Page 99 of Falling for Nicole
After letting out a huge sigh, a smile creeps onto my face. She pushes the box over towards me, and suddenly I’m scared about what could be inside. My hands tremble as I take hold of the brown packing box.
“Do you want me to stay, or do you want to do this alone?”
“I don’t know. Do you know what’s inside?”
“I do.”
“Oh my god.” My head falls back and I stare up at the ceiling as I will the tears away that are beginning to sting my eyes. Blowing out a shaky breath, I bring my eyes back to the sympathetic ones of my best friend. “I think I need to do this alone.”
She nods as she takes a couple of sips of her tea. “I thought you’d say that. Promise me you’ll ring if you need me.”
“I will.”
Standing, she grabs her bag and goes to leave, but at the last minute she turns and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll see you later.”
I listen to the light click of the front door shutting. I sit stock still as I continue to stare down at the box. I’m desperate to know what’s inside, to know what she left for me and why Lilly felt like today was the right time to give it to me.
My hands continue to shake, and my heart races in my chest as I pull the box even closer. Lifting the flaps, I find something wrapped in pink tissue paper. Taking slow and steady breaths, I pull the delicate paper back to reveal another box, only this one is white with images of flowers and feathers stuck all over it. Reaching in, I pull it out and admire Mum’s handiwork. She was really quite creative when she wanted to be. I run my fingers over the images, trying to imagine her sitting at our table back up north with all these pictures and a glue stick. Smiling through the threatening tears, I pull the lid off slowly. Once again, I find more tissue paper—only it’s cream this time. My breath catches when I reveal the contents. It’s the bag my grandmother made for Mum for her wedding day, the one she never got to have. I’ve seen this bag a thousand times before, but running my fingers over the delicate lace, it’s never felt so significant.
Tugging at the cord, keeping it closed, I gently pull the satin apart and peer inside. It was always empty when I was a kid. The first thing I find is a letter. Reaching in, I slide it out and hold it in my trembling hands as I stare down at Mum’s familiar handwriting.
Tears burn the backs of my eyes and I fight to allow them to drop. It’s a pointless exercise because I know the moment I open this letter, I’m going to lose my composure.
Letting out a long, slow breath, I push my finger under the sealed flap and gently tease it open, not wanting to damage any of it. I already know this is something I’m going to cherish forever.
When I have the folded paper in my hands, I have to give myself a few seconds to prepare for what I’m about to read. It’s really a waste of time, because I don’t think I’ll ever be prepared.
Congratulations darling.
If you’re reading this, it means some incredible man has come along and swept you off your feet and wants to make you his wife. What I wouldn’t give to see the two of you together.
From the moment the midwife placed you in my arms, I dreamt of your wedding day. You always deserved to be a princess for the day, but now more than ever.
I may not be able to be there in person, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be with you every second of your special day.
I’ve had some of these things for years. I dreamt of being able to give you them all on the night before your wedding. You know, the one where I’d give you all the advice you’d need to be the perfect wife, like we’d watch in those girly films. I’m not sure how good my advice would have been, mind you.
Nicole, you are going to be the most beautiful bride. Your husband to be can’t possibly know how lucky he is. I want you to have the perfect day that always eluded me, and I hope these help make it just that little bit better.
I’ll be there with you every step of the way.
Mum x
A huge mix of emotions charge through me as I close her letter and gently place it on the table in front of me. My chin trembles as I try to slow the tears that continue to drop onto my cheeks. Aside from those, I’m smiling. I’m smiling wider than I have in a long time. Just reading her words, hearing her voice in my head, it’s everything. And Lilly was right, now was the right time. I didn’t realise how much I needed this until I read her first word.
Desperate to know what she’d been collecting for me, I begin pulling things from the bag. A lace handkerchief with blue floral stitching, an ivory garter glittered with diamantes, a small mother of pearl pill pot with my name across the front, a stunning hair piece full of diamonds and pearls, a blue pair of earrings, and finally, a locket—a gorgeous silver locket on a dainty chain. I hold it in my hand and allow the chain to fall through my fingers. I know what’s inside is going to floor me, so I take a few seconds before I pop it open.
When I do find the strength to open it, I’m glad I took a breather because staring back at me is a photograph of Mum and Dad on one side, and another of Mum and me from when I was a teenager on the other. I close my fingers around it and sob. I sob for everything I’ve lost, but also for what they’re going to miss. I’d give everything to have Mum here with me, planning this wedding with me and experiencing everything alongside me, but more than I want it for me, I want it for her. She had so much taken away from her when she should have had so much to look forward to.
“Baby?” I hear whispered as I stare down at the contents of the bag.
Turning, I find Dec in the middle of the living room with his brows drawn together. Pushing the chair out behind me, I jump forward and run at him. My arms wrap around his shoulders as my legs do the same around his waist. I cry into the crook of his neck for the longest time as he holds me and rubs his arms up and down my back.
“Are you okay?” he asks when I eventually pull away.
“Yes. Come and see,” I untangle myself from his body and pull him over to the table.
“There’s something else in the box,” he says, reaching in and pulling a small tissue wrapped item out. “Here.” I take it from him and slowly pull at it.
