Page 5 of Until I Found You
“Ellie, oh my God,” Kinsley mutters, pressing her hand to her mouth as tears form in her eyes. I force down the emotion rising in my throat. She looks beautiful.
Ellie’s had an incredibly hard life, facing more tragedy and heartbreak than any one person should ever have to endure. Nearly nine months ago, we almost lost her when she was assaulted and abducted. She’s fought her way out of that life, and she continues to fight with every ounce of determination in her. No one in this world deserves the happiness she has been given more and seeing how happy she looks in that dress has tears silently streaming down my face.
“What do you think?” Brea asks. Looking around the room, I notice there isn’t a dry eye in sight.
“I love it! It’s pretty and so perfect.Do you think Callum would like it?”
Ellie bites the inside of her cheek, looking uncertain. There’s a hesitancy in her voice, before Kinsley interrupts the seriousness of the moment bursting out laughing.
“Are you kidding? He’s going to lose his shit when he sees you walking down the aisle and I can’t wait to see it happen.”
June laughs softly and I know she, along with the rest of us, agrees with Kinsley’s statement. Although I’m positive Callum would be tripping over her no matter what dress she picked.
Ellie quickly swipes away the tear that threatens to fall before she subtlety nods her head agreeing. “I think this is the one then.” She smiles.“Oh, God, I’m getting married.”
She says the statement with shock underlying her tone, as if she can’t believe it’s about to happen either.
“You and Callum are going to live a happy life, Ells.”
We snap a few pictures of her in the dress, being sure to capture different angles. Holding out my hand, I help her back to the fitting room to change.
Kinsley is back to work looking over the rack of bridesmaid’s dresses, so I reassure her I’ll help Ellie as she gets the rest of the dresses in order.
I feel her eyes are burning into me, as if she, too, is sensing something is wrong.
“You’ve been pretty quiet today. It’s like your mind is somewhere else. How are you handling everything?” Ellie asks quietly.
“What do you mean?” I question, as she slides the dress down over her hips.
“Brea told us about Graham moving back to town. I figured the news would be hard on you. You don’t have to pretend with me though, Halle. I’m here if you ever need to talk.”
This is what I love most about Ellie. She’s been through so much in her life that she understands the hard. When you need someone to be there for you, not necessarily with the right words to heal you, but just be there for you–it’s her.
“I’m sorry, it seems selfish of me. I don’t want today to be about me. This is such an incredibly exciting time for you. I promise I’ll pull out of my funk. Seeing him earlier was unexpected and more difficult than I ever thought it would be.”
“You don’t have to worry about that with me, Halle. If there is anyone who understands how you’re feeling, it’s me. You don’t have to pretend around me. Like I said, I’m here for you. You just let me know when you’re ready.”
I nod. “Thanks, babe.” I give her a reassuring smile. She reaches out to grab my hand, squeezing it.
“Now seriously, let’s talk about how Callum’s going to react when he sees you in this dress. You’d look great in a potato sack, that’s why I hate you. He’s going to be crying, stumbling over his words. It’s going to be adorable.” I laugh.
She blushes, her smile growing a mile wide. “That’s my plan.”
I’d always hoped I’d see Graham again, but having it become reality has me lost in my head. Lost in the past, but I’m doing my best to pull myself out of it. I’ve been forcing a smile on my face for a long time. I’ve gotten somewhat good at it by now.
We all have that one person our hearts will always go running back to and, for me, that person will always be Graham. I only wish I were his reason to stay.
