Bride by Design

C H A P T E R 16

A HEROINE DISQUALIFIED

Karyssa

Lauren's music filtered past the gap of the door that was left ajar. Her half a year, and still counting, hiatus from the limelight served her well. Judging by the different melodies my ears were blessed to hear for months now, she got past her composing slump.

Licking the nuttella off my finger, I hurried off to clean up for my night after setting the oven timer for my last batch of cinnamon rolls. My success in learning to cook and a few trick in the kitchen gave me a push into taking on baking. It was just one of the things I've been challenging myself to improve on.

When her strumming reached an abrupt stop, I knocked on her door, "Lau, I got something in the oven. Could you keep an eye on it?"

It swung open and a smiling Catherine greeted me. She's been here for the most part of the weeks. Her hidden Ph.D in Psychology came in handy but, for the life of me, I could not understand why my friend employed the rich woman's 'help' when the former didn't even practice.

"Sure thing, Teach'," Lauren, seated and with a guitar on one hand and a pencil on the other, called from her corner.
But just right after she said it, she had her attention back on her music sheet and scribbled before she lost the notes on another of her new composition.

"I got it," Catherine said, "she's immersed herself into completing that one so, leave the oven-watching to me."

Begrudgingly, I acknowledged it though. Each day Lauren improved; her weary and sullen disposition gradually lifted.

"Thanks."

Distracting Lauren's creative flow would be horrible of me so I left and went on to do my thing before I ended up late.

I went for a quick shower and blowed down my hair in record time. The real challenge was choosing a suitable dress to wear without anyone's input. I didn't want to mess up on tonight's meet so I went with my first choice-a navy blue v-necked lined open back dress. I curled my hair and did my makeup, accentuating my face's best features.

Pulling the tiny drawer open, I ran my fingers over the few pieces of jewelry I had to pick from. A princess style double chained diamond necklace was the best one I had and having nothing more to contend with it so I put it on with its matching earrings. After strapping on a decent pair of heels, I sprayed on a little perfume to not come on strong.

With a final glance on the full-length mirror, I surveyed my handiwork and psyched myself up.

"Perfect!"

My watch told me I still had about thirty minutes to finish up so I grabbed my phone and purse and exited my room.

Lauren and Catherine relocated in the kitchen for a break. They were snacking on a few of the first ones I made.

My friend gave me a thumb of approval as soon as she saw me while Catherine nodded in agreement.

"Great outfit," Lauren managed to say between bites while the other woman poured her a cup of tea.

"They turned out fine?" I asked them instead tasting one so I wouldn't ruin my lipstick. "Honest opinion? Should I pack them or scrap them?"

Their opposing verdicts had me frozen, with the box on hand and the freshly baked rolls growing cold on the table. Catherine said they were ok but Lauren said they were so-so. Her uneaten half was scavenged by the older woman and was gone in seconds.

Lauren wiped her fingers clean with a napkin and faced me, "Don't you think it too soon for you to be meeting her parents?"

"She's invited me to sister's birthday and introducing me to her family's just inevitable," I was starting to think my friend had nothing against the rolls I baked but a great deal of disapproval for my budding relationship. "Peyton has been nothing but kind to me and to you so it baffles me why you don't like her."