Page 66 of Everything After (Everything Trilogy)

LILY

HOLLY AND brET’S WEDDING

NINETEEN WEEKS PREGNANT

The heady scent of expensive perfumes, body creams and flowers filled the air in the bridal suite at the Omni Fort Worth Hotel. It left no one in any doubt something exceptional was about to happen.

A flurry of hairstylists and make-up artists primped and pampered the bride and each of us bridesmaids from head to toe in preparation for Holly’s big day.

From the electric energy that came from Holly, it had appeared inconsequential to her that she and Brett had been together for many years.

Three glasses of champagne began to look like one too many because Holly had gotten teary eyed when Charlotte came out of the bedroom, to guide her away to slip into her wedding dress.

“I love you guys,” she gushed, then hugged each of us in turn.

“You have no clue what y’all mean to me.

I’m choked up that every one of you has turned out to be by my side at the altar today.

” Her heavy Texan accent sounded stronger than usual, and I wondered if this had been due to being around so many Texans during the run up to the wedding.

“We love you too,” Saffy said, returning the sentiment.

Holly’s mom came out from the bedroom. “Are you doing this today? I know it’s good for the bride to be fashionably late but…”

“Be right there, Mom,” she muttered, turning back to us and pulling a funny face. “Now, Lily, you look incredible in your dress, so don’t you even think otherwise,” she warned.

I became self-conscious of what she meant by that statement. I’d gone into the suite that morning dressed in some stretchy pants and one of Alfie’s sweatshirts. My eyes darted toward the other bridesmaids but fortunately for me, none of them had paid attention to Holly’s comment.

No one had even asked why I hadn’t attended the wedding rehearsal or the dinner that followed the rehearsal the previous night, likely assuming because Alfie and I were famous we’d had a work engagement elsewhere.

I’d dropped out at the last minute due to feeling light-headed, so I knew there had been no possibility that someone had observed my changing shape. However, I had caught up with Holly and Charlotte after the dinner, when Charlotte had done a last-minute check on my dress.

After Holly left the room, a couple of Charlotte’s assistants came to assist the other bridesmaids into their gowns.

Due to my changing figure and the fact that we hadn’t announced my pregnancy news to the general public, Holly had sworn Saffy to keep my pregnancy secret. She’d also assigned a separate room for me to dress, with the help of Layla.

Once I had my bridesmaid’s dress on, Layla left the room to pick up my bridesmaid’s bouquet, while a hairstylist quickly styled my half-up, half-down hairdo, by weaving a ribbon of daisies and gypsophila flowers through my long hair.

“There, don’t you look splendid,” she gushed, admiring me and her work. She had just finished when Layla came back with my flowers, which were a pretty bunch of bright yellow roses, white freesias and daisies—to match the ones in my hair.

“Lily,” Layla said in a gruff, emotional tone. She clutched her chest with one hand while her eyes perused me. “You look exquisite, honey.”

I turned, glanced at myself in the full-length mirror, swishing my dress left and right. Relief ran through me when I saw that Holly was right about the style of the dress being able to hide my pregnancy. I wanted nothing to distract from Holly’s big day.

Alfie and I had already agreed we’d announce the news to the press once the wedding was over.

“I love it,” I admitted, checking myself out in the mirror again.

Layla grinned. “I’d hug you, but knowing how clumsy I am, I’d likely rip that delicate dress.”

“No need, I know you love me,” I joked as I took another look at myself. As I did this, Layla held a large, black velvet box out for me.

“What’s this?”

“A bridesmaid gift from Holly and Brett. All the bridesmaids have one.”

“Would you open it for me. I can’t do much with these,” I said, holding up my long, manicured nails. “I’m not used to having pretty hands.”

Layla laughed as she cracked open the hinge and we both gasped in unison at the incredible jewels inside.

“Jesus, are these real?” she asked, staring at the amber and brilliant, white diamond necklace, earrings and tennis bracelet set shining up from the bed of black velvet.

“Costume jewelry,” I suggested. Over the years Alfie had bought me many extravagant jewelry gifts, but nothing as bold and ornate as the ones in front of me.

“Really? Layla mused.

“Nah, I was joking, of course they’re real. God, they must have cost a fortune. They can’t be a gift, something like this must be on loan for the occasion?” I suggested.

“Nope, Holly said ‘gift’. Come on, let’s put them on.” Layla put the box down and lifted the tennis bracelet out, undid the clasp and fastened it onto my wrist.

I took a moment to examine the bracelet again. “Those people have more money than sense if this really is a gift,” I muttered.

“Enjoy it, her daddy has more money than he knows what to do with,” she reminded me.

“That’s true, but still…”

“Still nothing. Don’t procrastinate over something nice someone did for you, and turn around so that I can get this necklace in place.”

Doing as she asked, I let her fasten the clasp on the necklace she’d placed around my neck and turned once again to examine it all in the mirror.

Layla was right. I did look good… better than good, and the jewelry made the dress I wore look even prettier.

“That outfit should come with a warning,” she muttered. “Someone’s going to need to restrain Alfie before you walk down that aisle.”

I laughed, then studied myself in the mirror. “No one would ever suspect I’m pregnant in this dress,” I said, confirming what Holly and Charlotte had told me weeks before.

“Here, grab the flowers and let’s go see Holly and the other bridesmaids,” Layla prompted then opened the hotel room door.

Having stepped away to dress, when I re-entered the bridal suite where everyone was, there was an electric energy, full of anticipation. “Holly was waiting for you to get back before she’d let us see her,” Saffy informed me, touching my forearm.

My heart ached in sadness because at one time we’d have both hugged out our excitement while we waited for our friend. But those days were gone and we were barely on speaking terms—even after the meeting we’d had.

Thankfully, I didn’t get long to dwell on that fact as the double doors opened from the bedroom to the living area of the suite and Holly stood in the doorway.

She looked perfect, angelic and she was the most beautiful bride I’d ever seen.

I’d thought at one time nothing could have topped how Elle looked when she’d married Drew, but Holly’s elegant appearance was on another level of sophistication.

For a few seconds all of us stood in silence taking her in, feasting on the beauty and grace that was part of who our friend Holly was.

I broke the silence. “Wow,” I remarked, shaking my head, lost for words as to how to compliment her because beautiful, gorgeous or whatever other adjective I’d thought of didn’t do justice to the vision before me.

I’d always thought few brides carried off the poofy ballgown choice of wedding dress, but Holly’s simple, ivory, taffeta bodice ball gown was perfect for her statuesque frame.

Like us, her hair was in a half-up, half-down hairstyle donned with flowers instead of a veil and an exquisite choker or collar of diamonds with one larger, central piece of amber that completed the look perfectly.

For the first time in years, I saw something in Holly that I’d forgotten her capable of—anxiety.

The moment I recognized this, I rushed forward and took her hands.

“You left me speechless when you appeared through those doors,” I admitted.

“I’ve never seen such a perfect bride. The choices you’ve made with your dress, our dresses, the flowers, the way you’ve styled us—you’ve thought of everything. ”

“I guess I look alright,” she drawled, rolled her eyes and tipped her head from side-to-side, like she was debating if she’d believe me.

Everyone laughed and the moment they did, Holly’s nerves left her. “So, am I doing this?”

“Do you want to?” I said in jest, like I’d needed to ask her at all. Holly was head over heels in love with Brett.

“Brett’s going to faint when he sees you,” I suggested, smiling.

“Hope not, that dazed look on him won’t do much for the pictures, and I’ve set my heart on one taking the place of pride over Daddy’s fireplace.” Everyone giggled.

“Wait until your dad sees you, he’s going to flip,” Saffy said, smiling. She stepped forward and gave Holly a one-sided hug so as not to crush her dress.

A knock on the door drew our collective attention to it. The wedding planner, Julia, came bustling into the room. “We’re all set downstairs in the ceremony room.” I glanced past her and saw Holly’s father standing behind her.

“Okay, everyone. Let’s gather downstairs in the hallway and get ready to walk down the aisle,” I instructed, taking charge.

As we walked down the stairs, Alfie trotted half-way up to meet me. “Baby, you look stunning,” he praised, leaning in to press a kiss on my cheek. “And you smell better than you look,” he added, smiling. Taking my hand, he guided me down the rest of the stairs.

It suddenly dawned on me why he was there. He wasn’t just hanging around to see me in my dress. My guess was that he was likely worried that I may have fallen down the stairs while wearing the floor length gown.

Guiding me to the bottom, he stepped back and shook his head as he took me in again.

“Damn, baby. You look good enough to eat… and I’ve never smelled anything so delicious.”

“Alfie,” I hissed, signaling with my eyes toward the other bridesmaids beside me.

“What? I can’t tell my wife that I could eat her right now?” All the other women chuckled.