Who is that, in the mirror? Esmee asked herself as she stood in her wedding dress in front of the floor length mirror. I almost don't recognise her, especially with her new found confidence and terror.
"There you two are." She said as Claudia and Savannah came into the bridal suite in matching cornflower blue dresses. "You two look so beautiful." She wiped a tear from her eyes.
"Aw, come here you." Savannah replied as she and Claudia wrapped their arms around Esmee. "It is going to be okay. You are going to be okay." She soothed, rubbing her hand up and down Esmee's back. "Now, let's get your shoes and veil on." She said as she led Esmee back to the makeup chair to sit down.
"There is the beautiful bride." Jonathan said as he entered the room, as Savannah finished buckling Esmee's shoes and Claudia finished securing her veil. Esmee felt herself go on high alert. "Now, there is no need to be frightened." He said as he placed his hands on her shoulders, making her shake even more.
"S-sorry, I am just nervous about the wedding." She stammered.
"There is nothing for you to be concerned about." Jonathan said in a soothing voice, but sounded like it was laced with venom. "Your mother would have been so proud to see you in such a beautiful dress, especially if she had lived." Okay, why is he bringing Mom up?! Esmee wanted to scream. A glance of terror directed at Claudia would have to do. Jonathan hadn't talked about their mother since they arrived in California, so why was he bringing it up now? "Well, the ceremony will be starting soon enough, I best go and relieve myself." He said as he straightened up, taking his hands off Esmee's shoulders and leaving the suite. Claudia bolted for her handbag and pulled out a notebook.
"Was I the only one that thought his comments about Mom were out of place?" Esmee asked, trying to shake the nerves out of her system.
"Nope." Claudia replied, snapping the notebook shut and stuffing it away in her handbag as Jonathan came back.
"We should probably get going." He said, straightening his shirt and tucking it in. "The ceremony is about to start."
When Esmee looked out over the wedding pavilion, it was absolutely breathtaking. The stars were so bright against the moonless sky, they looked as if they were flecks of silver thread woven into an otherwise fabric.
"There she is." Jeremy said as she neared the closed doors. "My beautiful sister." he pulled her into a hug
"Our beautiful sister." James countered, giving her a hug of his own.
"Stop fighting you two, or I will have to restrain you." Peia said, breaking them away from her.
"Thank you for agreeing to be the wedding singer, Peia. It was extremely nice of you."
"There is no need to thank me." Peia replied, taking Esmee's hand. "After all, we are going to be sisters soon."
"We should probably get into order." Genifer interjected. "The processional is about to start." She said as everyone shuffled into their designated position. Esmee and Jonathan found a spot that was hidden but accessible as the doors opened and the music started.
The doors closed again. She took a deep breath. Well, here we go. Here we go getting married to a werewolf. That's normal, right? She thought to herself as she took her place.
"There is no need to be nervous." Jonathan tried to soothe her. Says the man who has been the biggest source of my anxiety, she thought. The sooner this is over and done with, the sooner I can move in with Hunter, the better. She took the arm Jonathan offered her as the doors opened and Peia started to sing.
That's what you get when you are a prat, she thought as she passed Sadie, who was relegated to being a mere guest. Six children who hate your guts so much that they don't see you as their mother, making you little more than another guest at their weddings. Before she knew it, she was at the altar. Damn, my husband really is fine in a suit.
The ceremony went smoothly, almost seamlessly.
"You look like a Goddess." Hunter whispered to her as they linked arms to begin the decessional.
"Thank you." She managed to squeak in reply as a large crack filled the garden, and a rather dramatically dressed woman emerged from a cloud of smoke like she was a part of a theatre production.
"Congratulations." The woman said in a too cheery tone. "What a beautiful ceremony, and a perfect night."
"Can we help you?" Hunter asked warily as Esmee spotted Genifer calling over security.
"I simply wanted to congratulate the new couple." The woman replied. "And tell the beautiful bride that it is a shame that her mother was a magic user, she would have loved to be here." Okay Claudia, please remember to take note, she thought, wishing her sister had her notebook on hand. This might be important for later. As quickly as the mysterious woman came, she left. What the hell just happened? Esmee looked around the garden. Apparently everyone else was confused as she was. And who gave her the right to talk about my mother like that?