Rachel's Dress

*April- One Week Before the Wedding *

“Ugh!” Rachel screamed as she combed through her hundredth dress. She’d been looking for weeks, and she still couldn’t find *the one*. “What’s the point of having money if you can’t use it to buy a dress that will make your husband want to sin in church?” She was panting. The cinch of the dress she had on was too tight. “I hate this! Morgan, can you help me take it off?” Morgan nodded. As much as Rachel complained, she appreciated she wasn’t a Bridezilla.

She’d hardly batted an eye as the wedding planner pulled everything together. In fact, the most she’d done was harass Elijah about getting his stuff on time. Putting her head in her hands, she sat in the bridal shop and wept. “I just want my ass to look like you could bounce a quarter off it on my wedding day. Is that too much to ask?”

“Don’t worry, you and Elijah will look great,” Morgan said as she sat next to her.

“I don’t care what he looks like, ain’t nobody coming to see him!” She sobbed and then wiped her eyes. “Wait, don’t tell him I said that, okay? He’s been so nervous trying to pick out something he knows I’d like. I just–with his mother not being there, I want everything to be perfect.” That was the real reason for her stress. Of course, she wanted to look beautiful, but more importantly to her was that Elijah was happy.

“Rach, you know Elijah is happy that he’s marrying you, right? He’s been singing every day in training, getting on my damn nerves.”

She chuckled. “Really?”

“Mhm, then out of all things, it’s “Hello” by Lionel Richie. He randomly asked me to play it for him once, and ever since, he won’t shut the hell up. I be whooping his ass around that little patch of grass, and he just be crooning and grinning like a damn idiot. When it comes down to it, Elijah made the choice that was best for Elijah, and that was choosing you.”

As usual, without knowing it, Morgan had instantly made her sister feel better. Rachel threw one of the dresses. “I just wish I could find my dress. You would never have this problem. Everything looks bomb on you.”

“No, the hell it doesn’t.”

“Pick any dress in this shop, and I bet you look like a million bucks.”

Scanning the dresses, Morgan selected a tight, cream-colored mermaid one. “Fine, I’ll try this one if you try on this,” she said, handing Rachel a black one.

“Deal.” Grabbing the dresses, they retreated into the changing rooms. Through the doors, they could hear the shop owner speaking to someone. The smell of leather and burning sandalwood hit Morgan, and she froze. “Oh, my God. I look like Nosferatu in this,” Rachel said as she stormed out of her dressing room to look into the mirror.

Morgan laughed uncontrollably. “I’m sure you don’t. Hang on, here I come. Let me zip the back of this dress.”

“Hey Grim Reaper, where’s your scythe?” Sterling asked Rachel with a smile as he and Jordan approached her.

“Oh my God!” she screamed and rushed back inside the dressing room.

“Sterling,” Jordan said, his nostrils flaring. “Sometimes I wish you’d pulled your lip over your fucking head and eat it.”

“Sorry, Rach. I didn’t mean anything by it. I like the color…it’s just…it looks…girl it wasn’t giving me bam, and if there’s anybody who can give bam, it’s you.” He heard Rachel laugh loudly.

“It’s okay dumbass. I hated it anyway, so you’re lucky.”

Sterling tapped Jordan and pointed to the other closed dressing room. *“You smell—”*

*“Apples? Mhm.”*

“Ms. Pierce, we know you’re in there. No sense in hiding.”

“I’m not hiding. I’m trying to keep myself from decking your brother.”

“I said I was sorry,” Sterling grumbled under his breath.

Morgan flounced from the dressing room. “I don’t care! I should still deck you! Rach is going thr—” She stopped when she saw their faces. Lips parted, faces red, they stared at her in awe. It was at that moment that she remembered she was still wearing the wedding dress. She ran her hand up and down her arm. “I was just trying it on to make Rachel feel better. Please, stop looking at me like that.”

They couldn’t help it. She looked beautiful, more than beautiful, she’d left them speechless. Without a drop of makeup on her face, her hair pulled into a knot on the top of her head, mix-match socks, and a wedding dress, she somehow still left them clueless of what to say.

“Wow…”

“Little Red, you look…”

“She looks stunning,” Rachel finished his sentence. “Meanwhile, when I tried on a dress that looked like that, I became the ghost haunting the bridal shop.” Rachel raised her arms up and gave a ghostly moan, and they all laughed.

“Yes, she does,” Sterling said, giving Morgan a bashful smile. “Sorry we interrupted your dress shopping. We honestly were just coming to pick up Elijah’s stuff. He’s a nervous wreck and annoying as hell. Man won’t stop singing—”

“Lionel Richie?” Morgan asked.

“You too? He has been smiling like a damn fool. I’m about five seconds away from contacting Lionel Richie and getting him to serve Elijah a cease and desist.” They all laughed. “Anyway, we’ll let you get back to it.”

The dress shop door opened again, and a small older woman came inside carrying a large box. She was stunning. She had long raven hair with grey streaks. Though her outfit was simple, her aura contained a sophistication and warmth that could be felt the moment she entered the shop. As soon as she saw Rachel, her face brightened, and she walked over to the group. “I’d know that gorgeous face anywhere. Elijah never stops talking about it,” she said. She handed the box to Jordan. “Make yourself useful, muscles, and hold this.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Rachel smiled softly. “I’m sorry, I don’t—”

“I’m Annie. Terrence’s wife.”

“You’re Terrence’s wife! But he’s so—”

“Humongous?” Annie laughed. “That tree you’re marrying isn’t small either, dear, and yet I’m certain you still find a way to climb it.” Sterling closed his eyes but remained silent. “And I’m assuming these two mountains are mated to you?” she asked Morgan.

“How did you know?”

“Oh dear, you’re oblivious if you have to ask me that. I can see every tooth in their mouths because of how hard they’re smiling at you.” Jordan coughed, but neither twin denied what was true. “Anyway, Rachel, I asked Elijah where I could find you and he said here. I hoped maybe I could throw my dress in the ring unless, of course, you’ve already made your decision.”

“You made me a dress?”

“It’s nothing as fancy as these, but I sew, and after everything Elijah said about you, I thought I’d give it a try. Of course, you don’t have to wear it. Trust me, I don’t take anything personally.”

Sterling scrunched his face. “Didn’t you jump rope with a vampire’s intestines because she said she didn’t like your new hairstyle?”

“I’m having a hard time growing a like for you. Say one more thing.”

“S-sorry.”

“I’d love to try the dress,” Rachel interjected.

Annie’s smile brightened her entire face, making her caramel hue glow. Jordan handed Rachel the box, and she walked into the dressing room. After a few minutes, she returned with tears in her eyes. That plain box with just a small ribbon around it contained the dress she never knew she’d always wanted.

Black rose lace print instead of straps lined her shoulders from the front to the open back. The black mermaid styled dress exaggerated her curves and was covered in the same black rose print. It made her feel sexy, and to top it all off, it had a waterfall bottom that flared into a train that sat like a puddle around her feet.

“You made this for me?”

“Of course. Do you like it?” Annie asked.

She couldn’t find the words. Looking at Morgan, she saw her sister’s face covered in tears.

“You look beautiful, Rachel,” Jordan said.

“Bam!” Sterling shouted, making her laugh.

She wrapped her arms around Annie. “Thank you so much. It’s perfect.”

“Hand me some pins, please,” Annie said to the woman behind the counter. “With a minor alteration, it will be.”

“I can’t believe you did this for me.”

“Where I’m from people look out for one another. Elijah might think my husband saved him, but they really saved each other. We never had time to have children, you know, with all the—”

“Killing?” Sterling blurted.

She cut her eyes at him. “I done warned you once, you won't get a second.” He promptly shut his lips. “Anyway, life has a funny way of dealing you certain cards. Terrence never mentioned children, but since that boy came into his life, he’s all he talks about.” She smirked. “Of course, he has his own way of showing affection, but I think Elijah gets that, too. You make Elijah happy, and that makes me happy. Now that I’ve met you, I can see why he’s so crazy about you.”

Rachel could hardly gather herself. Instead, she wrapped her arms around Annie once more. What started as a day of sadness and stress ended with her falling in love with her fiancé all over again.