15. Chapter Fifteen Lucy
Chapter Fifteen: Lucy
“ I ’m going to cry.”
“Don’t you dare ,” I growl.
Josie’s reflection in the full-length mirror grins at me. “You’re the best Maidzilla anyone could ever dream of having, Lu. I didn’t even know it was possible to look like this—to feel this beautiful.”
Even though her words are making me feel just as emotional, I glare at her sharply. “No. Crying.”
Josie blinks rapidly, fanning her face so that her mascara doesn’t run before she even gets to the altar. The makeup artist used a waterproof formula, of course, but I’m not taking any chances.
I’m aiming for perfection and I’ll accept no less. Not even from my cousin’s tear ducts.
Josie looks gorgeous. Her cream satin gown is flawlessly tailored to her soft, slender figure. There’s a string of tiny crystals around her throat, resting delicately along the sweetheart neckline. Her mane of hair has been tamed into pretty curls left loose and trailing down her back. The tiara that Miss Maisie made for her rests perfectly in the thick tresses, twinkling in the early afternoon light. In just a few minutes, she’ll fasten the straps of her pretty white shoes, and we’ll go down to the conservatory.
And then my best friend in the entire world will get married.
It’s just the two of us in the room, now. The hair stylist and the makeup artist have already packed up and gone down. Mabel, who stopped by with sustenance from the kitchen at a variety of points throughout the getting-ready process, is now dressed and assumably waiting in the audience. The other girls stopped by about fifteen minutes ago to get a sneak peek at the bride and coo over her gown, but I shooed them off quickly.
My maid-of-honor dress is light blue silk. It drapes across my tall frame with the same precision and artistry of tailoring as Josie’s gown. I’m wearing my late mother’s pearl necklace and my first stepmother’s sapphire earrings. My hair is styled up in an elaborate twist at the nape of my neck—a style I opted for not only because it’s pretty, but because it’ll make it easier for me to run around, commanding the troops for the rest of the day.
Josie sighs contentedly, strokes her hands down the front of her dress, and turns to face me. Her eyes are twinkling with emotion, her cheeks already flushed with excitement. My throat tightens, but I swallow back the urge to cry. If I shed a tear, so will Josie. It’s always been like that. We cry together, always.
“Is it everything you dreamed it would be?” I ask her.
Her lower lip trembles, and she has to fan herself again. I take a deep breath, fighting the pricking at the corners of my eyes.
Josie has been dreaming of this day for more than half of her life. She has loved Elijah since before she could even understand what love is. Their souls have been tied together since the very start of their lives, and it’s impossible to believe that today is anything other than destiny. To stand here, knowing that, it’s impossible not to believe in the magic of the universe.
My cousin swallows. Exhales slowly.
“It’s better ,” she whispers in answer. “Thanks to you.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t plan the whole thing on my own.”
“Don’t get bashful on me now, Maidzilla.”
A giggle fights back against the tears for a few seconds.
“I’m so happy for you, Josie. So happy that I don’t even have words for it. Happy doesn’t seem like enough.”
Josie smiles, then glances back in the mirror.
She is glowing with love. True, vibrant, unapologetic love. It’s the same way that Elijah looks when he’s around her. When he talks about her. In fact, I can always tell when Josie is thinking of him because there’s this sudden softness in her expression. As if the mere thought of Elijah is enough to soothe every single molecule in her body.
A pang of longing slices through my chest, causing me to gasp softly. I turn away to fetch Josie’s bouquet from the table.
For the first time in my life, I want to know what it feels like to be in love. To be so madly overcome with adoration for someone that it consumes you. I have always wanted to run from that feeling, to avoid it at all costs, or to pretend that it doesn’t exist in the first place.
But I can no longer deny it, because the evidence is so clearly right in front of me.
I want to know what it’s like to fall in love. I want to plan a wedding that suits me as perfectly as this one suits Josie. I want to wear a white dress and walk down a petal-strewn aisle toward somebody that I love more than anything in the world.
I want it. I want it.
Maybe I’ve always wanted it. Maybe I’ve been lying to myself for years.
“Lu?”
I inhale deeply and let the breath out slowly before turning to face her. “Hm?”
“You’re going to have a happily ever after one day, too. I know you will.”
I hand her the bouquet, desperately fighting the tears blurring my vision. “How can you be sure?”
Josie shrugs. “I just know it. Maybe the crown granted me Miss Maisie’s magic powers.”
I burst out laughing. “Or maybe you’re just going loopy with love.”
She grins. “Maybe.”I shake my head and point to her shoes waiting by the foot of the chaise. Josie quietly obeys, putting the finishing touch on her wedding ensemble. When she stands again, I hook my arm through hers and gently pull her toward the door.
“Come on, Jo. Let’s go get you married.”