THEN I FOUND YOU [mcd]

chapter twenty four

"Cadenza has already decided that she'll be making my wedding dress. We've been sending letters back and forth with one another regarding what it will look like and what fabrics will be used. I think we're tiring out Logan's messenger bird."

Kandi nods and looks down at her list, marking off my wedding dress as a subject that has been decided. She goes on to the idea of giving me away, and Cadenza has already decided as well that she'd be giving me away.

We have a short list of things that have been decided. The wedding date, my dress, who's giving me away. We've thought of flowers and have slowly started to think of sweets that would be made. Kawaii~Chan was eager about the cake when I mentioned it to her, but I had to place it to the side until Garroth was with me. We haven't had the time to speak of it since.

"Who is walking you down the aisle?"

I stare at Kandi. It was like I didn't know what she was saying. Like I didn't understand the language she was speaking to me in. I've avoided thinking of this topic ever since Garroth proposed to me.

This has become a touchy subject that I try not to think about. I don't talk about it, either. Not even to Kandi. I haven't had a reason to think about it since Laurance left because I didn't think I'd get married.

Ever since I was a child, I've planned out my wedding. After being adopted, I thought that my father would walk me down. Then fifteen years passed, and I learned that he died during that time frame. Because of that, I planned on replacing my father with Laurance.

Laurance is gone, and I pushed that thought out of my mind.

"Um, well-" The door barges open from behind me. Kandi up at the commotion, and I have to turn my body around to see what caused it. Garroth appears in front of us, paper held tightly within his grasp. "Garroth? What's the matter?"

I bring myself onto my feet to try and somewhat meet his eyes. He's smiling, so I quickly realize that there isn't something bad going on.

"Mummy, she's coming to visit!" His voice is full of happiness as his eyes shine bright. My mouth opens from shock as I process what he says. I blink before smiling. "She wants to properly meet you and help with the wedding planning."

"Mom's coming now?"

I turn my head to look over at Kandi. I mention that she has taken the lead in planning our wedding, but Garroth insists on allowing his mother to help Kandi. It'd be a mother daughter bonding experience. . . Of planning our wedding. Kandi agrees that she wouldn't mind the help and grants Garroth permission. This only seems to brighten his day even more.

I've seen his mother once before. It was after she was saved from her execution in O'Khasis in the forbidden forest. We didn't speak. There wasn't a need for us to speak. Garroth and I weren't together at the time, and she didn't know about my friendship with Vylad.

I've heard many stories about her. How her baking was one to die for, or how much she loved and cared for her family. Listening to Garroth talk, she was a person I started to idolize. A mother I craved for.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Garroth left early this morning before the sunrise was finished. The past few days, he has been frantically rushing around the house making sure it's in its best shape before his mother is here. I can't help but giggle at this, as the house is freshly built, and it rarely becomes messy.

He's already insisted I prepare for all of his mother's favorite meals for the duration of her visit. I don't mind doing it, but he has demanded nothing but perfection. The set-up of her guest room doesn't even have a book out of place or crooked. I believe it's tidier than our own room.

The front door opens, and Garroth appears holding onto luggage. I reach forward to grab onto one, but he denies my help and insists that he is more than capable of bringing her belongings to the room. He doesn't leave me on my own until his mother is in the room and is acquainted with me. I suggest that he tour her around Phoenix Drop and see Kandi before it grows too dark, but he says he wants her to unpack first. This only causes a few giggles from her.

Garroth carries her luggage upstairs while I remain in the kitchen to cook dinner. She looms over my shoulder to see what I am doing. "Garroth has told me all your favorite meals, and I have every intention of cooking them. I hope the trip here went well, Lady Ro'meave."

She beams a smile before taking the knife from my hand and beginning to cut the onion on my cutting board. "Please, just call me Zianna, you'll be family soon. It wouldn't feel right for my daughter-in-law to call me by a silly title."

I step out of the way with a hesitant nod of my head. Zianna has already started to take over making dinner, but I do not believe she meant to do so. I think she wanted to help me at most.

Garroth comes back down the stairs and grows confused at the sight. He stares at me for a moment before shaking his head. He questions Zianna on her actions, but she says that she wishes to help me with dinner. Garroth gives in after coming to the conclusion that there is no changing his mother's mind.