Tangled Hearts.

~Chapter 66~

~Raelyn~

~May 28th 2024~

The sunlight streamed through my window, casting a warm glow over the room as I stirred awake. Today was the day I'd been dreaming of since I was a little girl, the day I'd find my perfect wedding dress.

With days left until the wedding, the excitement was palpable. She padded to the kitchen, the aroma of coffee filling the air, a small comfort before the big day of shopping.

A rhythmic knock interrupted her thoughts, and the sound of giggles from Katrina, Devyn, Tara, and Isa made her head turn. Confusion etched her face as she approached the door, Aspen now cradled in Katrina's arms.

As the door swung open, there stood Brielle, my mother, tears glistening in her eyes, a mix of joy and nostalgia. My heart skipped a beat; it felt like forever since I had seen her.

"Mom? What are you doing here?" I gasped, the surprise evident in my voice.

Mom's voice was soft, yet filled with emotion, "I'm here to help you find the one, sweetheart, your wedding dress." She revealed a garment bag with a hint of lace peeking out. "And I brought mine, just in case."

The room filled with the sound of sniffles as they embraced, a moment suspended in time. Compliments on the house and shared laughter bridged the gap of time and distance.

The sound of footsteps announced Colby's arrival, Blake now in his arms. "Colby, you remember mom."

Colby extended his hand, a respectful and warm gesture. "Of course, it's great to see you again Mrs. Young."

Mom's response was tinged with humor, "Please, call me Brie love. After all, we're family now."

The morning sun filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow over the chaos of the Trap house kitchen. Katrina and Devyn were in a heated debate over whether pancakes or waffles reigned supreme, while Tara flipped a pancake so high it nearly stuck to the ceiling.

"Seriously, Tara, you're going to give me a heart attack one of these days," I chuckled, shaking my head as I sat at the kitchen bar next to Mom.

"Raelyn, your friends are a riot," she said, taking a dainty bite of her toast.

Just as Isa, my little sister, managed to set the record straight that obviously waffles were better—because pockets for syrup! —Colby descended the stairs with Aspen cradled in his arms. The room hushed for a split second, and then Mom's face lit up like the Fourth of July.

"Oh, my stars, is this little Aspen?" Mom cooed, standing up so quickly her chair screeched against the floor. Colby, ever the proud papa bear, beamed and passed our angel over.

The moment Mom held Aspen, it was like watching the most tender of love stories unfold. "Hello, little angel," she whispered, and Aspen's gummy smile was all the confirmation we needed that the feeling was mutual.

From the kitchen bar, Isa piped up, "Aspen's got the best giggle, you just wait." She was right; Aspen's laugh was infectious, the kind that could cure the grumpiest of moods.

As Mom swayed with Aspen, Katrina leaned over to Devyn and stage-whispered, "Ten bucks says Brie's going to be the type of grandma who sneaks her candy before dinner."

Devyn snorted, nearly choking on her coffee. "Easy money. I've seen that twinkle in her eye."

I couldn't help but laugh, watching my world—my wonderfully weird, loving, and loud family—come together in this kitchen. It was moments like these, amidst the smell of syrup and sound of laughter, that I knew I'd cherish forever.

"Hey, Rae, think Aspen will inherit the pancake-flipping skills?" Tara asked, waggling her eyebrows as she expertly caught another pancake mid-air.

"I sure hope so," I replied, It was a prelude to the beautiful chaos of wedding dress shopping, a chapter in their lives that would be remembered with fondness and a touch of bittersweet nostalgia.

~

In the soft light of my room, the air buzzed with anticipation. Katrina, applying a final touch of mascara, glanced over at me. "So, what's the dream dress look like?"

My face lit up, "I've always pictured something timeless, with delicate lace and definitely a long train for drama."

Tara, slipping on her boots, chimed in, "Sounds like a fairytale. Can't wait to see you in it!"

Devyn, now ready, joined the group, her excitement palpable. "Let's find your 'forever' dress!"

We descended the stairs, laughter echoing behind us. Colby was on the couch, Aspen giggling in his arms, entranced by his silly faces.

I paused, my heart swelling. "Hey, I'm heading out. Let me know if you need anything, okay?"

Colby looked up, his smile warm. "Will do. Love you."

Our kiss was a promise, a moment of tenderness. I brushed a kiss on Aspen's head too, whispering, "Be good for daddy."

With spirits high, we piled into Katrina's SUV, the day's quest clear: a dress as beautiful as the love it celebrated. The bell above the door chimed as we entered David Sparta, a boutique brimming with the promise of perfection.

The group approached the front desk where a smiling attendant greeted them.

"Reservation for Raelyn," I announced, heart fluttering just a bit.

"Ah, yes! We've been expecting you. Please, go right ahead," the attendant gestured towards the sea of gowns.

My eyes sparkled as she beelined for the dresses, the girls trailing behind, each on a mission.

Isa, with a keen eye, lifted a gown from the rack. "Look at this one, Rae! The train is magnificent, and the lace... It's like it was made for you."

Katrina, ever the stylist, presented a sleek mermaid dress. "This will hug every curve, Raelyn. You'd look stunning."

Tara couldn't help but grin as she found a princess-worthy ballgown. "You'll be the belle of the ball in this," she teased.

Devyn, holding up a dress with a twinkle in her eye, added, "And this sweetheart neckline? Imagine the sparkle under the lights."

My mother, holding her own special choice, smiled knowingly. "And this one has been waiting for you, darling. Try mine on too."

Surrounded by choices and love, my heart danced. "You guys are the best. Let's find the one that feels like me."

As I emerged from the fitting room in each dress, my friends watched with eager eyes. The mermaid dress was a showstopper, the ballgown a dream, but none felt quite right.

Then, the moment came. Slipping into my mother's dress, I felt a rush of emotion. The off-the-shoulder design, the sweetheart neckline, the intricate beaded lace, and that long train - it was like stepping into a love story.

With the veil in place and my hair swept up into an elegant bun, I caught my reflection and gasped. "It's just... it's perfect," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.

The bridal consultant, beaming with pride, stepped back. "You look absolutely breathtaking."

As I turned to face my friends, the room was silent, then quickly filled with sniffles. "Oh, Rae, you're a vision," Isa said, dabbing her eyes.

Katrina, through her tears, managed to joke, "Who knew we were such softies?"

Tara hugged me tightly. "You're every bit the bride we knew you'd be," she murmured.

Devyn, smiling through her own tears, added, "This is the one. It has to be."

Mom approached, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "My beautiful girl," she said, enveloping me in a warm embrace. "You're everything I ever dreamed of and more."

The love in the room was palpable, a testament to the journey they'd shared and the new chapter that was just beginning.

~

After the emotional high of finding the perfect dress, me and my entourage made our way back to the house. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the day's end.

As we entered, Colby looked up, a hopeful gleam in his eyes. "So, did you find it?" he asked, trying to hide his eagerness.

I nodded, a secretive smile dancing on my lips. "Yes, but you know the rules. No sneak peeks at the dress. It's bad luck," I teased, wagging a finger at him playfully.

Colby chuckled, wrapping an arm around me. "I wouldn't dream of it. I want all the luck we can get for our big day."

"Where's my baby?" he smiled as he chuckled.

"Sam has her on the couch, they are having a Disney movie marathon."

I giggled as I heard Aspen babbling to Sam. "Look Aspen, look at Peter Pan and Jane fly!"

I giggled at the sight of them watching one of my childhood favorites. "She's our daughter all right."

We sank into the couch together, surrounded by our friends, and began to talk about the final details.

"The venue's all set," I started, ticking off my fingers. "Catering's confirmed, and the decor is basically ready at the venue."

Colby nodded, "Yeah, and the bands all lined up for the reception. It's coming together, isn't it?"

"It really is," I agreed, my heart swelling with a mixture of relief and anticipation. "Just a few more days, and we'll be there, saying 'I do.'"

Devyn, sipping her tea, smiled softly. "I can't believe it's almost here. Seems like just yesterday we were talking about you guys just going on your first date."

"Yeah," Katrina added, "And now look at you two, about to start a whole new chapter."

There was a collective sigh, a moment of shared sentimentality.

Isa reached out, squeezing my hand. "You two are going to have the most beautiful life together."

Tara, ever the practical one, raised her glass. "To the countdown then! May these last few days be as stress-free as possible!"

We all raised our glasses, a chorus of "Cheers!" filling the room as the last light of day faded, leaving us wrapped in the soft glow of the evening, basking in the sweet anticipation of the joy to come.

~

The evening was filled with the soft buzz of anticipation, but it heightened to a crescendo when headlights swept across the window. Colby's family had arrived.

The moment the car doors opened, Colby was outside, his strides wide and eager. His mother, Lesa, barely had time to step out before he enveloped her in a tight hug. "Mom!" he exclaimed, the word heavy with all the months of missed conversations and moments.

His siblings and brother in law and niece, Gigi and Kalani, Zane and Daisy were next, each receiving a hug that lifted them off their feet. "I've missed you guys so much," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

Inside, I watched the reunions with a warm heart. This was a big moment—meeting Colby's family for the first time.

Gigi, the youngest, bounded over to me first, eyes wide and excited. I didn't hesitate; I scooped the little girl into a bear hug that had her giggling.

"How's my favorite Gigi!" I beamed, "I'm good! You're gonna be the best aunt ever!"

"Aww thank you sweetheart!" I said as I set her down and hugged daisy who Colby was holding. "Hi sweet girl! I missed you so much!"

Kalani and her husband, Zane, were next, their embraces welcoming and kind. "It's so great to see you again," I said, my smile genuine and bright. "It's good to see you too!"

Then it was Lesa's turn. The matriarch of the family stood for a moment, appraising me with a soft, knowing smile before opening my arms.

The hug they shared was one of new beginnings. "Thank you, guys, for coming, having you here is such a life saver." I said, pulling back to look at her.

The living room became a cocoon of warmth as everyone settled onto the couches, the chatter lively and full of laughter.

"I can't believe my little boy is getting married," Lesa said, her eyes misty as she squeezed Colby's hand.

"Yeah, who would've thought?" Kalani teased, nudging her brother with a smile.

"If you two don't hush..." Colby said causing all of us to erupt in laughter.

Zane raised his glass, "To Colby and Raelyn, may your life together be as joyful and loving as this family."

"We should have had a bachelor party," Devyn mused, a playful grin on her face.

Colby shook his head, his eyes on me. "I've got everything I need right here."