“You bribed my thirteen-year-old brother?For shame.” I laugh.
“Open the door. I want to see you.”
“I can’t. Laura and Annie are here.You’re going to get me in trouble with my mom.”
“Baby, you’re killing me.” I put my handthrough the crack in the door and he entwines it with his.
“Sorry,” I whisper. “It won’t be muchlonger. I’ll see you at the end of the aisle. I’ll be the one in white.”
Cole kisses the palm of my hand. “I willbe there.” I peek through the crack, watching him retreat.
“Oh, Cole.” He turns back, giving me thatbeautiful smile.
“Yes baby.”
“Did you bring my jewelry?”
“Yes, I will…” he hesitates. “Get it toyou.”
“See you soon.”
“See you soon, Cookie.”
Laura helps me with my makeup. She hasbought me fake eyelashes and insists that I wear them. “There, they lookgreat.” I keep blinking. It feels like a bug is trying to fly in my eye. I eventry to bat one of the non-existent flies away with my hands. I peer in themirror and she’s right; they look fantastic. “Wow, those look good. Now if Ican get used to the extra weight and remember a bug isn’t flying in my eye,I’ll be good.”
“Okay, it’s time for your dress.” Laurapulls my dress out.
“Where is my mom? Or Annie and Jill?” Ibite my lip. I was hoping they would be here with me, too.
“There was a problem with some of theflowers. I’m sure they’ll be here any minute.” Laura gives me a reassuringsmile.
I take off my robe, standing in myunderwear while Laura helps me step into my dress and then does it up for me. Ismooth out the chiffon and pick at the lace, my stomach doing flip-flops and myheart racing with nerves. “There, let’s see.”
I spin around in the dress. “Kate,” Laurachokes, tearing up. “You look so gorgeous. I love your dress.”
“Thanks.” My voicesqueaks withemotion. The door bursts open and my mom comes bustling in, already in herdress.
“Let’s get you in your…” But my mom’svoice trails off. I didn’t tell her about the dress change. I was hoping totell her about it when I put it on and tell her my story.
“What do you think?” I try to smile butthe tension is thick in the room. Tears run down her face and she turns on herheel, stomping out of the room, slamming the door behind her. My breath comesout shallow, tears welling up behind my eyes. I hold my stomach, trying to holdmyself together.
“Oh shit, oh shit. Kate, don’t freak out.Don’t cry. It will be okay. I will go find her and bring her back. Just wait.That, or I will find some booze.” Laura leaves the room in a panic. I stand infront of the full-length mirror looking myself over. My face is flushed withemotion, tears ready to spill over my cheeks. But my hair looks great, mymakeup is amazing thanks to Laura, and my dress? My dress is beautiful and justwhat I pictured myself wearing. I don’t understand. Why was my mom so upset?
There is a soft tap on the door.“Cookie.” Cole’s masculine voice rumbles. I walk over, cracking the door andthen standing behind it so he doesn’t see me.
“Hi.” My voice is a thread of sound.
“Hi back. I have your bag.”
“Um—okay.”
“Baby, what’s going on? I saw your momrun out of the house. She looked like she was crying. Annie is ready to teareveryone’s head off, and then I just saw Laura streaking out after your mom.”Cole puts his hand through the crack of the door and I grasp it.
“My mom thinks everything should beperfect, or exactly the way she wants it. Annie, I’m not sure. I need to talkto her. And my mom was crying about my dress. The one I’m wearing is a no. Theone I ruined was the dress she and Annie loved. I wanted to tell her when I putit on. I kept waiting and waiting so Laura helped me, and then well, she saw itand ran out crying.” I try really hard to sniff back the tears in my eyes.“Maybe this was a bad idea after all. It feels like so much trouble andeveryone’s so unhappy.”
“What about you? Are you unhappy?” Colepulls my hand through the crack, taking it in both of his.
“I wasn’t until…”
