“Don’t be upset, baby. In about a half hour,even if the world is mad at us, we are going to walk down the aisle and pledgeour love in front of everyone who’s there or if no one shows up, to each otherand that is all that’s important.”
“How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“You always manage perspective in everycircumstance and understand the bigger picture.”
“You forget, I had to deal with Oliviafor a long time.”
“Oh, that’s very true.”
“Really, I started looking at thingsdifferently after my mom died. I learned to always see the positive in anysituation, even the worst ones.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Kate. Your mom iscoming. Here’s what you asked for, plus a little something extra.” He lets goof my hand and hangs my bag on it.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. We’re almost there, Cookie,it’s not long now.” I peek through the crack and watch Cole dart into the farbedroom. I walk over to the vanity, sitting down. I glance in the bag.Everything is as I put it when I gave Cole the bag for safekeeping, plus amaroon velvet box sitting on top. I gingerly open the box to find a beautifulbaguettediamondnecklace, with anote attached: ‘For my one and only on our wedding day’.
There is another knock at the door andmy mom peeks her head in. “May I come in?”
“Yes, please.” I pick up a small bluerectangular box and stand up, moving to the bed. “Will you sit next to me?”
My mom tries to smile as she sits down,but it doesn’t reach her eyes. I take a deep breath to calm my nerves.
“I want to tell you a story.” I start. Itell her my half-truth about how there were some problems with the other dressand it was ruined. “The bridal shop refunded Olivia her money, and they told meI could have any dress equal to the value of the one I purchased. I alwayswanted this dress. I feel like it shows my soul and makes me shine. I knowthat’s sounds stupid, but it does.” I smooth out the chiffon smiling. I feellike a bride, I feel beautiful in this dress.
I look up to find my mom watching mecautiously. “It turned out that this dress was a thousand dollars more than theother, if you can believe it, and it needed some alterations. I added the capsleeves, and she fixed the hips so it didn’t flare as much. When all was saidand done, I owed the shop just over three thousand dollars, and that included myveil. I chance another look at my mom. Her eyes are fixed on a spot on thefloor. I take her hand in mine. “I know this isn’t the dress you envisioned mein, but will you take comfort in knowing that you bought my dress?” Her headpops up, tears streaming down her eyes. “I used the money you gave me to payfor the gap in the price, the alterations, and the veil. That was the totalprice of my gown.”
“Katie, I’m sorry for the way I acted. Itcaught me off guard and, with everything else, I thought it was the last straw.I’m sorry I made such a spectacle of myself. Your dress is beautiful and youglow in it. It’s absolutely perfect and thank you for telling me that story. Itmade all this worth it.”
I reach over and pull my mom into a hug.“I love you so much, Mom. Thank you for doing this for me. I have something foryou.” I pick up the box, handing it to her.
Her hands shake, but she opens it. “Oh,Katie, it’s beautiful. Is it vintage?” I watch her as she fingers the locket.
“No, I found a few vintage ones, but Ididn’t like any of them. This one I thought suited you.”
“Here, will you help me put it on?” Shepulls the locket from the box, handing it to me.
“I bought the extra-long chain to go withit, so you just have to slip it on.” I slip it over her head.
“Thank you. I have something for you.”
“Oh Mom, you’ve done so much.”
“It’s something small. You know that oldadage, something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue?” Ismile and nod as she pulls a faded blue garter from her pocket. “This is foryou. I thought it could count as something old and something blue. I saved itfrom my wedding.” She hands me the lacy garter with a faded blue silk ribbon onit.
“Oh, mom.” I finger the beautiful garter,tears behind my eyes again. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” My mom clasps my hand.“I’m so happy for you.”
“I have one more thing for you. Cole toldme I could give this to you. It’s really from him. Well, we decided together togive it to you and dad. I wasn’t sure when a good time would be, but I thinknow is.” I stand up and go to my bag and pull an envelope out of it. “Here.” Mymom goes to open it, but then I stop her. “Let me tell you. It’s the deed tograndma’s house.”
“What?” My mom’s eyes are wide with amixture of surprise and confusion.
“Cole thought it would be better just topay it off. We talked about selling it but decided to give it to you and dadinstead. Look, I know it’s an enormous gift, but please accept it. Sell it,rent it, heck—tear it down and build a bigger house.” She looks down at theenvelope, not saying anything. It feels almost like time has stopped. “Will youplease say something?”
