26. Evelyn #2
“It’ll go great with your necklace, too, and that’ll be perfect for the something blue.”
“Oh… I lost that necklace, actually.”
She frowned, the wheels spinning in her head.
“Well you made it, so you can make another, right? Or get Laszlo to buy you something. I feel like I’m going to get charged ten grand for breathing this air,” she said as she sipped the champagne the salesclerk had given us. “This is the good shit. You should drink some. It’ll loosen you up.”
Roxy was a chatterbox and an eternal pragmatist. She was different from me, but it was comforting. I slid my hand down the embroidered front. The garment was immaculate, not a single loose thread or misplaced stitch. It was high quality, done by a skilled artisan.
But it wasn’t me.
I asked the salesclerk for some other options, and before I got out of the last one, she had them in the spacious changing area for me.
“Why do you think he wants me to buy a dress? It’s a civil ceremony, and only you and some guards will be there as witnesses. We won’t even have a photographer.”
Roxy shrugged.
“He’s an enigma, Belle. Hey, listen… I really appreciate him getting my money back before Gorky skipped town. This changes everything. I can’t believe I trusted a man with my investments, but yours really came through for me.”
A warm smile crossed my lips. “You don’t think he’s a snake anymore?”
“No. He’s strange, but he has a good heart. He’ll take care of you.” Her voice was sweet. I wanted to believe her. Most of the time I did, but what I found on his computer had rattled me.
I took a sip of the champagne, the fine bubbles teasing my nose. Roxy shook her head at my next dress, and I agreed, so I started changing into the third option.
“Roxy, are goths satanists?”
I had done some online searching, and there was a pretty strong correlation, but nothing was as solid as I wanted. My faith was a confusing mess of indoctrination and questions, but I believed there were forces of good and evil at work.
And what I found on his computer was something evil. I couldn’t figure out why he had them. Why it was in a folder titled Lilien.
“I don’t know? Sometimes? I mean, I think it’s mostly they have the same aesthetic.” Her golden eyes narrowed, scrutinizing me. “Why?”
I didn’t have a ready excuse and glanced away.
She laughed.
“Belle, you can’t think he’s a satanist. What, did you find some metal music in his collection or something? A pentagram? Because those are more witchy than satanic. I dated a goth when I was in high school and he was like a golden retriever beneath the black lipstick.”
The idea of Roxy dating a man that wore lipstick made me snort.
“Don’t let cold feet get in the way of your happiness. Speaking of… Excuse me? Yes, she needs some shoes. And some more champagne, if you please,” Roxy said to the salesclerk, and when I moved the privacy curtain aside, I knew I’d found the dress I wanted to be married in.
It was sleek, a beautiful ivory tone that shimmered with woven strands of fine silk that glittered when it caught the light.
The plunging neckline exposed my lack of cleavage, but in a way that felt chic instead of humiliating.
The skirt clung to my hips and thighs before flaring out into a mermaid cut that gave me room to walk with a little wiggle.
“Wow. That is the one,” Roxy gasped, and I smiled at my reflection.
“Do you think he’ll like it?”
“Girl… he has eyes. He’s going to like it. You’re so elegant.” Tears sprung into Roxy’s eyes, and I rushed to her side, but she batted me away with a giggle. “Don’t mind me. I’m just overjoyed for you. It’s like out of a fairy tale!”
I smoothed down the front of the silk gown, luxuriating in how well it fit already. With a few small adjustments, it would be perfect.
“Shotgun weddings are the way to go. If I get invited to one more wedding where I have to choke down dry stuffed chicken and pay for my own drinks, I’m going to scream,” Roxy said.
As usual, I didn’t understand the context of her complaint.
“She’ll need a blue garter, too,” Roxy said as the salesclerk brought out a selection of shoes in my size and a bottle of champagne.
“Of course. I have one that’ll match your eyes, and it will ward off the evil eye.”
I raised a brow at that, looking to Roxy for an explanation as the woman hurried off.
“It’s tradition. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” Roxy came to my side, taking off her gold necklace, fastening it around my neck. The metal was broad, and had a piece that dipped down the centre, between my breasts.
“There! Something borrowed, and it looks awesome with the dress. When you get home, you ask your man for something old. It’s good luck.”
I changed back into my street clothes and made the arrangements with the salesclerk. The plush velour chaise next to Roxy was comfortable as we waited for Laszlo to pick us up.
“I can’t believe I’ll be married tomorrow.” My heart pitter-pattered at the words. I’d spent seven years dreading my marriage to Henry, and I was on the cusp of freedom. A part of me couldn’t believe it, but then my phone pinged, and I saw a message from Laszlo.
Laszlo
Almost done, Angel. How are you making out?
Picked out a dress and shoes and a blue garter that matches my eyes
Laszlo
I was going to ask you to send me a pic so I could get a matching tie, but now I don’t need one.
Laszlo
I’ll be there to pick you up soon. Roxy okay going with Aleksei?
More than okay, she keeps staring at him.
Laszlo
I miss you, but I found a strand of your hair on me, so that’ll get me through the next half hour.
My cheeks hurt from grinning, and Roxy was staring at me, so I sent a quick reply.
I miss you too.
I tucked my phone in my purse.
“Man, you have it bad for him. I knew from the first moment I saw you two together. There was just this intensity. I was worried, you know. My sweet Belle, and this suave guy charming her. But I’m glad it was him.
Plus, totally relieved you won’t have to marry that guy back in your little not-cult.
Gives me the creeps thinking about guys doin’ that. ”
My mouth went dry, and I tossed back some more of the champagne.
“We ran into him yesterday,” I confessed.
“What?! No way! How am I just hearing about this now? Did Laszlo kill him?”
I clapped my hand over my mouth as if I could take back her words.
“Roxy!”
“What! I’m just asking.”
“No, he didn’t kill him. Actually I… I used a taser on him. He grabbed me and said he was taking me back to the Father. I didn’t think. I just acted.”
Roxy’s golden eyes were wide, her mouth in a perfect circle.
“Holy fuck you are a badass! Aww, Belle!” Roxy said, starting to tear up again, and she fanned them away.
All my life, I’d been confined. Told how to behave, to always be prim and pretty, to obey without question, to never harm anyone but especially not a man. The rules had wrapped around me, and I believed they were to keep me safe.
But it was in shedding those rules, discarding them, where I found a life worth living.
The bell above the door dinged, announcing Laszlo’s arrival. He was wearing a classic black suit, and dark sunglasses that he removed on entering the store. I rushed to his side, into a heated embrace, and he spun me around as he peppered my face in soft kisses.
“You wanna see my dress?” I asked, eager for his approval, but he shook his head.
“The first time I see it will be on your perfect body as you walk down the aisle for me, angel.”