Allure: The Arranged Hearts Series

Chapter 4

I stoodin front of rows of different paintbrushes. I didn’t know why every time I came into this shop, I pretended like I was open to any brand besides Princeton Heritage. I guess I didn’t want to feel too constricted to one thing.

It had been almost a month since I did my interview with Arranged Hearts and I was feeling as if maybe they couldn’t or wouldn’t find my match. But, then, the reasonable part of my brain reminded me that this was more than a boyfriend kind of commitment. I wanted them to take all the time necessary to find the right man for me.

“Lore, if you don’t hurry and grab the brushes you always get. We don’t have all day, girl. My stomach is growling and you know Lemon’s will be packed soon,” Mahalia announced behind me.

I rolled my eyes with a smile, ready to grab my usual, when my phone rang with my signature ringtone: “On My Mama” by Victoria Monet.

“Girl, can you answer that? You got everyone in this store staring at us,” Mahalia said with a closed smile.

I laughed and answered the phone. I didn’t care if the entire world was watching me. I loved this song, so it didn’t change a damn thing for me. According to Mahalia, I was the last person in the world who had a song as their ringtone.

“They’re staring because they want to figure out who has such good music taste,” I told her with a wiggle of my brows.

She waved me off as I focused on my call.

“This is Lore,” I answered.

“Hi, Lore. This is Joy, and it is so nice to hear you’re in such good spirits. But we have good news! We have found your husband.”

My mouth dropped at her declaration. I would have never imagined this was something I would hear over the phone, let alone, ever. Even with the most open upbringing, my parents had a few questions about the process. But, now here I was, ready to step into forever.

“I don’t know what to say. I am lost for words. Is there anything you can tell me about him, or do I go in completely blind? When is the wedding? I feel like I have so many questions,” I told her.

Joy laughed. I was sure she was used to my erratic behavior by now.

“Take a breath for me, Lore.”

I closed my eyes briefly and took her direction. Once I opened them again, Mahalia was standing directly in front of me with a bag filled with the brushes I had come for. I hadn’t realized she had taken them from my hands or that she had walked away. She nodded toward the door, so I followed her out.

“Okay, I’m good now. What’s next, and what do I need to do?” I asked calmly.

“I love to hear it. So, to answer all your previous questions, I’ll start there. No, I will not share any details about him. But trust me when I say, we did that!” she responded, shocking the hell out of me.

I laughed at her use of modern-day terms.

“You didn’t think I knew how to use that, huh?” she asked.

I laughed as Mahalia led me over to a bench so I could focus on the conversation.

“Absolutely not.”

“Well, second question. The wedding is this weekend. We don’t like to prolong the process too much. You come to us because you’re tired of the traditional route and the waiting, so we don’t want to keep you waiting too long once we find the one for you. Finally, your cost for the services; we will handle the wedding for you. In your case, your future husband only had one request.”

“What’s that?” I asked.

“He wants to wear shades of brown, but the rest is up to you. He specifically wanted the planning to be your dream. That was something he mentioned a few times during our conversation.”

“That’s very easy to give, mainly because that and burnt orange were the colors I was going to choose, anyway. I want pampas grass, copper orange silk drapery with brown and cream mixed in. I want it to feel homely, but romantic, if that makes sense. I don’t think I have much else in mind. Very intimate. I don’t have a big family or a lot of friends.”

“I got it all down. With only a few days before I do, I think you might want to go dress shopping,” Joy responded.

I smiled to myself because the feeling was setting in. I was getting married this weekend to a stranger.

“Uh, Joy, I know you don’t allow contact before the wedding, but can I send a present to you to make sure he gets it before the wedding?” I asked.

The line got quiet, but when she answered, I heard the smile in her voice.

“Absolutely. On your wedding day, I will head to your dressing room to get it.”

“Perfect. Also, I know he wants this day to be perfect for me but I want the same for him too. Tell him the first dance song is all his, and the food. I’m not picky at all and I trust his opinion. If you picked him, we must have something in common.”

“You got it, and congratulations, Lore.”

I smiled as we ended the call, then looked over at Mahalia. She had the biggest smile on her face as if she knew exactly what I would say.

“I’m getting married,” I told her.

She cupped her ear and leaned forward dramatically.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t catch that. What did you say? Say it a little louder.”

I threw my head back and lifted my arms above my head like I could reach the sky.

“I am getting married!” I shouted.

The people who passed by us smiled.

Mahalia wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tight.

“So, dress shopping?” she asked.

I groaned at the thought. I loved to shop like the next woman, but sometimes, it was a bit challenging to find things to fit my unique frame. Which only made me wish we had a little more time than a few days, but I understood the process.

“I guess. But you know Jia would kill us if we went without her,” I joked, referring to my mother by her first name.

“I’m already ahead of you. I shot her a text, and she is on her way to the shop with your dad now. So get your butt up and let’s go,” she said.

I smiled, loving my friend all the more. She proved to me every day why it wasn’t necessary to have more than just her. She was all I could ever need in a friend. But now that I thought of it, she would have to make room for my husband because this relationship had to be more than a romantic thing. He needed to be my friend too, if we wanted this to last.

We walked into Ever After Boutique, and wall-to-wall was covered with different styled dresses. I knew for sure I wanted something that would lie against my frame, not missing a single curve.

One of the women who worked to help pick the perfect dress walked over to introduce herself until my mother rushed over.

“Thank you so much. She is with us,” she told her.

My mother was a very dainty woman, who always wore her hair loose around her shoulders, highlighting her porcelain skin. Her English was practically seamless because of moving here from Thailand when she was a baby with her parents. I knew this moment was extremely important to her because her parents passed before she could do wedding planning when she fell in love with my dad. He was the average black man, hardworking and beyond intelligent. According to my mom, when she saw him, it was an instant connection.

I smiled when I thought of it. Growing up with two parents who didn’t impose structure on me in the way most would think was different, but I loved that they catered to my freedom and my need to be who I am. If they hadn’t, I highly doubt I would be who I am today.

My mother took my hand in hers and led me over to the lavender couch situation in front of a circle platform surrounded by mirrors and dressing rooms. The bridal assistant was talking to my dad, who I was sure was talking her ear off about his plants. The widening of her eyes as she noticed us coming back gave me the answer to what I already knew. I couldn’t help but laugh. She stepped around him and made her way over to us.

“You must be the bride! You’re the perfect mixture of your mother and father,” she complimented.

I smiled, looking between my parents, then back at her.

“That’s what they tell me. But, thank you so much. So, what do we do now?” I asked, unsure of what this moment was supposed to look like.

When I planned to get married in this unconventional way, I figured I would buy a dress online or even at a thrift shop, but never this.

“Well, my name is Jenine. First, when is your wedding date?” she asked.

I looked around at my family, then back at her, knowing my answer would make the search more difficult.

“Uh, Saturday,” I replied.

Her brow lifted at my response as she looked between my parents and Mahalia to see if I was kidding, then back at me. She clasped her hands in front of herself, then smiled.

“Just to clarify, in the next two days?” she asked.

I nodded.

“Well, then, let’s get started. We don’t have another second to waste. Do you know your size, or would you like to be measured?” she asked.

I glanced down at my figure, then back up at her.

“I say we go with the measurement. I am sure I fall in between maybe a sixteen and eighteen, but my waist is small,” I told her.

She pulled the tape measure from her waist, then led me over to the platform to do her job. Once she had the numbers she needed, she let us know I was correct, then advised us on different styles of dresses. Although I made sure I looked good, it wasn’t my main concern. I was embarrassed to admit I hadn’t even thought of what my wedding dress would look like.

“I think a mermaid-style dress would look absolutely beautiful on you. Let’s go pick out a few, then we can get you to try them on,” she offered.

I smiled and followed her lead. She pulled out so many dresses, it was making my head spin. I hadn’t even thought about the way I wanted my husband to see me when I walked through those doors. But one thing I knew for sure was I wanted to feel sexy and desired. Now that I thought of it, I wanted him to feel lucky the moment his eyes fell on me.

While walking through rows of different dresses, an off-white dress covered in pearls with a detachment caught my eye. I stopped my pursuit and pulled it from the rack. I didn’t want to get too excited, so I checked the tag to see if it was my size. I laughed because this dress was the exact size I needed, down to the measurements. If it looked good on me, I doubted I would need a single alteration. If this wasn’t a sign, I didn’t know what one was.

“Jenine, I would like to try this one on,” I called out to her, stopping her.

She looked over her shoulder and smiled brightly.

“Let’s do it. I think we have more than enough dresses picked out, anyway.”

She walked back toward me and took the dress from me. I followed her lead back to the dressing room with the many other dresses. It seemed as if I had every dress in the store back here. So, I told Jenine I would try on my mom’s pick, my dad’s, Mahalia’s, and finally, my own. If none worked, I would try one of her picks. She was okay with that.

Jenine stepped out of the room to allow me to get undressed, awaiting my knock on the door to alert her when I needed to be zipped up. My mother chose a dress that was a classic A-line silhouette with a sweetheart neckline and delicate lace sleeves. It was beautiful, but as I slipped it on, I couldn’t help but feel like I was drowning in fabric. I knocked on the door, and Jenine entered, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of me.

“Well, it’s certainly… traditional,” she said diplomatically, trying to hide a smirk.

I turned to face the mirror and burst out laughing. “I look like a marshmallow with arms!” I exclaimed, twirling around and watching the skirt puff out around me.

Jenine giggled and helped me out of the dress. “Okay, let’s try your dad’s pick next.”

My father had selected a sleek, modern sheath dress with a high neckline and a dramatic open back. As I put it on, I felt like a Hollywood starlet, but when I tried to walk, I realized I could barely move my legs.

“Jenine, I think I’m stuck,” I called out, shuffling awkwardly toward the door.

She opened the door and stifled a laugh. “Oh my, that’s quite a… unique choice.”

I grimaced. “I feel like a mermaid who got caught in a fishing net. Next!”

Mahalia’s pick was a vintage-inspired, tea-length dress with a full skirt and a delicate lace bodice. It was charming, but as I slipped it on, I realized it was a bit too snug in the bust area.

“Jenine, I don’t think this is going to work,” I wheezed, trying to adjust the bodice.

She peeked in and immediately covered her mouth to hide her laughter. “Oh, Lore, you look like you’re about to pop out of that dress like a jack-in-the-box!”

I couldn’t help but laugh along with her. “I guess Mahalia forgot about my girls when she picked this one.”

Finally, it was time for my choice. I had fallen in love with a strapless, beaded, off-white mermaid-style gown with a deep slit up the right thigh. It had a detachable long train that was attached at the left hip, giving it a fairytale vibe. As I slipped it on and Jenine zipped me up, I knew it was the one.

I stepped out of the dressing room, and Jenine gasped. “Lore, you look stunning,” she said, her eyes misty.

“I guess it’s time to show the folks,” I said, my voice a little raspy even to my ears.

I took a deep breath and smoothed the skirt of the dress, feeling a flutter of excitement in my stomach. With Jenine’s help, I carefully maneuvered out of the dressing room, making sure not to step on the delicate fabric.

As I walked down the hallway toward the platform in the center of the room, I heard the murmur of voices and the rustling of dresses. The moment I stepped into view, a hush fell over the entire store.

There, sitting on a plush velvet couch, were my mother, father, and Mahalia. Their eyes widened as they caught sight of me, and I couldn’t help but grin as I made my way toward the platform.

With each step, I felt the eyes of the other customers and staff on me but I didn’t feel self-conscious or nervous. Instead, I felt like a true bride, radiant and confident in the dress of my dreams.

As I stepped up onto the platform, I heard Mahalia let out a squeal of delight. “Oh my God, Lore, you look damn good!” she exclaimed, bouncing up and down on the couch.

My mother’s hands flew to her mouth, and I saw tears shimmering in her eyes. “Oh, my baby,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. “You’re so beautiful.”

My father, who had always been a man of few words, simply stared at me, his eyes shining with pride. “Lore,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “You look perfect.”

I felt my tears welling up, but I blinked them back, determined to savor this moment. I turned to face the mirror, and what I saw took my breath away.

The dress was everything I never knew I could even dream of and more. The strapless neckline showed off my shoulders while the beading caught the light and made me sparkle. The mermaid silhouette hugged my curves in all the right places, and the deep slit up my right thigh added a touch of sexiness. And the long train, attached to my left hip, flowed out behind me like a river of ivory.

I ran my hands over the smooth fabric, marveling at the way it felt against my skin. This was the dress I would wear on the most important day of my life, the dress that would forever be a part of my story.

As I stood there, lost in my thoughts, I heard a bit of applause from the other customers and staff. I looked up, surprised, and saw that everyone in the store was watching me, their faces alight with smiles.

Jenine stepped forward, her eyes misty. “Lore, you are a vision,” she said, her voice filled with warmth. “This dress was made for you.”

I smiled and reached out to squeeze her hand. “Thank you, Jenine,” I said, my voice wobbling slightly. “For everything.”

As I stepped down from the platform and made my way back to the dressing room, I felt the love and support of my family and friends surrounding me. And I knew, in that moment, that no matter what challenges lay ahead, I would face them all with a smile on my face and the perfect dress on my back.