I stood in front of the mirror and smiled. It did look good. The halter style top was pink with a beaded belt at the waist and the bottom was black with a high slit, coming up to mid-thigh. It was a dress that belonged on the red carpet and I felt glamorous.
“It does look stunning, but I’d love to see you in the ivory one,” Sadie suggested.
I frowned. “The one my mother wants?” I asked, my eyes wide with surprise.
“Are you going to turn it down just because she wants it? It is a wedding reception after all.”
I narrowed my eyes at Sadie. “Fine Mom, I’ll try it on.”
She laughed softly as I slipped back into the closet with the offending garment in hand. When I came out five minutes later, they all gasped. “That’s it, we’re done,” Lauren gushed.
I smiled at myself in the mirror and was shocked at my reflection. I hated to admit it, but my mother was right. It was perfect.
Chapter Eighteen
Unexpected
After we changed back to our own clothes, Mona stopped by and asked to speak to Lauren.
Although my curiosity was peaked, I was distracted by Marisa’s babbling. She was so excited about the dress she had picked and couldn’t wait for the next part in our day of beauty.
When Lauren returned we made our escape, barely slipping past all the chaos. Marisa bumped into a standing vase filled with bright purple lilacs; the tiny flowers were larger than any I had ever seen. If Sadie didn’t have heightened reflexes, the sparkling crystal would have shattered. Disaster averted, we rushed outside.
Lauren had booked us an appointment at her favorite salon and we were there for hours getting pampered. By the time we finished, we barely had enough time to go back to my parent’s home to get our dresses. In hindsight, we probably should have taken them with us, but we were so excited about the rest of the day we hadn’t thought of that. Cars were already parked in the driveway when we stepped through my patio doors.
“I told you we didn’t have time for the massages, now we’re going to be late.”
Lauren frowned. “I’m sorry, I got carried away.”
“My mother is going to kill me. We still have to go back to the estate and get dressed.”
Lauren shrugged. “Let’s just get dressed here.”
Her suggestion caught me off guard. “Uh…What about the guys?”
“They have vehicles, they can drive themselves.”
I sat down on the bed and tossed my throw pillow onto my lap, playing with the tassels around it. As I thought her suggestion through I realized she did have a point. There was no way we’d make it home and back on time. But if we did it her way, we could relax. I hated rushing; it always made me anxious. I leaned back on my pillows, keeping my head upright so I wouldn’t wreck my new hairdo. “Fine, we’ll stay.” I paused and glanced at Marisa and Sadie. “If that’s okay with you two?”
Marisa fell on the bed next to me, careful not to mess her curls that took hours to put in. The pillows bounced around me “I’d much rather get ready in your huge bedroom, than my tiny one.” She winced and turned to Lauren. “No offence.”
Lauren only smiled, taking no offence about the carriage house she had nothing to do with. She sat on my burgundy, velvet arm chair and started to lean her head back onto the big cushion…then thought better of it. Her hair was in an intricate up-do, she wouldn’t want to flatten it.
I dug through my bag for my phone and when I found it I texted Nate, giving him our new plan. He responded right away saying that he’d let the guys know what was happening. “Okay, everything is under control with the men.”
“Cool, should we start getting ready?” Marisa asked, her eyes bright with excitement.
Lauren was typing on her own phone. “I just told them to let us know when they get here, we can change then. Our makeup and hair are done; it won’t take long.”
Ten minutes later, Lauren’s phone beeped. She looked down at it and grinned. “It’s time to get ready girls!”
I sat back and waited until all my friends were dressed before carefully sliding the silky material over my head, making sure not to mess up my hair. The dress was a silk ivory halter with crystals along the collar and bodice, a small train flowed out at the back. My hair was wavy with pieces pulled back in a diamond crusted clip and then falling around my shoulders, tiny white flowers were woven throughout. I gazed at my reflection in the mirror and couldn’t help the smile that pulled at the corners of my mouth.
“You look beautiful,” Lauren gasped, stepping up behind me.
“Thank you,” I said softly, feeling self-conscious about my appearance.
I stepped into my heels and looked around. “Are we ready?”
They all nodded and headed into the hall ahead of me.
As I was about to follow them my father appeared in the doorway blocking my exit. He was wearing a black tuxedo and his thick brown hair was styled to perfection, not that I’d expect differently. He gazed at me with something that could almost be mistaken as emotion in his eyes.
“Is there something wrong?” I asked him, suddenly feeling anxious as I watched my friends disappear around the corner.
“No, of course not. I just thought I’d escort my daughter to the party. I saw Nate out there and decided to take the chance to get you alone.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Have you been drinking already?”
His lips twitched in an attempt at a smile. “No. Your mother told me what you said to her a few weeks ago and...” He trailed off. I waited for the lecture that was sure to come. The few times I had said something against my mom he would let me have it. I braced myself for the inevitable. “…you were right,” he finally said.
“Whatever,” I mumbled, not in the mood for his usual rant. “Wait. What?” I asked, sure I had heard wrong.
This time he allowed the smile to appear. “I said you were right.”
All I could do was stare at the man that was impersonating my father. I wondered where my real one was.
“We haven’t been good parents to you and I’d like to try harder. I don’t know how to fix this, but maybe we can figure it out together,” the imposter continued.
I stood in the doorway of my room with my mouth hanging open. “I…uh…what?” was all I could manage. He had caught me off guard. Who was this man and what had he done to my father; the man that barely spoke to me for weeks on end and who thought of me as no more than a burden?
“I’d like a chance at a better relationship, if you’ll let me.”
Again, he’d shocked me speechless. Since words were not possible, I simply nodded my head.
“Alright then, let’s go.” He held his arm out for me and I threaded mine through it. I could smell his spicy aftershave. It was a scent I had craved as a child wanting the attention of her father, but was always let down.
The halls were clear as we made our way to the back patio where the party was being held. When we stepped through the glass doors, we entered a different world. Flowers and twinkling lights were everywhere. Dusk had fallen and the tiny lights, along with the moon, created a soft glow. The scent of multiple flowers drifted in the air.
There was a long thin white carpet down the center between two rows of white chairs. The party guests were turned in their seats and watching me and my father as we approached. Nate was standing at the end of the carpet wearing a black tuxedo. His usually tousled blond hair was brushed smoothly, making him handsome in a more mature way. His vivid blue eyes were locked on me. His expression was intense, showing tenderness and love. Reverend Markus was standing next to him, a bible in his hands.
I blinked my eyes, expecting the image before me to disappear, but it didn’t. Everyone was focussed on me. I thought I was walking into a party to celebrate our marriage, but this? No way. The image before me was exactly what I had described when I began to plan my wedding with my mother. But she hadn’t listened and instead planned the exact opposite.
I spun on my f
ather. “What…?” I whispered, unable to finish the sentence.
“Your mother wanted to give you the wedding you wanted,” he said softly. “We’re just sorry it took us so long.”
My heart warmed and my eyes began to water.
My father must have sensed my surprise and my inability to move, because he began the walk down the aisle, pulling me along with him. The crowd stood up as guitar music started to play. When I looked in front of me again I saw my mother in the front row. She was standing with her hand clutched above her heart and a huge grin on her beautiful face. Mona was standing next to her, her expression filled with love and happiness. Her eyes went to the woman next to her then back to me and winked. I smiled at her. She had been like a mother to me and I knew that she was happy that my real one was finally trying. I didn’t know what had come over my parents, but I decided that it didn’t matter. Whatever the reason, I just needed to enjoy it for as long as it lasted. As the shock started to wear off, I grinned and moved toward my husband to renew our vows with all of our family and friends present, just like I had always wanted.
Once we said I do, Nate leaned forward and kissed me. I smiled against his lips as the crowd broke into applause. I was beaming with happiness as we turned to face the people we loved the most. I thought I was happy the first time we did this, but it was nothing compared to how I felt now that I could share it with everyone. When we walked down the aisle, the guests threw rose petals. We ducked as a clump was tossed at us, hitting Nate in the side of the head. I turned to see Adrian grinning widely and I knew instantly who had thrown it.
When the guests filed out of their seats they took turns congratulating us. My cheeks hurt with my constant smile. When Lilly, Eddie and Ally approached, Ally whispered in my ear asking who the hottie with the black hair was. Adrian. I had to tell her he was taken and point out that she had a date. She only shrugged as they moved on to the reception.
It was an hour later that the group had thinned out and moved to the dining room. Finally with a kiss to my husband, I was able to escape to find Mona. I caught up with her in the kitchen. She was coordinating the first course, the salads. “Mona,” I called out through the noisy chaos of the room.
She turned around at the sound of her name and smiled. “You look beautiful,” she mumbled as she wrapped me in her arms. I inhaled her gardenia scent, feeling comforted by the familiarity of it.
She pulled away and brushed a strand of hair out of my eyes. “What did you think? Were you surprised?”
“Surprised doesn’t even cover it. How did this happen? Why did you guys plan a wedding instead of a reception?”
A string of emotions flashed over Mona’s face. “It was all your mother’s idea. The day she came home from your place, she was upset about what you had said to her. But instead of blaming you, which I was afraid she might do, she sat down with me and asked me about you.”
My eyes widened with shock. “Asked what?”
She sat down on a kitchen stool and waved her hand in front of her. “Questions like: have you always felt neglected and unloved and why you felt that I was more of a mother than she was?”
“Are you serious?” I gasped and she nodded. “What did you say?”
She shrugged. “The truth. I told her that after her mother died, you lost your parents as well as your grandmother.” She placed a few salads onto a waitress’s tray before the girl rushed out of the room. “And I told her I didn’t know why she pulled away from you, maybe it was her own grief, but she left you when you needed her most.”
Mona had always been outspoken, but had never spoken her mind like that. I guess the difference was that my mother was finally asking.
“And what she said hurt, but it got me thinking of all the times you reached out to me and I dismissed you,” a soft voice said from behind me.
I spun around to see my mother standing in the kitchen doorway. Her eyes were tortured with uncertainty. She was wearing a soft gray silk dress that hugged her curves, but was elegant instead of sexy. Her platinum hair was down; flowing over her shoulders and diamond teardrops sparkled from her ears. She was the picture-perfect, mother-of-the-bride.
Mona gave me a small smile and glanced at my mother.
Mom stepped up to me, the smell of her perfume hovered in the air around us. “And finally, I thought of my mother and imagined how disappointed she would be by the way we’ve been treating you.” She wrapped me in her arms and I snuggled into her hair. My eyes and throat burned with the threat of tears. I couldn’t remember the last time she hugged me. “I’m so sorry,” she rasped into my ear.
When she pulled away from me, I gazed at the woman who I had both loved and hated my whole life. “But what about the phone call last week. You yelled at me again.”
She sighed. “I know and I’m sorry. I wanted to surprise you with this wedding so badly. I was hoping it could make up for some of the way we treated you. But when I thought you might not make it, I panicked.” She lifted her hand and brushed her manicured finger against the corner of my eye wiping away a tear. “I’m trying honey, but it’s going to take time. Just be patient with us, alright?”
I nodded wordlessly. “Okay,” I whispered, unable to say more.
She smiled at me, her face alight with… if I didn’t know any better, I’d say love. “Let’s go eat this amazing meal Mona has prepared.” She draped her arm around my shoulder and led me out.
Mona and I shared a look of surprise as I exited the kitchen with my mom.
Chapter Nineteen
Party
The reception was to be held in a large tent that was situated beside the patio. It was also decorated with twinkling lights, white roses and lilacs. There was a buzz of conversation and the sounds of forks tinkling against china, as the waiters handed out the salads. Our guests were either sitting at their tables eating or standing around talking. There was energy in the air that seemed to be contagious. Giddiness bubbled up inside me at the site of all the people I loved. They had come out to celebrate mine and Nate’s love. My heart swelled at the site.
Nate met my mother and me at the entrance. He reached out for my hand to guide me to our table in front of the crowd. My mother followed and took a seat across from me. Ben was on the other side of my father, with an empty chair next to him, for I assume Mona. My parents had included them as if they were members of the family instead of staff. Again, I was shocked. I felt like I was dreaming and would wake up at any moment. “Did you know?” I whispered to Nate, my eyes washing with unshed tears.
“No, not until I arrived.” He leaned in and kissed me, his scent wrapped around me like a warm hug. “Are you happy?”
I nodded, my throat burning. I took a drink of water, hoping to wash away the tears that threatened again. “I can’t believe it.”
He squeezed my hand and pulled it onto his lap.
The rest of the evening went way too quickly. It was great to have everyone I loved in one place. I got a chance to catch up with my Aunt Brenda and my cousin Sydney. I haven’t seen them since they moved away three years ago.
Emma and her family were there and I couldn’t help but notice Nate spent most of his time with them. She had always been his favorite and since they had reconnected six months ago they hadn’t had a chance to see each other.
As I was talking to Julia, I glanced around for Sadie. She had expressed interest in the shelter and I wanted them to meet. I found her sitting next to Marisa, who was engrossed in the boy next to her, Nathan. They were huddled together in a conversation and were ignoring Sadie. When I caught her eye, I waved her over.
She grinned at me, as if she was relieved that someone was including her in the festivities. It must be hard for her to be at an event only knowing a few people and the few that she did know weren’t exactly being friendly. Adrian was a few seats down from her and was ignoring her completely. “Sadie,” I said when she appeared next to me, the scent of ginger following her. “I wanted to introduce you to Julia. She
runs the shelter with me.” I turned to my colleague and friend. “Nate hired her to be the new night person.”
Julia’s eyes brightened. “That’s fantastic. Evie’s been staying nights and helping during the day. She’s getting worn out.”
As Julia updated Sadie on the day-to-day routine of the shelter and of the upcoming Fun Day, I felt someone’s eyes on me. I looked around to see Adrian staring. Although, he wasn’t focussed on me, his gaze was locked on the dark haired girl to my right.
I excused myself and made my way across the tent, weaving around bodies and tables. “Why don’t you ask her to dance?” I asked when I approached him, leaning my hand on the round tabletop.
“Who?” Adrian asked dumbly, his arms folded in front of him.
I rolled my eyes. “Please. You can’t take your eyes off of her.”
He lifted a shoulder dismissively, his face a blank mask. “I don’t know who you’re referring to.”
I rolled my eyes, not falling for his act of ignorance. “Are you ever going to forgive her?”
“Maybe, someday.” He looked into my eyes and held them for a few seconds. “But not today.”
Not fazed at all by his stubbornness, I persisted. “Why don’t you ask her to dance?”
He shot me an annoyed look and shook his head.
I sighed as I took the empty chair next to him. “Adrian, I’ve gotten to know her and she is a good person. She would never have willingly kept Mari from you. And if you really had killed your parents like she thought, she would be a hero for protecting her.”
His face hardened. “Meg, are you really one to give me advice?”
I got his meaning. I had held a grudge as well once upon a time, but it was him that made me see that I was wasting precious time by holding onto anger. “Yes, because I understand why you feel the way you do. But, you told me I was wasting time with what-if’s”
Riley's Redemption (A Moon's Glow Novel) Page 16
