Roxanne
"How come you don't have any dress?" Mom shouts from my closet.
"Hey, mom, how is sis doing?" I asked.
Mom ambles out of the closet with a few dresses in her hand. I don't even know where she got those as I don't remember having those.
"She is good." She answers with divided attention. "Why do you ask?"
"Nothing." I look away for a flip second. "And do I really have to go? You can just go with Mrs Rodriguez and choose a dress. It's not like I have an eye for dresses."
Tomorrow is my engagement. It doesn't mean anything to me. It's like a burden to me, which is bestowed on me unwillingly.
"Are you out of your mind Roxanne? That would be so disrespectful. And there has been a change of plans. We are going to Beverly Hills." She arranges those three dresses on the bed side by side.
"Why?" I grab all of my hair, behind my head. I amble towards the dressing table and grab the band and secure it high on my head in a ponytail.
Since they are thick, they trouble me a lot. Sometimes I think of cutting them extremely short.
"Mrs Rodriguez had said that her mother has asked us to come to her, so we are going. And that's why we need to get you ready perfectly. Mrs Lander is a very strict lady. I want you to look good in front of her but you don't have an appropriate dress for it." She flops on bed with her hand on her head.
I swirl and manoeuvre towards the arranged dresses. I lean down and stroke the dresses. I grab a coffee colour V neck fitted dress with long sleeves.
"I will be back." I inform her as I amble towards my bathroom with that dress in my hand. I stop before the entrance of the bathroom. "If Mrs Lander does not find me appropriate, maybe she will break the marriage…." Hope flourishes in me. "Besides, I will never get ready to appeal to someone." I give mom a pointed look.
I hear mom sighing. "Don't say that. Because Isaac will not back out from this marriage, and Mrs Lander will just make your life miserable..." I shit the bathroom door, silencing her.
After the shower I just shave the places which will be visible to naked eyes. And with a quick shower I wear the dress. I let my hair free from the bun and it cascades down.
I tie my hair in a fish braid and do my everyday skin care. I put mascara and Kohl in my eyes and a tint on my lips and cheeks.
From my closet I selected a few jewellery to go with the dress. I stand before the mirror.
The dresses reach below my knees. It perfectly brings out my curve. My neck adorns a gold chain with a heart pendant. A watch and bracelet on my wrist and a few rings on the finger.
I grab the white stiletto while trudging out of the closet.
Mom looks at me and from her grim look I can say that she didn't find me to the level which she wanted but nonetheless she says. "Let's go."
I plop on the bed and fasten the stiletto on my feets.
We got inside the range rover. It took us a few hours to reach the mansion. My eyes twinkled in amazement when the car wheels inside the gates.
Both sides of the pavement were filled with greenery. My eyes caught a lake at a good distance from us. A medium size house beside it. To the other side I also saw a stable and an arena where few horses were walking under assistance of some people.
The car takes a left turn as the pavement splits in two. I look behind at the road which leads to the right turn.
I sit straight. My eyes focus on each and every detail of this place. This place is heavenly. If one leaves here they wouldn't have to even step out. Everything is available here. Finally the big mansion arrives.
We step out. My eyes fell on Mrs Rodriguez and a few other women beside her.
They were dressed so finely that I looked like a bump in them. I am sure Emily would have looked perfect in them. I am not cut out for their family, and neither do I want to.
"Welcome Mrs and Miss Miller." Mrs Rodriguez says. All of the other ladies's eyes were on me. Inspecting me like a thing.
"Shall we?" Mrs Rodriguez says and we all step in. "Oh I am very sorry about the change of plans…." I see two ladies were still giving me judgemental eyes. "it was sudden. But Isaac is my mother's favourite so she wanted to choose the bestest dress for his future wife."
"Just like the ring." I mutter displeased. Mom instantly jabs me in my ribs, as she sends me glare. I roll my eyes. They completely ignored my comment or didn't hear it. I presume the former one.
"Oh Mrs Rodriguez, you are embarrassing me by saying all this. It was not a problem." Mom says.
"Mom is right. It was not a problem." I say. Sarcasm dripped from my mouth.
"That's sweet of you to say darling." Mrs Rodriguez says, dismissing my comment by completely ignoring it or didn't acknowledge it. Again.
We all step inside a humongous hall. One side had a floor to ceiling window showcasing a garden.
A sitting area under a glass room was established in the garden.
Plain white walls and huge windows of the humongous hall gave out a peaceful aura. A huge chandelier hanging on the high ceiling.
"Mom." Mrs Rodriguez catches my attention. I look in front, from the little space given to me by the women's standing in front of me to see a very lean old lady sitting on the armchair. A dominating aura surrounding her. She gets on her feet.
"Isaac's wife, step out." Instantly the ladies in the front of me step beside, giving a view to me. Startled, I looked at the supposed Grandmother like a deer caught in the headlights.
She beckons me to her. My mother pushes me in front. Taking a deep breath I started walking towards her. I stop before her, keeping an appropriate distance between us.
"Closer." Instantly I see Isaac's face in her.
I take a step closer. Her hand lands on my face. She moves it towards my braided hair, stroking its length. Her eyes moved all over my body, inspecting like those ladies.
I felt a need to snap at her. I am not a thing that she is scrutinising. But her aura was really keeping me numb.
"She is not as pretty as Emily, but she is beautiful." She comments. I clench my fist in anger. "And since my Isaac wants you I can't say anything."
"Do you give your Isaac whatever he desires, ma'am?" I ask tauntingly. I hear a gasp behind me.
It's not like I am trying to impress her. She can break this marriage for all I care.
Her hands go to her sides as she makes herself comfortable on her seat. Her every move screamed elegance.
"Feisty. Now I know why he likes you. But he doesn't know such fierceness will be dangerous for him…." Is she mad? She is talking in front of me like I am not here. "But I also know how to tame you. But I will leave that to Isaac since he will love to tame you. And girl…" finally she acknowledges me. "for your answer, yes, I will give whatever Isaac wants, including you."
"I don't….." I got cut off by mom.
"Mrs Lander I apologise on her behalf. She is still young and is stubborn. She will learn everything with the passage of time."
I look behind and send mom my deadliest glare.
"You are right Mrs Miller, she is young and needs much more to learn, but Emily was never like her…." She huffs as a pout adornes her face. And she looked innocent with the pout. "I really liked Emily. But whatever happens, happens for a good. Get the dresses here."
I fold my hand on my chest and let them do whatever they want. Better done fast then late. Besides, I don't think her words will make Isaac change his mind since she already hates me but is enduring me.
I was made to wear lots of dresses like a doll. I didn't hide my annoyance from them. Mrs Lander also didn't back out from taunting me every now and then and I also didn't back out from retorting back.
"Please, I am very apologetic for my daughter's behaviour." Mom says, after we were done for the day and ready to leave. I look away playing indifference.
I want to go back.
"Because of your second daughter you really must be getting embarrassed everywhere you go. At least you don't have to apologise on her behalf in front of us since we are going to be a family." Mrs Lander says.
I snicker. Mom grabs my hand and pulls me outside and I give out a huge breath of relief purposely to be heard out by them.
As soon as we are inside the car, mom barks. "You disgrace me today. Couldn't you keep your mouth shut just for a few hours."
I look out the window. Darkness was dominating the environment. The trees and their whole area looked ominous. As beautiful as they looked in daylight, in the darkness they looked dangerous. Just like these people. As much as they look beautiful from the outside, on the inside they are dangerous.
She signs after not getting any response from me. We reached home. I straightaway went to bed without acknowledging anyone.
The next day went by quickly and finally the day of my engagement arrived. The dreadful day of my life.