“I think I believe you,” she says with a nod. Then a beat later, “Can I get one of those glasses, please?”
And like the fairy godmother she is, Abby hands her a flute with her name on it, like she expected her to show up all along.
Abby and Harper help me change, and because Abby knows enough about using a camera to be dangerous, she captures Evelyn buttoning up the tiny fabric buttons that line my back. She insisted, “that’s a family member’s job”, since neither of our mothers are here to do it.
I wish this were real.
That I had all the moments leading up to this one, and that our mothers were both here to experience it with us. I wish Phoebe had a matching dress and flower petals in a basket, and that my Dad could walk me down the aisle instead of whatever I’m about to do.
I wish we could’ve celebrated this moment with every single member of our families, butthis isn’t real.
But I close my eyes and hold those wishes tight anyway, because I can’t say them out loud. And open them to the girls sighing when Harper is finished adjusting my dress.
It settles around me like it knows exactly where it belongs.
“You can’t see yourself until I do a little something with your makeup,” Abby says, turning me away from the mirror.
I try to protest, but Abby goes to work anyway. And Evelyn is beside her, making suggestions.
Harper adjusts a curl near my face. “You look beautiful. He’s not going to know what to do.”
I hadn’t let myself sit and think about this wedding for long. Not when I took a bath last night in the lavish tub in Aiden’s bathroom, that was mysteriously stocked with more bath care than I know what to do with.
And a note that said:
For my bride-to-be. I wasn’t sure how often you get to pamper yourself, and I wanted to make sure you got to before our wedding. I can’t wait to marry you.
It’s not flowery or poetic. It’s just…him.
And I suspect he meant every word he wrote. That could be because I’m swept up in the magic of it all, but it feels more like he’s paying attention.
“Alright, you can look now!” Abby announces, turning me around.
I barely recognize the woman staring back in the mirror.
Harper excuses herself for a moment, and Evelyn follows, leaving Abby and me alone.
“I need to say something,” I blurt.
Abby blinks back at me.
“I can’t… blur things today,” I say. “No kissing. No crossing lines. This is for Phoebe. For survival.”
Abby raises an eyebrow. “You realize you’re exchanging vows, right?”
“I know,” I say quickly. “But this—” I put a hand on my heart. “I need to keep it contained.”
Abby sighs. “Boundaries are okay, Chloe. But not at the cost of finding your own happiness. You are a serial offender of ignoring your own wants and needs.”
“Yes,” I agree. “But I don’t have a choice.”
She softens. “Okay. No kissing today.”
But she doesn’t mention tomorrow.
Or the day after.
Phoebe’s laughter floats down the hall, bright and unbothered, and it steadies me in a way nothing else can.
