Chapter 7: My Preparations and Near Crash

My wedding day. I woke up before the sun, and my best friend Trinity was already at my apartment. I didn't have a ton of things to worry about. We had triple check our to-dos, and everything was in place. Now it was just getting ready and letting everything fall into place. I had a wedding planner just for the day of, so I didn't have to be overly stressed and could enjoy the day with my family and friends. All I had to do was show up to another best day ever.

I went to my mom's friend's spa, and all of my bridesmaids, my mother, and my soon-to-be mother-in-law were all there, ready to get done up for the wedding.

We headed to the salon area, which was closed off to our group, and we were treated with hot towels, mimosas, and mineral water. We were given face massages and prepped for make-up, mani-pedis, and aromatherapy to help relax us before the events of the day. They worked on our hair and make-up interchangeably, and we were thoroughly enjoying every minute of the primp and pamper routine.

"I feel like a model getting ready to walk the runway," Trinity said to me as we were leaving the spa.

"We are about to walk the runway; a runway of rose petals," I told her. We all climbed into a stretch limo and were off to my in-laws-to-be's estate. There we had a few rooms to all get dressed, and the wedding planner was flitting about making sure everything was perfect while I got squeezed into my dress. I had gained a couple centimeters which weren't terribly noticeable, but as the dress designer had let me know, it was a bit of a tight squeeze. Not too uncomfortable, so I would definitely be able to enjoy my Italian wedding cake.

After Trinity and my mom finished closing up my dress and smoothing out the lace, I turned to the full-length mirror and couldn't believe what I saw. My long brown hair was in an elaborately braided bun with threads of glass beads interwoven throughout that sparkled in the light. My make-up was light and natural, and I felt like I had been prepped for an Oscar red carpet with just a hint of a cat-eye and light pink lip. I glowed. My skin had been smoothed with a light shimmer lotion that was barely noticeable but just right to add to my glowing theme.

My dress fit perfectly, even with the slightly tightened areas. The designer had made adjustments for it to have a little bit of giving, so it fit on me like a glove. A strapless bodice was ribbed and beaded with intricate hand-sewn glass beads, which matched the patterns on my bridesmaids' dresses. My dress, however, was white with twenty-four-carat gold-plated beads on the bodice. The skirt of the dress was a full-length skirt that fell to the floor. It had several layers of white tulle and white lace in a peacock feather design over top. The lace extended in the back for a small train of the peacock lace. I was speechless.

"Someone pinch me…" I whispered. I was glowing inside and out and remembered how pregnant women are said to look as if they were glowing. I wonder if that added to my fairytale look.

"Ow!" I yelped as my best friend grinned ear to ear after pinching me.

I was nearly in tears, and everything I had been through in the past few months and the weight of the decision I still had not made all seem to try and come crashing down on me in that moment. I held it together for a moment, and there was a knock on the door. It was George and my father.

"I know, I know! But I couldn't wait. I need to say something to my bride-to-be," George was saying to my mom in protest. She let him in only if he closed his eyes and let them guide him to me.  I giggled, watching him being led across the small room like a blind man. My mom placed George's hand on my shoulder.

"No peeking," she told him. And for an added measure, she had made sure my back was to him just in case he broke the rules and took a peek.

"I'll be quick," He assured her. Then he leaned in and inhaled my scent, and I could feel him smile from behind me.

"Best day ever…" He whispered into my ear, and I gasped. All those emotions that were threatening to explode and pour out were halted in their tracks. He had reminded me that I had been looking forward to this day for six years. And nothing was going to keep me from enjoying my moment with the man I loved. I smiled, and he was gone. Already been escorted from the room, and the women went with him, leaving me with my father.

I knew my father would love to be a grandpa. He was a man of few words and always in the background somewhere quietly cheering me on in his own way. I wanted to tell him about the baby. I felt like maybe he would understand. But I knew I needed to think this through on my own for now. And I knew I needed to be happy at this moment right now. Because today would be the best day ever.

My father put a hand on my shoulder and smiled at me calmly.

"I know I don't say it much, but I love you," He told me quietly. I pulled him into a hug and held on for dear life. I was excited about my wedding day. I was overjoyed. Did I mention I had been thinking about it for six years? Even longer, what little girl doesn't fantasize about the day she will get married. But with all that anticipation and happiness to come, it was still frightening.

What if I wasn't as good a wife as I was a girlfriend. What if George got tired of me? What if our jobs kept us so busy we drew apart? What if this baby came and flipped our world upside down? What if we didn't have the baby and regretted it for the rest of our lives? What if our holidays our single friends felt weird hanging out with us because we were married? What if I lose my ring?

All these silly what-ifs racing through my mind about the future, about my future as a Mrs. I know George promised today was going to be the best day ever, but what about tomorrow and the next day and the day after that. I was so thankful to have my father there in that moment. He hadn't been part of the planning much. He had helped pick up items for me and run errands if I needed them. But he was my silent supporter throughout the last four months, the last twenty-two years.

"I love you too, Daddy." I finally said, and with a deep breath, I released him.

"Let's go get you hitched," He chuckled.

"Let's."