Nomads

Chapter 33

The dress was so expensive that she almost didn't buy it.

It was beautiful, it was elegant, it really was the perfect dress. But it was expensive and she felt guilty spending so much money on herself.

She felt so guilty that she had called her aunt to ask her if it was really okay to buy it.

"Of course, Mara!" she had replied. "Spare no expense! I have always wanted to spoil a daughter like this. If you don't get your dream dress because you're concerned about the cost, I will be devastated."

So of course, Mara listened. Julia had even offered to alter it for free, since she was altering the rest of their dresses anyways. And with that expense out of the picture, Mara felt better about buying it. She made a mental note to get as much use out of it as she could, and paid for it, along with the shawl that Maggie had found for her.

The other three had bought their perfect dresses that same day, and they took her to find shoes to go with their dresses. Once they were satisfied, they finally took her home where aunt Clara was waiting to see what she had bought.

The older woman had made her try everything on and fawned over her for over an hour, taking several pictures.

"I need to send your grandparents a picture to prove to them that you're alive and well," she had explained. "They still don't trust me with you entirely. But this is going to thrill them, I just know it."

A few days later, she got a call from said grandparents, who informed her that they paid Aunt Clara back for the dress, shoes and shawl, and that they'd pay for anything else she needed for her dance.

"We saw how happy you looked in that dress, and we wanted you to enjoy your dance to the fullest. We'll pay for you to get your hair and makeup done, a limo, anything you want."

Mara was baffled, and couldn't help but ask; "Why are you doing all this for me?"

"You haven't smiled so brightly since before we lost your parents," her grandmother replied, her voice thick with emotion. "You're all we have left of our only daughter, and we just want you to be happy."

She had added that Mara needed to bring that boyfriend of hers up to New York to meet them soon, since they had heard so much about him from Aunt Clara. It made her blush, and she reluctantly agreed.

"I'll ask him if he maybe wants to come up during winter break?" she suggested uncertainly.

"That's awfully far away, child. Hopefully I don't die before then," Her grandmother tutted dramatically.

Mara laughed nervously. "Yes, I know it's not soon enough, but we both are working hard with school right now. I think we would be much better company during the break once things calm down."

"Bring him up for New Year's at the latest," the old woman commanded.

"I will," she promised, cringing at the thought of taking Luca to meet her grandparents.

They had said their goodbyes shortly after that, and Mara heaved a sigh of relief. That old woman had always been intimidating and it was so scary to talk with her for fear of saying something wrong.

Mara had thought about showing Luca the dress, but the girls said that it should be a surprise. That thought made her nervous.

What if he didn't like it? What if it made him realize how ugly she was? What if it made him see her in a way he didn't like, and he wouldn't want to be with her anymore?

Mara had no idea where these insecurities were coming from, or why they were taking up every inch of her mind. She knew her boyfriend loved her, and was pretty sure he thought she was pretty. She...