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It might not be the right brand or the right style for this season… or whatever… but I couldn’t care less. I felt beautiful in this dress; it was beyond my wildest dreams to get married in a dress like this, with a guy like Gabriel, in a beautiful garden overlooking the lake.
“You look so pretty,” Violet said and took a look at me as I stood in front of the mirror in a room on the second floor.
I smiled at her. “So do you, and you get to be a bridesmaid.”
She beamed and was just about to speak when there was a knock on the door.
“Come in,” I called out and was surprised to see Mia pop her head in. Her cheeks were red and she was slightly out of breath.
“Mia,” I said with surprise. “What are you doing here?”
She stepped into the room and closed the door.
“My dad says we’re not going to your wedding, but you’re my sister.”
“Half-sister,” I corrected.
She nodded with an earnest expression. “I know he’s been a jerk to you, even my mom says so, and he’s a jerk to me sometimes too. I don’t know why.”
“Did you come here alone?” I asked.
Mia looked from me to Violet and back again. “I snuck out and took my bike to get here. It’s only three miles, but the hill is pretty steep so I had to walk my bike up, or I would have been here sooner.”
I smiled at her, impressed with her courage. “I’m glad you decided to come.”
She shifted her balance and pulled off her backpack. “I packed the prettiest dress I have,” she said and opened the back to pull out a pale pink dress.
“It’s lovely,” Violet said and tilted her head, “But you know you’ll be grounded for sneaking off, right?”
Mia bit her lip. “Yeah, I know… but it doesn’t matter, I want to be here. Besides I spend most of my time with my nose in a book anyway, and being grounded gives me plenty of time for that. It’s really not half as bad as it sounds.”
“Would you like to be my bridesmaid?” I asked her, and the girl lit up like a firework.
“I was hoping you would ask me that.”
“Of course. I would be honored.”
“Just give me a second to get dressed.” Mia was working fast to get out of her jeans and into the dress. I smiled when I saw her stick her tongue out in concentration, because I do the same thing.
“Oh, no…” she froze and gave me a horrified expression. “I forgot to pack my ballerinas. I only have these shoes.” We all looked down at her turquoise Converse shoes that had stains on them.
“They are perfect,” I said and gave her a hug. “You are perfect, Mia…”
“You think so?” she said and tried to brush the wrinkles out of her dress.
Another knock on the door was followed by Katie’s voice. “It’s time, Cia, are you ready?”
I stepped to the window and looked out to see the setup on the lawn. The white rows of chairs were all filled with guests, and the red carpet led up to where the priest and Gabriel stood in front of the white wedding gazebo. My god, he looked amazing in his formal uniform with his medal on his chest.
“Are you ready?” Violet said and gave a nervous smile.
“Why areyounervous?” I asked her and started walking out of the room.
“I’m picking up on your emotions – I can’t help it,” she said and followed right behind me with Mia.
“So if I calm myself down, I’ll calm you down?” I asked.
“Yes, but don’t worry about me. Today is all about you.”
