Lost Ones (The Extinct Race Series Book 3) (16 page)

Chapter 29

Oh the Dress!

Marjorie knocked on the door shortly after and Zoe led her to her suite. She had Morgan and Quinn waiting along with Oliver and Finley. Marjorie did her thing and showed them a few catalogues and asked what they liked to do. When she was done she shooed them out to talk to Zoe and do her tailoring on the dress she had brought with her. They walked back to the secret closet that had all the things Marjorie needed. The walls were lined with dress bags that had all the wedding dresses inside.

Marjorie was now a trusted human and Zoe had informed her of what all the races liked. Zoe had not seen her own dress yet, but Marjorie pulled out the ones she brought for Morgan and Finley. Zoe almost cried when she saw them. She could tell right away which belonged to each girl. Finley’s dress was white with blue sapphires lined in the bodice. The skirt part was mermaid cut with a bow that matched the sapphires. Morgan’s dress was also white with a skirt that flowed like the wind. There were several layers to it and the top had real flowers sewn into the bodice with emeralds throughout. Both dresses were something that Zoe had only dreamed about.

“Marjorie did you make these?” Zoe asked in awe

“Well I did have some help, but your dress is the only one I personally did. Along with Halina’s and Iraina’s dresses and not to sound smug, but yours puts these to shame honey.” Marjorie had a huge smile on her face. “Now you shoo too these will take me about three hours and I took all of your hair into consideration with the dresses and you always wear it down so I want you to do the same when you wear them.”

“You are a dream worker. The girls are going to be so excited. I will leave you to it and I am going to go get things in order.” Zoe said as she placed a kiss on Marjorie’s check and left her in the closet.

Zoe walked downstairs and got Rosa and Monica to help her. She walked them to the secret area she had picked out and saw that Iraina and Halina were there waiting for them.

“You knew?” Zoe asked

“We guessed, honestly. The boys will be here soon to help. Now what do you want done?” Iraina asked

“Well there are chairs hidden in the woods over there and a gazebo that goes in the middle. Then I was hoping to get Cassie and Aubry to do their magic. I wanted it to be a small thing nothing to fancy.” Zoe said

“Sounds perfect to me.” Halina beamed and went to work pulling the chairs out.

The spot Zoe had picked was a small clearing in the forest. It was just big enough for what she wanted. Everyone would fit comfortably and there was a path that leads right to the clearing which would make a perfect aisle. It took the girls an hour to place all the seats into rows with the aisle in the middle. Cassie and Aubry had shown up about thirty minutes before and were making the aisle a path of small flowers with bigger flowers of all colors leading to the gazebo. On the Gazebo they had made vines grow up the sides and flowers bloom all over it. The white chairs also had vines running throughout them. Zach had brought out the string of lights and was busy placing them around the clearing. When it was all done Zoe was very happy with the outcome of the clearing. It looked completely magical.

Lunch was being served inside today and was ready by the time they had arrived. Kaiden was not at the table and neither was Mr. Steinman. Zoe went to look for them and found then in the library talking quietly over the spell book.

“Find anything interesting in there?” Zoe asked

“Actually there are similarities to all of them and I think I can make a new one. What are you doing inside so soon? I thought Marjorie said to stay away for about three or four hours?” Kaiden asked confused

“Well babe, it has actually been four hours and lunch is waiting for us. After lunch we will start getting ready and then have a wedding.” Zoe beamed

“Wow it feels like we just came in here an hour ago.” Mr. Steinman says

“You know we don’t know your first name Mr. Steinman, and although that is what we know you as, it’s a mouthful.” Zoe laughed

“Arthur is my name, Arthur Albert Steinman Jr.” Mr. Steinman replies

“Wow, can I call you Arthur or Art?” Zoe asks

“Art is my father, so Arthur is fine. Also I would like to tell you that I recently got my license for law approved in Ireland, so I can sign off on the marriage licenses and you will be legally married. Also I have worked with Jaco this morning and we have located Quinn’s, Oliver’s and Morgan’s paperwork and money. Jaco should have all the forms and money moved tonight.” Arthur informed them.

“Well you sure work fast don’t you?” Kaiden said

“I like to keep busy and I sort of knew this day would come. I just didn’t expect it to happen so soon.”

“You will be safe here. We will make sure of that.” Zoe assured him, although she was a little worried herself.

Arthur and Kaiden followed Zoe out to the table and they sat down to eat. Mary must have been starting to crave because there was a wide variety of food on the table and her plate was filled with a little bit of all of it. Zoe laughed and grabbed some potato salad and a sandwich. Everyone that lived in the house was at the table as they had all taken a day off from training. As Zoe looked around the table at all the happy faces she felt content. But a slight sliver of fear crept its way inside her head. She started to think about Marsali and what she would have done in this situation.

Zach was watching Zoe intently as he felt her emotions shift. She was happy for a long while and then fear had started to cloud he happiness. He watched as her fingers started to twitch in that tell-tell way they did when she needed to play. Something needed to be said that only she could let loose. Zach quietly got up and went to the music room where she kept her guitar. He grabbed it off the stand and walked back out to the table. Kaiden saw him come in with the guitar and then looked to Zoe. She was holding a sleeping Lily and softly strumming her fingers over the baby. Kaiden took Lily and Zach placed the guitar in her lap.

Zoe looked up as she felt the guitar in her lap and smiled at her twin. She put her fingers in the correct spots and closed her eyes. The whole table hushed and watched as Zoe started to play. When she was done Abby started laughing and got out of her seat and ran to Zoe and hugged her.

“She’s coming!” Abby squealed

“Who is coming baby?” Piper asked

“Marsali!” Abby smiled and ran to her mother. “She talked to me, she tolds me she will be at the celebration tonight. That she been watching over us and knows her helps is needed now. She said it’s time for hers to come back!” Abby laughed and ran off to the playroom.

“But doesn’t that journal say she decided to die and so her and her mate flew off to do just that?” Piper asked confused

“It does. I was thinking about her though before I started playing. I was wondering what she would have done if this threat was hers.” Zoe admitted

“Maybe it just means that her memory will help with the spell tonight.” Kaiden guessed

“Probably and everyone knows we need the help with the spell.” Zoe said. “Well on to a happy subject. Ladies it is time to put on our dresses and get ready for a wedding. And I do mean all the ladies at this table.” Zoe said. Rosa, Monica and Mary gave her a confused look. “Every single woman at this table is getting married today. I have your dresses upstairs. Now if you do not want to get married today that is ok, but if you do, please follow me upstairs. Oh and men, Kaiden will bring down your suits and someone please get Etana.”

The ladies followed Zoe upstairs and when she walked in she noticed Marjorie standing in the living room in the middle of a sea of dress bags. Each bag was named and the girls stood there in shock. Kaiden walked in behind all the girls and laughed at the shocked expressions on their faces. Gabe was behind him and so was Zach. They also laughed a little but went right back to the bedroom and walked out with the suit bags and a box. The box had all the rings inside that Zoe had ordered, she was not going to let the ladies of the house see those until they were placed on their fingers.

Once the boys had left with their suits Zoe turned to the open mouth faces of the ladies. “Ok ladies how do you want to do this, one at a time or all at once?” Zoe asked. Etana had stepped into the room then. She knew what was happening, but Zoe had a feeling she didn’t think she was involved.

“Well I would like to be a mom for a moment and see my daughter put on her dress first.” Emery stated and Monica agreed along with Iraina.

“Alright then who wants to go first?” Zoe asked. The question was met with silence and the girls all looked to Zoe. “Ok how about we go youngest to oldest?”

“Oh great that means I have to go first!” Tia pouted

“Oh honey please let me see. The suspense is honestly killing me.” Camilla whined

“Alright, fine!” Tia moaned and went to her dress. No one was shy when it came to nudity, so Tia stripped everything but her underwear. She unzipped the bag and you could hear her shock. Tia pulled the dress out and turned with it hugged to her body. Tears were streaming down her face. She smiled at Zoe and then turned back around. Tia unzipped the dress and stepped into it. Marjorie was right there behind her to zip it back up. When she turned everyone smiled at her and Camilla was openly weeping. Tia’s dress was the color of sand and ivory. The bodice was soft leather with the skirt ivory underneath and a sash of leather brought it all together with a bow in the back. You wouldn’t think the leather would work as a wedding dress, but it fit Tia and her personality perfectly.

“Thank you Zoe this is amazing!” Tia hugged her mother and then went to the floor length mirror set places in the dining room area.

Finley was next and she loved her dress. Emery beamed with joy and grabbed her daughter into a hug. The sapphires on her dress looked like scales once she had the dress on. “Oh you look like a beautiful mermaid, my little fish.” Emery boasted.

Morgan was next and once she saw her dress she openly sobbed out her joy and grief. “I wish my mom was here to see this.” She sobbed. Aubry and Cassie ran to her and wrapped her up in a hug. Telling her that he mother would be proud of the strong daughter she had. Morgan looked beautiful in her flower sewn dress, when she looked in the mirror she smiled and then cried some more. After she was done she hugged Zoe and then stood off to the side waiting to see all the other dresses.

Alex went after Morgan. She quietly went to her bag and unzipped it. She turned back to Zoe and smiled, turned back, tore her clothes off and stepped into her dress pulling it up slowly. The dress was white with spessartite garnets in the bodice and the skirt was flowing white. When she turned however, the skirt twisted and looked like moving fire. “This is hot! Thank you Zoe.” Alex gushed

Halina was next and both Zoe and Iraina were on tip toes anticipating the dress. Zoe was the only one who knew that Marjorie made this dress herself. Halina walked to her bag and stripped her clothing before opening it. When she unzipped it she squealed “HOLY SHIT!” she yelled. Halina didn’t turn around and she asked Marjorie to stand behind her. No one could see the dress as she stepped it. Marjorie zipped her up and then Halina turned.

The entire room erupted in awe. Halina’s Dress was white with pearls sewn into a heart shape in the bodice and around the back. The skirt was tiered with lots of ruffles. Halina looked like a princess. Iraina gushed over Halina for a while and Zoe looked amazed at the detail Marjorie had done. At that moment Zoe wanted to see her dress.

Vivi went next and was so nervous she was shaking. She walked over to the bag and took off her clothes. She unzipped the bag and fell to the ground in tears. Zoe ran over thinking she hated the dress, but Vivi grabbed her into a hug and pulled her down.

“Thank you Zoe, you have no idea what this means for me. I have never seen something more beautiful. Will you help me put it on?” Vivi sobbed

“Of course” Zoe said. She stood back up and pulled Vivi up with her. Zoe pulled the dress out and helped Vivi step into it. The dress was a gorgeous while and red. Garnet stones were placed throughout the ruffled skirt and lined the top of the bodice, with a red sash meeting in the back and flowed down the back of the dress.

It was Zoe’s turn now and she was nervous looking to Justine for a little help. Justine came over and unzipped Zoe’s bag. Zoe however kept her eyes tightly shut. She took off her clothing with her eyes shut and Justine guided her into the dress. Justine then turned her and zipped the dress up. She then led Zoe over to the mirror, Zoe opened her eyes when Justine told her too and Zoe sucked in a breath.

Zoe’s dress was white and Ivory, like Halina’s, with pearls sewn through the skirt. But the skirt of the dress had a royal train and lots of fluff to it. Pearls were stitched in swirly patters on the skirt and bodice. Marjorie walked over and placed a tiara of pearls on her head that perfectly matched the dress. Zoe wiped tears away and hugged Marjorie. She then smiled at Justine and said “your turn.”

Justine went to her bag and tore her clothing off. Monica walked over to help and they both sucked in the breath at Justine’s dress when she unzipped the bag. Her dress was not a traditional white like the rest. It was a soft purple underneath with sheer black lace on top. There were black and purple diamonds sewn into the bodice and skirt. It was perfect for Justine. Zoe laughed and crushed her sister into a hug.