Page 119 of Tormented Kings
The dress is breathtaking. The top is a lace corset that hugs her upper body perfectly. It stops just above her hips, where a thick layer of tulle flows down her body, pretty little gems embroidered into the material. Her sleeves are made of lace that hangs off her shoulders.
We spent hours trying on dresses. At first, we went to a dress shop one of the girls from the country club suggested to Mom. Of course, they were all insanely expensive.
Mom said all of them were too heavy, an overuse of material. She turned them all down, getting a not-too-pleasant look from the shop owner.
She said she wanted something that was easy to move in because she didn’t want to change into anything else for the reception. She wanted one dress for her wedding to wear for the whole day.
So she needed something she could be comfortable in for the whole night.
We left and found this cute little boutique a few towns over. It was owned by the sweetest old lady who actually designed most of the dresses she sold.
Mom only had to try on a few before she found this one and knew it was her dress. She made a good choice because she looks phenomenal in it.
“You look like a friggin’ queen,” Carol squeals, eyes bright with excitement.
Mom’s grinning ear to ear as she steps over to the full-length mirror. She sucks in a sharp breath, eyes filling with tears.
“No crying.” I laugh, tears of my own threatening to fall as I dab at the corner of my eyes.
She turns to face us, blinking as she tries not to cry. “It’s okay. I’m good. I got this.”
“Yeah, you do. Mark loves you so much. I’m so thrilled to see you happy.” Carol hugs my mom, then steps back and holds her by the shoulders. “Thirty years as best friends. More like sisters.” She smiles. “I’ve seen you at your worst, and I’m honored to be here to stand by you at your best.”
Even though the guest list is massive, the wedding party is small. Mom doesn’t have anyone close to her outside of Carol and me. So, I’m the Maid of Honor, Grayson is the Best Man, and Carol is walking Mom down the aisle. That's it. That's all she wanted, all she needed. The most important people by her side.
I stand back and let them have their moment, giving me a chance to get a hold of myself.
“Sadie. Baby,” Mom sighs happily as she takes in my dress. I’m in a forest green dress that crisscrosses over my chest and around my neck with a flowing train. “You look so beautiful.”
“Thanks.” I smile. “And thank you for letting me pick out my dress.”
“I didn’t see any reason to be picky about it, seeing how you're the only one wearing it.” She grins.
“You don’t need anyone else but us,” I tease.
Her face softens. “So true.”
There’s a knock at the door. “Hey, ladies. How’s everything going?” I hear Grayson’s voice on the other side of the door. “Because the ceremony is about to start.”
“We’re ready!” Mom shouts back.
“Sounds good, I’ll let them know.”
Mom lets out a breath and turns to me. “Let’s do this.” She nods, giving me a watery smile.
“You’ve got this, Mom. I’m so happy for you. And I’m so glad you were able to find love again.”
She takes a shuddering breath. “I loved your father, Sadie. More than anything. That was until you, of course.” She smiles. “Losing him was one of the hardest things that ever happened to me. But I knew I had to be strong because I had you. You needed me, and I needed you.” She reaches up and tucks some hair behind my ear. “You gave me the strength to go on, to keep going. For the longest time, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to love another man. Not when I had already lost my soulmate. But Mark...” She laughs. “He’s everything I didn’t know I needed. Your father would have loved him.”
“I think so, too.”
“Ready?” Carol asks.
“Ready.” Mom nods.
The music starts, and I’m the first to walk down the aisle. Mark and Grayson are already there waiting. My eyes find Grayson and the look of hunger in his eyes turns my nerves into something else.
Does he know he’s giving me fuck me eyes in front of the whole church? If he’s not careful, people are going to notice.