Page 44 of Bride Games

44

O nce inside the bridal store, Lucy attempted to take charge. “Go away, Mommy. I’m going to tell Nigel.”

Emma bent down, brows furrowed. “Tell Nigel what?”

Lucy gave her mom her best exasperated look. “My sec-wet.”

Emma crossed her arms. “Okay, but hurry. You need to try some dresses on.”

After listening to Lucy whisper in his ear for a full minute, Nigel blurted, “Bloody hell. That’s brilliant.” He immediately clapped a hand over his mouth. “Don’t say those bad words, Lucy. I shouldn’t have said that. It’s a bad habit.” He slapped both of his cheeks. “A very, very bad habit.”

Lucy got a mischievous look in her eye and whispered, “Don’t worry. I won’t say bloody hell, Nigel.”

He put a finger to his lips “Your mommy will get very, very mad at me. If you stop saying that, I’ll give you a heart sucker. I’m not above bribery.”

“What’s bwibwey?”

“In this case, it means a sucker.”

“O-tay.” And just like that the offensive phrase was already forgotten.

“What are you two talking about?” Emma asked as she reappeared with an armload of colorful flower girl dresses.

Lucy and Nigel exchanged glances. After a long pause and an even longer lick on both sides of the sucker, Lucy said, “Nothing, Mommy. Are those dresses for me?”

“Maybe. But finish your sucker first. We don’t want to get Nigel’s dresses sticky, do we?”

Lucy handed her half-eaten sucker to Nigel, wiped her hands on her pink shorts, and held both hands in the air. “My hands aren’t sticky, Mommy. Let me see the pretty dresses.”

After Emma inspected her daughter’s hands, she held up a flouncy hot pink dress and a lacy yellow dress. “Which one do you like, Luce?”

Lucy clapped her hands together as she gingerly touched each dress. “They’re like princess dresses, Mommy. I wuv them both.”

“You need to choose just one. Maybe you can decide after you try them on. Grace will wear one too, but you get to choose the dress.” Emma reached for her cellphone. “Eli’s meeting with parents after school. I’ll text him photos so he can be involved.”

“Brilliant choices.” Nigel stepped toward an empty dressing room and opened the door wide. He ushered Emma and Lucy inside. “I’ll be on this pink stool, Lucy. Will you model them for me?”

“Uh huh.”

Emma helped her daughter undress and pulled the yellow dress over Lucy’s head. “This one is scratchy, Mommy.”

“Try the other one.” Emma began to unzip the prickly dress.

“No, Nigel wants to see.” Lucy flung the door open and twirled on the carpet.

Nigel beamed. “Lucy, you look like you should be in a Disney movie.” He narrowed his eyes, “Are you Snow White?”

Giggling, she said, “No.” Lucy picked up the hem, unknowingly flashing Nigel who was kind enough to look away. “It’s scratchy.”

“I see.” Nigel tugged at his chin. “Try the other one.”

Emma noticed a bride-to-be and four bridesmaids rolling their eyes and glancing at their watches as they stood in line waiting for an open fitting room. This is a huge moment in Lucy’s life. And mine. I’m not going to rush her through this.

“Mommy, I can’t decide if I like the pink one or the yellow.”

Chuckling, Emma said, “Now you understand my dilemma.”

“What’s dilem-”

“Never mind.” Emma pulled the hot pink dress over Lucy’s head. It was fluffier than the yellow dress with rows of ruffles and short puffy sleeves. Lucy practically skipped when she stepped outside to model.

Nigel whistled. “Are you a princess?”

Lucy twirled as she bit her bottom lip. “Maybe.”

Nigel’s eyes brightened. “What will she wear in her hair? What will you wear? A veil? A tiara? Flowers?”

Emma rubbed her temples. “So many details. I hadn’t even thought about my hair.” Her shoulders drooped. “Why is this so hard, Nigel?” Before she knew it, her eyes filled with ridiculous tears. “Why am I overreacting? I love Eli. I can’t wait to marry him. I love the idea of being a family together. I just”—she stared up at the ceiling—“it’s a lot.”

Lucy hugged her mom’s legs. “Don’t cry, Mommy. I’ll try on an orange dress.”

Wiping her nose with the back of her hand, Emma said, “It’s not that. This pink dress is beautiful. It’s me. I’m such a disaster right now.”

Nigel took two steps and embraced Emma as the impatient bridal party gawked. He lowered his voice. “I think this is enough for today. If you figure out one item at a time, that’s one more piece sorted. You know I’ll put rush orders on anything you want, so no need to fret. We can take items off the shelf if necessary. Take care of yourself and your daughter, dear Emma.” He placed an arm around her shoulders. “The majority of my brides get overwhelmed. Your emotions are all perfectly natural.”

“They are?” A single tear rolled down Emma’s check. “Because it feels so wrong to be upset during one of the happiest times of my life. I’m not sure Eli would understand my crazy emotions.”

Shepherding them back toward the dressing room, Nigel said, “Eli understands perfectly and has texted me a few times for advice. He knows you’re stressed out.” Nigel winked. “In fact, he has a plan to destress you.”

“A plan?” Emma’s brows furrowed. “Now, I’m even more confused.”

“Why don’t you get the wee lass changed and come into the break room for a biscuit.”

Lucy scrunched her face. “I don’t like biscuits.”

Emma bent down. “That’s what Nigel calls cookies. He’s from another country, remember?”

“I know. He talks funny, but he’s nice.”

Nigel’s smile nearly reached his ears. “I also have crisps. I bet you like those.”

Emma laughed. “I needed that. Those are chips, right? I could use a chip about now.”

In the breakroom, Emma and Lucy sat at a table covered in floral-covered headbands, tiaras, and a massive pile of veils. Nigel pushed them aside and offered tea.

“Thank you, but I think we’ll head home. I appreciate the offer, though. You’re so kind. Eli is probably at my house by now.”

“No worries. I sent the mate photos of wee Lucy. Hope you don’t mind. Eli loves the dresses, by the way.”

“See, I even forgot to take photos. It’s a good thing I’m not a wedding planner.” Emma laughed. “Can you imagine Paige thought I could plan her wedding last year. It would have been a disaster—and televised at that.” She shook her head. “What a calamity that would have been.”

“I think both of you dodged a wedding cake.” Nigel reassured Emma once again that everything would be delightful. “Your wedding will be brilliant. We’ll get everything sorted.” He handed Lucy another sucker but told her to wait until after dinner. Glancing at Emma, he added, “Not bad for a non-parent, right?”

“You’d be an awesome parent. Thank you for helping me with everything. I couldn’t do this without you.” Emma wrapped her arms around Nigel’s waist while Lucy, apparently thinking it was time for a group hug, wrapped her little arms around his legs. “Why are we hugging, Mommy?”

Emma and Nigel both cracked up. “Because Nigel is helping with our wedding plans.”

“Can I help, Mommy?”

Emma bent down until she was face to face with her daughter. “You will be the important flower girl. You get to carry a special white basket and throw beautiful rose petals on the floor.”

“Oh! Will they be pink?”

Shaking her head, Emma said, “Here we go with the color scheme again.” She thanked Nigel again before escorting Lucy outside. “Who’s hungry?”