The Wrong Bride

33

"Miss Emerald I've been waiting ages for you to get here. If you didn't appear I would have worn your dress and then died out of excitement. I think I'm more stoked for this wedding than you are" my designer squeals and claps his hands like a little child, his French accent thick in his words.

"Well then I think it's great I arrived, Louis" I chuckle

"I can't wait to see what you look like sweetheart" Nanny Esther says

"You are going to look gorgeous," Aria says and I blush.

She and I became close friends after all that happened with Sara. It's funny how she was one of Sara's bridesmaids and now she is part of mine. I probably shouldn't be entertaining her, but I can tell she is not a threat. Besides, she helped us with the Sara issue. There is no need to doubt her, or fully trust her either. Just giving her the benefit of the doubt, see where her loyalty lies.

Before I can try on the dress, my phone rings, pulling us all out of our bubble.

"It's Sebastian. Please excuse me" I say, as I enter one of the changing rooms in the boutique.

"Hey, sweetheart" he greets and my heart melts. I haven't seen him since yesterday, and it's silly how badly I need him.

"Hey"

"Where are you?"

"At the bridal boutique. I came to try on my dress"

"Are you okay?" He asks, concerned latched onto his voice

"I'm alright"

"Chase told me about what happened outside your house, I want you to know that I am so sorry, I had no idea, my love. I know how much you respect your privacy and won't let some random reporters storm you like that"

"I know it wasn't your fault," I say quietly

"Then why do you sound like that? Is there something wrong? I can tell there's something else, baby"

"It's just... it's just some things they said that's all"

"What's exactly is bothering you, love? If you don't tell me I will not be able to fix it"

"One of them asked why I'm marrying you after you dumped me three years ago?" I snort "It's stupid, and I probably shouldn't be bothered about any of this or what they say or do, but I couldn't help but think"

"Emerald do you not want to marry me?" He asks and I can hear the fear in his voice

"Seb I said nothing like that"

"Look, honey, let me be blunt. Three years ago I was a fool. I let you go. You trusted me and I broke that trust, not only that, but I broke your heart as well. Of course, it is not out of this world if you have doubts, it is understandable. But do you know the difference between three years ago and now baby?"

"What?"

"The difference is I know what it is like to lose you. To not see you smile the way you do. To not hear you laugh. To not have you touch me and most painfully not being able to touch you. To reach out to you. To hold onto you. To be the shoulder you can cry on. To comfort you and hold you and tell you how much I love you. I know the torture it is to live without you, and there is no way I would make another mistake to have to go through that again. To put the both of us through that and more especially to hurt you. You are my whole world sweetheart, so please, do not have any doubts about how much I love you and how much you mean to me. I have loved you more every single day from then until now, and there is nothing that I would allow to come between us again. I can't be a fool twice"

"I love you," I say, tears rolling down my cheeks at the beautiful words he said to reassure me. Sebastian is not a man of many words, but when it comes to me, he would say everything to make me aware of how much he loves me, which I think is more than I love him.

"I love you more, sweetheart. Have fun o'er there alright? I can't wait to see you in that dress"

"I'll see you soon," I say, and hung up after a few more 'I love you's

I look at my tear-stained face through the mirror in the changing room and now I wish I didn't tell everyone who called me. I look like I just attended a funeral.

Sebastian gets me so emotional.

After I look better, I step out and put on a bright smile.

"Let's get this going shall we?"

☆☆

"Hey, are you alright?" Andrea asks after we leave the bridal boutique. Nanny Esther decided to go back home since I wanted to pass by my favorite restaurant for lunch and swing by Seb's place later. I told him I would see him.

"Yes, why?"

"Is just that I saw the way you looked when you came out of that dressing room. Just wanted to be sure"

"Oh, it's nothing. I was just being silly. Got a little insecure and Sebastian talked me out of it"

"Why would you get insecure Emmy? I mean have you seen that 24 Karat diamond on your finger? If the man could get something bigger than that to signify the space you occupy in his heart, he would"

"I know." I chuckle "Sometimes it's just-

I'm cut off as my feet take running, trying as fast as possible to get to the little boy who is oblivious of the car speeding so fast towards him.

I manage to swoop him out of the way and onto the sidewalk.

I blow out a breath and wince when I feel the impact of the fall on my right arm.

That is going to leave a bruise.

"Holy shit, Emmy. You scared the hell out of me" Andrea shrieks "What was that for? What if you died?"

"Ah don't be so negative, Andrea. I had to save the little boy" I say and crouch down to his height "Hey honey, are you alright?"

He doesn't say anything to me, but just burst into tears

"Now now, honey, don't cry," I say, trying to shush him as I cradle him in my shoulder.

"Shit is the kid alright?" I look up to see the driver who always knocked my baby down

"You should be shy, asking me that. Where did you take your driving lessons? Cause I think you should sue them for wasting your money, just like I'm about to sue you. No one told you not to talk on the phone while driving?"

"Look miss I'm sorry. It won't happen again"

"You tell that to the police," I say and turn to Andrea, who is already calling 911, as I take the little boy's hand.

Maybe he is the one who finally makes me a mother.