Page 24 of Independence Bae

“Hey,” Raven joined me in the dressing room, “if you are feeling pressured at all to wear this, tell me. I’ll be your muscle and firmly but politely tell them thanks but no thanks.”

I couldn’t stop staring at myself. Not in a posing in front of the mirror and turning every which way to make sure it was just so, way. As I stood there in the dress looking at my reflection, I felt something that transcended beauty. It had zero to do with the ridiculous price tag, mind you. But it just made me feel graceful and elegant and bridal. My reflection told me so much. I was Marley but also my mom in that moment—and also soon to bea mom.

“It’s perfect,” the words came out on a sigh. “It’s so much like my mom’s Rave…”

She came and hugged me from behind, her arms wrapped around my shoulders, and her head resting against mine.

“Why does it have to be this dress that is the one I’m so in love with?”

“Marley, I know. You are the queen of the bargain hunt. I am amazed at how many incredible things you find at thrift stores and garage sales, and all the other super-secret places you get things from—all for pennies on the dollar. But if there were one time to just, allow that little frugal Ebenezer Scrooge inside of you to check out for the day—it’s today.”

Hillary came in, trailing a delicate veil adorned with the same embroidered flowers and pearls that were on the dress.

“If you think about it—most of the cost associated with the dress is Ivy’s time designing it and creating it. The actual cost of the materials is standard with your average wedding dress. You can get lace and silk and thread and tiny baby pearls at any fabric shop. You’re paying for her talent and her time. As she’s become more involved with the company business, her time becomes more limited—hence more valuable.”

“That makes sense.”

I didn’t know if I said that out loud or just in my head. I couldn’t take my eyes off my reflection. That lace veil was everything. Every single detail couldn’t have been more perfect. And being able to enjoy this experience with Raven? She had quickly summited the list of most important people in my life seemingly overnight and I couldn’t imagine having anyone else with me.

“I think I’m ready to get married,” I tell the group, trying valiantly to keep my tears in check.

Chapter Eighteen

Time is such a funny thing.The times you want it to speed up it gives you the middle fingers and goes even slower. Then the times all you want is for it to slow down so you can stop and take in every detail, it moves at hyper speed.

I sent Penn to deliver my wedding gift to Marley via Raven. He hadn’t yet come back, but I needed to run through my vows and wanted to make sure that when I said them, I didn’t stumble and put all the emphasis and meaning behind them that my heart so desperately wanted to say.

I talked in front of millions of people every day. Well, okay I used to talk in front of millions of people—and soon I’d be doing it again. North Pole not so much. Regardless, I always had an audience whenever Raven and I were on the air, so why was it that speaking to Marley in front of about forty people gave me such anxiety?

“We seem to have a few wedding crashers.” Penn returned to our suites, gift in hand.

“We do?” I asked.

Who on earth would want to crash our wedding that was literally in the middle of nowhere?

“Our new friends from Hursh have come to wish you congratulations. And give Marley a gigantic wedding present.”

“Thedress?”

Penn nodded, smiling. Damn. Ivy Hursh was a classy fucking woman.

“I bet she looks beautiful. I wish I was there to see her delighted smile when Ivy walked in.”

“Well,” Penn hedged, stuffing his hands in his pants and watching his foot twist in the carpet, “from the little I overheard—it’s the glitter unicorn shoes all over again.”

Of course it was. Penn motioned to the box on the coffee table.

“That was from Marley. She wants you to open it when you’re alone. Just say the word and I’ll head out.”

Alone? What an odd request. Penn turned and headed out the way he came in, leaving me on the couch with her beautifully wrapped box in my lap.

Ted,

My love for you doubles every day.

Marley

I triedto carefully open the box, as if I planned to save the wrapping paper or some shit—though who ever actually does that. Inside the box was a frame wrapped in bubble wrap.

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