A Big Old Fib - Rooted in Reality

It was my wedding day and I was thrilled with the unseasonably warm weather, so thrilled that I closed the door behind me without thinking. I took a few steps away from the door before I realized what I had done.
“Oh no!” I shrieked. My friend's expression caused me to explain, though not calmly. “The door locks when I close it.. And my dress is in there. So is my niece.”
Assuming she would make the obvious conclusion, I pulled my phone out of my jeans pocket to call the landlord. If she woke up and ruined my dress... I couldn't stop fidgeting while I waited from him to pick up. Finally, he answered.
“Good morning, Mr. Lenk. Do you happen to be home?” I started. His confirmation encouraged me. “Could you come over right away? I've locked myself out and I need to get back in.”
He assured me he would be there in five minutes and I hung up. Looking over at Sara it was quite obvious that she had realized why this was such a big deal. My niece was cute and all, but if she woke up from the nap and there was no one there... Well there was no telling what she would do.
I tried to push away the memories of her past escapades; cutting through the toaster cord with kitchen shears, drawing on her bedroom walls with permanent marker, getting lipstick all over her mom's favorite white stilettos. White...
I muttered a quick prayer that my dress would be okay and tiptoed around the apartment to my bedroom window. The curtains rippled in the gentle spring breeze, but I couldn't see into the dark room. Was that the sound of plastic crinkling? I couldn't be sure. Thinking about how to get into the apartment I nixed the window because I didn't think I could get the screen off from the outside. So I looked back at Sara. The bright sun and gorgeous blue skies above her somehow seemed almost mocking now.
“Any ideas?” I asked her, though I no longer held much hope.
“No, but Mr Lenk should be here any moment.”
“I know... but I can't just stand here and wait.”
I looked around for inspiration, finding nothing, and started slowly back to the front of the building. I pictured her ripping the plastic of my gorgeous princess gown. I could imagine her grinning as she started off her 2 year old's version of a picture for her auntie on that shiny new canvas.
Then I remembered the patio door. Maybe Sara could boost me over the wall and I could let myself in that way. Luckily I knew that the door would be unlocked because I figured if the wall wasn't enough to deter a thief then the lock probably wouldn't be either. I filled Sara in on the plan and then knelt down to remove my sandals.
“Okay,” I said, “you kneel down, right over her. And I'll...” I lifted my foot up to rest on her knee as I talked.
“Whoah! Hat are you ladies doing?” My landlord's burly voice surprised me and I fell backwards. Thankfully it wasn't very far down. Yet. I righted myself and laughed.
“Trying to get back in, of course. Good timing.” I smiled nervously, “Now could you please let us in?”
“Certainly.”
“He pulled the large keyring out of the pocket of his jacket and found our key. He slid the key into the lock and opened the door, then stepped out of the way to let me in.
“What are you to doing so gussied up on a nice warm day like this?” I heard him ask.
“It's her wedding day,” Sara answered for us as I rushed into the apartment.
Rushing over to where I had left my dress I sighed in relief when I saw that it appeared to be untouched. I nervously lifted up the bottom of the bag the shop had wrapped the dress in to show the skirts beneath. They were the same sparkling white as they had always been. I dropped the bag back down and walked into my bedroom.
“Time to get up, sweetie,” I said to the sleeping child. “We're going to go get dressed for the wedding.”
She smiled up at me and climbed out of the bed. “I like weddings,” she declared sleepily.