Page 144 of Hale Yes
His family is ecstatic that we’re getting married on New Year’s Eve this year, but no one more than Helix’s mother. Ophelia has been invaluable to me as I’ve tried to navigate the intricacies of a high-profile wedding. The woman should seriously consider a career as an event planner because she has a wonderful eye for detail.
We’ve hired a professional wedding planner, a man named Blaze with an over-the-top accent of indistinguishable origin and a flair for the dramatic. He reminds me of Martin Short’s character, Franck, from thoseFather of the Bridemovies. I seriously have no idea what he’s saying half the time, but Ophelia seems to understand him, so maybe it’s just me.
My family… well, we got mixed results when we told them we were getting married. Pop was happy, Ma looked like someone pissed in her green bean casserole, and Angelica pouted because she said I was copying her and only getting married because she did. Like she singlehandedly invented the entire institution of marriage.
A couple days after we told them, Ma called and said she’s not sure New Year’s Eve will work for her because one of the neighbors is having a party she doesn’t want to miss. I called her bluff and politely told her that was too bad and I hoped she had fun eating spinach dip and mini quiches from Costco. She got huffy that I didn’t appear to be upset at the thought of her absence and said shesupposedshe could manage to show up.
I honestly don’t give a fuck. Truth be told, I’d rather her not come. My elephant is strong inside me, and I’m not putting up with any more of her bullshit. Helix asked for my permission to “handle” my mother if she got out of line at the wedding, and I told him to go for it. I’d be too busy getting ready to marry the man of my dreams to deal with her foolishness.
Ophelia and I are on the way to meet with Blaze. Helix usually attends, but today we’re discussing bridal clothing, so he’s not invited. Apparently, Blaze will be helping to style my wardrobe from top to bottom, including clothing for the engagement party all the way through the honeymoon.
Other than his thick accent, I’ve found Blaze super easy to work with. I’ve been blessed with a scientific mind and not an artsy one, so I’m grateful for his help. He never oversteps; he simply presents ideas to Helix and me and lets us decide. He also has tons of photos so I can picture what he’s talking about.
I was nervous the first time we met because he was prattling on about aesthetics, and I had not a fucking clue. I mean, I know the meaning of the word, but I had no idea of specifically whata “wedding aesthetic” was. But he showed us lots of examples of classic, vintage elegance, art deco, minimalist, and so on.
Helix and I both loved the vintage elegance style and decided on the colors of off-white and silver, though Helix also requested accents of scarlet. He told me later that it was because it’s the color of my aura. He got Cinco de Mayo anal for that sweet idea.
“Nicolette, I have a question for you, and feel free to say no,” Ophelia says as her driver winds the black Mercedes through the streets of Houston.
“Sure, go ahead,” I tell her.
She takes my hand and squeezes. “I would like to buy your wedding dress.” I’m a little stunned. Maybe she thinks I can’t afford something that would be suitable for such an elegant wedding.
“That’s so kind of you, but it’s not necessary. I have some money allocated for that in my budget.”
“Oh, I know, sweetheart, and I’m not asking because I think you can’t afford it.” She smiles shyly. “I wanted to buy it as my gift to my new daughter.”
And that gets me all in the feels. I’m not accustomed to having a true mother figure in my life, but Ophelia and I are slowly working toward that type of relationship.
“Thank you,” I say softly. “That means a lot to me.”
She claps her hands beneath her chin like a giddy schoolgirl. “Excellent! I know you said you wanted a Bouvier dress. Would you prefer I get a designer to fly down here to Houston, or do you want to go to New York for a consultation?”
I think it over for about two seconds. “In New York since most of my bridal party live there already. My other bridesmaid, Shay, can fly up with us. Oh, and I’d like to bring Perri, even though she’s a groomswoman for Helix and not a bridesmaid.”
“Of course. That sounds perfect. Will your family be joining us, dear?” she asks delicately.
“No, I’d prefer my mother and sister not be there,” I reply simply.
Ophelia nods in understanding. “ Are you okay with me tagging along? I promise I won’t be a bother. I’d just like to be there to support you.”
So much affection for this woman rises up in my throat and threatens to choke me. She has been very helpful but never oversteps or tries to take over. She lets Helix and me choose and doesn’t offer suggestions unless she’s asked.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” I tell my future mother-in-law.
I was a little apprehensive about the whole wardrobe selection thing. After all, I’m a grown woman who has been picking out her own clothes for years. But it turns out, having a consultant, a.k.a. Blaze, takes a lot of the pressure off me.
So far, we’ve selected a chic white jumpsuit for the engagement party next month, a pretty pink dress for the bridal shower, and a classy white dress for the rehearsal dinner. Now that I’ve chosen all that, I don’t have to worry about a single thing. Blaze will pair each outfit with the perfect shoes, jewelry, and bags, which will keep me from having to take off work and scramble around Houston to shop for accessories.
Then everything will be delivered to Helix’s house… or actuallyourhouse since I’ll be moving in with him once the lease on my townhome is up in June.
Ophelia and I are going through several racks of sample clothes to pick out some things for the honeymoon. She holds up a simple but beautiful blue sundress.
“What about this, Nicolette? There’s a lovely little café I’ve been to in Santorini, and I can just picture you wearing this for a casual brunch there. But maybe in green to match your eyes?”
“I love it,” I tell her, and she hands it to Blaze.
“I think that should be enough dresses. Let’s find some casual things since you want to be comfortable while you’re exploring. The evenings in Santorini can get cool in December, so I suggest long sleeves or a few light jackets.”
