I set my phone down and gingerly take the dress off the hanger, marveling at the way it feels between my fingers. The fabric is light and soft. Carefully, I pull it over my head and onto my body.
This is it. If this isn’t the dress, then I’m back at square one with zero time to find another dress. Something in my heart tells me it will be, though. Tells me that since the moment I laid eyes on it, that this wasthedress.
When I see my reflection in the mirror, I suck in a shaky breath.
Oh my god.
Hot, salty tears sting my eyes, and my hand flies to cover the gasp from my lips.
Oh my god.
It’s…perfect. Beyond anything I could’ve ever imagined. The material sheaths my body, falling in a pool at my feet. The bodice of the dress fits my body like it was made just for me. Solely for this moment. I know the second that Graham sees it… he’s going to lose his mind.
I’m barely holding it together in the dressing room.
“Emery?” I hear Mama’s voice flit through the door, and I swipe away the free-fallen tears and clear my throat.
“I found it, Mama, I found the one. This is it,” I say meekly. My voice comes out hoarsely because of the emotion clogging my throat.
I wish more than anything that Graham’s mom had felt well enough to be here with me today, but I also don’t want her to do anything that will jeopardize her health. There are too many germs in public places like this that could hurt her already-weakened immune system.
I’ll just try it on for her the moment we get back to the house.
Opening the dressing room door, I slowly walk out, careful not to step on the train behind me. When Mama sees me, she covers her mouth.
“Oh Emery.” She exhales, tears welling in her blue eyes. “You are the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen. My baby girl. I can’t even believe you’re getting married!”
My eyes gaze down at my reflection in the mirror, cementing my decision.Thisis the dress I’ll walk down the aisle in.
Mama walks over and pulls me into her arms, holding me tightly against her, “I’m so proud of you Emery.”
“Oh Mama. Thank you for being here with me, for dropping everything and coming, for sharing this moment with me. I’ve been so focused on the babies, and Graham’s Ma being sick, and now putting together the wedding but you never faltered. I don't deserve you mama.”
She shushes me, rubbing my back tenderly, “You deserve the world baby, it’s about time that you realize that. You are an incredible woman, Emery. You’re the best mama. Wife. Daughter. Friend. You love wholeheartedly and with everything you have. I am so proud to call you my daughter, and proud to stand by you through whatever. I’m so thankful that you found Graham, you know? I love him like my own son, and seeing what he brings out in you makes me happier than you could ever know.”
Her words cause tears to form in my eyes, and they fall in fat drops against my cheek.
“I love him too mama, with all my heart. I know it’s fast and unexpected, but I know without a shadow of a doubt he’s the man I’m meant to marry. He makes me happy, and makes me feel cherished every day.”
“This is the dress baby,” She says, pulling back and looking down at the silk on my body, “This is it.”
In just twenty-four hours, I’ll be a married woman, surrounded by everyone I love, with my sweet girls in the front row watching me vow my life to their daddy.
We purchase the dress, watching as the bridal consultant carefully bags my dress. She comments on how lucky I am to find it and not to need additional alterations with such short notice, and I realize she’s right.
I am so lucky, and I’ll never take it for granted. Not a single second.
We make it back to the house after finding infant-size dresses in white, a pit stop that I only begrudgingly shared with Mama, when I was running out of options, and a quick lunch at the small diner in town that I absolutely fell in love with the second I walked inside.
Just as I’m shutting the trunk of Allie’s SUV, someone taps me gently on the shoulder. I turn, and my jaw drops to the dirt road beneath my feet.
“Briggs?” I say in disbelief, confusion etched into my features. “Maddison?”
“Surprise!” Maddison squeals, tackling me so hard I fly back a foot or two with the impact.
Laughing, I squeeze her back. “What are you guys doing here?”
Briggs looks at me, eyebrows raised. “You thought we’d miss your wedding? Hell no, free booze and cocktail weenies.”