At first, when she knocked on my door and suggested helping me get ready, I was cautious, but as soon as she told me she'd spoken to my sister before picking out my wedding dress, and had chosen one that would knock Dominic on his arse, it was confirmed to me that this woman is an icon, and I willingly let her inside.
"Thank you, but I feel like I can't breathe."
She chuckles, gently placing her hand on my arm as she moves next to me, joining me in the mirror.
Her dusty pink dress matches the roses mixed into my bouquet, and the white blazer she has on highlights the corsage on her wrist, which is made up of small pink and red roses, and some white gypsophila to break up the colours, as is my bouquet.
"I apologise for that, but Ellie and I both agreed you would look fabulous in this dress, and I have to admit, we were correct. Wouldn't you agree?"
I glance over myself again before nodding.
"Yeah, I do."
I glance at the clock on the wall, and tears begin to well in my eyes.
Ten minutes.
Taking a deep, shaky breath, I turn away from the mirror and walk over to the stark white bed in the middle of the room and sit down beside the box that has my shoes inside.
"Alicia," Louise says, gently placing my bouquet down and moving to sit beside me as I take the glittering heels from the box and place them on the floor.
I look towards her, and her shimmering eyes halt my movements, confused as to why she looks on the verge of crying.
"Are you okay?" I ask.
"Yes, dear. I just… well, I hope I don't say anything out of line here, or anything to cause you upset, but I just wanted to say I, too, had to go through my wedding day without my mother present. Although, at the moment, you see this marriage simply as a transactional situation, it is still an important day in your life, one where you should have someone with you to offer you support and help calm your nerves."
She pauses for a moment, looking away from me and blinking rapidly to try and clear the tears gathering in her eyes.
"When you told me your sister also wouldn't be attending the wedding, my heart hurt for you. This is a scary situation. Your whole life is about to change. I'm glad you allowed me to be of some help today. So, thank you for letting me in earlier."
Grief floods me, and my eyes fall shut as I will myself not to cry at her words.
I was up half the night, crying with Eliana as we spoke about our mother, discussing how hard it has been for both of us to go through life without her, and how devastating it will be to not have her with us on our wedding days.
Ellie almost changed her mind last night about coming because she wanted to be here for me if I needed her, but I told her I'd be fine.
WhenPapáwas driving me here early this morning, we spoke about my mother, and he gifted me the locket I have on today. Inside is a picture of me, Eliana, and my mother from many years ago, and although it made me cry, it made me feel better about today, knowing I have her with me.
She's always with you, mija.
My father's words echo through my mind, and I open my eyes as I sigh, reaching down for my shoes and start slipping them on.
"Thank you, Louise. I appreciate you being here," I tell her, glancing at her, hoping she can see my words are genuine. "Now it's my turn to say something I hope doesn't upset you—it's a wonder to me that someone as kind as you birthed such a surly man."
She laughs, shaking her head.
"I promise you, darling, he's not as bad as he seems. He can be grumpy, and sometimes he doesn't think before he speaks, but deep down, behind the barriers he puts up, he's as sweet and caring as my other children. They just all have different ways of showing they love and care for someone."
I frown. "Other children? I thought you only had two."
"I do, technically," she says, nodding. "I also class Jessica and Jaylen as my children, though."
I raise my brows in surprise, and she clears her throat as she stands from the bed, smoothing out her dress.
"Their mother was my best friend, as well as my sister. We thought it was fate when we were arranged to marry the King brother's. We were over the moon, knowing we'd be able to remain close and see each other all the time, support each other through everything we'd have to go through when marrying strange men we didn't know… I didn't realise that it was too good to be true."
Her hands tremble as she fiddles with the corsage on her wrist and stares out the window, a haunted look in her eyes.
