Page 53 of Wishes at Water's Edge
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Julia leaned back in her soft chair and inspected her appearance, feeling almost in a daze. She was sitting in the bridal suite at Turtle Dove Hall, preparing for her wedding day with all of the most important women in her life.
She looked around the room, feeling delighted by how beautiful it was. The furniture was gold and white, and reminded her of some French castle, maybe even in a fairytale. There were pink curtains on the windows, and the wallpaper was an antique-style white and pink striped pattern. The whole room felt elegant, and it smelled of lavender and vanilla.
“You look just like a princess,” Samantha said, sighing dreamily as she stared at Julia’s hair, which had been expertly done in a half-up, half-curled style by Alexis.
“Thanks, Sam.” Julia grinned. “I definitely feel like a princess.”
“You should, it’s your wedding day,” Vivian said, stepping up behind her daughter with a warm gleam in her eyes. She laid her hands on Julia’s shoulders and squeezed them. “You do look absolutely beautiful.”
“Yay!” Macey, who was sitting in an armchair playing with a busy board, looked up and clapped her hands. She seemed totruly understand what was going on, and she wiggled in her seat with excitement.
“It’ll be time to get into our dresses soon,” Faith said, glancing at the clock on the wall. At the moment, they were all wearing matching silk pajamas—in Julia’s favorite color of royal blue. It had been Alexis’s idea, and they’d surprised Julia with her set the night before.
“I can’t wait,” Hazel sang out, putting the finishing touches on her own hair, which she’d pinned up in an elaborate braided bun.
“Better finish these pastries before then,” Alexis said, helping herself to one of the lemon croissants that they’d ordered from Seaside Sweets Bakery. Each of the flaky pastries had been covered in a creamy lemon-vanilla glaze, and they were so light and flaky that they practically melted on the tongue.
“Ooh, yes please,” Julia said, holding her hand out toward Alexis and the pastry box. “One more please.”
Alexis grinned and handed her sister one of the croissants along with a napkin. Julia devoured the pastry hungrily, since she hadn’t eaten much breakfast early that morning. She’d awoke in a haze of happiness, feeling as though she was still dreaming. She’d managed to get down some yogurt and a cup of coffee before leaving the house, but she hadn’t had any sort of an appetite until they’d arrived at Turtle Dove Hall. Thankfully, there they had a fruit salad that Vivian had brought, along with coffee and the pastries.
“I think I want to darken your eyeliner just the tiniest bit,” Alexis said, pressing her lips together as she inspected Julia’s makeup. “Not so much that it doesn’t still look natural—but I remember that one time I gave you thicker lines just above the thickest part of your lashes and it looked amazing.”
Julia shook her head. “Thanks, Alexis, but I like this.” She smiled at her reflection. “I don’t need to look perfect today, andI like the way this look is mostly natural, with a little bit of shimmer.”
“It does look very nice,” Hazel said, sighing dreamily. “That sparkling white eyeshadow is really bringing out your eyes.”
“And don’t forget about the highlighter,” Alexis said proudly. “There’s just enough to make your features shine without it looking like too much.”
Julia grinned, grateful both for her sister’s love and for her expertise in makeup. “It does look really nice, thank you, Alexis.”
“What about a red lipstick?” Faith suggested. “I think that would look so stunning with your dark features, Julia. And of course, with the white dress.”
Julia smiled. “I do love wearing red lipstick, but not today. Today I just want to look like me.”
She met Vivian’s eyes through the mirror, and her mother winked at her. “I think it’s about that time,” Vivian said. “We should start putting our dresses on.”
Just like the pajamas, the bridesmaids’ dresses were a luscious royal blue. Vivian’s ‘mother of the bride’ dress was a similar hue but was a different style and had a matching jacket. Samantha’s junior bridesmaid dress was a pale blue, and so was Macey’s darling little flower girl dress with a tulle skirt.
“Where are they?” Faith asked, looking around the room.
“I dropped them off last night,” Hazel said. “They should be, um—” She looked around uncertainly.
“Oh no.” Samantha gasped. “What if they got stolen?”
Julia laughed, and so did Vivian. “Oh, hon, they’re not stolen,” Vivian said. “They’re around here somewhere.”
“Definitely.” Hazel smiled and then frowned as she put her hands on her hips. “But where?”
“Don’t you remember where you put them?” Faith asked.
“Well, I gave them to Lindsay.” Hazel wrinkled her nose.
“We should text her,” Faith said, glancing at the clock again.
“Here they are!” Alexis opened the doors of a wardrobe that was resting in the corner of the room. It was so elegant and whimsical, Julia had assumed it was simply decorative, but apparently it was useful as well.
