Page 23 of A Holiday Lift
“I just can’t believe he planned a wedding.” She smiles and then jerks her head to the long white garment bag. “That’s it?”
“Now, I will say, he did not pick this out. He enlisted help, and your mother and I found what we thought you’d want.”
I look at her with a mix of curiosity and appreciation. “Is this why you had me looking at dresses online?”
“Maybe.”
Chelle said something about a wedding exhibit here and asked for my help finding dresses. The anticipation is too much as I practically run toward the bag, but I pull the zipper down carefully.
“Oh my God!”
“Don’t cry, Holly!” she warns.
I bite my tongue and fan my eyes to try to stop. It’sthedress. The one that I couldn’t tear my eyes away from as we searched the web. It’s a long, lace dress with a small train that flares out softly, but it’s the top of the dress that is stunning. There are thin satin straps that hang off the shoulder, they’re not really for support, but just because it’s pretty and the top of the dress is tight against the body with a sweetheart neckline.
“It’s perfect.”
My mother comes up behind me. “It’s you.”
I nod, still not able to take my eyes away.
Then I remember how much it cost, and I gasp. “No, it’s too expensive.”
“Holly, your father and I saved an exorbitant amount of money for your education, and then you were so damn smart you got a full ride to college. Believe me, he would’ve wanted me to use this money on your wedding.”
“Mom . . .”
“No.” She lifts her hands to stop me. “I won’t cry yet. We are going to take photos, and I won’t be smudgy.”
I smile and pull her in for a hug. “I love you.”
“Same, peanut.” She uses the name my father gave me when I was little.
“I wish he was here,” I say, unable to stop myself.
“I know, but he would’ve loved this. A man who takes this much time for a woman he loves is a special one. What you and Dean share is something that I only dreamed you would find.”
And I did find it. I found love in an elevator of all places with a man I thought I could never forgive. While it wasn’t perfect, everything that has happened since has been. He is truly the other half to my soul.
“Thank you, guys. Thank you for all of this.”
Chelle comes forward. “Let’s get you into this dress.”
With the help of the people I love, I get in it, and . . . I can’t even think about how I feel. It’s too much.
Nerves fill me, and I start to shake out my hands. “I’m ready.”
“You look absolutely stunning,” Chelle says as she winks. “I’ll see you out there.”
Then Dean’s mother approaches. “I couldn’t be any happier that you will be my daughter.”
I fight back the tears, and she dabs at her eyes.
Now it’s my mother “Will you walk me out to him?”
Her lips tremble. “Oh, Holly, nothing would make me happier.”
A tear falls down each of our cheeks, and we giggle as both reach to wipe the other’s cheek dry.
