"I agree with her," Presley adds. "All she needs is coffee, and she'll feel better."
I close my eyes as the car starts going and all I can do is see the words that I read last night. Over and over again like a billboard in Times Square. I open my eyes when the car stops right in front of where the bridal suite is set up. Balloons are all in front, and Mallory is there waiting for us.
"Here, put this on," Clarabella says from beside me, handing me black sunglasses.
"Why?" I ask her, and my head feels like it weighs over a thousand pounds. I blink and suddenly realize I had tears in my eyes.
"Because you look like shit," Presley informs me.
"Can we all be nice to your sister? This is her wedding day!" my mother hisses at Presley and then looks in the back at me. "Perhaps maybe you should put the glasses on, dear."
"Wow," I say out loud, putting the glasses on and getting out.
"Happy wedding day," Mallory greets, coming out from the suite with a smile on her face, and she stops midstep. "Oh, dear."
"It's going to be fine," I hiss. "We just need ice and maybe something to drink."
I walk to the door and pull it open, stepping in, and I stop in my tracks. My sisters went all out. There is a white veil hanging from the two sides that look like curtains. I take a step in and see that my dress is on a mannequin in the middle of the room on a pedestal. The three dresses are hanging up behind mine. The photographer is already taking pictures, and my stomach lurches. I think I'm going to be sick.
"Isn't it beautiful?" I hear my mother from beside me. She puts an arm around my shoulder and kisses my forehead. "It's so beautiful." All I can do is look around. All the walls are covered with white curtains. A plush white couch sits in the middle of the wall with two monster white flower arrangements beside it on white pillar stands. Two more are on the floor on each side of the couch with glass vases filled with water and floating candles.
"It's the most beautiful room I've seen," I confirm, looking around at everything they did.
"Good morning," I hear from behind me and see Sheila coming in. "Happy wedding day," she says, smiling at me, and I smile back. "This room." She looks around. "It's beyond perfect." She comes and hugs me. "I'm so excited for you."
"Thank you," I say when she lets me go, and I look at her and then look behind her, seeing that the makeup artists are arriving as well as the hairdresser.
"Okay, people," Clarabella announces, coming into the room. "There is no eating in the white room." Then she looks at me. "Come and see the salon we set up."
I walk with her into the next room and see a long white table with hanging mirrors in front of it with four white chairs. "Go change." She motions me toward the bathroom. "Okay, we need everyone in their robes, please." I nod at her and walk to the bathroom, not saying anything to anyone. I avoid looking in the mirror, and when I grab the white satin robe, I want to tear it in half. Instead, I put it on and slide my feet into the white satin slippers and walk out.
I see Presley talking to the photographer. "There will be no pictures until she has foundation on." She looks at me, and I look over to see Sheila in her own peach robe coming out.
"Are you nervous?" she asks, putting her hand to her stomach. "I can't even imagine how nervous I will be when it happens."
"I'm a touch nervous," I admit, putting my hands to my stomach. "But I'm marrying the man who I love, so I know at the end of the day it'll be worth it." She smiles at me so big with tears in her eyes.
"I never thought of it like that." She leans in and puts her arm around me. "Thank you for making me part of your special day and for accepting me with open arms."
"Well, if Ace loves you"—I swallow down the lump—"then I know you're a great person."
"Okay, can we get started?" Clarabella claps her hands together. "We are three minutes off schedule." She looks at me. "Go sit in the chair."
I walk to the chair, take off my glasses, and look up at my makeup artist. "It was a rough night," I say, finally looking at myself in the mirror. My eyes are so puffy I'm surprised I can open them, and my nose can give Rudolph a run for his money. "Damn," I say, laughing now. "No more tears, I promise."