Chapter 191
Sophia
I held Lily's little hand as we walked up to the bridal shop. My stomach did that weird flippy thing it always does when I think about actually marrying Blake. For real this time. God, after everything we'd been through—all the lies and heartbreak—here I was, about to try on wedding dresses.
"Mommy, are we really going to see your princess dress?" Lily bounced beside me, her blue eyes—exactly like her father's—wide with excitement. She hadn't shut up about this appointment since breakfast.
"Yes, sweetheart. And we're picking out your flower girl dress too, remember?" I tried to smooth down her wild curls. My heart squeezed so hard I could barely breathe. This little miracle who doctors said I'd never have, dancing beside me, talking about our wedding. How the hell did I get so lucky?
"I'm gonna be the prettiest flower girl ever!" She twirled around in her yellow dress. "And you're gonna be the most beautiful mommy-bride in the whole wide world!"
I laughed and crouched down to fix her crooked pigtail. "And when you're wearing the dress we pick out together, you'll be the cutest little princess at our wedding."
We walked in and a friendly older woman greeted us. "You must be Sophia! I'm Jenny, we spoke on the phone. And who is this lovely young lady?"
Lily suddenly went shy and hid behind my leg.
"This is Lily, my daughter," I said, squeezing her shoulder. "She's going to be our flower girl."
"Well, it's wonderful to meet you, Miss Lily." Jenny bent down a bit. "I have some very special dresses for flower girls. Would you like to see them after your mom tries on her dresses?"
Lily nodded, instantly over her shyness at the mention of dresses.
Jenny showed us to a private fitting area with a big mirror and platform. "I've pulled a few styles based on what you said on the phone. And I have apple juice and cookies for this little one, if that's okay with mom?"
"That's perfect, thank you." I smiled as Lily's eyes lit up at the word "cookies."
A young woman with a measuring tape around her neck came in. "Hi, I'm Marissa! Ready to find your dream dress?"
I nodded, suddenly feeling nervous as hell. My hands got all sweaty, and I had to take a deep breath.
"Let's start with this one," Marissa suggested, unzipping a garment bag to reveal a simple, elegant gown.
I stepped behind the screen to change. Marissa helped me into the dress and adjusted the fit.
"It's normal to lose a little weight before the wedding," she commented while tightening the back. "Most brides do from all the stress and running around."
I laughed. "Blake actually says I've been too busy lately. He made me my favorite chocolate muffins yesterday morning."
Just saying his name made me feel all warm inside. The same man who once looked at me with blank, confused eyes now wakes up early to make me breakfast, looking at me like I'm the most important person in his world. Life is so damn strange—how it can take everything from you and then suddenly give it all back.
"He sounds like a keeper," Marissa smiled.
"He is," I said softly.
When I stepped out from behind the screen, Lily gasped dramatically, cookie crumbs falling everywhere.
"Mommy! You look like Elsa but prettier!" she squealed, talking about that Disney character she's obsessed with.
I turned to face the mirror and barely recognized myself. I actually froze for a second. For years after the accident, I avoided mirrors because I hated the empty-eyed zombie who stared back at me. But now... The woman in the mirror looked happy. Peaceful. Her eyes weren't dead anymore. The dress fit perfectly, flowing to the floor without being too fussy.
Something clicked inside me, like Oh, this is really happening. I'm actually going to marry Blake Sterling—not because we were forced to, not because of secrets or lies, but because we fought our way back to each other through absolute hell.
"What do you think?" Marissa asked, fixing the skirt.
"I think... it feels right," I said, running my hands over the soft fabric. "Comfortable but elegant."
"It's perfect for a beach ceremony," Marissa agreed.
Looking at myself, I felt about a million emotions at once . Everything that had brought me here—waking from the coma, raising Lily alone, all the pain and tears, finding Blake again. And now we were planning our future—a real one this time.
"Let's try the veil," Marissa suggested, attaching a simple lace veil to my hair.
As the veil settled around my shoulders, my eyes started to water. I had to swallow hard so I wouldn't cry. This morning, Blake surprised me with breakfast in bed, with Lily proudly carrying the tray. Such a simple thing, but it made me so happy I thought my heart would burst.
I remembered all those nights I woke up from nightmares, grabbing at empty sheets, haunted by memories of Blake. Now I wake up with his arm around me, keeping me safe even in his sleep. The difference makes my chest hurt with so much gratitude it's almost painful.
"What do you think, Lily?" I asked, turning around.
"You need your special necklace!" she declared. "The compass one that Daddy says helps you find your way home."
I smiled, touching my bare neck where my necklace usually sits. My eyes got all misty. Blake gave me that necklace after everything was finally settled, whispering that no matter how lost we'd been, we'd found our way back to each other. "You're right, sweetheart. It would be perfect with this."
"Lauren's here!" Lily suddenly shouted, pointing toward the door.
I turned to see my friend leaning against the doorframe. "Sorry I'm late. Traffic was a nightmare."
"You're just in time," I said. "What do you think?"
Lauren walked around me slowly. "You look stunning, Soph. Absolutely radiant."
"Is that your professional fashion expert opinion?" I teased.
"That's my 'your best friend who's known you through hell and back' opinion," she replied, her eyes getting watery. "Blake is going to lose his mind when he sees you in this."
I stepped onto the platform in front of the mirror. The woman looking back at me seemed happier than I'd felt in years.
Tears blurred my vision as all the emotions hit me at once. My hands were shaking, and I had to press them against the dress to steady them. This is real. This is actually happening. After everything we've been through, we somehow made it here. The future I thought was gone forever is right in front of me, better than I ever dared to hope.
"Mommy! Mommy!" Lily couldn't contain herself, jumping up and rushing to my side. "You're so beautiful! Just like in my bedtime stories!"
I blinked back tears and carefully bent down to pick her up. "And you, my little angel," I whispered, pressing my forehead against hers, my voice all thick with emotion , "are going to be the most beautiful flower girl, and the three of us will have the most perfect day."
"You, me, and Daddy," she confirmed with a serious nod, her little hands on my face.
"You, me, and Daddy," I echoed, a tear escaping down my cheek. A family. After everything, we're really a family. I felt a peace I never thought I'd find again.
In that moment, with my daughter in my arms and my friend watching with teary eyes, I finally believed that maybe—just maybe—happy endings weren't just for fairy tales after all.