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Like always.
We stayed there for a long while before I heard a soft knock on the bedroom door. “Aunt Emmie?” Nevaeh called out before sticking her head inside the room. Her hair was in a messy ponytail, and her glasses had slipped down her nose a little.
Seeing her, I waved her in.
With a giggle, she sprinted across the room and slid into the bed on the other side. She cuddled up to us, and Momma wrapped her other arm around my cousin. “At times, I wish I’d had another girl,” Momma commented. “But then I remember how much being pregnant sucked for me, and I realize I got lucky with one of each.”
I lifted my head, surprised I didn’t feel the least bit queasy. That was new. For three full months, it seemed as if I couldn’t go more than a few hours at a time without needing to puke.
“Second trimesters are a little easier,” Momma affirmed, reading my mind. “Hopefully you won’t have any more issues for the next six months.”
“I’m just relieved I won’t be puking my way down the aisle today.”
“Same,” Momma and Nevaeh said in unison, making the three of us laugh.
Cuddle time only lasted a few more minutes before my mom’s phone started going crazy with messages and incoming calls. Groaning, I rolled away and slowly sat up before getting to my feet. When the world didn’t spin and the urge to vomit didn’t overwhelm me, I almost did a happy dance, but I decided not to tempt fate when she was already being kind enough to ease the morning sickness.
From there, things only got hectic. And every time something had to be rushed or Momma got grumpy with someone on the phone, I closed my eyes and remembered our private moment snuggled up together in bed earlier that morning. The peacefulness would float over me once again, and I was able to smile and continue on.
Josie, Lyla, and Nevaeh had their hair and makeup done first. During that time, Lucy showed up with Aunt Layla and Aunt Lana. Hayat was calmly sorted with her hair and dress, while it took all three Daniels sisters to get Evan into his suit. I watched them with wide eyes as they struggled to get his shirt and pants on, and I silently prayed that the baby in my belly was a girl.
Once Evan was dressed, he pretended like he hadn’t just screamed the entire hotel down by settling in front of the TV in the sitting room and eating a snack that wouldn’t potentially stain his white shirt.
“Are all boys like that?” I asked, a little terrified of the answer in case I was going to birth a tiny demon.
Momma and the three sisters looked at me with pity in their eyes. “It gets better,” everyone but Lucy promised. “Look at your brother and the twins.”
I cringed. “That doesn’t help, Momma.”
“Lyric is fine when he’s on his own,” she amended. “And Damien is a little angel.”
That wasn’t a lie. Damien was only a few weeks older than Hayat, and he really was a sweet little boy. I put that down to Uncle Drake having nothing but angels as Karma repaying him for his shitty childhood, just like Momma had been repaid with her Midas touch. But given that the chance of having a son who was more like my brother, or the twins was highly probable, I touched my hands to my little bump and prayed a little harder for a girl.
Finally, it was my turn to sit in the stylist’s chair. After a few appointments with the stylist in the previous weeks, I’d finally decided on a low updo with loose curls. Instead of a veil, my mom had given me a diamond tiara to place in my hair. As for my makeup, I’d decided to go for the natural look with dewy skin and neutral eye shadow. A little blush, light liner along my eyes, and a nude lip. I looked like me with a simple emphasis on my facial features.
When it came time to step into my dress, I held my breath, scared that my bump had grown too much since my final fitting. It was a bit of a squeeze, but after a small alteration by the seamstress who was there just in case of an emergency, the dress fit perfectly without cutting into my flesh.
No one was surprised when I pulled on a pair of white ballet slippers that tied up my calves.
As I straightened, Nevaeh and Lyla fluffed my dress while the women behind us gasped. I looked at myself in the mirror, checking to make sure my baby bump wasn’t showing, that everything was in place, and I didn’t have a stain or something wrong with my dress or hair. But everything appeared perfect to me.
“She’s so beautiful,” Lucy breathed just as my mom burst into tears.
“No, no, no,” she chanted, waving her hand in front of her eyes. “I can’t cry now, godsdamn it. There are still pictures t-t-to take and so much to do.”
Turning away from the mirror, I grasped her hands in both of mine. I would have pulled her into my arms, but she would have gotten pissed if her makeup smeared onto my dress. Through the haze of my own tears, I took in her high updo, her rocker-glam makeup, and the green mother-of-the-bride dress that hugged her slight curves. She was my mirror image except for the difference in our heights, so I knew I was going to be just as beautiful as her when I got older.
“Makeup can be fixed. We’ll keep the stylist around for touch-ups all night if we need to,” I soothed. “Cry all you want, Momma. You got me to this day. Without you, none of this would even be possible. If anyone is allowed to cry today of all days, it’s you.”
Someone handed her a tissue, and she dabbed at her eyes, sniffling so her nose wouldn’t run. “You are not supposed to be the voice of reason today, kid,” she mumbled with a weak smile. “Brides are supposed to be evil on their wedding day, not beautiful angels.”
“Maybe you’ll get that when Jagger decides to get married,” I told her with a wink.
“Shut up,” she commanded, pointing a finger in my face. “You’ll jinx us all, and that wedding will be a total disaster.”
“Momma, it’s Jags. Of course it will be a disaster.” Laughing, I quickly kissed her cheek. “We should probably head downstairs. Everyone will be in place by now, and I think I heard Uncle Drake outside complaining about Daddy and the others getting restless.”
“She’s right,” Aunt Lana agreed. “Dray was peeking in a little while ago, and he said the guys are getting anxious. Nik, especially.”
