Finn and I made a pact in the very beginning that this would not turn into a stressful affair. We didn’t care if we got married at the courthouse, as long as we said ‘I do’ surrounded by our families and friends.
Only once during the last few months did I break down and cry, and that was when Ember gave me her Christmas present. It’s tradition that the Blacks spend Christmas Eve with the Hayes family. This year, my whole family was included in the festivities.
We agreed to keep the gifts to a minimum and only buy for the children, or in Ember and Robbie’s case, the upcoming baby. So when she handed me the present, I was surprised. The whole room went quiet as I opened the gift carefully. She held on to Robbie with white knuckles and wide eyes when I looked at her in confusion. In the box was a single paper. It was a sketch of a dress, more like a gown, that took my breath away.
The tears started falling immediately, and I clutched it to me, the significance of this gift piercing my heart. Ember had created the perfect wedding dress for me. Through my hysterics, I learned she had secretly spoke to my dad and looked through albums of my parents’ wedding photos. She took a picture of my mom’s dress and tried to modernize it, hoping to give me a piece of my mom on my wedding day.
The meaning of this gift went so much deeper than a dress. Ember repeatedly turns down offers to design wedding dresses, no matter the money, because she vowed to herself, she’d only design her own gown. I’ve heard stories of people begging her to reconsider, but she sticks to her guns.
So her designing this dress for me and my wedding to Finn broke the dam. I cried like a maniac, thanking her profusely and assuring her the design was perfec
t. Later that night, I asked her to be in my wedding party. It was her turn to cry, explaining she’d never been in a wedding other than her own.
Even with the short timeline leading up the big event, I never felt rushed. With the help of our family, friends, and celebrity resources, we had a full wedding planned in no time.
Everything I could ask for would take place in less than an hour.
“Okay, it’s time.” Ember dabs at my lip gloss as Reese bends to help me into my shoes. When Ember gives me the go-ahead, I turn to the mirror and suck in a breath at my reflection. Reese and Ember both grab my hands, and we all stare with tears in our eyes.
I’ve tried on this dress a dozen times before, but today, with the hair, make-up, and shoes, it takes on an ethereal feel. The sweetheart neckline and fitted bodice sparkle with metallic accents, shining in the light. But it’s the skirt and train that sparkle the brightest. Ember and her Aunt entwined large clusters of beads and pearl accents into the lace overlay. These were created to match the accents on my mom’s train when she married my dad.
“You are stunning.” Reese’s voice cracks as she locks eyes with me in the mirror.
“I couldn’t agree more.” Ember sniffs and wipes away a tear. “Damn hormones!”
“Thank you, Ember. This dress is exquisite. I’ll never be able to repay you for what you’ve created.” I suck in a deep breath and try to stop the tingling in my own eyes.
There’s a knock on the door, followed by a high-pitched shriek as Winnie comes running in, squealing. She spins in a circle, showing off her own princess dress I bought to match Reese and Ember’s.
“You look very pretty.” I squat and wrap my arms around her.
“So do you, Aunt Presley. I can’t wait for you to be married!”
I’m not surprised at her statement, but for some reason, her excitement is amped up today. “I can’t wait, either, but why are you so excited?”
“Because Finn says once your married, you’re having a baby. I want you to have a baby.”
“He said what?!?” I screech a little too loudly, holding on to her for support. If she wasn’t still in my arms, I’d fall on my ass.
“Yep, just like Miss Ember. He said you were going to have a baby.”
Ember starts to giggle, and I swing my head to find her holding her very pregnant stomach. Reese purses her lips and starts to turn pink as she tries not to laugh.
“We’ll talk about that later but please, don’t believe everything Finn tells you.” I kiss her forehead and stand as Evelyn walks in. She stops dead when she sees me and covers her heart with her hand.
I hold my breath, waiting for her response. She sucks in a deep breath and smiles. “You’re an incredibly beautiful bride, Presley. Today may be the day I see my grown son shed a tear.” Her eyes start to shine as her lips tremble.
“Evelyn, please don’t make me cry,” I half-whisper, half-choke as a lump forms in my throat.
The sound of Finn’s ringtone fills the room, and Reese grabs it, holding it to her chest.
“Don’t you dare think about seeing him again before you walk down the aisle! I will hold you down myself if you even try!”
I roll my eyes again and snatch my phone. “Hey.” I walk to the other side of the room for privacy.
“Any chance I can get a kiss before heading into the church?”
“Hmmm, I wish but I think she may actually have an aneurism this time if I sneak away.” He chuckles at my reference to Reese.