I’ve never understood why so many people hate pink. It’s such a happy color. Black is my go-to wardrobe color, though, because it’s so slimming. 😉
Oddly I once had an orange skirt and top in high school. I always got compliments when I wore it. Tabby got her dislike for pink from me, sad to say, though I have mended my thoughts on that color. Pink was too girly for us tomboys growing up! Thanks for the comment, Lois.
Congratulations on your new book! I would not wear white, only because it doesnt do you any favors , I think it just makes people look bigger and it is hard to keep clean. I think I would wear anything but white, beige is fine .
Thanks, Alicia. I tended to shy away from white for the same reason for a very long time. Now that I need to avoid the sun at all cost, I wear a long-sleeved white shirt over a tee, as if the white shirt were a jacket. Then I can take it off inside. I like beige too. Goes with anything!
Hot Pink would be a too bright color. Deborah deborahortega229@yahoo.com
It takes a special person to pull off hot pink. Thanks for visiting!
I don’t like black because my skin looks better with bold colors. Tropical hues are my favorites.
We never had any black clothes growing up, but I was forced to wear navy blue this and that because it was “so practical.” Later on I dallied a bit with black pants but I didn’t like black shirts so much. Like you I enjoy tropical hues. They are happy colors for me.
Orange, because I feel it doesn’t give off good vibes and for some reason I just don’t like it.
I think a lot of people think of orange as a prison color these days. Used to be jails and prisons used black and white striped clothing. Sorry that orange is getting a bum rap in these comments. The tide has surely turned on that color!
Mine would be green. Not one of my favorite colors.😊I think pink is a very pretty color.
I find I like very dark green or anything in the blue-green family. I’m not fond of the other shades of green. I’ve come to appreciate many shades of pink!
Yellow, orange, or gold. I look deathly ill if I wear any of them.
I have found that some yellows and most golds don’t flatter my skin tone at all. But if I find a yellow that is more buttery, that can work. Thanks for stopping by Brenda!
Orange, gold, or yellow. I look terminally ill in any of them.
No orange here! Tropical colors are good, but orange (or pink) are a no-no for me! Black and gray are also on my acceptable list!
I am quite startled at the outcry against orange. But perhaps you are thinking of the basic orange and not anything like a soft tangerine or a peachy orange?
Congratulations on the book! I am not a fan of beige. The color really washes out my complexion. I look good in cool colors.
Cool colors for Cherie! Coming right up. Thanks for dropping by the Bench.
No orange for me either. I just don’t like the color.
I understand. Thanks for stopping by.
Yellow is a big no-no for me. I look like a ghost with sallow skin
I hear you, Mary. Yellows can be tricky. Thanks for coming by.
THE WINNER OF CANDLE WITH CARE IS DIANNE CASEY. CONGRATULATIONS, DIANE!