“Yes,” I said honestly. “There’s no way I will survive the whole ceremony with you looking like that. It’s way too much. I absolutely forbid it.”
Aurelia laughed, but she was in full, meticulous planning mode while I felt like I was genuinely about to lose my mind. Thankfully, she went back behind the curtain and my mind cleared enough to catch some of the ideas she was tossing out like darts.
“Could you ask the decorators for lots of greenery? We want it to be festive and cozy, but I also don’t want it looking like just another Christmas party. Also, what do you think about food stations instead of a sit-down dinner? Or will everyone be offended if the food isn’t brought directly to their tables?”
I chuckled and shook my head. “I’m sure they can manage. We’ll need to finalize all the dishes you’ve got in mind with the caterer before tomorrow, though. We also might need to compromise on some. She warned me that they might not be able to provide their full service on such short notice.”
“That’s fine,” she called. “Oh, I think I like this one. Hey, have you spoken to my mom yet?”
I groaned. Aurelia and I were hoping that having the wedding this way would force our mothers to work out their issues. Neither would know that the other had been invited, which would hopefully mean they would arrive without their guards all the way up.
Perhaps too optimistically, Aurelia and I agreed that if they saw each other again for the first time at their children’s wedding, neither woman would want to be tacky enough to cause a scene. With a little luck and maybe some Christmas magic, they might be civil enough with each other to realize they could bury the hatchet.
It might be a long shot, but we were doing this either way. Both women were invited and welcome. Whatever problem they had with the guest list was between them.
I opened my mouth to respond, but then the curtain swished open and Aurelia stepped out again, and everything else in the world just seemed to stop.
Compared to the others, this dress was simple, but somehow, it was also the only one that mattered. Ivory satin caught the light in a way that made her look majestic. Maybe even ethereal. Like a fairy princess from another realm or an angel with amazing curves.
The neckline was elegant, revealing just a hint of cleavage but modest enough that Regina wouldn’t bitch at her about it. The skirt moved like it had been waiting just for her.
It had no frills and no drama. Just Aurelia, in all her natural, regal, old-style Hollywood beauty. Before I even knew it, I was stepping away from the tailor. “That’s the one.”
She blinked hard, a tiny divot in her forehead telling me how startled she was. “What, this one? Are you sure?”
I moved closer, my head shaking because I couldn’t land on any words that would do her justice. “There’s no question about it. That’s the dress.”
Her hands fluttered to her waist as if she didn’t know what to do with them, her eyes suddenly shimmering and glassy with unshed tears. She moved toward me too, meeting me halfway across the small space.
“This is it?” Her voice cracked just enough to break me. “Do you really think so?”
I swallowed hard and reached out, gently taking her hands in mine and pulling her even closer yet. “The whole world disappeared when you walked out in this. If that’s not the dress, I don’t know what is.”
A soft, shaky laugh slipped through her tears. “Should we buy it?”
“Yes,” I said immediately. “Now. Check, please!”
She pressed her forehead against my chest for just a second, her laughter muffled by my half-pinned jacket. “Okay. This is the one.”
“Damn straight, it is. I don’t need to have this tux tailored. No one is going to notice I’m even there. Wait, you don’t have any single guy friends you plan on inviting, do you?”
She dabbed at her eyes with the back of her hand, laughing softly again. “You’ve officially ruined me. Now I’m crying in a bridal boutique.”
“Worth it,” I murmured. “Do you, though?”
“Have any single guy friends? Yes. None that I plan on inviting.” She turned back toward the mirror, studying herself one more time. “You wouldn’t have anything to be worried about even if I did, though. Have you seen yourself in a tux?”
As she stepped away from the mirror, she glanced over her shoulder at me with a look in her eyes that made my heart pound. There was mischief, nerves, joy, and something a whole lot more dangerous.
“You’re good with zippers, right?”
I blinked hard, trying to snap out of the stupor that look had sent me right back into. “They chafe a little if I forget to wear underwear, but I guess I’m fine with them.”
“What?” she asked, confused.
“I don’t know,” I said, feeling my goofy grin widen. “What are we talking about?”
“The back.” She motioned vaguely over her shoulder. “This thing’s impossible. Come help.”
