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“I knew you’d love it,” Mom said, reaching up to wipe a tear from my face.

“It’s been one day since I said yes. How did all of this get done?”

“He’s been planning everything with the owner of Ella’s. He said she was almost more excited about the wedding than he was. Especially when he told her his idea for the dress. It’s not my style, of course. But it’s so you that I love it. And I love that he gave it to you. I couldn’t have imagined anyone better for my beautiful daughter.”

Obviously, Dad wasn’t the only one shaken by what happened.

When my mom found out why I’d gone back to my house to change, she was wracked with guilt. We’d talked for hours about everything. She’d explained, which I already knew, that she just wanted better for me than she’d had growing up.

This wasn’t to say she was magically the perfect mom, but she was much closer. She was happier, more relaxed, and I caught more than a glimpse of who she was when she let the walls down.

After getting control of my tears, I stood and helped my mom up. She hugged me tight before leaving me to dress.

My hands shook as I quickly pulled my clothes off. Sliding the dress on, I was cautious not to snag it on anything. I sat on the edge of the seat and slipped my shoes on before opening the curtain.

“Ta-Da!” I choked out as I tried not to cry on my dress.

The moms and my girls, upon seeing me, all burst into fresh tears that they hurriedly wiped.

The seamstress had me stand in front of the wall of mirrors as she pinned for alterations.

Once Jake had broken down my walls and closed the distance I’d tried to keep, I’d fallen hard and fast. There was no holding back.

As I looked at the dress, though I thought it was impossible, I loved Jacoby Hyde even more.

*******

We went back to the hotel where an entire salon staff was waiting for us in my mom’s suite. It may not have actually been the whole staff, but it felt like it.

After being split into different areas, everyone rushed to get ready.

Separated from everyone else, I was closed off in the master suite. My finger and toe nails were painted at the same time by two different people while someone fussed with my hair.

When the choice of hairstyles was given to me, I chose to leave it down. I also made sure they didn’t put anything in it that would make it difficult for Jake to run his fingers through.

Or pull…

Shh, quiet, girly bits!

After my hair was set in rollers, my makeup was applied so quickly I feared the results. I slowly pried my eyes open to look in the mirror, bracing for the worst.

Instead, I saw that each line, color, and coated eyelash was nothing short of perfection.

I grinned at the makeup artist. “I seriously need to raise my makeup game.”

Before I could figure out how she’d done it so fast, she left as two people came in to unwrap and style my hair.

It was chaotic, but it was the kind of chaos I liked. My favorite weddings were the rare ones when the vibe was electric with excitement, and that’s what I felt.

I had no doubts or second thoughts. I wasn’t screaming about some invisible flaw I wanted to focus on in order to avoid an actual problem. I wasn’t crying and getting drunk in the ladies room.

Don’t forget about the wedding where you walked in on the bride and the best man in the kitchen.

Though, from the bored look on her face, he was obviously far from the best.

I was nervous, of course. I was also out of my freakin’ mind ecstatic.

As the stylist put the finishing touches on my hair, I heard the dresses being delivered. Someone from the boutique knocked on the door before coming in to hang my stuff up.