Page 15 of Merciless Union
I assume I’m expected to follow, so I do my best to keep up.
Maxim hands a credit card to his mother. “Make sure Arina gets the dress she wants.” He doesn’t look at me again as he leaves the living room, motioning for my father to follow him. He does so obediently.
Alexei looks around at all of us women. “I guess this is my cue to leave.” He gets up and lazily strolls off.
“I guess it’s girl time,” my mother says, excited, as I help her up. Kira watches us while Elena and her mother turn away and start walking for the front door.
It’s silent on the car ride as we drive to the wedding dress boutique. I’m too upset to speak, my mother is too tired, and Kira seems too shy. I think Elena and Vasilisa think my mother and I are too beneath them to even speak to us.
I’m grateful when we reach the shop. Vasilisa gets out first, followed by Elena. Kira gets down, then turns around to offer a hand. My mother gladly takes it as I hold her other hand, helping her down.
I give Kira a grateful nod. She smiles and looks away.
“Hello,” a woman says as we enter the shop. “Looking for anything in particular today?”
I open my mouth to speak when Vasilisa steps forward, saying, “Pull all of your most expensive gowns. We’ll try on every style you have available. My future daughter-in-law will look her best when she marries my son. I expect nothing less.”
The sales assistant looks frightened by Vasilisa’s commanding tone and hurries off to do her job.
Vasilisa turns to me. “Go. Start looking for a dress. I have full veto power over what you wear. My son is paying a fortune for this wedding. You better look the part.” She spins on her heels and starts looking through the racks of wedding dresses. Elena hurries to her side and helps.
I stand there, stunned. So, I don’t even get a say in what I wear on my wedding day?
My mother pats my arm. “I know she’s intense. We’ll find you a dress you both agree on.”
I nod, inhaling shakily.
Kira stands off to the side, wrapping her arms around herself.
“Are you all right?” I ask.
She jumps, almost like she’s not used to people speaking to her. “It’s just … overwhelming.” She looks around at the sea of white.
“Yeah, I guess it is.” I look at her. “Thanks for helping my mother out of the car. That was sweet.”
She shrugs in response.
“You know,” I say, lowering my voice, “you don’t have to help pick a dress for me. Maybe just take a seat. Relax.”
Kira looks uncertainly at the couch facing a raised dais in front of a row of mirrors. She glances at her mother and sister.
“I’m sure they won’t even notice,” I say.
Finally, she nods and walks over to the couch, taking a seat.
“That was nice of you,” my mother says, linking our arms together.
I smile. “She looked like she needed help. And if I can get an ally in this new family, I’ll do whatever it takes.”
She chuckles as we walk over to the rack of dresses, looking through them. I can hear Vasilisa saying, “No. No. Definitely no,” as she looks through the dresses.
My future mother-in-law will be a tough woman to crack, but I’m determined to get her to like me.
The sales assistant brings out a handful of dresses for me to try on. After I slip the first one on, I come out and walk on the dais, giving everyone a good look at it.
It’s a simple mermaid dress.
“No,” Vasilisa says flatly. “This dress makes you look like a whore.”
