Domino Effect (Effect 2)

“That I did.” He turned to me. “Nikola, what would you think about getting married tomorrow evening. I wanted—”

I put my fingers to his lips. “I think tomorrow night sounds like the perfect day to become your wife. Do you think the justice of the peace will have an opening?”

He kissed my lips. “They do. Ainsley helped me with the planning. She’s been getting details from you covertly over the last week.”

Ainsley had been asking me a lot of questions lately about my opinion on her wedding. It made sense now.

“Just tell me where to be and I’ll be there.”

My heart was happy. Brandt was making so many of my dreams come true. The ones I loved would get to see me marry the person I was meant to be with forever.

He kissed my hand again. “I’ll be waiting for you at the end of the aisle.”

We were at the bridal shop with my mom, Faith, and Grandmama. Brandt, with Ainsley’s help, had found a place and set up the appointment. Currently, they were serving mimosas. I abstained. The amount of work he’d put in to making this so magical was unbelievable. I felt guilty for being agitated at him for being gone so much when that time had been spent training the new managers and arranging our wedding.

The shopkeeper had a selection of gowns to choose from in my size. She was a petite thing with dark hair and eyes. A dress that caught my eye from the rack was what I wanted to try on first. The older salesclerk helped me slip into the down. As she zipped up the back, my heart beat faster at the thought that this could be the dress.

My eyes were closed, wanting to wait to see what the dress looked like after it was completely on.

“Open your eyes. It’s beautiful.”

I gasped. The sleeveless dress hugged my body to my waist, then gently flowed out. Fabric gathered at the waist, like a belt. I looked like a Greek princess. The back had a gathered train that extended from my lower back. A smattering of sequins sparkled in any light that I was in. It was beautiful.

I went out to stand on the pedestal in the viewing area. My loved ones stopped drinking and looked at me from the cream-colored sofa. I looked toward Grandmama first as she stood.

“You look beautiful, Nikola. Absolutely stunning. I think you may have found the one.”

“Me, too.”

I was practically jumping in place. Looking over at my mom, Faith, and Ainsley, they all had tears in their eyes.

My mom spoke as she wiped away her solitary tear. “It’s beautiful, Nikola.”

This was the most emotion I’d ever seen from my mom. Since arriving we’d only spoken a few times. I stepped off the podium and went to give her a hug. She stood.

“Thanks, mom. I’m glad you could be here.”

Her hand hesitated on my back, but I kept holding her for a few more seconds before I released her. I knew showing emotions was hard for her.

Brandt’s mom was next. “You look beautiful. Brandt’s going to pass out when he sees you. You’re better than I could have ever imagined for my boy.”

“Thank you.”

Ainsley, my maid of honor, came and gave me a hug. “He’s going to love it.”

“I hope so.” My voice got thicker as I realized how much more real this was becoming by the second.

As I started walking back toward the raised platform, Faith said, “I’m going to be especially excited when I get a grandbaby out of this deal.”

“Now, that may cause me to pass out,” I said, laughing.

My heart hoped Grandmama would still be here for that moment. Brandt and I were ready to be married, but I knew he’d put this all together to give me the memories with my grandmother. Grandmama sat by my mom and held her hand. My mom looked genuinely happy as she started to relax.

I started to cry. “Thank you for all being here. I couldn’t have imagined this day without each and every one of you.”

My words had us all crying and hugging. Among sniffles, I said, “I’m going to take this off and let them know this is the one. What’s next on the agenda?”

Ainsley looked at the itinerary. “Massages. We are all getting massages. Brandt has it arranged.”

“I love him.”

As smiles emerged on everyone’s faces, I headed back to the changing room. The shopkeeper helped me out of the gown and had taken it out of the dressing room. I was bent over getting my regular undergarments when familiar hands came up behind me. I stood and Brandt’s hand came over my mouth.

“Shh, if they know I’m here they’ll kick me out. I had to see you.”

I kissed him when his hand uncovered my lips and I could turn into Brandt’s embrace. His hands slid down my waist.

Brandt pulled back. “Fuck. I want you so bad.”

“I want you, too. Hurry.”

I helped Brandt get out of his pants. We were fumbling with each other in the mad rush. His length fell out when a voice on the other end of the curtain came through. It was Brandt’s mom. “Hey, Ainsley got the massage appointments moved up. We have to be there in ten minutes. Do you need any help?”

Panic struck both our faces as Brandt and I looked at each other. I went to the curtain and barely moved it back so my head would pop through. “I’m getting changed. I’ll be right out. I’ll meet you in the car.”

Faith flicked her wrist. “It’s okay. Ainsley’s getting your dress. I’ll wait here.”

“Okay.”

I turned back to Brandt. We were both in a desperate state. He mouthed, We can still do this.

Shaking my head, I mouthed, No way. Your mom is right outside that curtain.

I started getting ready and Brandt looked pained.

“Oh, Nikola! Ainsley has your dress. Are you ready?” Faith called from the other side of the curtain.

“Coming.”

I went up to Brandt and whispered in his ear, “I love you. You should have to abide by at least one tradition.”

“I want you,” He whispered back.

I grabbed my purse and kissed him quietly. “You’re about to have me forever.”

With my parting words, I dashed out the curtain to head out to get my massage with the girls. Brandt could rely on his trusty five if he got too desperate.

I stood off to the side of the chapel doors, waiting to go inside and meet Brandt. The chapel was solid glass and lit up as twilight approached, casting a glow from the chapel. It was meant for small parties of thirty people of less. We’d gone with simple green ferns to decorate the already beautiful chapel. All I needed was Brandt. Strangely enough, all I’d ever wanted was a simple wedding.

Ainsley stood beside me in a teal dress. The doors to the chapel opened. My Mom and Grandmama came out from inside the glass structure.

My mom spoke, “Anne and I wanted to give you something to remember this day, always.” She pulled out a slender box and opened it. It was a beautiful bracelet made of white gold, diamonds, and sapphires. The bracelet looked like several flowers, connected with diamonds in the center.

“It’s beautiful.”

My mom continued, her green eyes moistening, “The diamonds are your something old. They came from a bracelet your Grandaddy gave Anne. The sapphires are your something blue, a gift from your dad and me. The bracelet is your something new. On the inside is a passage inscribed from Brandt’s parents’ wedding. Faith wanted you guys to borrow the words on your special day to have as your passage.”

I tried to keep the tears at bay as I blinked rapidly. “I love it. Thank you.”

My mom gave me a hug. I had never hugged her this much in my life.

Grandmama smiled as she watched the exchange.

“I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become, Nikola. So proud.”