HOME

Thirty Four

"I don't know girl." Kayla sighs "it's just not you."

I slump my shoulders and drag my hands through my hair in frustration as I stare at myself in the giant dress. It's beautiful but I can agree with Kayla.

This is not my dress.

"Mom! Mom! Jayla found us a dress!" Aurelia giggles as she nearly knocks over Tara as she runs past holding a dress covered in sequins from top to bottom.

"Oh! Wow!" I say half heartedly. It's an interesting dress but I definitely wouldn't put it on the girls. "That's.... something."

"Let's try another one." Kayla gently suggests to a deflated and frustrated looking Aurelia.

"But mom! We like this one!" Jayla counters as she joins Aurelia.

"Jayla, it's a cute dress but it isn't fit for you two. This dress is too flashy and you two are way too fun to be in that. It'll take all the attention from your pretty selves." Kayla says sweetly before her facial expression changes. "Now go put that back and don't forget not to talk back to your momma."

Tara and I smile a bit at Kayla's parenting. She's sweet as can be but definitely doesn't take any shit.

The girls scurry away with a store attendant to continue looking for a dress for the two of them.

I take Tara's outstretched hand and walk back to the dressing room where I'm helped out of the dress I'm wearing by Jane, the attendant who is doing her best to make it easier for me to find a dress.

Once I'm free of the heavy gown, I sit on the chair, feeling utterly drained and exhausted.

"Madelaine, take a minute." Jane says quietly after zipping the dress back into the garment bag. "This is a lot. Everyone gets a little overwhelmed through this process."

"Thanks, Jane." I tell her, trying to smile even though I really just want to curl up in a ball and cry.

"I'm gonna give you some space for a few minutes. Call for me after you've had a chance to breathe." Jane slides out the door and I'm grateful for her kindness and understanding.

As soon as the door latches my head falls back against the wall. The satin slip that is covering me feels less suffocating now that I'm alone.

I think over the past few hours.

I had left the apartment and gone to Kayla's to meet with the girls and surprise Jayla with being a flower girl. The girls were so excited to be flower girls that it took a full 30 minutes to get them to calm down.

When we arrived here, the staff had cleared the store since I'm a "celebrity" now. It's weird to think I'm so "high profile" that they cleared a store just for me to try on some dresses.

I had tried to call my mom, to let her know about this crazy idea that Sebastian had talked me into. All I got was to hear her voice for a moment as she quickly told me the restaurant was super busy and she would call me back. That had hurt a little, but I understand she works hard to keep her restaurant running.

Sebastian was in charge of telling his mother that she was gaining a daughter in law again, but I wasn't sure if he had time to call yet. Judging by the pictures he had sent me of himself, Mackie, and Chris trying on tuxes, he hadn't even thought to call his mom just yet.

I hear the door creak open and look to see Tara sliding in beside me.

"Hey. I saw that look you do when you're about to freak out and figured I'd come check on you." Tara says quietly as she shuts the door to the small dressing room before sitting down.