We both want a family, we have sorted all of that out, but I never thought all of this meant anything to Danny. I honestly thought after we agreed to try for a baby, that he would have said something if he wanted to do this. He was obviously thinking about it secretly all along.
Evidently he has done more than just think about it. I chuckle and shake my head. Danny, the king of the grand gesture. My life has been a whirlwind ever since he re-entered it, I never know what to expect. He’s always finding the ways to make maximum impact. I’m glad that getting pregnant is something I will have a heads up on. When and if I do, I will know first. Maybe I can surprise him for once. If it was in his hands, I would be half expecting to be told via a billboard or something.
A gentle tap at the door pulls me from my thoughts and Connie peeps in. “Are you alright in here?” she asks trying to cheerfully mask her concern that I might be having second thoughts.
“I’m fine,” I reply. “More than fine.”
“I was just worried that you’d shut yourself away.”
“I just wanted a second that’s all.”
“You’re not having a wobble are you darling?”
I smile at her fondly. “Not at all.”
“Good.” She kisses my cheek. “You deserve to be happy and I know he is the right person for you.”
Thinking about how she started this, I realise that even her overactive imagination couldn’t have foreseen this all happening so soon. “Thank you,” I say. “We needed you.”
“You needed a boot up your arse!” She scoffs.
“Connie!” I giggle.
“I’m just glad you got there in the end. Now come on, get that face done, we have more surprises out here for you.” She looks back as she leaves me and blows me a kiss.
I put the finishing touches to my makeup. I haven’t done anything very unusual with it, I want to feel real today. I don’t need a mask. Perhaps I’ve gone a little heavier, for the photos. I assume there will be photos. I’ve applied my perfumed body cream and changed the small stud I wear in my lip from my plain silver one to a tiny sparkly one that I only wear from time to time. The one in my nose is always sparkly. I feel as ready as I can be. I feel more relaxed for having a moment to myself, so I open the door to the living room.
“There she is!” my mum says. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks, Mum.”
“Now come and sit down, we have instructions to follow.” She leads me to the sofa. “Danny asked us to give you some things.”
Connie hands me a small box. “Something old,” she says softly. I stare at the box. I know what this is. I open the old box carefully, and smile at my Grandma’s diamond pendant. I know she wore it on her wedding day, as did my mum and Grace. It’s very special.
“I’ve just done my makeup!” I laugh, dabbing my eyes with the tissue immediately offered by Max.
“It’s only going to get worse,” he says as Mum and Connie secure it around my neck between them.
“Now, something new,” says Mum, handing me another small box. I open it and a little card sits on the top. ‘D x’ is all it says. I lift up the card to reveal small diamond drop earrings that match the pendant so well. I take out the small silver hoops I wear and put them on.
My sister is itching for her turn. “Something borrowed!” she exclaims gleefully. I cringe, imagining it to be her garter. I really don’t think I’m ‘that’ girl. I can’t imagine Danny putting me through the grossness of that particular ritual, but my sister is a sucker for all that nonsense. She surprises me by unclasping her diamond bracelet and slipping it around my wrist. “Don’t lose it though!”
“Thanks,” I say, giving her a squeeze.
“And something blue,” says Jen handing me a large bag…with a giggle.
Inside the bag I find a box and once I’ve removed the lid and swiped away the tissue, I see the reason for Jen’s amusement. Danny has chosen me the most beautiful lace underwear in a delicate powder blue. A card tucked in with it, makes me grin.
“I can’t wait to see this on! X”
I blush, but only because his mum is here. She’s smiling though then she hands me something, a coin.
“And a silver sixpence for your shoe,” she says and this sounds funny in her American accent. “Bob’s mom handed it down to me on my wedding day, she was very traditional. It’s yours now.”
“Thank you,” I say quietly. “I’ll keep it…” I almost say ‘for our children’ but none of them know we are already trying and I don’t want to open that can of worms this morning. Max and Jen exchange a look…they know, clearly. “I’ll look after it,” I clarify. Anyway, I think everyone realises what I’m trying to say, I’ll keep it for ‘future generations’ whenever they may come.
“Okay!” says Max taking the heat off. “That just leaves me.” He gets up and holds out his hand. I take it and stand to follow him, goodness knows where. Everyone follows as he stops at the spare room door. “Close your eyes,’ he says giddy with excitement. Then he opens the door and leads me in. I’m positioned in the middle of the room and I stand perfectly still.
“Open,” he says.
I blink and set eyes on my wedding dress.
Both hands cover my mouth as I gasp. In fact, collectively, everyone gasps. Hanging beside it are purple dresses for Grace and Jen, which are very like my dress from last night but in a floatier fabric with less full skirts. My dress is beautiful. Again, very like my dress from last night. Very fifties. It’s ivory silk with a lace overlay and a full netted skirt. It’s short, I’m guessing below the knee and it’s belted with a purple bow. The neckline is a flattering deep V, it’s just perfect and obviously a style Danny likes.
I step forward and touch it while everyone watches me silently. I never even started to imagine what sort of wedding dress I’d choose, but I would like to think, given the choice of any dress, this would be the one I would pick. Seeing it now, as the dress Danny thinks is perfect for me, I can’t imagine I would want any other dress. Max’s hand squeezes my shoulder.
“What do you think?” he whispers.
“It’s perfect,” I say in wonder.
A collective sigh of relief is released and I laugh as I turn to look at them all. My mum is dabbing her eyes with a tissue.
“Oh and these are to go with it,” Max remembers, now that the big reveal is over.
Inside one box is a small ivory net veil. It’s not really a veil as such, but one of those net things that will just cover my eyes. It’s held in place by an ivory flower, it’s perfect for the dress and the hairstyle I have. The other box must be my shoes. My stomach turns. I know Danny gets my shoe issues, even before the accident, heels were not my thing, but this dress deserves heels. I open the box with trepidation, but the love I feel for Danny is immeasurable when I lift out a pair of purple Converse. Everyone laughs but it just finishes me off, I’m in pieces before I know it, with Max soothing me and trying to remind me about my makeup.
Max produces an envelope and I just about pull myself together to read the note.
I know picking shoes for this dress would have really stressed you out. But you are the girl I love and it’s you I want beside me today, so I’ve chosen shoes that are you through and through. I wouldn’t want you to try and be someone you’re not, especially not today.
I just can’t wait to see you.
Dx
He really gets me. Oh my God, I have to stop crying!
Significantly more composed and with my makeup retouched, I let Max help me get dressed.
“Wow!” he sighs as he finishes primping the purple bow. He pulls me in front of the full-length mirror and I take it in. It’s just perfect. I never could have chosen this well for myself. I turn and look at the back, over my shoulder. The deep V almost frames the large peacock tattooed there perfectly. I’m sure the person who designed this dress never imagined a bride like me wearing it, but I like the way my bold skin contrasts with the delicate lace, and the statement of the sash brings the perfect balance. I sigh. It’s all so me.
I’m not aware of the time, just that we are moving forward, but when I come out of the spare room all dressed, I’m surprised to find everyone ready. My mum looks beautiful in a lilac dress and jacket, with a feathery fascinator. Danny’s mum is wearing a smart but feminine indigo suit, her headdress is more a hat than a fascinator. Her signature style, a suit and pearls has remained since I was young. Seeing her like this for the first
