Chapter Six
Ella
“Is this what I think it is?” I ask Claudette, my hand instinctively flying to my chest.
She nods excitedly.
Right.
“Just wait in that coffee shop,” I tell Tiero, who looks utterly unimpressed at being given orders.
“Please,” I add, flashing him my sweetest smile. “You can watch the shop from the window, but you should go somewhere warm and dry.”
He opens his mouth to protest, but I raise my hand to stop him.
“You asked me this morning to marry you before the year is over. And in the span of a few hours, most of the important things have already fallen into place. So why wouldn’t I find a dress today too?”
The question is more for myself. I’m still in a state of shock, but in a good way, at how all of this is unfolding.
“Don’t disrupt the flow, my love. Nothing will happen to me or Peanut. Please, just wait in the café. We won’t be long.”
“Fine,” he huffs, though his eyes soften.
Rising onto my tiptoes, I kiss his cold lips.
“I’m a little excited about this,” I whisper against them. “What if I actually find my wedding dress in there?”
Tiero rests his forehead against mine, his features relaxing.
Who would have thought talking about our wedding would have this effect on him? I’m impressed.
“If you’re not back within half an hour, I’m coming to get you,” he tells me.
I rub my nose against his. It’s cold and delightfully ticklish.
“I’m okay with that,” I reply, our breath mingling in small, visible puffs.
With one last lingering kiss, he lets me go.
Claudette doesn’t waste a second. Taking my hand, she leads me to an unobtrusive little shop, mostly hidden behind a large Sitka spruce.
The tree is wrapped in streaming fairy lights, cascading from high branches all around us. They twinkle and sparkle as snowflakes drift down.
I stop for a moment, taking in the magical setting.
“This place looks like it’s straight out of an enchanted fairytale,” I whisper in awe. “I want to get married under a tree like this.”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Claudette chimes in.
Of course she heard me… or read my mind. One of the two.
“A winter wonderland wedding under the stars, an ancient tree for wisdom and stability… just before midnight on New Year’s Eve. Nothing could be better.”
The image is so vivid in my mind. It’s pure magic. And in this moment, I know this is exactly what I want.
Beaming, I push the fairy lights aside and step into the store, the bell above the door chiming a melodic welcome.
How did Claudette even spot this place?
Then again, we’re talking about Claudette. She follows her nose. And her intuition.
The door creaks as it closes behind us. The scent of sandalwood is the first thing I notice.
Claudette grabs my hand again, squeezing it with excitement.
“Come on. It’s this way,” she says, leading me deeper into the store with determined strides.
“It’s not your typical white wedding dress,” she explains as she glides through rows of clothing. “This is something really special. And I think it could be perfect for you.”
She stops in front of me and steps aside.
There, in the corner, bathed in a soft spotlight, stands a mannequin adorned in an unexpected masterpiece.
Unexpected, especially for a place like this.
My gaze is instantly drawn to the dress. My steps quicken, as if pulled by an invisible force, and I find myself moving straight toward it.
Claudette was right. This isn’t a traditional white lace or satin wedding dress, but something entirely different, something the previous owner might have worn to a grand ball.
Wow. I never considered a dress like this, but somehow it feels perfect.
I reach out, my fingers tracing the soft, rose-pink fabric. Mesmerized, I take in the intricate details.
Claudette watches me with a knowing smile.
“What do you think?” she asks, her eyes alight.
I stare at the dress, my chest light, my pulse racing.
“It’s perfection,” I say on a shaky breath. “It’s for sale, right? I’d like to try it on.”
Then panic hits. What if it doesn’t fit? I didn’t even know I wanted a dress like this a minute ago, but now I really, really do.
“I’ll find the shop assistant,” Claudette says, disappearing behind a rack of clothing.
Lifting the full skirt, I fan it out before letting it fall, the fabric swishing softly. A picture I stared at a thousand times as a child flashes in my mind. My mother on her wedding day, laughing and twirling in her silver-grey dress.
How did I not realize how similar this one is to hers?
Patting my belly, I wish she were here with me, sharing in the excitement of planning my wedding and welcoming her first grandchild into the world.
Lost in thought, I stare at the dress.
Oh my god.
I step closer and lift the sleeve to my eyes. Small embroidered roses decorate the ends on both sides.
Ma’s favorite earrings and necklace were shaped like roses, just like these.
Maybe she’s here with me, guiding me the way she always did.
Warmth spreads through me, and tears prick at my eyes.
A rustle behind me pulls me back before they can fall. When I turn, Claudette is returning with a short, rotund woman in her fifties. She introduces herself as Sarah, the owner of the shop.
“An older lady I’ve never met dropped this dress off last week. I’m not sure when or where you’d wear it around here, but it sure is beautiful.”
Claudette opens her mouth, likely about to spill my and Tiero’s story, but I give a small shake of my head. It’s too easy to forget we’re still in hiding.
Understanding, Claudette smiles. “Well, this dress is too magnificent to pass up. I’m sure the right occasion will come.”
Sarah carefully lifts the dress from the mannequin and gestures toward a curtained area. We duck behind it.
I quickly undress and step into the dress, the fabric settling around me as if it belongs there.
I swallow the lump in my throat as I lift my gaze to the large mirror.
All the air rushes from my lungs. I barely recognize myself. A shaky laugh escapes me.
“I took my own breath away. That’s a first.”
Claudette steps closer, brushing my hair over my shoulder.
“You look ethereal,” she says, pressing a hand to her heart. “Like a princess.”
“This dress makes me feel like one.”
“Here, I’ll take some pictures for Rhia.”
She snaps a few photos, and while she’s busy sending them, I twirl in front of the mirror, just like my mom did. I love how the fabric moves.
The dress is a little loose at my arms and shoulders, a little tight over my baby bump. But that’s easily fixed. Rhia has always been handy with alterations, and I’m sure she won’t mind working her magic.
My bestie doesn’t take long to respond, and Claudette lifts her phone to show me the screen.
Rhia: Oh my god!!! Yes, yes, yes! Get that dress. It’s perfect.
Laden with our shopping, we open the front door of our house. I can’t wipe the smile off my face.
I’m beyond happy with our find, carefully wrapped in tissue paper inside a box.
Not only did I find the most beautiful non-traditional wedding dress, Claudette also picked out a tanned faux-fur shawl and hat that complement it and will keep me warm.
Even with the shawl, though, I’ll probably need to wear thermals underneath if we go through with an outdoor ceremony.
I haven’t told Tiero about that idea yet. I’ll have to pick my moment, because his first reaction will be a no.
Undoubtedly, he’ll worry about me ending up with frostbite, but he’ll come around. He’s usually putty in my hands… or my mouth.
How funny would it be to wear snow boots and long johns on our wedding day?
Claudette, Tiero, and I stomp our feet outside to knock the snow from our shoes before entering the mudroom. I hold up my hand to stop them when Tiero reaches for the door to the main house.
“Wait!” I whisper-shout.
He pauses, but both he and Claudette look confused. I raise my index finger to my lips, shushing them.
Stepping closer to the door, I press my ear against it, listening for any sound from inside.
Nothing.
“Good,” I say, though my fiancé and my now-official marriage officiant still look equally curious.
“I think the coast is clear. Rhia is loud. If they were still at it, we’d know.”
Both their brows lift.
“I’ve walked in on them too many times. I’m scarred!” I add.
“They’ve got their own house. Why get their rocks off here?” Tiero mutters.
“Variety… and not wanting to waste time walking across to theirs,” I reply.
Laughing, Claudette throws the door open.
“Darlings, we’re home.”
I needn’t have worried. When we enter the living room, Rhia is sitting cross-legged on the sofa with a notebook and her iPad on her lap, while Lex sits behind her, reading a book.
It all looks very innocent, but the rosy glow on their faces and the faint scent of window cleaner in the air give them away.
I’m so glad some things never change. Consistency is key, right? And a certain level of predictability is comforting.
Rhia jumps up when she sees us and prances over. Yes, prances. That’s exactly the energy radiating from her. She’s like a happy little pony.
“You’ve got a dress!” she exclaims. “It’s stunning.”
Grabbing my hands, she twirls us in a circle until I grow dizzy and sway on my feet.
Tiero is there instantly. He catches me, sweeps me into his arms, and, with my head still spinning, deposits me in an armchair before heading to the kitchen to get me a glass of water.
I love this man.
“Oops. Sorry, El,” Rhia says. “Sometimes I forget you’re pregnant.”
I wave her off. “Don’t worry about it. I’d rather be a little woozy, dancing and laughing with you than not having you here at all. Seriously, it’s the best Christmas present you could have given me.”
“Speaking of Christmas presents, I’ve found the best one for you.”
She bounces on the spot, and the pleased expression on her face makes me uneasy. It means it’s either one hell of a gag gift or something she knows I’ll absolutely love.
From the twinkle in her eyes, I suspect the first.
“And it’s going to be perfect for the wedding too,” she adds, then abruptly clamps her mouth shut.
“Go on. Tell me what you’ve come up with this time.”
She shakes her head. “No. You’ll have to wait until Christmas. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise.”
Clearly ready to move on, she claps her hands together, already slipping back into full taskmaster, wedding-planner mode.
“Now, let’s all gather around and talk about the wedding. I have a few ideas, and I’m sure you all do too. Let’s throw them together and create something magnificent.”