Raising Maizee

Prologue

Ari adjusted the abnormally large hat placed upon her head and pulled on the uncomfortable dress that kept bunching up under the too-tight belt. She itched under the gloves that reminded her of something a fancy serial killer would wear when disposing of a body after a nice cup of tea and tried to keep her heels from sinking into the soft grass. She was in the midst of wiping the sweat off her forehead for what seemed like the 100th time when she heard a familiar, cringe-worthy voice behind her.

"Maybe something black would have been a little more flattering, hmm? Or certainly more slimming. Oh, look at your face! I'm kidding, I'm kidding. I love the last year, vintage, thrift store look." A woman with long red hair and freckles on every inch of her body (wearing almost the exact same thing that Ari and the rest of the derby population was wearing) stood almost 6 feet tall and peered down at Ari over her abnormally large nose.

"Mallory. It's so nice to see you again." Ari replied through clenched teeth. At only 5'3 in heels, she had to look quite a ways up in order to see the unfriendly woman's jade green eyes.

"Oh, please, dear. I've told you, call me mother. After all, you are going to become my new daughter tomorrow morning." Ari just looked at the woman and continued to smile. There was no way in hell she would be calling that woman mother. Satan, maybe, but never mother.

"Mmm. Have you seen Liam anywhere? He went to get me a cocktail awhile ago and I'm afraid he might have gotten lost."

"A cocktail, hmm? Shouldn't you be laying off the alcohol and empty carbs before the wedding? Wouldn't want to have any trouble fitting into that wedding dress of yours, would you? Oh, Henry darling! Henry!" Mallory hobbled off after a gentleman who seemed to be trying extremely hard to ignore her. Ari let out a breath that she had been keeping in for a long time in hopes that she'd stand up straighter and make her already slender self somehow look skinnier.

"What is the most beautiful girl in the world doing at some boring, smelly, unbearable, horse derby?" A voice said. Ari's smile reached her eyes and all her previous worries seemed to disappear.

"Waiting on a ridiculously good looking man in a tuxedo to bring her the cocktail that she ordered long ago."

"I'm not wearing a tuxedo..."

"Well, I guess you'll just have to do then." Ari replied with a sigh followed by a wink. Liam leaned down and pecked her once on lips.

"Have you seen my mom anywhere? I feel like she's been avoiding me."

"Lucky." Ari said under her breath.

"What'd you say, babe?"

"Nothing. Um, I saw her earlier. She ran off after Henry."

"Again? She's gotta stop chasing that guy. He's no good for her...Was she nice to you?" Liam asked a little softer.

"She was..decent." Ari replied.

"Ari... You know how she is. You just have to try."

"I do try. You're mother is just so... difficult sometimes."

"I know. But she means well." Liam smiled. Ari glared up at him. "You wanna get out of here?"

"More than anything." Liam took Ari by the hand and the two of them made their way out of the crowded derby stadium.

"Can you believe that we're going to be married tomorrow? Bound for life by two rings and a single piece of paper." Ari said over the phone to Liam that night.

"Jeez. Is it too late to back out? I'm kidding, babe. I can't wait to marry you."

"I know. Me either. I just wish I was there with you right now."

"It's not too late for you to sneak over..." Liam replied a little seductively.

"I want to do this right! You know that. If I stay over there tonight, then you'll see me tomorrow before the wedding and I don't want to risk anything."

"You and your crazy superstitions. Don't worry I love you in spite of them."

"Rude!" Ari laughed. "I'm going to try to get some sleep.. I'll see you tomorrow in the a.m."

"It's at the derby right?"

"Babe! We literally were just at the rehearsal dinner." Ari replied.

"I'm kidding. Do you think that my mom would let me forget that we're having the wedding at the best investment she won from the divorce? I'll see you tomorrow, beautiful. I can't wait. Sweet dreams, sweeheart. I love you."

"Goodnight, Liam. I love you." Ari hung up the phone and began the start of a very sleepless night before she married the man of her dreams, dressed in white with bags under eyes, but happier than she ever could have imagined.