Chapter 54 – Be Very Afraid
Bella
With dad out of the woods and recovering nicely, my thoughts turned towards Valentine's Day, my wedding day. Thankfully, there seemed to be a bit of a lull at work, as we entered the post-holiday stretch, allowing for more normal business hours and time to finish the wedding preparations. Things were still somewhat busy for Edward due to weather-related accidents, but with mom and dad in the house, it wasn't as lonely, or as creepy. Thankfully, there had been no more window visitors or shadow lurkers, so their presence seemed to be working to ward off my invisible stalker.
Alice was a godsend when it came to the organization and coordinating of wedding plans. I was just thankful there wasn't a lot to organize and coordinate for our simple wedding. There would be less than thirty people in attendance, so we were doing everything ourselves. Alice had managed to find a company specializing in home events. They would come in and remove everything in the living room and store it in a big truck until after the reception. They would then replace it all with rows of covered folding chairs and the arch and candelabras she had ordered, followed by setup of tables for the reception.
Esme and mom spent hours preparing the room. On the freshly painted pale green walls, they draped sheer ivory organza over strands of white fairy lights, bunching it under bouquets of red silk roses and ivy. When everything was finished, it looked like a quaint wedding chapel in an old-fashioned church. Oliver and Felicity seemed to approve of the arrangement and spent the better part of the day before the wedding weaving in and out between the chairs and taking turns laying in them, seemingly determined to find the ones they liked best.
Esme and Carlisle were standing in as parents of the groom. Esme had cried when Edward had asked her and Carlisle to represent his parents. Alice insisted I needed a flower girl and a ring bearer, so Dorianne and Marisol were recruited. Stacey and Madelyn made my wedding cake, with help from Esme and mom. Esme had been working with them, teaching them how to decorate cakes, and it was actually quite beautiful. It was ivory buttercream, with a cascade of red roses and baby's breath curving down the side of the three round tiers.
Edward played and recorded all the music for the wedding. He had also procured Father Lebuteur to officiate, since he and Edward had become good friends during all the times he had spent in the chapel at the piano. It would be nice to see Alec again, given I hadn't seen him since we were children.
The day before the ceremony, Alice and Rose were standing in my bedroom, getting ready for mom to check the final fit of their dresses. I had decided I needed two maids of honor, and Edward also declared the need for two best men, recruiting Jasper into the wedding party as well as Emmett. They were being fitted for matching suits, but Edward wouldn't let me see them, wanting it to be a surprise. He did at least drop a hint that his suit would complement my dress in vintage, which I couldn't wait to see.
"Honestly, Bella, did women actually wear these things?" Rose complained, as Alice laced the corset that had Rose's breathing coming out somewhat labored. "No wonder they fainted all the time back then. Lack of blood circulation this bad would wipe out anyone!"
"Quit complaining!" Alice griped at her. "You know you look hot in this thing, and I'll bet Emmett would be more than happy to take it off you after the reception tomorrow." That thought put a smile on Rose's face, as she turned to admire herself in the mirror. Her figure was already perfect, but the corset still did amazing things to her. The vintage dresses we had found for them were a beautiful compliment to the antique Victorian gown that now hung in my closet, carefully cleaned and conditioned by a friend of Esme's who restored and preserved vintage clothing and dolls.
"Anyway, where are the guys right now?" Alice asked. "I haven't talked to Jasper much at all today."
"I suspect they're trying to cook up some kind of bachelor party," I groaned under my breath. "I hope they don't try to get Edward drunk and do something stupid."
"Don't worry, Bella, Emmett and Jasper love you like a sister. They wouldn't do that to you," Alice said, trying to put the smile back on my face, instead of the worried look that was now there. "Besides, we girls have a little something planned for you tonight, too."
"Oh no, Alice, I'm not going to any cheesy strip club and watch nearly-naked men shake their junk in my face. It's not happening!"
"Who said anything about a club? I have friends who deliver," she said with an evil grin that I'd learned to fear more than death itself.
Alice had come armed with shopping bags containing a tight little red dress, appropriate lingerie that wouldn't show under it, and a pair of high heels that were sexier than anything I had ever worn. I started to protest, but they both shushed me, shoving me into the bathroom for a shower with a warning to hurry, or they would come in and bathe me themselves. I had no doubt they meant business, so I made quick work of it.
While I was in the shower, they had gotten dressed and looked amazingly sexy themselves. They were waiting for me, and after a bit of tugging and shimmying, I was fully dressed and ready for them. Rose worked on my face, while Alice curled and scrunched my hair. I had no idea what they were doing to me, but it seemed excessive, even for me. Half an hour later, I stood in shock, looking at my smoky eyes, blood red lips, and wild sex hair, as I stared into the long mirror in the corner of my room.
"Honestly, guys, this is over the top! I thought you said we weren't going clubbing. What could you possibly have planned that requires me to look like this?" They just giggled, which did nothing to ease my nerves. With these two, I should have known better than to ask that question...
