Page 3 of Web of Lies
“I know,” he says. “But I really wanted you to have something special from me. And you don't have anything blue.”
He lifts the necklace from the box and holds it up. It's not ugly. It's actually lovely. But it isn't my Mom's pearls. “I love it, but...”
“You can do this one thing for me, can't you, Larken? It's just a necklace. I really want you to wear it.”
I can hear the disappointment in his tone already. I don't want to look into his eyes when we're standing across from each other at the altar and know that he's disappointed. And Iamwearing my mother's dress.
“It's going to look beautiful on you.”
I sigh silently, pressing my lips together. I can wear the necklace. It won't look bad with the dress, it won't clash with anything at all. Lots of grooms give their brides jewelry to wear for the wedding. Right? “Okay. It is beautiful. Thank you. Are you ready for this?”
He laughs again. “Of course I am. I've been ready for this for a long time. Turn around.”
I turn away from him and try not to let my face show my small sadness as he brings the chain in front of me and fastens the necklace around my neck. The pendant rests just an inch below my collar bone. It really is beautiful.
“There,” he says, smiling. “Perfect.”
“Thank you, Adrian.” I watch my fingertips brush the delicate chain in the mirror and give him a small smile. “I love you.”
“Love you,” he answers. “I'm going to go get in my place before anyone starts looking for me. See you in a few minutes, babe.”
I close the door behind him and go back to the mirror. It feels wrong to abandon my Mom's necklace, but I don't think she'd mind. I think I'm just being emotional over the fact that my Mom isn't here with me for this. I wanted to do and wear everything that would make me feel closer to her today. But I really don't think she'd mind if I wear Adrian's necklace instead of hers. She would wear Dad's necklace. She probably wouldn't have any inner turmoil about it either.
Mom would have worn anything Dad asked her to because she loved him, but I love my mom and I want to feel her with me today. I don’t have to wear her necklace around my neck for it to be with me when I walk down the aisle, I can wrap it around my bouquet. That will make both Adrian and I happy.
A soft knock pulls my gaze from the mirror to the door again. “Are you ready?” Dad asks. “It's almost time to go.”
I look back in the mirror one last time while I'm still alone. One last moment to be Larken Vincent by myself before everything changes. Smoothing my hands down the bodice of the gown, I look myself over one more time to make sure everything is perfect. “I'm ready, Dad. You can come in.”
The doorknob twists and he slowly pushes the door open. He steps inside and closes the door behind him before he turns around to look at me. For a long moment he just stares at me in the mirror and I worry he's going to be upset about the changes to Mom's dress, as small as they are, but then his eyes fill with tears. “You look so beautiful, Larken.”
My eyes tear up, too. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Your mother would be so happy. I wish she was here to see you.”
“Me too,” I say thickly. “Now stop crying. You promised you wouldn't. And you're going to make me cry. Regan will kill both of us if I mess up my makeup.”
Shaking his head, he pulls in a breath and smiles. “No, we can't have that. Are you ready for this?”
“I better be,” I laugh. “I'm wearing the dress and the honeymoon is nonrefundable.”
“Well,” Dad nods. “Do a spin. Let me see the whole thing.”
I slowly turn in place, and stop when I'm facing him. “Mom's dress is so beautiful.”
“You're so beautiful,” he assures, looking like he might cry again. “But what's that?”
“What's what?”
“That,” he says, pointing at the skirt.
I look to where he's pointing and see a small dark stain on either the lace or the silk underneath it. “I don't know. I didn't see it a minute ago.” I bend to get a closer look and bite my lips to keep the scream from ripping out of my mouth. “It's a spider,” I whisper. “Help.”
I'm not utterly terrified of spiders, but I don't want them touching me and I don't want one to be crawling up the dress I'm wearing.
“Is it alive?” Dad asks, putting supreme effort into not laughing at me.
“Does it matter?” If I'm late for my entrance because of a spider, neither Regan or Adrian will let me live it down.
