OBSESSION: Part I (Sequel to 'You & I')

34. Calm The Storm

-New York-

-Day 9-

"Oh my god," Lux breathed out with wide eyes, "You look gorgeous."

She sat in Vera Wang's bridal shop, watching her aunt step up onto the circular pedestal in the 6th dress she's tried on, and the moment Lux saw her in it, she felt a pang in her chest. This was it, this was the dress, it has to be. It was beautiful, ivory in color and strapless with a draped bodice and a hand-cut bias flange skirt, a crystal sash at her waist.

"I'm too old to be wearing a fancy wedding dress, Lux." Lauren sighed, "This is nuts."

"You're only 37 and it's your first wedding! We are going all out whether you like it or not, which you do, so shush!" Lux stood up and touched the cathedral-length train, laying it out behind her aunt nice and straight. "You do like it, don't you?"

Lauren inhaled deeply, staring at herself in the mirror for a long moment, feeling her lips turn up slowly until her cheeks hurt. "I do. I really do."

Lux let out a squeal, "This is it! He's gonna die when he sees you!"

"I can't believe this is happening. When your mom died..." Lauren turned to look at Lux slowly, watching her face fall slightly at the mention of her mom. "and I took you in, I didn't think that I would have time for... anything. Especially not a love life."

"Sorry," Lux whispered, shrugging, "I didn't mean to take away from..."

"No, Lux. No." Lauren stepped down and grabbed her hands tightly, "I have never regretted raising you, not once. Sure, I was only 24 and fresh out of college and I missed a lot of stuff but I also gained a lot, like getting called to your school when you punched that boy in the face, or listening to you sneak in and out of your window when you thought I was asleep, and that awkward yet hilarious sex talk we had to have when you started dating."

Lux and Lauren laughed, and Lauren reached up to push her niece's hair back from her face, smiling softly at her in admiration. "I loved watching you become a star, literally, right before my eyes, and now I can proudly walk around and say, 'Hey, see that girl on that magazine? I raised her. I painted her toenails and wiped her snotty nose when she got dumped for the first time. I taught her how to play the guitar and how to cuss like a sailor. That's my girl.' and I would never trade that for anything. You brought me a joy that I didn't know it was possible to feel, Lux, you brought me Robb. I could never thank you enough for just being you and being in my life."

Lux wiped the tears off her face with a laugh, "I love you. You may not have given birth to me, but you're still a mom to me, you know that, right? You were the best mom a girl could ask for, and I'm so happy you got custody of me, Lauren. I wouldn't be who I am without you."

"I love you!" Lauren pulled her close, "You have to be my maid of honor, Lux."

"Aunt Lauren.." Lux started, feeling her eyes tear up again.

"I won't take no for an answer." Lauren demanded, turning away before Lux could say no, looking back into the mirror again, inhaling deeply. "I already know what your dress looks like, I saw it earlier and haven't stopped thinking about how amazing it would look on you."

"This is about you, not me!" Lux laughed, stepping over to fix her aunt's blond hair, noticing just then how much she looked like her sister. "Wow, you look just like my mom."

"Yeah, so do you." Lauren smiled at her in the mirror, "I want you to try that dress on!"

"Okay, okay. Shit." Lux laughed again, shaking her head as she turned around to head toward the dressing rooms while Lauren pointed out the dress she wanted Lux in. The garment was hung up for her and she sighed softly as she stared at it, removing her clothes to slide it on. It was really beautiful, fancier than she thought it would be. The material was light against her skin, hugging her body all the way to the floor, crimson red in color. She felt like she was attending an award show, not going to a wedding, but she couldn't argue with what Lauren wanted for her wedding. It was a gorgeous dress, there was no arguing that.