Love Me (Trust Series #2) (5 page)

With an adoring smile, her mom admonishes her, “Sam.” Chandra pats our legs. “Eat up, girls. In about twenty minutes, Damien has a fashion designer named Babette bringing dresses for you two to choose from.”

I’m just not sure if this day could get any better.

After picking out my wedding dress, Sam and I are sitting at the table, eating a salmon salad that Damien had delivered, as the fashion designer, Babette, approaches. She’s a petite little thing with black spiky hair.

“Miss Scott, your dress has been properly stowed. I have something for you from Mr. Wales. The different bridesmaid dresses for Miss Matthews to choose from are currently being set up and will be ready for her to try on as soon as you both have finished lunch.”

“Thank you, Babette.”

She hands me another white linen envelope with my name printed on it.

I open it immediately.

“Sam, please tell me the wedding is soon.” I bite my bottom lip as I stare at his words. I read the note over and over again.

I’m not anxious about getting married. I’m ecstatic to have him in my arms again. Forever, as mine.

Sam makes a motion of taking a key, locking her lips, and throwing it away.

“Paybacks are a bitch, and I’ll remember this,” I say.

She just gives me an evil little laugh as she grabs my hand and leads me upstairs to a room that has been made into a wedding prep area. “We’ll see. It’s time to go pick out a dress for me, lil’ wife-to-be.”

Sam comes walking out from behind the partition in a knee-length peach dress with one strap. It’s made of a sheer fabric that folds intricately over the bodice and then gently flows out from the waist. It reminds me of sunsets.

“That’s it, Sam. It’s beautiful on you.”

She gives a little twirl. “I love it.”

Babette comes out from the back. “Is this the one then, Miss Scott?”

I respond, “If Sam likes it, I’m good with it.”

Giving another twirl, Sam says, “Babette, you’re one hell of a dress-picker.”

Babette mashes her lips together to keep from laughing.

I’ve noticed she does that a lot around us.
She probably thinks we are completely off our rocker.

The fashion designer walks over to me. “This is from Mr. Wales. Hair and makeup will be next with Nancy.”

She then hands me a black velvet box with a white linen envelope, and then she discreetly leaves. I look up at Sam. With the way her green eyes are looking at me, I know she already knows what this is about.

These notes make me feel starved for Damien. It’s like having a small taste of him, and it only makes me crave him.

First, I open the note.

With shaky fingers, I open the box. My breath catches when I see the necklace and hair combs. It’s a solid ring of mixed diamonds that are tightly interwoven. They are mainly marquise and pear-shaped. The diamonds sparkle from the faintest hint of light. The necklace matches the combs exactly. I would have assumed that they were bought together. The thought that this was Damien’s grandmother’s, whom he loved dearly, and his great-grandmother’s is so incredibly special.

I look up to Sam with tears in my eyes as I show them to her.

“They’re beautiful, Allison.”

I nod and look down again at his note. I’m at a loss for words as the significance of this gift absorbs and takes root.

“Okay, Miss Scott, my work is done. You look beautiful.”

Turning me to the mirror, the hairdresser expertly places the combs from Damien into my loosely curled hair, causing it to look fuller. My makeup is done in a natural look with the exception of a smoky shadow that makes my blue-green eyes pop.

“Thank you, Nancy. You did a fantastic job.”

The hairdresser gives me a genuine smile. “I’m glad, Miss Scott. Babette will be in momentarily.”

As Nancy leaves, I turn to Sam and give a big cheesy grin.

It’s really happening. I’m so close to being Allison Wales.

Sam has gone with an updo that has ringlets of cascading curls. Her makeup is heavier than mine, and the look makes her large green eyes sparkle.

Babette enters with another white envelope and a black velvet box. Emotionally, I’m not sure how much more of this I can take.

Out of the blue, Sam says, “Girl, we gonna drop it like it’s hot.”

That does it. We all start laughing, including Babette this time.

After taking the note and box, I open the envelope.

After all his thoughtfulness today, I feel so undeserving of this man. I’m not sure I will ever have a more perfect span of time in my life than these last couple of days.

Opening the black velvet box, I find a set of earrings and a bracelet to match the necklace and hair combs I already received. Each earring also has mixed diamonds on a screw-back post. They are as exquisite as his grandmother’s items.

The sentimental factor behind all of this is beyond words. Reading Damien’s note again, I rub my fingers over his words as I picture him sitting and writing this out.

Chandra walks into the room and says. “Girls, it’s time to get dressed.”

“If we don’t get this girl married soon, it’s going to be bad news for us all,” Sam says with a Southern accent.

I start giggling. I love her for knowing how to keep me from turning into a blubbering mess.

Standing in front of the floor-length mirror, I look at myself, and I am completely speechless at the transformation that has taken place. It’s like taking an average person and turning her into a princess.

Overall, my white dress is simply sophisticated. It is strapless with an empire waist. Above the empire waist, the bodice is covered with a simple patterned lace. Below the empire waist, the fabric flows out to a semi-full dress. It’s moderately poufed from the couple of layers of crinoline. There is a very small train on the back. Part of me wants to spin in circles, like Sam and I did as kids when we played dress-up together.

Sam walks up behind me and puts her hands on my shoulders. “Allison, you look beautiful. This will be one of the best days in my life because I get to share this with you.”

I reach up and touch her hands. I can’t speak right now, but I want her to know that I feel the same way. She gives my shoulders a little squeeze, conveying her understanding. I see sadness in her eyes, and I hope she also finds love one day.

Chandra walks in and comes to join Sam and me at the mirror. “Allison, you look exquisite. Damien is such a lucky man to have you. I know we are under strict orders not to cry, so I will make this brief. Honey, I want to give you your something borrowed. Damien has thought of everything, and I asked if I could be the one to lend you something.”

She hands me a small box that is about two by four inches. I gently open it up. Inside is a small bridal Bible with a cover made of lace and two small silk ribbon strands tying it together.

Chandra continues, “This was my bridal Bible I used on my wedding day. It was my something new that day. It came from your mother. I thought it fitting that a part of her be with you today.”

Memories of my mom flood my mind.
I wish she could be here with me.
I take several deep breaths in and out to get my emotions under control as my chest tightens.

Enveloping Chandra in a hug, I whisper, “Thank you. I love you guys so much.”