Living Again (61 page)

“Me either. It’s going to be the cutest picture ever, those frilly organza dresses on their little bodies, all walking together to throw out the flowers.” Kayley smiled over at Cate and Alexis, playing with her dolls on the floor.

“What are the boys doing?” Kayley’s mom asked.

“Paul said they were going golfing and to lunch,” Lindsay answered.

“All done,” Melanie said, putting a mirror in front of Kayley’s face so she could see her hair. The room gasped as they looked at it finished. It was loose around her shoulders and curled. The sides were pinned up loosely and she had a pretty diamond star clip on one side. She wasn’t wearing a veil. Melanie sprayed it until Kayley was sure she was going to go into a hairspray coma, and then Melanie moved on to doing Kellie’s hair while Kayley went for makeup. She looked at the clock, smiling when she saw it was 3:00. It was getting closer.

Once Kayley was done with makeup, she wandered away, needing a moment to collect herself. She wasn’t scared, but the emotions bubbling up inside her made her want a few minutes alone. Walking into her bedroom, she saw her dress hanging from the outside of her closet, and she smiled. She loved this dress from the second she put it on in the store, and knew, just like they say, that it was
the one
. Fingering the skirt on her dress, she thought back to how much fun she had had that day, picking out the last wedding dress she would ever wear.

The group walked into Fairy Tale Bridal, ready for their appointment. Kayley had told them on the phone that she needed something that she could either order to arrive quickly or off the rack, since she was trying to plan the wedding quickly. They assured her that they could assist her with many of the dresses in their store, especially since her size was common for trying on.

She hoped that they were ready for this group. She had brought Emily, Rachel, Kellie, Cathy, and Lindsay, all of her bridal party, as well as her mom and Ben’s mom. She was most worried about her two opinionated friends, Emily and Rachel, though Emily had been shopping with her when she married Alex.

As the bridal consultant, Yvonne, that was assigned to them fluttered around Kayley, asking her questions about where the wedding was to be held and what type of dress she was looking for, Kayley was answering but her eyes were everywhere, looking at the dresses. She wanted something that was sexy, but not revealing, without a huge train since it was on the beach, and somewhat mermaid style, but with a fuller skirt at the bottom.

“I have several that I think you will like,” Yvonne answered. “But I would also like your permission to pick a few other styles that you may not think of as your favorites right now, but many times brides completely change what they think they will like once they see things on.”

Kayley agreed, wanting to make sure she found the perfect dress, but she also made sure to tell Yvonne the type of dress she absolutely would not try on. She wanted her dress to be totally different than the one she married Alex in. It wasn’t anything against him, of course, but those memories were best left where they were, and not brought into her wedding with Ben. Yvonne got a little teary as she explained that she had been married before and he had passed away, then she insisted on seeing a picture of Alexis
and
Ben. All tears over, she went to work on piling Kayley’s dressing room with dresses.

“All ready?” Yvonne said to the group, who sat outside Kayley’s dressing room in soft chairs. The seven women nodded in unison.

Kayley tried on several gowns, all of which the group thought were beautiful on her, but Kayley didn’t feel that any of them were “the one”. She wanted it to be so beautiful, so breathtaking, that she couldn’t stop the emotion from spilling over in every single one of them. She wanted the dress that she picked to knock the socks off her groom. And she hadn’t found it yet.

“Okay, Kayley, let’s get this off and try the next one. I think you’re going to
love
it,” Yvonne said, carrying her train back into the room. Undressing, Kayley looked at the new one that Yvonne was taking out of the plastic bag. Just looking at it, it was more spectacular than any of the ones she had on previously. It was a light champagne color, strapless with a sweetheart neckline, a mermaid style with Swarovski crystals and clear, iridescent beads adorning the bust and bodice with just enough sparkle to make it stunning. Layers of organza rippled like waves once the dress got past the knees, and the small train barely trailed behind it. Perfect for a beach wedding. Kayley looked down at herself as Yvonne zipped it up. There was no mirror in the room, so she had to wait until she walked out, but she could tell that this dress blew the others out of the water.

Kayley stepped from the dressing room, looking at the faces of all seven of the women that were here today. Turning around, she stepped up on the platform and looked at herself in the full length mirror. She could see them behind her, and they all had the same look on their faces. Her hands instinctively went to her face, and tears filled her eyes. “Ohmigod,” she breathed. What she saw in the mirror was beyond her wildest expectations. It was the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. Turning, she could see in the three way mirror that the back lowered into a V that was sexy but not too revealing. She looked—stunning.

“Kayley,” Renee stood up and walked to her daughter’s side. Tears shimmered in her eyes. “You look so beautiful.”

Karen wiped her eyes, and every one of the bridesmaids started talking at once, ooing and ahhing over her. Emily ran up to the platform, hugging Kayley tightly as tears ran down her cheeks.

“I love it,” she sobbed. “God, I’m so happy for you. This dress is perfect.”

“Is this the one?” Yvonne asked, watching Kayley’s eyes fill with tears. “It fits you like it was made for you. You’re a knockout, doll.”

Kayley nodded. “This is it. This is my dress.”

Kayley smiled at the thought of Ben’s face when he would finally see her in this dress. She knew that his eyes would widen in shock and desire, and his gaze wouldn’t leave hers as she walked towards him. She knew like she knew she would marry him today that he would lean over and whisper something in her ear when she got to him, and it would be something that would take her breath away. She couldn’t wait.

“Are you okay?” Karen, Ben’s mom, stood at the doorway. Kayley had spent a lot of time with Karen and Joe over the last few months, and they had formed a very close bond. Alexis loved her as well, accepting her as a new grandma without a moment’s hesitation.

“I’m wonderful,” Kayley said, hugging her tightly. “I can’t wait.”

“Kayley, I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’re marrying my son. You’re truly a match made in Heaven. I thank God every day for sending you into his life, our lives.”

Kayley waved her hands in front of her face as to not cry and ruin her pretty makeup. “No crying, Karen! None! I’ll be a mess by the time I get to Ben!”

“Sorry,” Karen laughed. “No more. I love you, Kay.”

“Love you too, new Mom.” Karen grinned at Kayley’s new name for her, hugging her one last time before leaving her alone again, for the last time as a single woman and mom, and for the last time in the house she shared with Alex.

Kayley stood in the room at the hotel where they were getting married, anxiously waiting to get the signal that it was time to head down. She was ready. Smoothing her hands down her dress, Emily and Rachel fluttered around her, touching up her lipstick and tucking any stray hairs. She ignored them, lost in her own thoughts.

“Do you need to go to the bathroom?” Emily asked. “Because we’re all going to have to go help you if so.”

“No,” Kayley laughed, looking down at the form fitting dress. “And even if I did, I think I’d hold it at this point. I just want to get to Ben. Can we go now?”

Emily looked into Kayley’s face, tears shimmering in her eyes. “I am not sure I will ever stop wanting to cry when you say that.”

Kayley blinked, refusing to cry and ruin her makeup. At least until she saw Ben. Then, all bets were off. “You’re just hormonal, Em. It will pass,” Kayley teased, causing Emily to laugh and hug her quickly.

A knock came on the hotel door, and Kayley’s stomach clenched. Her mom opened it, and on the other side was Alex’s mom, looking beautiful in a knee length light pink dress.

“Kayley,” Elizabeth gasped as she saw her. Stepping into the room, she put her hands gently on Kayley’s face, tears in her eyes. “You’re so beautiful. My God. This dress is stunning.”

As much as Kayley had sworn she wasn’t going to, tears filled her eyes at the sight of her former husband’s mom crying in front of her. “Elizabeth,” she sniffled, trying without success to keep tears from dropping out of her eyes. “Thank you so much for being here. I know that it couldn’t have been easy for you.”

Elizabeth dabbed Kayley’s face carefully with a handkerchief as the rest of the girls watched, not a dry eye in the place. “You will always be my daughter, Kay. I love you. And I miss him, every day, as I’m sure you do. But, I am so happy for you, and know he would be, too. I’m so glad you get to have your fairy tale.” She opened her small clutch purse. “I have something for you, if you want.”

Kayley watched her, so much emotion filling her she couldn’t stop another tear from dripping down her cheek. Emily dabbed it this time, careful to keep her makeup intact. Alex’s sweet mother took something out of her purse and closed it in her hand. Taking Kayley’s hand and turning it over, she dropped it in her hand. Kayley looked down, and a sob escaped her throat without warning. It was Alex’s cufflinks from their wedding. She would recognize them anywhere. They were silver with a C engraved in script on them, for Carson.

“For the last day you’re a Carson,” Elizabeth cried, not even stopping the tears from dripping down her face. “Alex is with you. I thought maybe we could pin them under your dress somewhere.”

Ben’s mom stepped up next to Kayley, tears dripping out of her eyes as well. “Thank you, Liz. What a thoughtful and amazing gesture that is.”

Kayley nodded, emotion clogging her throat. She handed the cufflinks to Karen, who lifted up her dress to find a spot where they could attach them.

“It’s your something borrowed,” Liz whispered. “I love you, Kayley. I’m sorry for making you cry.”

“Liz,” Kayley choked out. “I love you, too. Thank you, for everything.”

“Can I take Lexi down with me? I’ll stay with her until you come down.” Kayley nodded, and Liz picked Alexis up. She looked adorable in her light pink organza dress, a crown of baby’s breath around her curly head.

“Are you ready, baby girl? It’s time to party! Daddy will be down there waiting for you!”

Alexis nodded and wrapped her arms around Kayley’s neck. “Mommy pwetty. Wex pwetty, too.”

Kayley laughed, kissing her gently. “Thank you, baby. You’re always pretty. I’ll see you down there in a few minutes!”

Liz left the room, taking Alexis with her, leaving them to try to quickly blot the eyes and fix the makeup of every person in the room. While she didn’t want a single second of sadness today, thinking of Alex made her momentarily sad. A knock sounded on the door again, and Rachel answered it, seeing Cam on the other side. He looked past her and met Kayley’s eyes, smiling.

“Hey Kay,” he said in greeting. “You look amazing. I’m just on a delivery.” He winked over her head at Kellie, standing behind her. “Here you go, from your groom. We’ll see you down there in a few. Everything’s ready, and it looks like we’re weather free. A summer rain reprieve just for you.”

He handed her a box tied with a blue bow, and she instinctively reached up and touched her teardrop necklace. She wore it today with her wedding dress as a reminder to both of them. “Thank you, Cam,” she said. “Did Ben get my present?” Kayley had sent him a wedding day gift down with Trevor when they got here.

Cam nodded. “He did. He loved it. He wouldn’t let us see it, but whatever it was, he looked at it for a long time and then hid it.” Kayley had gotten him an additional few pictures for his album that she had made him for Christmas with her in her wedding lingerie, and one with just a ribbon that said “For Your Eyes Only.” She of course had warned him on the box so he wouldn’t open it in front of everyone. She grinned at Cam’s explanation.

“You’re safe to come down,” Cam told them. “The guests are all seated and things are ready. See you down there, Kayley.”

“Okay. We’ll be right down.” She looked at the box, knowing full well whatever was in there was going to make her cry again. “I cannot cry again,” Kayley joked. “Or my makeup will be totally off. What else could this man possibly buy me?”

The girls and mothers gathered around her as she opened the box, finding first a blue Tiffany’s pouch. “This man,” she murmured, incredulous. Opening it, she gasped as she saw diamond drop earrings, the same emerald shape as her engagement ring.

“Seriously, he needs a brother,” Rachel grumbled good-naturedly. Everyone talked at once, talking about how romantic and dreamy Ben was.