Note: IF you read this chapter on AO3, there is a drawing of Dorothy's dress in that chapter, so...if you're curious, Strawberry_Tales is the username to look up.
Fall 16
I squealed in delight at the carriage pulling up at the mansion from the window I was gazing out of, hurrying outside. Evelyn stepped out with a relatively large trunk, holding a smaller, light-weight package in her other arm.
"Thanks, Willis!" Evelyn exclaimed as I noticed her driver was the same man who drove us around two days earlier.
"Yes, thank you! You must be getting tired of seeing my face." I said jokingly as the driver laughed back.
"I's no problem! Eh, also, sorry again 'bout meh younger niece. Hope your spouse didn't get an infection." Willis said nervously.
"Jack seems to be fine. And we got a second opinion from our doctor, Natalie, who said that bite wound will heal in no time." I said confidently.
"Glad ta hear it!" Willis exclaimed, turning his attention towards Evelyn. "I'm gonna walk 'round town for a bit. Maybe talk ta Byron as well. Whenever ye're ready ta go, come 'n' find meh!"
"Will do! Thanks again, Willis!" Evelyn exclaimed as Willis drove his carriage off to park it somewhere out of the main part of town. Evelyn turned towards me with a huge smile.
"So, where is Dorothy? I can't wait to see her face when she sees her dress!" Evelyn exclaimed as I smiled.
"She lives at the church! So, she's probably there!" I exclaimed with the same enthusiasm.
"Also, would you mind getting Julia as well? I have your bridesmaids dresses as well!"
"Eh, bridesmaids dresses?" I asked confused.
"Yeah, Dorothy asked if I would make bridesmaid dresses as well for you and Julia! I took Julia's measurements the day you left, but held off on yours with the baby and all. I didn't want your dress to be too tight, so, I'll take your measurements today and work on yours after Dorothy and Julia's alterations." Evelyn said as I blushed.
"I had no idea Dorothy asked you to do that. I mean, she did ask for us to be her bridesmaids, but originally I was just going to wear a nice dress." I said flustered.
"Think nothing of it. Now, go get Julia. I'll be waiting at the church." Evelyn commanded as I nodded my head, hurrying to the bathhouse.
Julia and I entered Dorothy's room where Evelyn, Dorothy, and Cammy were waiting patiently for us, or at least two out of the three were.
"Finally! You two are here!" Cammy exclaimed, "I waited for six hundred million years to see Dory's wedding dress!"
"Cammy!" Dorothy scolded.
"Well, it took them a long time!" Cammy exclaimed, pouting as I giggled.
"For someone as young as Cammy and Roy, Julia and I probably did take a long time." I said as Cammy gave a smirk.
"See? Even Rosalind agrees that she took forever!" Cammy exclaimed as Dorothy sighed.
"A-anyway, Evelyn, i-if you don't mind?" Dorothy began as Evelyn nodded, holding up the most beautiful wedding dress!
It was simple, yet elegant! A floor length Aline silhouette; lace sleeves with feather embroidery while the bottom half of the skirt was silver, glittery, and adorned off white carnations.
"Oooo! It's so pretty! Try it on, Dory!" Cammy exclaimed in delight as Dorothy blushed.
"Come on, Cammy. Let's give your sister some privacy." Julia said, leading the small child out of the door as we all left Dorothy's room.
"Y-you can all come i-in now." Dorothy said a few moments later as we opened the bedroom door, she was holding her dress across her chest, her back turned towards us.
"C-could someone zip me up, p-please?" She asked a Julia rushed over, zipping the dress. Dorothy turned to face us as we gasped and squealed in delight.
"You look beautiful, Dorothy!" I exclaimed, her cheeks flushing a dark pink in color.
"How does it fit?" Evelyn asked; Dorothy gave a nod.
"It f-fits great." She replied as Evelyn pulled out a golden, tea length dress from her trunk.
"Try this on Julia, and then I'll get Rosalind's measurements and work on her dress at the mansion."
"Sure thing! Rosalind, close the bedroom door, if you don't mind." Julia said as I closed the door, she pulled her dress off of her body and over her head.
"Y-you don't want us to l-leave?" Dorothy asked while blushing as Julia looked over at her.
"It's fine, I'm not really that shy. Plus, I'm sure we're all women here, so it doesn't really matter." Julia replied with a shrug, slipping the golden bridesmaid dress over her head.
"Wow, the material is really soft! It's lightweight, yet it feels as though it'll keep me cozy if it gets too cold, but it won't burn me up if it gets too hot!" Julia exclaimed in admiration.
"Also, it fits great, Evelyn!" Julia exclaimed as my cousin nodded.
"Good to hear! Alright then, Rosalind!" She pulled out a tape measure from her pocket.
I walked out of the church with Julia and Evelyn.
"I'm going to the farmhouse to visit Jack. Would you like me to accompany you back to the bathhouse, Julia?" I asked as Julia blushed.
"Actually…if it was okay with Evelyn, I was hoping to watch her work on your dress at the mansion." Julia said in a flustered state as Evelyn gave a small giggle.
"Of course, Julia!" Evelyn exclaimed as Julia's face beamed. I gave a small giggle.
"Well, in that case, I'll walk you two back to the manor!" I exclaimed.
We parted at the manor as I made my way to the park. I saw Yue sitting at the fountain with her back turned towards me. I started to walk towards her, but stopped when I saw Ray's silhouette coming towards us from the clinic. I quietly hid behind a wall, peeking around the corner. Hoping for something to happen between the two.
"You wished to talk to me, Yue?" Ray asked as I sensed Yue becoming flustered.
"Ye-yeah. Uhm, h-have a seat." She said, patting the seat next to her as Ray seated himself. It was silent for a moment.
"It's amazing, isn't it?" Ray asked.
"W-what? Amazing?" Yue asked.
"Yes. The changing of the leaves as they die; though winter is coming, I try not to think of how gloomy and lifeless winter is. Instead, I…try to think about the life that comes in spring." Ray said as I felt him getting flustered.
"Ah, my apologies, Yue! You wanted to talk to me, and yet I started rambling about that." Ray said in embarrassment.
"N-no! Don't apologize! That was…actually very encouraging." Yue said as she inhaled deeply.
"I-I…wanted to…to tell you that…" Yue paused for a moment.
Let him know, Yue! I thought to myself, You two could make each other happy.
"I-I like you, Ray! I like you a lot!" Yue exclaimed as I sensed Ray getting flustered.
"And, I don't mind if you don't like me back. But, I-I felt as though I should tell you!" Yue said, her face getting hot.
"Yu-…" However before Ray could finish, Yue planted her lips onto Ray's, she broke the kiss; running towards North square, flustered. Ray placed his fingers to his lips.
"Yue…" He said quietly, before chasing after her. I sincerely hoped he was chasing after her for a good reason.
