The Assistant(135)

“I’ve changed my mind. Don’t get married to him.” Amy scowled.

I laughed and stepped off the small stool before turning to face Amy fully. “You’re due for your period.”

“What if I am?” she asked, narrowing her eyes slightly.

I laughed. “Nothing! I’m just making an observation.”

“Well, so am I; you look so beautiful.” Amy breathed, taking in the final product once I stood facing her front on. “My best friend is getting married,” she whispered, tears coming to her eyes. “Ugh! Fuck you, Emily! Now my makeup is going to smudge!” She wailed, before pulling me into a bone crushing hug.

“Sorry?” I laughed, pulling away with a confused look.

Amy was about to reply before a soft knock sounded at the door. “If it’s that * coming in again-”

“It’s not Adrian. He wouldn’t knock. Who is it?” I called out, focusing on the glass door curiously.

A moment later it clicked open, and my mother, clad in a peach coloured blazer and skirt, walked in while wiping her eyes. She began to grin as her gaze fell on me, before she burst into tears again. Seeing my own mother cry made my chest swell up with emotion, and I felt my own eyes begin to water at the sight.

“No way! Don’t you dare cry on your wedding day!” Amy snapped, forcing my gaze away from my mom and making me focus on her angry expression. “Stop it!” Stop!” she ordered snippily, before turning to my mom. “You’re coming with me.” She dragged my hysterical mother out the door, slamming it shut behind her and leaving me alone in the small, silent room.

I sighed and looked at my reflection once more just as the door clicked open again. I looked through the reflection to find Katherine entering the room, coming to a halt once her eyes landed on my all-in-white figure.

“You look breathtaking,” she complimented, her eyes widening slightly on her usually composed face.

I turned away from the mirror and smiled in her direction. “Thank you… Is… Is my mom okay?”

“She’s just happy for you. Are you ready?” she asked.

It was funny how one three-worded question could have such an impact on your internal functions. My breathing had suddenly become heavier and my heartbeat was now in the middle of my eardrums – beating violently against my head and making me even more nervous than I was previously.

I tried to swallow the nervous feeling away before nodding my head. “I… yeah, I’m ready,” I managed to squeak.


“It’s okay Emily, there’s no need to be nervous. This is your big day. Enjoy it.” Katherine gave me a comforting smile before sticking her hand out for me to take. “My son hasn’t stopped yapping about how beautiful you look to everyone in the church. Has he already seen you?”

I felt my cheeks warm up at the fact that Adrian was telling over 400 people something that was known to be bad luck before nodding. “He has.”

“Well, I can’t say it wasn’t expected from him.” She smiled briefly, just as my father came into view. “I’ve come to drop off the bride. The other mother had a bit of a breakdown,” Katherine joked.

“I knew she would. But do you blame her? My princess looks spectacular.” My father’s attention had shifted so that he was looking at me now; and the same look my mom wore before she burst into tears settled onto his aging features. “I’m so happy I’m alive to see this moment.” He pulled me into a warm hug. “I love you, princess.”

“I love you too, dad.” I smiled slightly, before turning back to Katherine and nodding.

“I’ll let them know,” she replied, before disappearing.

“Are you ready kiddo?” My father grinned, looking down at me.

“Dad, I’m 25. No longer a ‘kiddo,’” I grumbled.

“Oh. Well excuse me, Miss Maturity now?” he grumbled. “This wedding business is getting to your head.”

I frowned and opened my mouth to reply just as another, louder voice spoke up.

“All rise for the bride.”

It was then that the collective whispers that I had not noticed in the background fell to a complete silence, just as a loud burst of the organ echoed throughout the large room.

My father linked his arm in with mine; his face radiating with emotion as he nodded down at me. I smiled and kissed his cheek before nodding in return.

We began our long descent down the aisle. My gaze briefly flickered over to the guests that were by my side and I smiled at those with familiar faces while focusing on my footing underneath the puffy dress.

Suddenly, I felt the dress become half the weight it was before and heard Amy’s puffing come from behind me as she lifted up the train of my dress in an attempt to make it easier for me to walk. My eyes then went back to the little boy in front of me, and I held back a laugh as Sienna’s son Michael walked with as much caution as he could muster up while focusing on the rings in front of him.

Then I looked up at Adrian. I understood what movies were now trying to portray during wedding scenes; but they didn’t do it well enough. I think Adrian was also eating up his earlier words as he looked at me from his standing position at the altar; the both of us fighting back grins. It didn’t even feel like my father was beside me, walking me down the aisle anymore. Any additional decorations and even the loud harmonic tune of the organ faded away as I arrived in front of my soon-to-be husband and he smiled down at me with an all too familiar glazed look in his eye.