The Proposal (The Proposition #2)(64)
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Three Weeks Later
Emma surveyed her reflection in Grammy’s full length mirror. Turning left and right, she let the poofy layers of her bridal gown twirl around her. In her mind, the dress had been the most beautiful thing she had ever seen with its empire waist flowing into yards of satin along with the intricate pearl and sequined encrusted beading of the bodice. She never imagined finding such a beautiful maternity bridal gown, especially on short notice.
But now that the big day had arrived, she wasn’t so sure. “Ugh, I think it’s safe to say I look like the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man,” she moaned.
“Oh hell no, you do not!” Casey argued, adjusting the glittering tiara at the top of Emma’s head.
Emma’s cousin, Stacy, nodded as she helped to fluff out the long veil. “Don’t be silly, Em. You’re absolutely gorgeous.”
“If I were straight, I’d totally want my bride to look just like you,” Connor said, with a wicked grin.
“Oh God, you’re starting to sound too much like Aidan,” Emma replied.
“Now you listen to them, sugar. You look stunning!” Grammy cried from behind Emma. She hadn’t even looked up from digging around in her jewelry box for one of Emma’s “borrowed” items. The blue lace interwoven into her garter counted for her something “blue” while the dress and veil completed the “new”. Carefully concealed under the yards of fabric was her “old” in the form of a pair of cowboy boots. Today she was going for comfort as well as shoes that fit on her swollen feet and wouldn’t make her trip and fall.
Emma sighed. “I appreciate you guys trying to make me feel better, but seriously, it’s a toss up between the Stay Puff dude and The Michelin Tire guy.”
Casey snorted. “Stop fishing for compliments.” Grasping Emma’s shoulders, she turned her around. “You are the most beautiful bride I have ever seen in my entire life, and I’m including myself in that figure! It doesn’t matter if you’re seven months pregnant. The moment you start down that altar, you’re going to take Aidan’s breath away.”
Tears welled in Emma’s eyes at Casey’s compliment. “Oh shit, don’t start the waterworks now and mess up your makeup!” She waved her hands frantically in front of Emma’s face.
Emma pushed them away. “Okay, okay, I won't cry.”
“Good.”
With a strand of pearls in her hand, Grammy stepped over to them. “Can you all give us a moment?”
Casey smiled. “Sure. We’ll go get the bouquets out of the fridge.”
“Don’t even think I’m letting you put on my boutonnière.”
“And just why not?”
“Because you always end up stabbing me!” Connor cried. They continued bickering as they went out the door.
Once they were alone, Emma arched her brows expectantly. Grammy’s expression was so serious it made Emma uneasy. Trying to lighten the mood, she joked, “You know you don’t have to have the sex talk with me, right?”
Grammy waved her empty hand dismissively. “I should hope not. Of course, I assume that ship sailed back with Travis.”
Emma’s face warmed as she nodded. Without another word, Grammy moved to stand behind Emma. She brought her hands over Emma’s head and then slipped the strand of pearls around her neck. They rested a little past Emma’s collarbone.
After she fastened the clasp, Grammy gripped Emma’s shoulders and then caught her gaze in the mirror. “All my life, I wanted a strand of real pearls. For our third wedding anniversary, your granddaddy worked two extra jobs to buy these pearls for me after he did something much like Aidan did.”
Emma gasped in horror. “Oh Grammy, I can’t believe Granddaddy would ever do something like that!”
“He thought he could run from marriage and commitment, but when he did, he realized his mistake. It’s something I’ve never told anyone, not even your mama.” Grammy smiled. “Of course, our making up after his affair was the whole reason why she was here in the first place. I guess I got these pearls and your mama out of the deal.”
“So you forgave him?”
“I’m still with him, aren’t I?”
Emma fingered the pearls while thinking of all the happy years her grandparents had together. Never once had she ever seen a crack in the façade. They were what she aspired to be when it came to a married couple.
Grammy patted Emma's back. “I wanted to tell you this today so you would understand that no marriage is perfect. There’s going to be good times and bad times and heartache and joy. Don’t ever think that because of what happened before that your love isn’t as strong or as beautiful as anyone else’s. It's the love that goes through the hardest trials and survives that is worth having.”
“Thank you, Grammy.” She leaned over and kissed Grammy’s wrinkled cheek. “Do you think Aidan and I will be as happy as you and Granddaddy have been?”
Grammy smiled. “I think you will.”
“I hope so.”
“Time flies so fast when you’re happy and in love. One minute you’ll be young, and the next minute you’ll be standing in front of your granddaughter, who looks so much like her mama did on her wedding day.”