“Don’t worry, it’s your turn tomorrow,” she said with a wink.
Now I groaned, “I don’t want to.”
“If Christian and I are to begin putting this dress together you are just going to have to march your butt in there and get your measurements taken. Plus, we need your input on what exactly you want your dress to look like. We only have six months left to make this dress and we’re going to need every minute of it.”
I bit my lip. I had no idea what on earth I wanted my dress to look like. I only hoped Christian would have some samples for me to try on. I was so clueless when it came to all of this. It was my wedding and I felt so helpless. I wanted this to be everything I had always dreamed about, but more than that, I wanted it to be perfect for Jonathon. He had been waiting for this day longer than I had. It had to be perfect. It just had to.
* * *
“Come on, hurry,” Diana ushered me into Christian’s warehouse. “Kylie, come on, I know you can walk faster than that,” she looked back at me.
I trudged through the gravel kicking at pebbles. I knew I should be happy. And I was… But I was still coping with everything. Isaac’s death. My almost death. And the loss of my child. I knew I had to pick myself up, brush off the dust, and move on. I couldn’t go on being miserable. But it was hard.
I plastered on a smile and tried to cheer myself up. This was a day every girl dreamed about, picking out her wedding dress, and in ju
st a few months I’d be saying, “I do.” All of the sudden the reality of that hit me. I was getting married. Jonathon was going to be my husband I was going to be his wife. I was no longer going to be Kylie Elizabeth Lyons. No, now I was going to be Mrs. Pulmer. Excitement bubbled in my chest. Despite all the bad, there was still some good left in my life. Jonathon loved me and I loved him more than anything. My whole life had led up to this moment. Diana opened the warehouse door and pulled me through.
“You look happy,” she commented.
“I am happy,” I smiled broadly. “I know I’ve been like a zombie for the longest time now and I’m sorry.”
Diana hugged me. “You’ve been through a lot in a short amount of time, it’s a wonder you’re still sane.”
I laughed. “Sometimes I wonder if I’ve lost my mind.”
“No,” she shook her head, “you’re just grieving. But I can see that you’re getting better and know that the family and I are here for you.”
“Thanks,” I said.
“Now come on. You’re getting married!” she squealed, looping her arm through mine, and dragging me into the building.
“I’m getting married,” I repeated.
“Hello, my beautiful girls,” said Christian coming around the corner and hugging us both. Christian looked the same as the last time I saw him when Diana brought me here to get dresses for the holiday dance. The tips of his black hair were still dyed in a rainbow hue of colors. He had on red jeans and a black t-shirt. His silver eyes sparkled in the dim light. “This way,” he led us to the back of his warehouse and into a large room. There was a mini runway set up and about fifty mirrors. My reflection stared back at me from all sides of the room. In the corner stood a rack full of dresses. There was also a desk set up with tons of paper and pencils.
“Diana said you want something custom made?” Christian asked.
“Yeah,” I nodded, staring at the rack of dresses. “I want it to be special. I don’t want someone else to have the exact same dress as me.”
“I understand,” said Christian and with a wink he added, “I also know that Diana would never allow you to wear something off the rack.”
I laughed. “You’re right about that.”
“Let’s get down to business,” Diana took one of the chairs at the desk.
Christian put me in dress after dress and made me walk the makeshift runway and twirl around. I felt like a kid in a candy shop. I was amazed out how light and free I felt. I had thought I would be stressed, but instead I was happy.
I told them things that I liked and didn’t like about each dress. Christian scribbled furiously in his notebook, trying to keep up with me.
Once I had tried on all the dresses, I changed back into my jeans and t-shirt, before joining them at the table. “Okay, so here’s what I’m thinking,” started Christian shuffling through his sketches. “Two dresses,” he held up two fingers and waved them around.
“Two?” I asked.
“Yes, one for the ceremony, and one for the reception. I’m thinking a big dress for the ceremony, something that makes a statement, and for the reception something simple and understated. Something you can move in and dance,” he explained.
“I think it’s a fantastic idea,” Diana piped in, her excitement about to bubble out of her.
“Of course you do,” I rolled my eyes, making her laugh.