His Perfect Love

Chapter 21

It was the day before Riley's wedding. Allison had been working on the cake with Oakley. She wasn't allowed to see it until it was done. Becky was here too, to help with the finishing touches. Justice was at the church with Claire, decorating. Riley's wedding dress was almost complete. All Riley had to do was try it on to see if it fit right, then she could add tiny details. Her friends had come together and made Riley a new nightgown adorned with pale green ribbons and lace. Riley felt like she was in a dream, one she didn't want to wake up from. Tomorrow, she would get married to the man she loved.

Becky handed Riley the dress to try on. She took it and went to her bedroom to change into it. Once she took off her regular dress, she slipped on the beautiful gown. It looked exactly the way she had imagined it. She could hardly breathe, it was so perfect. She left the buttons undone and went off to show her friends, train trailing on the wooden floor.

Becky gasped when she saw Riley, standing in the hall entryway. "Allison, Oakley! Come see Riley in her dress!"

The girls came out of the kitchen, aprons dusted with flour. Allison's hand flew to her mouth in awe.

"You look so exquisite!" she gushed.

"Absolutely!" Oakley agreed.

"Thank you. Would you mind buttoning up the back?" Riley requested and turned around.

She heard Allison walk over and wipe her floury hands off. Then her delicate fingers worked their way down Riley's back. When she was all done, Allison turned her back around. The gown fit perfectly, it wasn't too big or too tight. It flowed over her large belly just the way it was supposed to.

"Does it look right?" she asked.

"Of course! I daresay you look more gorgeous than me in my wedding dress!" Becky complimented.

"Even with a pregnant belly?"

"Pay no attention to that. Everyone else will be looking at all of you, so you should too," Allison reminded.

"If you say so."

"I do. You're going to be the prettiest bride this year! I don't know if I have a chance to beat you when I get married."

"Sure you will, with your blonde curls and blue eyes, you'll be the envy of every woman," Riley told her.

Allison laughed, "Yes, because it's all a competition."

Riley laughed with her and the other girls. She ran a hand down the sleeve of her dress and fingered the trim that went past her elbows. She didn't want to take it off, but it had to look impeccable for tomorrow. Allison helped her unbutton it and Riley went to put on her other dress. Once she was done, she took the dress back out to the sofa with the little things she was going to add.

It didn't take her long to finish the gown completely. She hung it up carefully in her wardrobe. She quickly thought of something. She had a dress, but she didn't have any shoes to match! She raced out and told Allison, who laughed. Oakley went to a cupboard in the kitchen and pulled out a box.

"Allison, Becky, Justice, Claire and I all went in on these shoes. It's a gift because we are all so glad that you are in our lives," she said.

Tears sprung in Riley's eyes as she gratefully accepted the box, "Thank you."

Inside were the most elegant shoes she had ever seen. They were dainty looking, made from ivory leather covered in lace. Golden yellow bows adorned the top. There were hand stitched flowers in matching thread. At the center of each flower were beautiful yellow gemstones.