Looking in the mirror,I try to suppress the smile that wants to spread. My palms rest against my belly as I study myself from different angles.
Arriving at Connor’s parents’, my mother quickly ushered me to the guest room to get dressed, as the hair and makeup lady was waiting for me. I didn’t realize we were going all out. I don’t even want to know how this dress was chosen or by who. It fits me to a T, and although not a wedding dress, it could be if you were going for dressy casual in white. It dips down my back, cuts off just below my knee, and I feel beautiful.
“I can’t wait to see the photos. You’re so stunning.” My mom arrives by my side, holding up a necklace. “Here,” she says as she brings the jewelry around my neck. “Your dad gave this to me on our first anniversary. I was saving it for your wedding… which I missed.” Her happy tone dips to disapproval before her smile returns. “So, I will give it to you now and be sure to steal some photos.”
I touch the pendant with a small diamond and smile tenderly at her. “Thank you, I love it.” And I feel kind of guilty too. She wanted to save it for a special occasion, but I guess to her, this is. “How early were you up this morning?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.” She waves me off.
I throw her a funny look. “There is a cupcake tower downstairs.” And she made it because she’s an excellent cook and baker, even works in nutrition.
“I’m up early anyhow. Besides, you used to go on and on about cupcake towers for weddings.”
“This is a photoshoot… one that you and Brielle invited yourselves to.” I laugh.
She brings her fingers together to show size. “We are a little excited for you and Connor.”
“Clearly,” I deadpan.
My mother touches my curled hair that is mostly down. “You know, love hides under the surface. We don’t always embrace it in the right way first, but once you uncover it, then it can be amazing and long-lasting.”
“Is this our marriage talk?”
She nods once with a closed-mouth smile. “It is. Also, remember your father and I couldn’t stand one another until we realized it was because we were completely right for each other. Soulmates.”
“So you’ve mentioned at every opportunity that arises.”
My mom gives me a loving knowing look. “I’m not sure what you two are up to, but I see it. The potential, I mean, and I’m here for it.”
She is dead serious, and I’m taken aback slightly by her conviction. There’s experience behind her words, which means her advice isn’t to be ignored. That unnerves me slightly, as it means there may be truth to what she says.
Clearing my throat, I decide that we should probably get on with this day. “I guess there is a fancy journalist and photographer downstairs that I should get to.”
She nods, and we leave the room to walk down the stairs and head outside into the beautiful day. The Spears home is much like my own childhood home. On the lake, with a dock, but they have an outside swimming pool, whereas we have an inside one. Connor and I both grew up in a life of love from our parents who did their best to give us more than most but keep us humble.
Our parents, two photographers, a journalist, and Declan is here, probably under the ruse of uncle duty. They are all huddled around the table full of refreshments.
But in the corner of my eye, I spot Connor and my dad deep in conversation near the willow tree and away from everyone. It strikes me that they seem serious yet they’re speaking in hushed tones, and I wonder what they are discussing.
My father peers up, and he seems to pause instantly in his sentence, with fondness flooding his face.
Connor is wearing a linen dress shirt and khaki pants. His back is to me, but when he notices my father hypnotized, Connor glances over his shoulder. He does a double take before he slowly turns to face me. His eyes draw a line up and down my body, and his lips tug from a smile he can’t commit to. But when he steps forward, abandoning my father, his eyes lighten before he gets to me, stops, and touches my elbows with his fingertips, sending a current through my blood.
“You look beautiful.” His voice dips low, ensuring nobody can hear. “Then again, I wouldn’t marry anything less.”
I give him an unimpressed look. Maybe because for a moment, I thought he was being sincere, or he was then ruined it. Both options enrage me somewhere deep within.
Glancing around, I realize we have an audience. I chuckle softly. “Wow, what a spread.”
My eyes nearly bug out at the abundance of fresh flowers, and Connor notices. “They roped my aunt Violet into this event; she dropped them off this morning. Peach-colored roses for Sprinkles, apparently that was in your wedding dream diary.”
“Oh God, I guess my mom really did dig that up. I made that when I was like seven, by the way.”
“Don’t worry, my mom went off the rails too. See the dog?” He tips his head to Puck, their family’s yellow Labrador, who is sporting a little bandana around his neck. “Dressed up for the occasion.”
I snort a laugh before I fix my gaze on my father who walks to us. “Hi, Daddy.”
“You look so pretty,” he notes.
