The Ghost Of You

Chapter Forty One

Riley

"I think that's the one Mummy!" Sienna said clapping her hands as she sat with Michelle eating whatever sweets the sales assistant threw her eay
"You've said that about all of them baby" I reminded her
"Because you look be-beutital in them all" She smiled making Michelle and I chuckle at her attempt at the word while I turned back to look at the dress

It was a pretty dress. But I'm a firm believer that when you find your dress you know and so far I don't think it's any of these

"You've got to give yourself some wriggle room Riley, you need this by sunset tonight remember?" Michelle smirked making me roll my eyes at her in the mirror knowing she was taunting me 

A sunset wedding on the beach, as cliché as it sounds.. I couldn't have imagine anything better for James and I
The boys were spending all day setting things up while they wait for James family to get there
We had tried to contact my parents but none of them were interested. They are still convinced that this is some elaborate ruse for money
They don't believe that I could be alive and I don't blame them.. 

Who would believe someone after they had been told their daughter died 7 years ago and now suddenly she's back? With two kids? Getting married? 

I wouldn't believe it had it ever happened to me but I would at least give her the time of say to plead her case. I would want the closure of knowing that it wasn't really her 

But they won't give me any time of the day..

I get it they've grieved me, they've moved on.. I can't hold that against them and I know that..

I had always wanted my Dad to be the one to walk me down that aisle, He knew that. I was always a Daddy's girl while Emily was more of my Mum's sidekick but it didn't matter anymore
She had the both of them and I was left with nothing 

Emily was on my mind more frequently during all of this. I thought that the fact that my parents didn't believe me that maybe Emily wouldn't either. I would love more then anything to have at least one of my family members at my wedding 
But I don't think I could handle the rejection again if I was to call her..

"Mummy, I tired" Sienna said as we headed out of that store empty handed
The moment she said that, it was almost by some sort of magic that James and Hunter turned the corner and were stood directly in our pathing 

"If it isn't our favourite girls" Hunter cheered making Sienna pout as she buried her head in my shoulder before looking up for a second to see James
"Daddy" she cried flinging herself from my arms into his making him chuckle as he shifted himself to support her 

"I guess she's coming home with me then?" he asked and I nodded with a sigh
"She's tired" I said repeating her words
"So am I" Michelle said making me glare at her while she held her hands up in surrender
"Alright Christ Riley, don't kill me with that look" She said making the boys laugh
"No luck yet?" James asked but I shook my head
"If it helps, it doesn't matter what you wear Ri" He said leaning forward to press a soft kiss on my lips

"That's sweet but no it doesn't help" I sighed making Hunter snigger

--

"Riles I think you tried that dress on in the other store" Michelle said after the 5th dress in like the 8th store. I was surprised to see how many bridal stores there were in this town. For a small one it would appear wedding's are it's forte 
"It just doesn't feel right" I muttered brushing the fabric down in the hope that it would help but it did not

It made no difference at all

"Let me go and see what else I can find in your size" Michelle said offering me a half smile before practically running over to the racks
Maybe it was time to give up and to give up on the idea of a wedding today
It wasn't going to plan at all, well that's a lie and a half
It seems to all be going smoothly except where I was concerned.. Nothing was going right for me 

"Riles, if you are going to get married last minute like then you need to at least pretend to be happy a voice said behind making me roll my eyes
"Thanks for the unhelpful input Em" I said looking at her through the mirror 

Wait! 

"Emily!!" I screamed turning to see her stood by the seats with a smirk on her lips and her arms crossed against her chest
She opened her arms pulling me into a tight hug while I practically cried into her shoulder
"What are you doing here?" I asked softly as we pulled apart

"You don't think my only sister would be getting married without me there do you?" she asked making me smile
"but mum and dad?" I muttered and she nodded
"Hey, we're grown ups now Riley. We don't need them holding our hands.. If they want to act like this and miss out on the biggest day of your life and miss out on the two beautiful babies you have in this world then that's on them" She said before taking my hands

"This day is about you, you and James. Don't let their absence cloud that" She whispered making me nod agreeing before she offered me a confident smile

"Now let's get you a dress that makes you happy!" She said pulling my hands back towards the rack