Chapter 18: Mark's Princess
Mark's POV
I wrapped my arms around Rachael and kissed her neck. She had a bowl of Capn Crunch and a pad and pencil in front of her. I snuggled my face in her curly brown hair. "Mmm morning."
"Morning Mark." She said with a tired smile.
"Ready for your big day?" I asked trying to lift her mood, but she just rolled her eyes.
"I guess, I'm having Maureen and Joanne come with me. So it won't all be torture." She said, her pencil moving slowly across the page.
"I thought girls liked shopping?" I asked, getting myself a bowl.
She smiled, "We do, I do – it's just the way my dad is organizing this all, that's what I'm opposed to."
I nodded, I mean I understood her dad wanted to help, but he didn't seem to know his daughter well enough to do it properly.
There was a knock on the door, "Who's here at this time of the morning?" Rachael looked up at the clock.
"Shit, it's the secretary lady!" She said running to the room in her pajamas, "Tell her I'll be out in a minute."
I took a bite of my cereal then went to the door. Before I opened it, I looked down to make sure I looked semi-presentable and buttoned up my shirt. The woman behind the door was a frazzled red-head with glasses and she was wearing a pin stripe suit. She was holding a cell phone and had a purse over her shoulder with papers stuffed in it.
"I'm here for Miss Rachael." She said her voice soft but strong.
I opened the door for her further, "She'll be out in a minute."
Roger suddenly appeared from his room, he smirked when he saw the secretary. In only his pajama bottoms he walked over to the kitchen, ignoring the looks of admiration from the now wide-eyed secretary.
Rachael raced out of her room in jeans, black boots, a red long sleeve shirt, green scarf, and black jacket. The clothes fit in her such a way I didn't really want her to leave yet. But I just blushed at the thought.
"Sorry I'm ready." She said following the woman out the door. "Bye Mark! Bye Roger!"
Rachael's POV
"Hi, my name's Susan, I'm your father's secretary and I'm helping you today."
I gulped, her eyes seemed to glare from behind her glasses, "Nice to meet you. Do you mind if we stop by and pick up my friends. Their going to be my bridesmaids and I want them to be with me."
Her eyebrows raised, not expecting to have to stray from her agenda, "I'm sure we can."
Maureen and Joanne were waiting on the street corner as we pulled up to their apartment.
"Hey Rach!" "Hey girlies, hop in."
Maureen immediately started to chatter excitedly about different dresses and styles as Joanne just rolled her eyes even though her smile indicated she was excited too.
Susan seemed to be getting a little frustrated at Maureen's incessant talking but just kept flipping through the papers infront of her. After another five minuetes or so, she started to talk over Maureen. In surprise Maureen dropped the conversation at which Susan smiled.
"As I was saying, there are five different stores we can hit on the major stores along this street.."
She kept talking as I looked out the window only to see very expensive looking shops. I wanted simple, not all this. I sighed and nodded along with her, I had to try this for my dad.
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The annoying bell rang as Susan opened the door to a very high fashion wedding dress store. Maureen and Joanne followed in behind me, both of them in awe of the dresses. I looked around, certainly not as excited because all I saw was glitter, lots of puffy dresses and dresses made of uncomfortable-looking fabric.
Susan smiled, seeming to relax into this wealthy environment, "Crystal, its Susan!"
A woman peeked out from a huge pile of taffeta "Susan!"
They shook hands before turning to me, "This is Rachael and we need to find her a dress."
Crystal came over and circled me. I felt like I was some animal being inspected. She was wearing a silver dress herself and her hair was twisted up into a very complicated bun. "Hmm, nice shape, I can work with this."
This? What was I some 'thing' instead of a person? I frowned slightly as I was led to a rack of dresses.
"Look," She commanded pointing at them. I gulped and started to sift through them.
"No, you're too slow! Here I look." She stepped in front of me and took out a couple dresses then held them up in front of me.
"I think maybe-" "They're prefect. Go try on, I'll find more."
Joanne and Maureen sent me a glance of sympathy as they looked at the bridesmaid dresses.
Once in the dressing room, I finally looked at them, most of the dresses were just terrible. I reluctantly tried on the first on. It was off-white with a low v-neck and tiny silvery train. I looked at myself in the mirror slightly disgusted, the material was clinging too much and it went way to far on my chest; in all I felt very uncomfortable.
"How are you doing in there?" I heard Susan ask from the other side of the door.
"Uhh, okay I guess. I'm trying on the next one." I said, taking it off.
The next one was a white corset dress with a hoop skirt. Oh Lord… I carefully put it on piece by piece before looking in the mirror again. It was a beautiful dress, but it wasn't me. None of them were me at all. I got dressed in my clothes again and gathered all the dresses back in my hands.
I handed them all back to Crystal who looked very put out. "I'm sorry, but none of them are for me. They're beautiful, just not for me."
She was stunned for a moment before regaining her composure, "You…you no like?"
I tried to explain myself but could only stutter under her burning glare. Luckily Susan came over and rushed us out of the store, apologizing on the way out.
The door shut with a bang as the bell ran inside it. Susan didn't say anything but I could tell there was anger brewing.
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I leaned against the wall and shut my eyes. This was the last store on Susan's list, and nothing, absolutely nothing, was 'the dress'. I felt Joanne and Maureen come to my side,
"It's ok Rachael, you'll find it."
"I hope so." I opened my eyes as Susan ushered us into the car. I looked back at the store one last time with a sigh before turning back. Something caught my eye though. "Wait!"
Susan looked at me exasperated, "What is it?"
"What about that store?" I asked pointing to the one across the street. It was a small bridal shop at which Susan seemed apprehensive.
"I don't think that you'll find anything there." She said crisply.
"Well I want to try, what can I lose." This place seemed much more my style than anything so far. The dress in the wedding dress in the window was so simple, so elegant.
I ran over to it, carefully minding the heavy traffic in this part of town. I smiled at the almost vintage looking store with a red door, like at my art school, and walked in. No annoying bell rang out and I was instantly pleased to not see bolts of sparkly, shiny, or overly-lacy material. Greeted by the sweet smell of a vanilla candle, I felt myself relax. A woman, not much older than I, came out from behind the register.
"Hello sweetie, how can I help you?" She asked, her voice kind and calm.
"I'm looking for a wedding dress." I said softly. I heard the door open and close behind me. Maureen and Joanne smiled, I could tell they liked it here better than all of those other stores. Susan however had her nose scrunched up in a very condescending way.
The woman chuckled, "Well then you're in the right place. Do you have anything specific that you're looking for?"
"Not really, just something simple." I said, carefully looking through the bridal dresses as Maureen and Joanne looked at the bridesmaid dresses. "Well I'll be here if you need any help." She said
It was a relief she wasn't going to try and choose for me, I thought. After searching for a bit I still hadn't found anything, but I wasn't willing to give up. I tried the next section of dresses. They were all so pretty…wait what about that one. I carefully inspected one that had jumped out at me. It was an ivory colored silk satin dress with a sweetheart top, a side sash with a crystal pendant, and a simple train. I almost gasped at how perfect it was.
"Can I try this on?" I asked the woman.
"Of course." She led me to the dressing rooms. "Good luck."
"Thanks." I whispered. As I changed I felt a change in the air, maybe it was the store, maybe it was the dress. I was hoping it was the store and the dress.
As I slipped it on, it didn't feel too tight nor too big instead it fit me like second skin. It was as if it was made for me. I felt like princess in this, Mark's princess.
"Maureen, Joanne! I found it!" I squealed. I opened the door for them to see it. Maureen gasped and Joanne's jaw dropped, even Susan looked excited.
Maureen giggled and rushed over, "Rach, its perfect! Mark won't be able to keep you hands off you in that."
I blushed as Joanne agreed, "You look beautiful."
In hearing commotion the woman came over and when she saw me she smiled kindly, "Oh you look wonderful."
"I love it." I said, turning in it.
"Do you know what flowers you want?" She asked while making tiny alterations.
"I hadn't really thought about it yet." I admitted
"Well if I may, I highly recommend roses, they match very well with the dress. And you would look lovely with them." She said as she stood.
"I can get them for you." Susan said, surprising me by speaking.
"Thanks Susan, I would love that." Back in the dressing room I carefully took it off, my mind racing. I felt like a little kid that had just been giving the toy that had been looking for.
On the way back home, Susan talked to me endlessly about other tedious details about the wedding. But all I could think about was the dress, it was just right. I had a feeling this wedding couldn't be any more perfect.
Mark's POV
I looked down at my projector, my first job for the agency was to cut this film and arrange it for them. The problem was none of the film seemed to make any sense in relation to everything, but I guess that was the point – to test my skill without the camera in my hand.
I felt someone put their arms around me and I jumped in surprise. Rachael giggled, "Did I scare you love? Deep in thought perhaps?"
I nodded, glad to see her. "I didn't even hear you come in."
"Well that's because I'm sneaky." She said with smirk.
She seemed to be radiating, "Did you have a good time?"
"Not at first, but eventually it got better. The good thing is the planning is out of the way."
"All if it?" I asked amazed. "Doesn't planning take a while?"
"Well once I found the dress, that led to everything else. Plus, I just want something simple." She said
"So do I." I kissed her softly, "When do you want the wedding to be?"
"Not long from now." She said, leaning into me as I wrapped my arms around her "I don't think I can wait much longer." She whispered.
"Me either." I said softly.
"What about next week?" She asked her head on my chest
"The week of Christmas? Sounds good, whenever you want."
The dress: go the Lazaro Bridal site and heres the code LZ3710