Amy glanced at the clock on the living room wall before reaching for her handbag.
"I should probably get going."
Jace looked up from his phone where he was standing by the kitchen island. "Already?"
"She landed a few hours ago. She texted me when she got to the hotel, and we agreed to meet at the bridal shop." Amy said as she slipped her phone into her bag. "I don't want to keep her waiting."
Jace pushed himself away from the island. "Let me grab my keys, I'll drive you."
Amy gave him a look. "Aren't you supposed to be at the studio?"
"I am."
"Then you should go to work."
"I can drop you off first."
"I know this is an excuse for you to come see the dress but babe it's not happening."
Jace laughed. "God forbid a man tries to help his fiancée" Amy laughed at that. "Fine, I'll head to the studio, tell my mom I said hi" He said.
"I will."
Jace shook his head, amused, and walked over to her. "Call me when you're done."
"I will."
"And send me a picture."
Amy raised an eyebrow. "Of the dress?"
Jace scoffed.
"Again,you're not seeing it before the wedding."
"I didn't say I wanted to see the dress."
She narrowed her eyes. "Then what picture do you want?"
"You."
Amy stared at him for a second before smiling. "You're so cocky"
"Still worked, didn't it?"
She rolled her eyes, stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Jace kissed her forehead before leaning in to kiss her properly.
"Have fun," he murmured.
"I will."
"And don't let my mother talk you into buying something ridiculous."
Amy laughed against his lips. "You know your mother better than that, she's a fashionista, if anything, I'd be walking out of that place with an exclusive gown"
"I do."
"And besides, I'm paying for my dress."
Jace smiled. "Good luck with that."
Amy pulled back. "What does that mean?"
"You'll find out."
"Jace."
He only laughed as he walked towards he kitchen. "That laughter is annoying" She said.
"I love you too" Jace said still laughing.
Amy smiled, shook her head, and headed toward the door.
"Call me," he reminded her.
"I said I would."
She gave him one last wave before walking out.
....
By the time Amy arrived at the bridal shop, Elizabeth was already waiting for her.
The moment she stepped through the door, Elizabeth's face lit up.
"There she is."
Amy barely had time to put her handbag down before Elizabeth pulled her into a hug.
"Hi Elizabeth" Amy beamed.
"Hi, sweetheart."
They hugged for a few seconds before Elizabeth pulled back and looked her over.
"You look beautiful."
"Thank you" Amy laughed. "How long have you been here?"
"About an hour."
"An hour?, I didn't know, I'm so sorry to keep waiting" Amy
Elizabeth shrugged. "It's okay, I wanted to make sure everything was ready."
Amy gave her a suspicious look. "What did you do?"
"Nothing."
"Elizabeth." Amy sing called.
"Come on."Elizabeth took her hand and led her farther into the shop.
The bridal consultant greeted them warmly before gesturing toward several dresses hanging along the far side of the room.
"I had some dresses brought in from Virginia as well," Elizabeth said casually.
Amy stopped walking. "That's too much"
Elizabeth smiled and continued. "I made sure my designer sent some of her bridal pieces over. I thought it would be nice for you to have more options."
Amy stared at the rows of dresses. There were already dozens of them.
"You didn't have to do that."
"I know."
"Elizabeth, this is too much."
"Nothing is too much for you."
Amy turned to her, face flushed.
Elizabeth's expression softened. "I want you to have the wedding you want. And if having more dresses to choose from makes today easier and more fun, then why not?"
Amy shook her head, smiling. "You really didn't have to."
"I wanted to."
"Well, I'm still paying for my dress."
Elizabeth's eyebrows rose. "Since when?"
"Since for ever" Amy said.
"Well that's too late, I've paid for it"
"Elizabeth, that's too much, I can't accept that" Amy said almost pleading.
"Don't worry about it, I'm not complaining" Elizabeth flashed a smile.
"Oh my God" Amy said running a hand through her hair. "You seriously didn't have to"
"It's my pleasure"
"Can I atleast pay for the shoes?" Amy asked.
"Everything's been taken care of sweetie, just relax and enjoy but if you insist, you can just tip the staff"
"Oh my God" Amy laughed despite herself.
"Come on," Elizabeth said. "Sit down before you start arguing with me."
Amy shook her head, laughing as she followed.
The bridal designer introduced herself and began explaining the different styles they had selected.
"This section has more A-lines dresses, a few ball gowns, mermaid styles, and some fitted options. Mrs Prescott also had several pieces sent in from her designer in Virginia, so we've included those as well. We don't know what you have in mind but we are happy to help you narrow it down till we help you pick out the perfect dress for your big day" The bridal designer explained smiling.
Amy looked around. There were so many choices that she suddenly felt overwhelmed.
"I don't even know where to start."
"That is completely normal," the designer assured her. "We'll narrow it down."
Elizabeth smiled. "Exactly. That's why I'm here."
Amy glanced at her."You're enjoying this too much."
"I am."
The first dress was beautiful. At least, it was beautiful while it was still on the hanger.
Once Amy stepped out of the dressing room, Elizabeth tilted her head. "Well?"
Amy turned slowly in front of the mirror.
The dress was elegant, but it didn't feel like her.
"I don't love it."
"Neither do I," Elizabeth admitted.
"Let's try something that gives you more shape." The designer suggested and Amy nodded.
The second one was a sleek, fitted gown with lace.
Amy stepped out out of the dressing room.
Elizabeth's eyes widened. "Oh."
Amy immediately smiled. "That oh sounds promising."
"No, no. You look beautiful but…"
"But?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "I don't think it's the one."
Amy laughed. "You're very serious about this."
"Of course I am."
The bridal designer laughed softly. "She's right, though. It's a lovely dress, but you're still looking at yourself like you're trying to convince yourself."
Amy looked into the mirror. She was.
"Okay. Next." Amy said.
They tried another. Then another. One was too plain.
Another was too heavily beaded. One looked beautiful from the front but felt uncomfortable when Amy moved.
Another made Elizabeth say, "Absolutely not," before Amy had even finished walking into the room.
Amy burst out laughing.
"You didn't even let me turn around."
"I saw enough."
The designer laughed.
By the time they reached the next few dresses, Amy was laughing so much she had forgotten how nervous she had been when she first walked in.
Then the designer disappeared into the dress area and returned with another gown.
"This one," she said. "Try it on"
Amy looked at it. It was less dramatic than the others.
The body was corseted then opening into a full, flowing skirt. It looked like a ball gown, something right out of a fairytale.
Amy touched the fabric. "Okay." She said.
A few minutes later, she stepped out of the dressing room.
Elizabeth was in the middle of saying something to the consultant when she looked up and stopped.
Her mouth fell open slightly. Amy looked between them.
Elizabeth slowly stood "Oh my God."
Amy laughed nervously."I think this is it"
"I love it" Elizabeth said.
"Me too" Amy replied as she looked herself in the mirror.
The designer smiled. "I think we just found you the right dress."
Amy nodded smiling.
Elizabeth's smile widened. "You look beautiful darling"
Amy laughed. "I really don't want to take it off."
"Then don't." Elizabeth said and they laughed.
Elizabeth stepped beside her, looking at them both in the mirror. For a moment, neither of them said anything.
Then Elizabeth smiled. "Your mother would have been proud to see you like this."
Amy's smile slowly faded and her eyes dropped toward the floor.
Elizabeth noticed immediately. She simply reached for Amy's hand and squeezed it lightly.
"I know you don't like talking about your mother," Elizabeth said gently. "And I don't want you to feel like you have to talk about her with me. But if there's ever anything you want to say, anything at all, you can always come to me."
Amy swallowed. She looked at Elizabeth through the mirror.
"I don't hate her." Amy said.
Elizabeth nodded.
"I just… I don't want her here." There was no anger in Amy's voice. Just honesty. "She left when I needed her the most. I was seventeen. I had already lost my brother, and then she decided she couldn't do it anymore. She left and married someone else, and I was left with relatives who never really cared about me."
Elizabeth looked sad but she didn't interrupt.
Amy looked down at the dress. "I've spent so much time trying to understand why she did it. Maybe she was grieving too. Maybe she couldn't handle everything. May she just didn't want me. I don't know." She paused. "But I'm tired of trying to make excuses for her."
"You don't have to."
Amy looked at her. "I want to forgive her eventually. I really do but I just don't want her in this part of my life."
Elizabeth nodded slowly. "Then she doesn't have to be."
Amy's eyes softened.
"You can take all the time you need. You have your whole life to decide what you want to do about your mother."
Amy nodded. "Thank you for understanding"
Elizabeth smiled. "And for what it's worth, I'm very happy you're letting me do this with you."
Amy looked at her."What?"
"This." Elizabeth gestured toward the dress, the shop, everything around them. "I know this is supposed to be a special moment, and I'm grateful you allowed me to share it with you."
Amy smiled. "There's no one else I'd rather it be."
Elizabeth smiled and looked at the dress again. Amy leaned over and hugged her carefully, mindful of the dress.
"I'm really glad you're here"
Elizabeth hugged her back. Then she pulled away and looked at the gown.
"Now, let's not ruin the dress."
Amy laughed. "Help me take of the dress" Amy said gesturing to the designer. The designer nodded and walked with her to the dressing room.
Amy changed into her clothes a few minutes later.
"We should go grab lunch after this" Elizabeth suggested.
"Definitely, I'm starving, who knew picking a wedding dress required such energy" Amy replied.
Elizabeth sighed dramatically. "Let's go pick shoes and then we leave"
"You still aren't letting me pay for anything, Elizabeth?" Amy asked.
"Glad you got the message darling" Elizabeth said as she picked up her bag and started walking behind the designer towards the shoe section.
"OMG!," Amy exclaimed laughing and following her.
....
An hour later, they were done. Amy looked at Elizabeth.
"Thank you for coming all the way from Virginia."
Elizabeth waved her off. "I promised you we'd spend more time together. This seemed like a pretty good excuse."
"It is."
They continued talking for a while before Elizabeth's phone buzzed.
She looked at the screen. "It's Rebecca."
"How is she?, the last time we talked, she wanted my opinion on the floral arrangements."
"That girl" Elizabeth siged. "She just sent me a picture."
Elizabeth opened it and showed Amy.
Amy smiled immediately. "She's getting so big."
"She is."
"How far along is she now?"
"Twenty-eight weeks."
Amy's eyes widened. "Twenty-eight?"
Elizabeth nodded. "She's already well into her third trimester."
"I can't believe it. She's heavily pregnant and still planning the wedding?"
"That's who Becca is, she doesn't back down unless she's done"
"I feel so bad"
"Don't be, she's ecstatic doing it, you should see how she delegates like it's her own wedding, she wants you to back and enjoy your wedding. She and Sophie"
Amy smiled. "And the baby is healthy?"
"Perfectly healthy. The ultrasound went very well and it's still a girl"
"I already know Rebecca is going to spoil her silly" Amy said.
"She absolutely is."
Amy smiled."Tell her I'm sending her love."
"I will."
Amy looked down at her phone and then back at the dress.
"Six weeks until the wedding" Elizabeth said.
"Six more weeks" Amy said.
It suddenly felt real. The wedding wasn't some distant thing they've all been talking about.
It was coming and soon, she would be walking down an aisle toward Jace.
Soon, she would be Mrs. Prescott.
Amy smiled to herself. "I can't wait."
"Neither can I." Elizabeth said.
Amy looked at her. "Do you think Jace is going to cry?"
Elizabeth laughed.b"Oh, absolutely, when he seesyou in that dress"
They both burst into laughter.
Amy looked at herself in the mirror and didn't think about what had been missing from her life. She only thought about what was waiting for her. Their big day was just round the corner and she wasn't the only excited one and that alone made her happy.