Page 57 of Fighting For Light
“I really do, Dad,” I tell him.
“I don’t get it, Cordi, I really don’t,” he sighs.
“I know, Dad, and it’s…atypical, but he’s right. We would have gotten here regardless, and we’re going to be a family. That’s all that matters now. Yes, it’s a shock, but I hope you’ll be at the courthouse tomorrow. I’d really like for you to walk me down the aisle.”
I glance at Kai, and he’s beaming. I want to sit on his lap and show him how his unwavering support makes me feel.
I stand and grab Dad to hug him, and he hugs me back tightly. “I love you, Cordi. Of course, I’ll be there.”
My eyes well with tears, and I let him go, swiping away the few streaming down my face. “Thank you, Dad. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
Kai and I walk hand in hand back to his truck, and he takes me to the shop Esmarie texted us to meet her at.
I have a wedding dress to pick out.
***
“Are you sure you don’t want me to look around with you?” Kai asks. I shoot him a look and wiggle my finger at him.
“Of all the things we are doing untraditionally, Kai, let me have this one traditional thing where you don’t know what my dress looks like.”
“I don’t like surprises,” he grumbles, hopping out of the truck to open the door for me. He holds his hand out, and I take it, carefully stepping down from the truck. He looks up and down the streets and behind us again before walking me to the store Esmarie sent us to. There are beautiful dresses lining the window that look insanely expensive. There is beading, tulle, and silk draped across the mannequins. “You brought my card, right?” Kai asks. I nod while staring at the dresses.
He pulls the door open for me, letting me go in first. The store evensmellsexpensive. “Oh, there you are,” Esmarie says, clicking up to me in her Louboutins. “Why are you here, Kai? You can leave now,” she says, waving him away. I try to swallow my smile while looking over my shoulder at Kai.
He makes a funny face at me and grabs my face, kissing me hard and fast. Right as I get into it, he pulls away. “Have fun, and Cordelia?” I hum. “Use the card. Whatever you want, no limit. Okay?”
“Okay,” I rasp. He winks and saunters back out the exit, dipping his head to the two bodyguards who appeared by the door.
Esmarie claps. “Everything is being organized and ready for tomorrow, but I have to admit this is my favorite part,” she says, floating to the back of the store. “I thought I’d never be able to do this since I had all boys.” She turns, gesturing to dresses hangingon a rack. “So thank you, Cordelia, for allowing me to do this with you.”
I nod, not knowing what to say. I thought I’d miss my mom being here for this and I guess I do. But we’re on the outs right now, so it doesn’t matter. Plus, this is a good opportunity to get to know Esmarie in a different way before marrying her son. I’ve known her for a while, but she’s always been just Kai’s mom.
The rack of pretty dresses pulls me in. I finger the beaded bodice with the tulle skirt. The next one is fitted, but I’m not sure it would fit over my bump. I don’t want to hide it. What’s the point? Everyone who will be there knows I’m pregnant, and this baby is part of our lives now.
“I hope you don’t mind. I had the girls pull a few things that I thought you might like. Don’t feel like you have to go with any of them. They were so beautiful, and I thought they would look wonderful on you.”
“Thank you, Esmarie, these are beautiful.”
She smiles at me, clapping her hands excitedly. “Which one do you want to try first?”
Hours go by, and after trying on at least thirty dresses, none of them feel right. There are a lot of other stores in Miami, but Esmarie is convinced we will find it here since they have the biggest selection. It’s all luxury brands that make me almost puke every time I peek at the price tag, but then I remember the heavy,limitlessblack card Kai gave me. I’m hesitant, but Kai wouldn’t be happy if I didn’t get what I wanted. Also, I’m exhausted and haven’t had my nap yet, so another store is out of the question.
All the dresses I’ve tried on have felt too formal. Looking at myself in the mirror, I decide on something more casual. They have mid-length dresses in various colors on the other side of the store, away from most of the bridal dresses. I flip through the jewel tones and pastels, but nothing catches my eye. I movedown the row to the white and black options, and my hand catches an off-white dress, and I pull it out. It’s long and will reach past my knees, and the front and back mirror each other, dipping down into a V. My boobs will look great, and it’s pretty and open in the back. But my favorite part is that it’s crocheted. Its stunning construction makes me smile, and I believe I found the dress. I pull it out and hold it up to inspect it more, noticing the small slit that runs up the back.
“What do you think?” I turn and hold it up to Esmarie.
She nods and fingers the pretty knots. “It’s pretty, but don’t you want something a little more formal?”
“I thought I did, but we’re going to the courthouse, and formal feels like too much.”
“Try it on then,” she suggests.
I go into the dressing room, dropping the silk robe the store provides. The dress laces up at the bottom of the V in the back. My favorite part is the way the yarn hugs my little bump.
I open the curtain, and Esmarie steps forward to lace up the back. She ties it and pats my back. I turn in the large mirror, and my heart stutters in my chest.This is the one.I smile at myself and rub my bump.
“You’re smiling at yourself in the mirror. I think it’s safe to say this is the dress?” She asks, and I nod, looking at her through the mirror. She has a soft smile on her face, and her eyes admire my hands resting on my stomach. “You look absolutely beautiful, Cordelia. Kai is going to love it. It’s very fitting for you.”
