34. When In Rome #2
Callie disappears into the showroom, returning a few minutes later with the dress in hand. Lexi steps into the shimmering lavender tulle, adjusting the straps over her shoulders. When the zipper slides closed without issue, I breathe a quiet sigh of relief.
I step back and take in the full view, emotion clogging my throat.
“Is it bad?” she asks, misinterpreting my expression.
“No, Lex. It’s perfect.”
We step out of the room for what I’m certain will be the final time. Olivia gasps, and Callie’s eyes turn misty.
Lexi steps onto the pedestal, her smile lighting up the entire room. She spins, and the tiered skirt swirls around her in a cascade of lavender tulle. She looks like a princess.
“Where’s Auntie Lina?” she asks.
Olivia and Callie exchange a curious look before Callie says, “She’ll be right back.”
“So, we’re all on the same page. It’s the obvious choice, right?” Olivia asks.
Lexi nods excitedly.
Callie dabs at her eyes with a tissue. “You look stunning.”
“Thank you.”
A gasp draws my attention to Angelina, who’s standing behind the settee with what appears to be a wedding gown draped over her arm. “It’s perfect. Hayden’s not going to know what hit him.”
Lexi giggles and hops down off the pedestal.
“Is this it?” I ask her.
She smooths her hands down the fabric. “I think so.”
“Good. Go get changed, and I’ll have them wrap it up for us.”
Lexi disappears behind the curtain, and I return my attention to Angelina.
“What’s with the wedding dress?” I ask. “Getting married for a third time?”
She gets a wistful look in her eyes. “No, nothing could ever top the last one. This is for you.”
“Me? Why do I need a wedding dress?”
“When in Rome…” She practically shoves me into a dressing room with the gown and pulls the curtains closed, standing on the inside with me.
“Seriously?”
“I’m not letting you out until you put the dress on. You wouldn’t fight a pregnant woman, would you?”
“Do it, Mom,” Lexi calls over the wall.
I sigh and start to strip. “Don’t think I haven’t forgotten that you didn’t invite me to your wedding.”
Angelina laughs. “In my defense, I didn’t know there was going to be a wedding. Take it up with Griffin.”
I shimmy into the unforgiving ballgown with a pearl-embellished sweetheart neckline and sleeves that drape off the shoulder. The back has a million buttons, but Angelina came equipped with clips to hold the bodice closed.
With a smug smile, she holds open the curtains, and I step out into the showroom to crickets. Either I look terrible, or everybody is speechless.
I lift the skirt and stare at my feet as I make my way to the pedestal.
When I finally look up and see myself in the mirror, a rush of emotion consumes me.
I wasn’t prepared for the longing I would feel.
I thought I’d come out here, give them all a show, and change back into my clothes.
I didn’t realize how much I’d want this.
A part of me gave up on marriage a long time ago. I resigned myself to the idea that I’d never walk down the aisle to the man I love. It feels like a possibility now more than ever, but there are obstacles standing in the way.
Do I dare to hope that Noah feels the same way? Could he overcome his cynicism and be the man standing at the end of the aisle waiting for me? My foolish heart wants to make it so, but I still have my doubts.
I meet Lexi’s wide-eyed gaze in the mirror. She holds up her phone and snaps a photo. “I call dibs on maid of honor.”
“Oh. Great. Now I just need a groom.”
NOAH
Auggie’s eyes widen almost comically as Lexi comes out of her room in a purple sparkly dress. “Lexi looks like a princess.”
I don’t disagree.
Hayden stands from the couch, running his hands down his slacks before adjusting his matching purple tie. He holds out the bouquet of flowers, then lowers them, awkwardly repeating the motion until Lexi takes them from him. “Wow. You look…. Wow.”
She buries her face in the flowers and inhales, then she steps forward and runs her hand over the lapel of his navy blue suit. “You clean up nice.”
“Are you feeling ok? No morning sickness or… whatever?”
She giggles. “I’m fine. Let’s just… not talk about that tonight.”
Clio reaches out a trembling hand and threads her fingers through mine.
“You ok, princess?”
“Would you believe me if I said yes?”
I chuckle and press a kiss to her temple. “Not even a little bit.”
My phone chimes with a text from my sister letting us know she’s waiting for us. Clio asked her if she’d be willing to take prom photos for Lexi and her friends, and she happily agreed.
It’s a short walk up the block to the gazebo where Emma and a few of Lexi and Hayden’s friends are waiting.
I recognize most of them from the musical.
Emma directs them into various poses, then Auggie insists on having his photo taken with Lexi, too.
I snap a few on my phone for Clio, who’s too busy dabbing at her tears to do it herself. She’s been an emotional wreck all day.
Ten minutes later, a white stretch limo parks across the street and lays on the horn.
“That’s us,” Hayden says. “Is everybody ready?”
“Wait. I need a picture with my mom first.” She motions for Clio to join her on the top step.
Clio blows out a steadying breath and places her damp tissue in my hand, and I can’t help but laugh. She takes her place beside Lexi and looks up at the sky, blinking rapidly as she adjusts that familiar sunset silk dress. She glances over to me one last time. “Do I look ok?”
The words get stuck in my throat, so I nod.
Emma snaps a few photos and the horn blares again.
“Sorry. I just need one more,” Lexi calls to the waiting driver as the rest of her friends pile into the limo. “Noah?”
I glance around as if there might be someone else named Noah standing here, but I’m alone. It feels like someone’s driven their fist through my chest and wrapped it around my heart. “Me?”
Lexi nods. “It’ll be quick.”
I stuff my phone into my back pocket along with Clio’s tissue. “Alright, kid. Where do you want me?”
She holds out her arm, gesturing for me to take the right side, putting her in the middle between Clio and me. I take my place, resting my hand on top of Clio’s on Lexi’s back, hoping her touch might ground me.
“My god, Noah,” Emma grumbles. “You could at least try to smile.”
Lexi elbows me in the gut. I laugh, and Emma snaps a photo of the moment.
“Perfect. Auggie? You’re in.”
Auggie rushes up the steps and holds his arms up. Clio places him on her hip between her and Lexi for one more photo.
The limo driver drapes himself halfway out the window and honks loudly. “Let’s go!” he bellows.
I’m tempted to charge over there and give him a piece of my mind, but I don’t want to embarrass Lexi and ruin her night, so I rein in my temper for her sake.
“You better go,” Clio says, setting Auggie on his feet so she can pull Lexi in for a hug. “I’ll be at the ranch with Kiki, so call Noah if you need anything.”
“Ok. I will. Thanks, Mom. Bye, Noah. Bye, Auggie.”
Noah nods. “See ya, kid.”
Auggie waves as Lexi darts off in a blur of purple fabric.
Emma asked if she could take Auggie for the weekend before she jets off to photograph a fancy destination wedding next week, so we say a quick goodbye to both of them, and then it’s just me and Clio standing in the middle of the town square.
She lets out a ragged sigh and slumps against me, resting her head against my shoulder. “Tell me it’s all going to be ok.”
“It’s all going to be ok.” I pull my phone out of my pocket and open the music app. “Do you remember the last time we were here?”
“‘Wonderwall,’” she whispers, looking up at me through thick lashes.
“Mhm.” The song starts to play, and I set my phone down on the steps, then I wrap my arms around her and sway us back and forth in a slow circle.
I’ve never been much of a romantic, but you wouldn’t know it based on the way the last six months have gone.
Caring about someone’s knitting projects and whether they’ve taken their meds was never my style.
Whenever we’re apart, I have to resist the urge to check in and ask how her day is going.
There’s something about Clio that makes me want to try, if only to see that smile on her face and the twinkle in her eyes.
I’ve dropped countless pennies all over town just to watch her pick them back up again. If it wasn’t obvious then, it is now. Or maybe I just didn’t recognize the feeling because I’ve never been in love before. Whatever this feeling is, love or something like it, I’m completely gone for her.