Storms

Queen Stephanie

A large lace canopy was being set up outside while Stevie was getting dressed upstairs in their magnificent house. The day they were all waiting for was finally here and it felt like a complete dream. Karen was running around managing everything perfectly as she always did, for once not wearing all black. Stevie promised Lindsey it wouldn't look like a funeral and he was delighted to discover she wouldn't be wearing black either.

Flowers arrived and were placed about the house and yard, place cards were being set up in the formal dining and all of the children who would be in attendance were prematurely sprinkling flower petals from their baskets all over the grass. Karen couldn't help but laugh and shake her curly head, knowing Stevie would get a kick out of it too.

Lindsey greeted Jenna who was going right upstairs to Stevie, her hair now a very pale silvery blonde. She had about a million things in her hands, dressed in leggings, a long half-sleeve top and flip flops. Her nails were painted bright red and he had noticed a lot of the other women wore red on their nails as well. Was it coincidence or was it Stevie's request? Either way, he smiled being reminded of his wife-to-be. He was told through Karen that Kristen and his three other children had arrived and he ran out to meet them.

"Hello!" he said excitedly, kissing his kids. Stella and LeeLee were both dressed up in identical dresses and he gave Kristen a puzzled look.

"Hey daddy, I'm sorry to do this to you on your big day but we're actually here for Stevie" Stella said with a smile, taking her big sister's hand and gently pushing past him.

"Will, please tell me you're here for me" he jokingly pleads with his son.

"Nope, I'm here for Stevie too. Sorry, dad" Will pat his father on the shoulder, giving him a 'sorry not sorry' look and walked past him up the stairs as well.

"Is anyone going to be on my side?" Lindsey asked Kristen, the only person left.

"Actually, Stevie said there won't be sides. She probably didn't want to show you up. Everyone loves her." She sounded slightly bitter but she smiled anyway.

"I'm glad you came"

"The kids are in her wedding party so I figured I should try to be here in support of them."

"I appreciate that. That's big of you. I'm sorry for everything and how it all turned out."

"Let's not do this right now, Lindsey. You're getting married to the love of your life and I don't want it marred by this sort of conversation."

"Right. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I'm going to see if anyone needs help outside. Maybe I can help wrangle the kids out there. Looks like a daycare center ran amuck" she said with a chuckle.

"Stevie has this magical way with children, they flock to her. Without her to reign them in, they're crazy. I bet as soon as she goes out there, they'll straighten up."

Kristen nods. "I'll work on it in the meantime"

Lindsey watched her walk out the sliding glass doors in her champagne colored dress. It was close fitting, thin strapped and fell to about mid calf. She wore it with nude heels and simple gold jewelry, leaving her golden hair down and curled softly. As he came back to reality, he bumped right into his band mates.

"I'm starting to think I'm the welcome wagon" Lindsey joked, shaking Mick's large hand.

"You may as well be with Queen Stephanie up in her tower." Mick said with a hearty laugh. "How's it going?"

"Very well."

"Are you getting nervous?" John asked.

"Nervous...excited." Lindsey said.

"We're all very happy for the both of you" Christine said. "I can't believe you've finally convinced her to do it."

"I can't either but don't speak too loudly. I don't want her to change her mind." They all laughed. "There's orange juice and champagne set up in the kitchen with little trays of snacks if any of you are interested. I've just been given a hand signal by Karen" he says, waving at the woman outside through the doors. "I guess that means I should be getting ready too."

"Good luck, man" Mick tells him, embracing him. The other two follow suit and he jogs up the stairs. The doors are clearly marked 'Stevie' or 'Lindsey', as it was supposedly bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony.

Inside Stevie's room, it looked like it could have been an painting of  Victorian women getting ready for a grand party. There were ribbons and flowers strewn everywhere, pastel dresses aplenty and woman after woman working on their hair and make up at the large antique wooden mirrors Stevie had placed about the night before. Her chambers were filled with music; she truly was Queen Stephanie for the day. Jenna approached, touching her step-mother's bare shoulder tenderly.

"I brought you a couple things."

"Oh honey, you shouldn't have."

"I wanted to. I have your something old and something blue." Jenna said. "I hope you don't think these traditions are cheesy"

"I don't. They're sweet. I can be very traditional at times."

Jenna gave her a big smile and handed her the gift bag. Stevie peeked inside to find two wrapped gift boxes. She untied the ribbon of the first and removed the mauve floral paper. Inside of the box she found a very old, gold heart locket. "This was my great-great grandmother's. It was given to my grand mother when she got married, to my mother when she had me and finally to me, when I graduated high school. It was said to be given during life-changing events. This is your life-changing event and I want you to have it."

"Oh honey, I couldn't possibly. I am all too happy to wear it, it's gorgeous but please, let me consider it my something borrowed. I see beautiful things in your future and I know you will want to continue to pass this down."

"Alright, but please keep it until you feel it's the right time to pass it along to me again."

Stevie smiled warmly, tears in her eyes. "I will"

"Don't cry, I just spent an hour on your make up" The women laughed and embraced.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now onto your something blue."

"Oh right" Stevie delicately pat under her eyes with a Kleenex, then went back to the bag in her lap. This box was wrapped in black on black, rose printed paper and Jenna gave her a look. "Should I be scared to open this, because I am."

"Don't be scared. You'll like it." Jenna still wore the same look she had given Stevie before and the older blonde grew more hesitant to open the box. She slowly took off the ribbon and unwrapped it carefully. She looked up at Jenna again and the younger blonde nodded encouragingly. She proceeded cautiously and Jenna laughed. "It won't bite, but I know someone who will."

"Jenna!" Stevie exclaimed, blushing, making Jenna laugh even more. She lifted the lid of the long bracelet box to find a stunning blue and white garter inside with a sterling silver charm on it. Stevie gave her a mischievous look. "Ohhhh...I get it."

"He's my dad, so don't tell me but...have fun" Jenna said, an uncomfortable expression appearing on her once amused face.

A dry, dirty chuckle erupted from her former boss. "Oh, we will."