A/N - Happy Sunday! If you want to see Bella's wedding dress, I have the link to it at the bottom of my profile page. Thanks so much for reading! Enjoy!
Chapter 50 - The Dress
"I'll hold the roses, Bella," Alice offered, making me smile. "I'm good at that job."
I giggled. "You are," I said, passing them to her. "That's why you're going to be my flower girl. I can't think of anyone that could do the job better than you."
"Yay," she said, burying her nose in a pink rose. She hummed and Esme reached out to squeeze my hand.
"Alright, Bella," Kay said, walking back out from the change rooms. "I've pulled your dress for you. Are you ready to try it on?"
I may have squealed in excitement. Okay, I did. I'll admit it. "Absolutely," I said.
Heidi laughed and me and patted my arm. "Get back there, honey. I'm dying to see it. I can't wait another second. Plus, I'm your dad's eyes for today. He can't wait to hear about it."
I blinked back more tears when she said that. I knew that my dad was proud of me, and the man I'd chosen to share my life with. His approval meant everything to me. And he loved Edward, I knew he did. To hear that he was excited about the dress, though, that meant a lot to me.
"Oh, sweetheart. You're going to be fine," Esme said, reaching in her purse to pass me a little package of tissues. "You keep that pack. I have about three more." She giggled. "I came prepared."
"Thanks," I said, dabbing under my eyes. "Okay, wish me luck."
"Good luck, honey," my mom said.
I followed Kay back to the dressing room. "I'm sorry for all the tears," I said, feeling a little embarrassed.
"Oh, Bella. I see that reaction everyday. But, only from the brides that are truly in love." Kay laughed. "You'd be surprised how many girls don't get married for the right reasons. And, I'm pretty accurate in telling the ones that will last from those that will be in here in a year or two from now, buying another dress, for another wedding."
I smiled as I watched Kay unzip the garment bag holding my dress. "You won't be seeing me in here, again," I said. "Edward and I are soul mates."
"And, as much as I like you, Bella, I know you won't be back."
I smiled. I didn't need anyone else's reassurance about mine and Edward's relationship, but it was always nice to hear when people saw what I did. Edward and I were young, but when you knew it was right, you just knew.
I took off my blouse and capris and Kay helped me step into the dress. Luckily, she had a size eight for me to try. I wore a six, but she said that she could pin it for me. "But, with the corseted back, Bella, we'll be able to get it nice and tight, and get a good idea of what it's going to look like."
"Plus I'm a little puffy today, so we probably won't need the pins," I admitted.
"Oh, you're a tiny little thing," she said.
I pulled up the dress, holding it to my chest, so Kay could lace the corset. "I love it," I said, even though it wasn't even done up, yet. "I can see myself marrying Edward in this dress."
"He's going to love it, Bella. And I'll tell you why," Kay said, working away at the corset. "The dress doesn't really matter. And as the owner of a dress shop, I'll deny having said that. But, it's how you feel in a dress that really shows it off. If you feel beautiful and you're happy, it shows on your face."
Kay took a clip and tightened the dress at my hips. Apparently the eight was too big. When she was done with her adjustments, she opened up the three way mirror, and I took a look at my dream dress. It clung perfectly to my chest, stomach and hips, and flared out beautifully at my knees.
"I know Edward likes lace, but these flowers on the satin are just perfect. They sort of look lacy, right?"
"Oh, honey," Kay said, picking up a sheer veil and clipping it to the back of my hair. "You look beautiful. The cut of this dress was made for a body like yours. And if the boy wants lace, that's what underwear is for."
I felt my cheeks heat as she said that. "Sweetheart, half the fun of putting on a dress on your wedding day, is knowing that the man you love will be taking it off of you that night."
I giggled. "Yeah. He's going to love that part," I agreed.
"So, get some lacy panties and you're good to go," Kay said, making me laugh harder. I really loved her bluntness. She felt like an old friend. "I sell those, too, Bella." She winked.
I stood quietly at looked at my reflection. I truly loved the dress. Kay reached out to take my hand. "Come on, Bella. Let's go show your family."
I walked with Kay back to the front of the shop. And I was met with gasps, smiles and tears. "Oh, honey," Esme said, wiping her eyes.
"It's perfect," Heidi added.
"You're an angel," my mom said, before she started sobbing, again.
"I like it, too, Bella," Alice said, hopping out of her chair to come stand beside me. I held her hand and she stepped up on the pedestal with me.
"So, you like it?" I asked, smoothing my hands down over the front of the gown. I honestly felt like a princess. "Not too much detail?"
"Oh, Bella. You look beautiful, sweetheart," Esme said, smiling. "I love the flowers on the bottom."
"Yeah, that's my favourite part," I said, looking down at Alice. She had sat down on the pedestal and she was running her fingers over the flowers.
"My baby girl," my mom said, wiping her eyes.
"Oh, Renee," Heidi giggled, wrapping her arm around my mom's shoulders. I so appreciated Heidi today. She was the best for helping me with my mom. "Now that you've put it on, Bella, is this the dream dress?"
"Yeah. I love it so much. I can see myself getting married in it."
I turned to look at myself in the mirror. This dress was everything I wanted. But, then I thought about how much Edward had loved me in the lacy dresses. Yes, I loved the dress, but it was for Edward, too.
"But?" Heidi asked. "What's going on in that pretty head of yours?"
"It's just like I was telling Kay. I know Edward liked the dresses with lace."
"Phone him," Heidi said.
"What?"
"Phone him and tell him that's what's holding you back."
I giggled. "Really? That's not weird?"
"No, Bella. You two talk about everything." My step mom was right. There wasn't a single concern that I didn't discuss with Edward. And he wouldn't want to be the reason I didn't choose my dress.
"Okay," I said, stepping off the pedestal and rooting through my huge purse for my phone. I quickly called Edward's cell and he picked up on the second ring.
"Hey, pretty girl," he said, sounding excited that I called. "How's the dress, baby?"
I smiled, just hearing his voice. "Um, that's why I called, actually. Uh, the dress doesn't have lace on it and I know how much you love me in lace."
"Bella, honey. I want you to buy a dress that you love. You've been talking about it for days, baby. If it's your dream dress, get it. You've got plenty of lacy things, sexy. It doesn't have to be on the dress, okay?" I smiled as he spoke to me. "Plus, I kind of like that idea that lace is for my eyes only."
I giggled. "You would like that, wouldn't you?"
"I love it," he said. "Baby. Get the dress."
I smiled at Heidi and nodded my head. She smiled, as if she already knew what Edward was going to say. "Thank you, Edward. I love you. And thank you for the flowers. They are absolutely gorgeous and I'm the envy of all the girls in the bridal shop."
He chuckled. "Good," he said. "I love you and I want you to feel as special as you are to me."
"I do. I'll be home soon."
"Hurry. I miss your lips, lover."
I hung up my phone and tossed it back in the purse. I didn't need Edward to tell me what to do. I could make decisions on my own. But, I also wanted to share this experience with Edward, even though he couldn't see the dress. The wedding was ours.
"I'm getting the dress."
