Bruno's Daughter

Chapter 42

Kristi's POV:

 It has been several months. My wedding is three or four months away. I am currently getting ready to go find my dress. Yes, I still haven't gotten it. We were busy planning and stuff, ok? I've asked my abuela, Delores, Tia Julietta, and Tia Pepa to come with me. I also asked papa. I think papa was hesitant, but he agreed. Having papa there with me will make it even more special for me. 

  Papa and I were in his room. Papa was holding his ruana he hadn't yet put on.

"You're sure you want me to come...?" papa asked me, playing with the end of his ruana.

 "Yes, papa! Having you there will make it even more special and memorable. Why? Do you not want to go..?"

 "No! I mean, yes! I mean-" he groaned, before looking at me. "I would love to be there for you today...But I just...I don't want to ruin anything for you..." he looked down sadly, still holding the green cloth.

 I gave a small smile, walking closer to him and taking his hands in mine. "Papa, look at me.." he slowly looked up at me. "That could never happen. I know I've hurt you in the past...And I know it probably still haunts you, along with the shadows of the people's words about you...But I really do love you, papa. You and Andres are everything to me. You wouldn't ruin anything. If anything, you'd make it better! Especially, on my wedding day." I pulled him in a hug. It was a second or two before he hugged me back. I smiled. 

 "I'll come, my angel," he said quietly. We parted and I saw him smiling at me.

 "Good. Because it is about time we get going. Abuela is going to wonder where we are." I laughed. He nodded with a smile before putting his ruana on over his brownish colored shirt. He liked his old ruana. It was worn out, faded, and getting old, but he never threw it out. 

 I took his hand and we left his room. We met the others at the door of Casita.

 "Are we ready?" abuela asked, smiling.

 "Si, abuela." I nodded. Papa nodded in agreement.

 "Yes, mama," my tias answered.

 "Yes," Delores replied in her quiet voice.

 Abuela nodded and with that, we left Casita. We walked to the shop, which took a few minutes to get to. We passed by Andres' house. I smiled and waved when I saw Andres outside with his mother, shucking some corn. He smiled and waved back before blowing me a kiss. I blushed a little, looking down. I looked up, seeing him chuckle and smile at me. 

 I looked at papa. "Papa, it seems like every time he smiles at me, or winks, or even blows me a kiss, I get butterflies in my stomach! Is it always going to be that way..?"

 He chuckled a little. "Well, I uh...I really don't know....I've um...I've never experienced this type of love...." I gave a small frown. "But I do know that you both really love each other. I can see it in yours and his eyes."

 I put my arm around him. "You were really lonely in your life...Weren't you..?"

 Papa sighed. "Sometimes, I suppose, I did wish I could have had what Juan and Carmen had....But I always found myself feeling better when I was around them or when I thought about them...I always found myself feeling better when I was with you or thinking about you..." I gave a small smile. "But, if you um...want to know what I think...." he looked down nervously. 

 "What is it, papa?" I asked, looking at him.

 "I think....it's possible you might always feel this way about him....But....to be honest, I don't think it's that bad....I think it's nice....He'll always be able to make you feel good.."

 I smiled, thinking about Andres. "You might be right, papa...And I do kinda like the feeling.." He looked down at the ground, giving a small frown before wincing a little. "Is everything alright, papa?"

 "Huh? Oh, yea...I'm alright.." he gave me a small smile. I nodded hesitantly. When I looked up, I swear I saw my tias, prima, and abuela looking at papa, a worried, concerned look on their faces. I frowned, confused. I just shrugged it off and continued walking.

 *An Hour Later*

 "What about this one?" I asked, coming out of the dressing room, wearing a dress that my Tia Pepa chose.

 "Oh, it's beautiful!" Tia Pepa declared, smiling.

 "Si, sister, but I'm not sure it's her style. It looks more like your style." Tia Julietta replied.

 Abuela nodded before looking up at me. "What do you think, Kristi?" 

 "Honestly, it's not that comfortable....It's a little itchy....I think it's a little too fancy." I said slowly, looking at my dress.

 "I uh...I think she might be right, Pepa..." papa said quietly. Delores nodded in agreement.

 "Well, maybe you're right. But what other dresses are there?? We've gone through multiple! Even mama couldn't find one!" 

 Papa looked away, playing with his hands. "Well...I um....I did have an idea, Pepa..."

 "What is it, papa?" I aske him.

 "Well, it's um...It's over here.." he stood up and went over to a rack of dresses. He looked through them before pulling out a beautiful ballgown-like dress with short sleeves. It had a lace, tissue-like skirt with flowers embroidered on the lace.

 I picked up the skirt of my dress, so I wouldn't trip or step on it, and walked over. I smiled brightly. "Papa....It's beautiful..." I said quietly, lightly touching the silk waistband. 

 "Your mama wore a dress that...was similar. The skirt didn't have the embroidered flowers and it was long sleeved, but I guess I just thought it was pretty and looked like you so-" I giggled and kissed his cheek, which stopped his rambling. 

 "It's perfect, papa. I'm gonna try it on right now." I replied, taking the dress and going back into the dressing room. When I came out, wearing that dress, to be honest, I felt like a bride....This is definitely the dress....I smiled and spun around. "What do you all think?" I asked my family. They smiled at me.

 "You look so radiant, Kristi," abuela replied.

 "It's better than the dress I chose." Tia Pepa stated. I chuckled.

 "It looks wonderful on you, Kristi." Tia Julietta smiled. 

 "You look stunning, Kristi," Delores smiled at me.

 Papa stood up and walked over to me. "You look beautiful, my little angel....You will make a beautiful bride....You remind me of your mama in that dress..." he smiled, tears in his eyes.

 "Papa, what's wrong?" I asked, brushing his tears away.

 He gave a slight chuckle. "Sorry...I guess I just can't believe this day's finally here...I knew it would come one day, but...It just seems like yesterday you were a little girl, merely toddling around..." We both laughed a little. Tears formed in my eyes. 

 "I know, papa...I can hardly believe it either...But...I'm finally getting married and-and...I'm really happy, papa..." I said quietly.

 "I'm glad, princess....I only want the best for you...I want you to be happy..." papa smiled at me. I smiled back before hugging him.

 "So, have we found the dress or should we keep looking?" abuela asked after a minute or two. 

 I pulled away from papa and looked at her. "I want this dress, if it's alright." I told her. 

 She nodded with a smile. "Of course it's alright, my dear. Go get changed and we'll pay for the dress." 

 I nodded and went back into the dressing room. I put on my usual dress and put the wedding dress back on the hanger. I came out holding the dress and smiling. "Ready." I replied. My family nodded and we went up to the counter to pay for the dress. I was honestly really happy. In just a few months, I'd be married to the man I love. Andres Garcia...