“That makes sense. You’re just so on point with everything. Your hair, your makeup, your clothes. Even your sense of humor.”
She dropped her hand and looked at me with a thoughtful smile. “Thank you for saying that. It means a lot to me. Now, stop talking so I don’t mess up your eyeliner.”
I pressed my lips together in a tight line and held my breath until I felt like I was going to pass out while she did the eyeliner.
Candace stepped back and nodded. “Yes. Yes, this is it. By God, I’m so good.”
I laughed and turned to look in the mirror. I gasped as I stared at my reflection. Somehow, Candace had managed to make me look beautiful, without making it look like I had a ton of makeup on.
“It’s time for the dress!” Arabella practically shouted.
“Do not mess up her hair, ladies,” Candace warned while Arabella went skipping out of the bathroom. It warmed my heart to see her truly happy. She finally had a brightness in her eyes I hadn’t seen in so long. Yet, there was still something missing. Love. Hunter. A partnership with a man who loved and cared about her.
I followed the three of them back into the living room and watched Arabella take down the dress and hand it to Greer.
“Why are you handing it to me?” Greer asked, pushing the dress back toward Arabella.
“The last time I helped her into a dress, it got snagged on a bobby pin and pulled half her hair down,” Arabella stated.
“Do you remember I was helping put the dress on when that happened?” Greer asked.
Candace gasped and reached for the garment. “Give it to me. Good God, between the two of you, I swear.” She held up the dress and nodded her approval.
I chewed on my lip nervously as I stared at it. “I really hope my boobs don’t sag since I can’t wear a bra with that thing.”
“Drop the robe and let’s put it on,” Candace said. After doing as she asked, she gave me a once-over. “Girl, please. You’ve still got perky tits. You’re going to rock this dress.”
I felt my cheeks turn hot as I glanced over to Greer, who gave me another one-shoulder shrug. It was as if she’d learned not to make apologies for Candace and what came out of her mouth.
Candace carefully gathered up the chiffon and tulle dress. “Arms up and bend down some.”
I did as she said and held my breath as she slipped the dress on. Once it was safely past my hair and makeup, I heard everyone in the room let out a sigh of relief.
Arabella buttoned up the dress in the back, then tied the ribbon that went around the waist in a bow in the front.
The top of the cream gown was lace with crystal embellishments, but not so many that they took away from the lace. The three-quarter-length sleeves also gave it a lighter feel.
I turned and looked at the deep-scooped back that led to covered buttons on the chapel-length gown. It was finished off by a side slit that went to the middle of my thigh.
“You look beautiful,” Arabella whispered.
Greer wiped a tear from her cheek. “Like a snow princess.”
Candace walked up behind me and smiled. “Bishop is going to take one look at you and start dreaming about the ways he’s gonna fuck you in this dress.”
“Candace!” Greer shouted while Arabella giggled.
“My, you are blunt, aren’t you?” Arabella tried to hide her blush.
“I’m simply speaking the truth. Here, put these on.”
She held up a pair of lace thong panties.
“You want me to wear that?” I asked, staring at the barely there lace.
Candace nodded. “They won’t show a panty line and Bishop will love them.”
I looked over at Greer and Arabella. They both nodded, so I took the panties from Candace and made my way into the bathroom. After slipping off my other lace panties, I put the thong on and drew in a deep breath.
When I walked back into the room, Candace held up a pair of sliver heels. “Your shoes.”
She handed them to me and I slipped them on. A white satin strap went around each ankle to secure the heels.
Arabella stepped back and blinked rapidly to keep from crying. “Now the finishing touch. The diamond tiara you wore at your first wedding.”
She carefully placed it in my hair, under the watchful eye of Candace.
I turned and looked at myself in the mirror. Was I truly marrying Bishop again? Did I deserve to be so happy?
Yes. Yes, I did. We both deserved to be this happy.
My jaw ached from clenching down to keep my happy tears at bay. Candace walked up next to me and pinched me behind my upper arm.
“Ouch! What the hell, Candace?” I cried out.
“No crying and ruining your makeup.”