The morning of my wedding is hectic. Anything that can go wrong went wrong. I'm so happy that Mom is by my side!
She told me earlier that she would take care of every stress. I needed to be relaxed and comfortable while she went to the church to find the wedding planner and choke her.
"Your mother is going to make Lori hang herself," Daddy says, walking out of his study. I am heading upstairs with Rhonda to get ready.
"Well, to be fair, as the wedding planner, she keeps dropping the balls on some key things. Big things," I tell him.
"Yup, the flowers haven't been delivered to the church yet. The venue never got word that fish is one of the options for dinner. It's a mess," Ronda says, shrugging her shoulders. She walks ahead of me, up the stairs.
How upsetting!
This is all news to me. I know of some things that are going wrong, but not all.
I feel a panic attack coming on!
I close my eyes, inhaling, and exhaling slowly.
"Baby doll." I look over at my Dad as he continues. "It's going to be great! You know anything your Mom has a hand on will always be perfect. Especially for you."
I smile and nod at him. He's right! Mom makes people feel like shit, even cry. She will even fire them, then rehire them again to prove a point. Nevertheless, her parties always come out on top.
When I was in elementary school, it was Mom's first time hosting a PTA meeting. Bringing cookies and cupcakes weren't enough for her. She was able to close the road leading to the school to host a carnival. Safe to say, all the parents hated her. Teachers and students worshipped her.
"You're absolutely right, Daddy! I'm going to get ready."
We arrive at the church an hour before I am set to walk down the aisle. To say I am nervous is an understatement.
I have on a cream-colored robe that Lori bought me as a gift. It has 'Mrs. Crawford' stitching onto the breast area.
"And how is the lovely bride today?!" Lori sings, walking into my bridal suite wearing a neon green dress. She looks at me and beams.
My thoughts suddenly flashback to Ryder's private jet. The neon green accenting the interior. I close my eyes, willing myself to forget him!
Mom gives Lori an annoyed look. "Lori!" Mom snaps. "Get out!"
Lori jumps. "Yes, ma'am!" She walks back out in a huff.
I look from the door to Mom, surprised. Mom shakes her head and sighs heavily. "That woman and that horrendous color of a dress!"
She then gets up and looks at herself in the full-length mirror, adjusting her boobs. Mom is wearing a cream, colored gown. It has a huge bow around the chest area and is quite simple. It hugs her body tightly.
I picked it out for her. I was surprised Mom didn't put up a fight. She just paired her outfit with one-million dollars worth of jewelry.
"Mom, could you do me two favors?" I ask, suddenly feeling overwhelmed.
Mom exhales happily and then composes herself. She walks up to me, smiling. "Anything, my princess!"
I take her face in my hands carefully, not mess up her makeup. "Are you okay?"
"Of course," she says nonchalantly. "You know how I always expect perfection. It's just that Lori is pissing me off, but it's nothing I can't handle."
I nod as we hug one another.
Just then, someone knocks on the door. It's my dad. "Hey, I think Lori is crying," he says, pointing to the hallway. He then comes in and takes a seat.
I shake my head, feeling bad for Lori, and turn back to Mom. "All right, first, could you help me get into my dress. Please?"
Mom beams. "Of course!"
"Second. Stop yelling at Lori! And don't get her exiled from working ever again. Not everyone can handle your reign of terror."
"Here, here!" Dad says loudly, holding his flute of champagne up.
Mom and I both give him a dirty look.
She turns back to me and smiles.
"Well, that's actually three things, and you said two, so one of them I can't do," Mom says, looking proud of herself.
I squint at her.
"Fine! It's your day, and you deserve everything you want. I'll release my hold a tiny bit." Mom sighs, crossing her arms.
I smile and pull her into another embrace. She laughs.
"Wow, I never thought I'd hear your day, and you deserve in one sentence, coming out of your mouth, darling."
Mom grins and shakes her head walking and sitting next to Daddy. He kisses her gently on her forehead as she adjusts his cream-colored bow tie. It's paired nicely with his black tux.
"How about we take our own honeymoon? I've seen how stressed you've been lately so I got us tickets to your favorite place on earth," Daddy says, caressing Mom's arm.
"Santorini?!" She screams, putting her hands to her mouth.
"You got it, babe!"
Mom begins whispering and fails miserably. "You know, I think this Mommy needs a sponge bath and an exam, you know where."
She then gives him a sexy look.
Dad winks and nods.
I cringe and begin to feel faint at the thought. "Oh my god! Mom!!" I look away from them.
"Hey, leave your Mom alone! She can't help she's married a stud who's still good in bed after thirty years."
After that horrible display of affection, that'll haunt me until the day I die, Mom helps me into my gown. It's a white, strapless, satin, corset ball gown.
It's a little plain until Mom sent for the dress to have diamonds set all over the corset. She wanted it to match my crown.
Mom grabs a tissue, dabbing her eyes.
"Oh, I promised I wouldn't cry! I don't want to ruin my makeup but it's so worth it. You look like a queen, baby!"
She fixes the bottom of my dress. "Oh, Sammy, I know Grandma and Grandpa are watching over you right now!"
"Thank you, Mom," I say looking at myself in the mirror. I'm so nervous!
"Let me go get Daddy and tell Lori we will start in ten minutes." She runs out, closing the door behind her.
I turn and look at myself in the mirror again.
This is it! Wedding Day. I grab a tissue before my eyes pool with tears.
I wrap my arms around myself, trying to console myself. I'm trying so hard not to cry,, but it isn't working!
Any woman will cry because they are marrying their best friend. The love of their life.
The person they want to grow old with.
Me? I am marrying for the sake of trying to forget the man I truly love. The one that fought hard for me. The man that kept me alive. The one I know would die for me. Ryder.
"Honey?"
I don't hear Daddy come back in. Shit! I try to fix my makeup before turning around.
"Hey! What do you think?" I turn and walk up to him. I'm trying to play it cool.
He stands back and looks, an empathetic smile on his face. "Besides looking breathtaking, and me dreading this day, you tell me?"
I look at him, confused. "I don't know what you mean."
Daddy looks so sad. "Sam, I know you don't want to marry him. It's obvious. You have mom and Max fooled, but not me."
I look away and exhale. "No, Daddy. I do," I say smiling and trying my hardest not to cry. I even bite my lip.
"Listen, if you want, I'll go get Mom and we can all go to Greece together. We can leave everyone high and dry."
He pauses and grabs my chin so that I look at him.
"Maxwell is an amazing person! Like the son I never had. However, you are my moon, my stars. I can't see my existence in pain."
I exhale and forcibly smile, taking a seat.
"Daddy, I love you, you know that? And you always see right through me." I swallow and look up at him.
"He's amazing! Max is amazing. This day is about him and me. Okay? I need to marry him. There is nothing anyone can tell me that'll stop me from walking down that aisle."
Daddy looks upset and then tries to smile, putting his hands in his pockets. "It's obvious you're trying to convince yourself, honey. Can you answer me? With the truth?"
I nod, walking to the window and looking out.
"You were well taken care of when you were kidnapped, weren't you?"
I put my head down in shame. We both know the truth. This day isn't about Max. It's more for my ego. I need to forget Ryder. For good.
Daddy walks over, grabs my chin, and makes me look up at him. I don't say a word. He furrows his brow and nods.
"I love you, Samantha," Daddy says as he kisses my hands. "Let's go deliver you to your husband."
We leave the bridal suite when we hear a couple of pops coming from outside. I look at Daddy concerned.
"I wasn't supposed to say anything but Mom got fireworks for later on. I guess they are testing it."
Oh. It makes sense. The reception will be across the street at Chateau Hallo.
"Mom is going overboard like always," I say shaking my head.
We laugh.