She practically pulled me away from my stance as I watched my father retreating and laughing.
***
Missy, who was Jenny’s new makeup girl, touched up my makeup. She was a quiet little thing. I guessed my threat of any pink anywhere on my face might have scared her just a bit.
Ellie curled a few strands of hair that had lost their curl and then sprayed the shit out of them with hair spray.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, can you please stop, Ellie? I seem to remember you bitching about the hair spray on your wedding day. ”
“That is true. I was upset about it, but hey, my hair looked beautiful all night, even after my passionate love making on my wedding night. ”
I turned and looked at her. “Really? You had to go there? I’d be more than happy to tell you about the night before last with your big brother in the living room of the cottage, then in the hallway, then in the shower. ”
Ellie held up her hands to ears and started to stomp her feet. “Stop! Okay, I’m sorry…
. eww…. don’t talk about Jefferson that way. I think I just threw up in my mouth some, you bitch. ”
“Ari, it’s time to put on your dress,” Heather said as she stood next to my wedding gown.
I took off the robe I was wearing and looked in the mirror. I was wearing a beautiful vintage silver corset that Ellie and Heather had bought for me. The matching garter belt was a gift from Amanda.
I sat down in the chair, and Ellie helped me put on the blue garter that my mother had worn wore in her wedding from her mother that had worn it in hers.
Then I slipped on the silver Manolo Blahnik shoes my mother had insisted I buy.
Finally, I looked in the mirror and smiled. Jeff was going to faint when he saw me in this.
Ellie bumped my shoulder.
“I don’t even want to know what you’re thinking about right now. ”
I let out a laugh. “No, you don’t.
“Ugh, gesh, Ari. ” Ellie rolled her eyes.
When we walked over to the wedding dress, I stopped and stared at it. It was intoxicating, and I knew Jeff was going to love it. Designed by Matthew Christopher, it was a strapless A-line dress with a sweetheart neckline and fitted corset that descended into a flared, full chapel-length train. Two different kinds of lace were appliquéd over the silk shantung.
“Are you ready, Ari?” Jenny asked.
As she took down the dress, Ellie grabbed my hands and turned me toward her.
“You’re beautiful, and by far, you are the strongest person I know. You’re the only person I can say ‘fuck you’ to, and you laugh. You’ve got this, baby. ”
I smiled at her as I nodded my head.
After listening to all four of them yell at each other for two long-ass minutes about watching out for my hair and makeup, the dress was finally on.
I turned and looked into the mirror as Ellie and Heather put on my veil. Oh my god, I was getting married.
“Do you think the baby will ask about us getting married after I got pregnant?”
Ellie looked at me. “Umm, that’s random as hell, Ari, but no. Even if she does, it doesn’t matter. Y’all loved each other when she was made. ”
I turned to face Ellie. “She?”
“Or he. It doesn’t matter as long as she is healthy,” Ellie said with a smile.
I turned around and looked at my three best friends. They were all so beautiful. Amanda had her spit-and-fire attitude and that red hair of hers. Sweet Heather, was blessed with her caring heart and soul, beautiful blonde hair and blue eyes, and those boobs. Lucky bitch. Then there was Ellie…. my soul sister…my other half. With her beautiful blue eyes and brown hair, she was just breath-taking.