A Touch of Sunshine (gxg)

Part 16

When the day of the ceremony arrived, I kept trying to convince myself that nothing had to change.

Okay, now the whole country was going to know that I was courting Chad Paxton. That didn't mean that everything had to change. Right?

Right?

What was keeping my head at least the slightest bit straight was knowing that Jillian would be waiting for me after the announcement. We didn't know what would happen or where exactly we would go from there- but she was going to be outside of the palace. And that is what mattered to me.

Nothing else.

It was my way of still being able to hang on to at least a moment of sanity.

The official event was the Winter Festival Dinner- it happened the Saturday before the holidays started. But here at this dinner, was where my courting was going to be announced.

I would have to stand in front of the country and give myself over to Chad Paxton.

And keep living the ultimate lie.

Everyone in the country who had some money would be in attendance- including the Maddow's. I assumed my father convinced my mother to let Valerie come- because as far as I knew, she would be in attendance.

Marta, my mother's hairdresser, did my hair. She curled it loosely and added a lot of volume and shine.

I decided to put on my own makeup and do a pretty pink look to go along with my blush-colored dress. I sat in front of my vanity after putting on some lipstick and looked at myself.

This should be one of the happiest days of my life.

But instead- it is the beginning of a nightmare.

I was startled when I heard a knock at my door.

"It's me." my mother's voice came through.

"Come in." I said, not wanting to talk to her.

The door to my room opened, and when my mother saw me- she paused for a moment.

"You look beautiful, Lucy." she said, coming to sit on the edge of my bed.

"Thank you, mother." I said, "That means a lot to me."

"It's all coming together." she gave me a smile, "Ken and Headley. You and Chad. I am very pleased."

"Tonight, will be special." I said, with a fake smile plastered on.

"I'm proud of you, Lucy." my mother said, "You are going to make a wonderful wife to Chad. A wonderful mother and homemaker one day."

I could feel my blood boiling.

She doesn't know me at all. She doesn't know a single thing that I want in life.

"Thank you." was all I said to my mother.

She then stood up and said, "I'll let you finish getting ready. Be sure to be down in the banquet hall by 6. Not a moment after."

"I know." I said, "I'll be there."

The courting announcement was going to be made during dinner. Everyone would be eating their food, and then my father was going to get everyone's attention and make the courting announcement.

Thankfully, I was seated with Ellie for dinner. Eric was also seated by me, and unfortunately so were Ken and Headley.

When I sat down at the table, I saw Headley staring at me.

"You look very pretty, Lucy." she said to me- and it almost seemed genuine.

"Thank you, Headley." I said. Ellie wasn't at the table yet, and I just wanted her to arrive.