Chapter 104 Dressing room memories
LISA
If anyone had told me that my love would become an ethereal dream after being a complete nightmare a month ago, I'd have spat bitterly in their face. But yet, here I was, living the life I wouldn't have dared to dream of after all the unfortunate events I'd been through.
My nerves could barely contain my excitement and my heart was an endless leap for joy because I was about to get through the day I'd fantasized about a million times over the past month. I was beyond elated and I couldn't hide it, I didn't want to anyways, it could easily pass as the best day of my life.
I was getting married to the man of my dreams, the man that surpassed my dreams and made life a living fantasy. It was my and Axel's wedding day, finally! I'd already said I do in my head several times but the thought of saying it as a vow before a church intrigued me greatly. "Girl! I can't fucking believe your luck with love, teach me a thing or two please?" Tana's excited voice broke through my thoughts and I laughed at her statement heartily.
We were seated in the dressing room and I had just finished getting my makeup done by one of the best makeup artists money could buy. I looked like an actual goddess as I watched my gorgeous reflection stare back at me in the mirror.
I stared at my wedding gown like it was the most beautiful dress that had ever been made, and in reality, it might actually be true. The day I found it, it felt like fate had wanted me to find it. That very day, I was walking past a coffee shop and I'd heard the doorbell of a beautiful floral shop closing which had caught my attention immediately.
When I'd turned around to look closely at the shop, I noticed that there was the faintest sign of a dress seam that could be seen behind all the flowers that covered the entire show glass. I knew that I needed to take a look at the dress, so I abandoned my search for coffee, crossed the street, and went into the flower shop.
I froze at the doorstep immediately after I saw the dress that had been hidden behind the show glass by flowers- it was as though I was in a near trance as I imagined how perfect it would look on me. It wasn't even a wedding dress, it had crimson flowers lining the bottom, but the rest of the dress was the most sparkling shade of white.
I finally walked towards it while the shop owner observed me quietly as though she respected that I was having a moment, and for that I was grateful. I grabbed the paper that dangled off the neckline of the dress and I saw that it was my exact size, my face lit up like I'd discovered a priceless jewel.
Before I could stop myself I asked the owner to show me to the dressing room and she kindly did with a knowing smile. As soon as I put on the dress, tears gathered in my eyes and I knew just what I needed to do to confirm that it was perfect-call Axel.
He'd been too stunned to speak when he picked up the FaceTime video and I smiled at his look of awe which had finally convinced me that I picked up the call. The dress snatched every curve on my body and the long sleeves exposed my shoulders while it flowed down majestically. The dress was also lined with sewn-in roses and it had tiny sparkles that made my skin glisten underneath. He later tried to whine that it was bad luck to see me in the dress before the D day but I assured him that his jaw would still drop when he saw me walk down the aisle and as I looked at myself in the mirror again, I was certain that I'd kept my promise to him.
"You're so beautiful Lisa! Haven't you made this man fall head over heels for you enough?" she complimented me heartily as she interrupted my thoughts once again.
"Thank you, baby girl, you look absolutely stunning too! Your date is lucky he's been privileged to breathe the same air as you" I returned a sincere compliment and smiled back at her on instinct. "I truly can't believe that you got Axel on one knee so quickly, once again show me your ways, sis!" She gushed while touching up her makeup in the mirror.
She truly looked stunning as I'd told her, she was wearing a lavender princess dress that my younger sister designed for her as my chief bridesmaid. She had her hair styled in a ponytail which made her look several years younger despite her makeup, she looked like a Victoria's Secret model straight out of a perfect magazine shot.
"You have several men that would kill to marry you, Tana, I just managed to pull one" I laughed as I referred to her long line of suitors, a fact she always enjoyed denying. "Me? You must love me so much, you've started hallucinating my worth" just as I'd predicted, she denied while laughing out loud as though we both didn't know I'd spoken the truth. "Whenever you're ready ma'am, I'll be at your service as your chief bridesmaid too" I blew her a cute kiss and she caught it dramatically and pushed her head back as though it threw her off balance. "Don't come to my wedding knocked up because you both can't keep your hands off each other, you'll be turned away, sis." She warned me with a finger playfully pointed at me.
"That reminds me, you're my babysitter for free by default! I can't wait to watch you struggle with babies" I laughed at the mere thought of it, toddlers made Tana nervous because of how mean and
loud they could get.
"Fuck, I'm not looking forward to any of that I swear" She blew a raspberry and showed me a thumbs down while I laughed at her some more.
"You're having so much fun teasing me, yeah? You're lucky I have to be nice to you because it's your wedding day" She pointed out as though she hadn't teased me earlier.
"Uhm, lies." I simply said and waved her off.
"I'm gonna go grab a drink to calm my nerves" Tana smacked her lips after applying some gloss and walked out of the dressing room with her heels tapping the floor loudly.
As soon as my attention shifted from the sound of her tapping heels, it drifted back to the dream I was living as Axel's bride. The proposal had been perfect because I'd have never expected it and he'd just made my body go places you couldn't find on a map. I was teary-eyed when I screamed yes and he smiled back at me like the happiest man on earth.
He'd equally made me unbelievably happy by finally asking me to marry him, I couldn't imagine a life without him and after a month now, I've finally made it to the day when I get to claim him as mine alone forever. The thought of waking up next to him every day and having his children made my heart swell uncontrollably.
I couldn't wait to be Mrs. Ivanov and get to share in every single moment of Axel's life, I wanted to be there with him through the elevating highs and the crushing lows and pull him through all of it. I
couldn't wait to walk down the aisle and kiss him to seal our vows before God and man.
The only thing that still somewhat bothered me and brought a nagging feeling to life in my head was how much my father was eager to rush the marriage. I didn't understand all his talk about wanting to run both mafias as a stronger unit because I knew how much he hated Axel less than weeks before I'd been taken hostage.
I truly hoped that my father wasn't using me once again as a tool to get through to the man I love and hurt him, but I was content that no matter what was thrown our way, we were stronger together
and we'd definitely get past it unscathed as long as we still had each other.
However, despite all the digging I'd done over the past month, I wasn't able to find any evidence that proved my father was trying to stir up something diabolical so I didn't let it weigh on my mind too
often. I was much happier dwelling on the fact that I would finally be pronounced as one with the love of my life.
I shoved everything to the back of my mind and focused on my big day instead, I wouldn't let anything or anyone ruin it for me, and worst of all I wouldn't let myself sabotage it by overthinking and
dwelling on the past.
As if on cue, the perfect distractions walked into the dressing room and my face lit up as I set my eyes on them. Tana walked in with a slender glass of white wine in her hand and Tricia trailed behind her jumping excitedly as they entered further into the room.
"Oh my God!! Tana was so right, you look like royalty Lisa, so so perfect!" She squealed excitedly immediately after she finished speaking and I covered my ears as I laughed.
"Hi, my beautiful baby sister!" I spread my arms open to greet her and she jumped into them for a hug happily.
"You also look like a princess, darling. Turn around for your big sis?" I said as she moved off me, I held her hand and watched her twirl her light pink bridesmaid dress slowly.
"As you know, I designed it. It's beautiful, isn't it? Do you like it?" She sought my approval as though she didn't know how much I adored every design she'd ever worked on.
"Yes my love, it's so beautiful. I'm always so proud of you, never forget that" I pulled her closer to me and pecked her cheek lightly to avoid rubbing off my gloss. "Kissy face" She laughed like an excited child as she still saw a very faint pink kiss mark on her cheek as she stared into the mirror. "Tana I hope you haven't emptied the bottles of wine we brought for guests?" I laughed as I noticed that her almost half glass that I noticed earlier was already refilled.
"My date's making me nervous babes, the way he looked at me when I grabbed Tricia from the wedding hall so she could come sneak a peek at you gave me chills" She said nervously and I knew it's
because she probably likes him and hasn't realized it.
"Don't spook him love, I'm sure you'll be great" I assured her and she nodded softly.
"I'm still looking for the perfect word for how you look! You're breathtaking in that dress, I wish I could design something like that- it's one of a kind" I just noticed Tricia had still been staring at my
dress while I addressed Tana.
"You have one-of-a-kind designs too sweetheart, and I'm sure one of your designs will be several women's perfect wedding dresses" She hugged me again warmly after I'd spoken and I heard her
chuckle lightly as she tightened the hug.
"By the way, the word for how I look is-goddess. I look like a goddess in her element" I said proudly.
"Yesss!" My sister agreed without hesitation and we both laughed.
I hope every single second of this day stays etched in my memory forever.